Ancient City Kids Day 2012

CHILDHOOD OBESITY A CONCERN FOR JUNIOR ALLIANCE OF MEDICINE

 

By Jeani Taliaferro, JAM Advisor

The St. Johns County Junior Alliance of Medicine (JAM), wants to educate the community about childhood obesity. Recent studies in the news have made this issue an urgent cause for the group and they want to spread a message throughout the community.

The students presented a display at Ancient City Kids Day this year, warning everyone to "Look Out For Childhood Obesity". The presentation also showed visitors to the booth how important it is to look for physical activity and a healthy diet, especially sugary drinks, that recent studies show are closely linked to this problem.

Members of JAM led all visitors in some exercise activities and gave away heart-shaped whistles labeled with a message to "Get Fit for Healthy Hearts!". In addition, visitors were offered eyeball stickers and glow-in-the-dark sticky eyes reminding them to "Watch out!"

The Junior Alliance, works with the support of the St. Johns County Medical Alliance and is comprised mostly of the children of local physicians and other youth interested in health related issues affecting our community. Many are involved in the ongoing project at the Wildflower Clinic creating health education displays for their waiting room.

JAM also plans to offer their project for display at local schools in the coming months.

2012 Holiday Share Card

 

Support Local Students

 Donate to the St. Johns County

Medical Alliance (SJCMA)

2012 Holiday Share Card

Proceeds benefit the

SJCMA College Scholarship Fund

 

The St. Johns County Medical Alliance, in conjunction with the St. Johns County Medical Society, has provided over $30,000 in college scholarship funds in recent years.

For your donation, your name will appear inside the Holiday Share Card along with other donors. The card will be mailed to ALL physicians and Flagler Hospital administrative offices. It’s an opportunity share holiday greetings with everyone.

Your donation will directly provide scholarship funds for St. Johns County graduating seniors who are pursuing an education in medicine or allied health.

Suggested donation amount to have your name or group appear inside the Holiday Share Card: $200, $100, or $75.

Make your check payable to:
St. Johns County Medical Alliance
c/o Ann Olds
251 South Matanzas Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32080

Donations must be received by December 12, 2012 

Holiday Wonderland Boutique to benefit St. Johns County Medical Alliance Projects

Friday, November 30, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Flagler Hospital's Conference Rooms, St. Augustine
For more information, contact Robin Pierluisi
at 205-936-1107 or rdpierluisi@hotmail.com



 

St. Johns County Medical Alliance receives Doctors' Day Award from Southern Medical Association Alliance

The St. Johns County Medical Alliance received a First Place Doctors' Day Award, for counties under 49 members, at the Southern Medical Association’s 2012 Healthcare Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Special Service Awards and Alliance Project Awards were honored at the Association’s Awards Luncheon on November 17.

The Southern Medical Association Alliance (SMAA) began in 1924 as a volunteer organization of physician spouses supporting the Family of Medicine. Today, the Alliance covers 16 Southern states and the District of Columbia, and its members educate communities about health-related issues, encourage students to become future physicians, preserve medical history and achievements, and raise funds for student/resident scholarships and grants. SMAA also continues to provide networking and support uniquely tailored to physicians and physician spouses.

For information about the SMA Alliance, visit their website at http://sma.org/sma-alliance/

Stella Brown receives the Florida Medical Association Alliance's Prestigious Peggy Wilcox Memorial Award

At the Florida Medical Association Alliance (FMAA) Annual Meeting held in Boca Raton, Stella Brown, a member of the St. Johns County Medical Alliance, received the Peggy Wilcox Memorial Award, the FMAA’s highest and most prestigious honor. Established in 1974 by the Woman’s Auxiliary, the award is presented annually to an Alliance member who, like Peggy, demonstrates devotion and loyalty through outstanding service to her county or state Alliance.

Stella has a longstanding history of service with the Alliance at the county, state, and national levels since 1955. She is a past president of the Ohio State Medical Association Alliance, a past president of the Montgomery County Medical Society Alliance in Dayton, Ohio, and a past president of the St. Johns County Medical Alliance in St. Augustine.

As a member of the American Medical Association Alliance (AMAA), Stella has held leadership positions and served on various committees over the years. As part of the American Medical Association’s Education and Research Foundation, she presented a Resolution to "Educate teenage athletes of the danger of smokeless tobacco", and a Resolution to “Educate parents to place their babies and small children in car seats with seat belts." She also served as a delegate to the AMAA from 1973 to 1994.

As a member of the Florida Medical Association Alliance, Stella has held positions to include Northeast Florida Director, By-Laws committee member, Long Range Planning committee member, Parliamentarian, chair of the Political Action Committee, and chair of the Legislative Council.

Locally, Stella served six times as president of St. Johns County Medical Alliance. She has chaired the Legislative and Scholarship committees, as well as served on the following committees: Fundraising, Doctors’ Day, and Holiday Share Card.

In addition to her work with the Alliance, Stella has achieved many civic accomplishments in both Ohio and Florida. In Ohio, she served as PTA president, Cub Scout Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and President of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation (Dayton, Ohio). Locally, she has held leadership positions with the St. Johns County Humane Society, the St. Augustine Sister Cities Association, the St. Augustine Woman’s Exchange, Flagler Health Care Foundation, the Limelight Theatre, the American Cancer Society Board, and The Player's Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach as a volunteer for 19 years.

St. Johns County Medical Alliance Receives Awards at the 2012 Florida Medical Association Alliance Annual Meeting in Boca Raton.

2012 St. Johns County Medical Alliance Scholarship Recipients

Junior Alliance of Medicine Supports Neonatal ICU

The Junior Alliance of Medicine (JAM) collected items to provide 20 care packages for parents with infants in Flagler Hospital's NICU, containing items such as toothpaste & dental floss, toothbrushes, snacks, hand sanitizer, pens, chocolates and bottled water. A baby’s status in the NICU can quickly and unexpectedly change and most parents do not leave the hospital. The bags included needed items, as well as some for comfort to these families. JAM is a student-led, student-run service organization that works to educate the community on current health issues. Its members are involved students, elementary through high school-aged. Most are youth of our community's physicians. Sponsored by the St. Johns County Medical Alliance, they meet monthly to complete various service projects. The group also creates get well cards that are sold in the hospital's gift shop for one dollar to support their projects. As an ongoing project, the organization is also creating educational bulletin boards for the Wildflower Clinic's waiting room to educate patients about various health issues. JAM thanks: Flagler Hospital; Dr. Michael Versaggi, DDS; Dr. Alberto David, DMD; and the Medical Alliance for help with this project For more information about JAM, visit www.sjcma.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/sjcma

St. Johns County Medical Alliance Supports Good Samaritan Health Centers, Inc - Wildflower Clinic

The St. Johns County Medical Alliance recently provided a monetary donation to the Good Samaritan Health Centers, Inc - Wildflower Clinic. The clinic, located at 268 Herbert Street in St. Augustine, provides free medical and dental services to those who are medically uninsured and unable to afford healthcare and are under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The clinics are open to all qualifying St. Johns County residents, ages 18 and above, regardless of race, gender, religion, or creed. For more information about the clinic, go to http://www.goodsamstaug.org/ or call (904) 829-1962

The City of St. Augustine Proclaims March 30, 2012 as Doctors' Day

The City of St. Augustine proclaims March 30, 2012 as Doctors' Day and encourages its citizens to express gratitude to all physicians who serve their health needs.

Accepting the proclamation, on behalf of the St. Johns County Medical Alliance, (left to right) Mily Cabezas, St. Johns County Medical Alliance Doctors' Day Committee Member and Grace Landon-Tirado, St. Johns County Medical Alliance Doctors' Day Chairperson.

St. Johns County Medical Alliance Participates In Support Our Troops: Flagler Hospital Families Oversees

In February, St. Johns County Medical Alliance members donated gently used magazines for Support Our Troops: Flagler Hospital Families Oversees. The effort was part of Project India Company. A group of volunteers sending care packages, cards, and letters to the Marines and Sailors of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. India Company is currently deployed in Afghanistan. For more information about Project India Company and how to donate, go to https://sites.google.com/site/projectindiacompany

St. Johns County Medical Alliance Helping Other Organizations in Our Community

During the winter, St. Johns County Medical Alliance (SJCMA) members donated warm clothing to the St. Augustine Youth Services. In addition to clothing, SJCMA donated Epic movie theater gifts cards to 22 boys enrolled in the program. To learn more about St. Augustine Youth services, visit their website at http://www.staugustineyouthservices.com/

St. Johns County Medical Alliance To Participate In Doctors' Day Festivities at Flagler Hospital on March 30

History of National Doctors’ Day

On March 30, 1958, a Resolution Commemorating Doctors’ Day was adopted by the United States House of Representatives. In 1990, legislation was introduced in the House and Senate to establish a National Doctors’ Day. Following overwhelming approval by the US Senate and the House of Representatives, on October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed S.J. Res. #366 (which became Public Law 101-473) designating March 30th as “National Doctors’ Day.” Today, the red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors’ Day.