By Diana Lara, UC Health

UC researchers’ tiny tech tool makes emergency resuscitation easier for all.

Every second counts in critical moments when someone stops breathing. Yet, the life-saving tools available in places like football fields, restaurants, or even the battlefield are often rudimentary.

That could soon change thanks to a groundbreaking innovation from researchers and clinicians at the University of Cincinnati (UC).

After years of meticulous development, Justin Benoit, MD, Jason McMullan, MD, and Ephraim Gutmark, PhD, have launched Rescue Ventilation Solutions (RVS), a startup aimed at revolutionizing emergency resuscitation.

RVS’s product, nicknamed “Spiritus,” is a novel technology that has been in development since 2017 and is designed to attach to any standard bag-valve mask used when someone stops breathing, such as during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Using a bag-valve mask without a means to measure critical variables—such as the amount of air being delivered, the rate of breaths, and the pressure exerted—can be perilous.

As Benoit explains, “It’s like flying a plane with no gauges. How someone uses a bag-valve mask determines how much oxygen is in the blood, the pH of the blood, and the circulation to the heart muscle itself—all of which can determine life or death.”

RVS’s tiny, two-inch device, weighing less than 100 grams, promises to bring the precision of a ventilator to the palm of a bystander or first responder.

While highly effective, traditional mechanical ventilators are cumbersome andexpensive, weighingin at around30+ pounds and costing thousands of dollars. They are not practical in most emergency situations outside of a hospital. When someone stops breathing in a supermarket aisle, on a sports field, or in a school, the tools at hand are usually limited to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or a bag-valve mask.

The Spiritus device is inexpensive, portable, disposable, and, above all, accessible, unlike bulky ventilators, typically confined to hospital settings due to their size and weight.

The urgency of RVS’s mission becomes clear when you consider the stakes.

In 2023, during the first quarter of the Jan. 2 football game in Cincinnati, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old, tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, taking him to the ground. Hamlin stood up after the tackle and took two steps but then collapsed to the turf and immediately went into cardiac arrest. McMullen was on the field and began administering CPR using a bag-valve mask.Hamlin’s heartbeat was revived on the field before being taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The delicate nature of the lungs adds to the complexity. Delivering too much air can result in air entering the stomach instead of the lungs, or worse, it could cause a lung to rupture—a potentially fatal outcome, as the lungs are a delicate, complicated living tissue. 

With the intellectual property (IP) license now granted by the UC Office of Technology Transfer, located within the 1819 Innovation Hub, RVS is moving forward with the final development of its minimum viable product (MVP), a critical step before presenting it to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval. This regulatory milestone is essential for the commercialization of the device, and RVS is actively seeking an investor to accelerate the process.

Beyond civilian use, RVS’s potential has drawn interest from the U.S. military, particularly the Air Force, given the University of Cincinnati’s long-standing connections in trauma research.

“You can imagine how the military isn’t going to carry a transport ventilator onto the battlefield,” Benoit remarks.

Feature Image: Co-founder Jason McMullan presents Spiritus technology. UC Health photo

The post Small device, BIG impact on saving lives appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Julia Mace, UC Foundation

    Benya Coleman, A&S ’26, and Silas Curry, CECH ’27, say that without the support of the Marian Spencer Scholars Program, they would not be enrolled at the University of Cincinnati.

     Minutes away on the UC Health campus, nurse practitioners, therapists, nutritionists and social workers at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute improve the lives of patients with ALS and provide multidisciplinary personalized care.

    What these students and patients have in common is they were supported by donors to Next, Now: The Campaign for Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati Foundation’s fundraising campaign for UC and UC Health officially ended in June, having raised $2.19 billion in overall donor support.

    The campaign was launched publicly in 2019 in conjunction with the university’s Bicentennial year.

Scholarships transform lives: Campaign donors provided paths to student success by creating 793 new scholarship and fellowship funds during the life of Next, Now. This includes the Marian Spencer Scholars, a program that provides 10 Cincinnati Public School graduates a year with full UC tuition, room and board, and additional resources and experiences. The program is in its third year, and there are currently 30 Spencer Scholars.

    “I would not have been in college without the scholarship,” Coleman says. “I’m able to become a doctor, which is my dream career. I am beyond thankful, and I hope in the future I can do something like this for someone else.”

     During the campaign, the university received the largest donation to scholarships in its 200-plus-year history from the estate of Hugh H. Hoffman, MBA ’63. Hoffman’s $56 million estate gift created the Hoffman Honors Scholars program across three undergraduate colleges and will also provide support for UC student-athletes. The inaugural cohort of 12 Hoffman Honors Scholars will begin in the 2024-2025 academic year.

During the life of the Next, Now campaign, 37,287 unique donors contributed to scholarship funds at UC.

Hoffman estate supports UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute ALS patients.

    The Hoffman estate also gave $13.5 million that will revolutionize research and patient care related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

    This gift will impact nearly 200 patients in the Tri-State region each year. Since the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute opened its standalone outpatient facility in 2019, clinicians have provided care for more than 80,000 patients across 1,800 United States zip codes.

    “ALS care at UC continues to grow in scope of care and research opportunities,” says Robert Neel, MD ’00, a specialist in ALS and autoimmune neuromuscular disorders and director of the ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic. “The Hoffman gift has opened new research doors already, and we have recently hired our dietician and counselor to help with care. Both are scheduling patients. I have never been so excited to be in this field.”

     Evolving student and patient spaces: UC’s campus has transformed since the Next, Now launch. The College of Allied Health Sciences, Carl H. Lindner College of Business and College of Law have new student-focused spaces and buildings. The list of new facilities includes Clifton Court Hall, the university’s largest classroom building, serving the College of Arts and Sciences.

    Donors also supported new facilities, patient care initiatives and research at UC Health, Greater Cincinnati’s academic health care system. Philanthropic investments allowed for the construction of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute’s new outpatient facility as well as renovation of the inpatient Neuroscience ICU and construction of a new state-of-the-art emergency department at UC Medical Center.

     The new University of Cincinnati Cancer Center Blood Cancer Healing Center, also powered by philanthropy, hosts 30 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, 24-hour symptom support, infusion therapies, stem cell and cellular therapies and 40-plus clinical trials.

     Faculty research and scholarly innovation: Through the campaign, donors invested in research, innovation and the work of UC faculty members. This includes creating 33 new chairs and professorships to recruit and retain faculty excellence; 29 of these positions were endowed.

    Other gifts expanded new lines of research into areas like cancer treatment. A collaboration between BSI Engineering and the nonprofit GIVEHOPE created a pilot grant program for research at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. These pilot research grants, awarded annually to investigators studying the causes, disease path and treatment for pancreatic cancer, are now a key pipeline for early-stage research that can lead to national funding and clinical trials.

    This philanthropic partnership has made it possible for nine faculty researchers to launch 18 new studies into the causes and treatments of cancer.

     A new era for UC Athletics: Donors propelled UC Athletics forward at the start of the campaign by funding renovations at Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third Arena. The Day One Ready campaign supported UC’s more than 450 student-athletes as part of the university’s move to the Big 12.

    UC Athletics celebrated the largest gift in its history from Larry and Rhonda Sheakley, spearheading the multimillion-dollar Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center. This facility will feature a 120-yard field, nutrition station, weight room and sports medicine offices, among other amenities. It will be the permanent, all-weather home for UC football to train year-round, and a versatile practice facility for other UC sports.

    The upgraded men’s and women’s basketball team facilities at Fifth Third Arena, including locker room enhancements, were funded entirely by donors.

     The generosity of Bearcat supporters established student-wellness initiatives involving access to mental health services and additional registered dieticians.

     Donors supporting the Women’s Excellence Fund immediately impacted female student-athletes by increasing each team’s nutrition budget, recovery tools, special equipment and facilities.

    Additional campaign facts:

• 165,378 donors gave to the campaign.
• Donors were from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 49 countries.
• 92.3% of gifts were under $1,000.

    The Foundation’s previous campaign, Proudly Cincinnati, raised $1.1 billion by its June 30, 2013, close.

    Neville G. Pinto, President, University of Cincinnati, said: “Our Bearcat family of donors and alumni has made a vast impact by supporting our students through scholarships, soaring new spaces, and life-altering opportunities for our student-athletes. This benevolent partnership has positioned us as we embark on the next 200 years of UC greatness.”

    O. Richard Bundy, III, President, University of Cincinnati Foundation: “Our donors have demonstrated a commitment to excellence, ensuring that no one has to leave Cincinnati to receive the best possible education or world-class health care. Their generosity has allowed us to break through to the next level in academics, athletics, research, technology, innovation and culture.”

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Hamilton County will use a 513Relief Bus stop on Oct. 15 to spotlight the state of cancer in our community and connect accessible health services like cancer screenings, education, and support services to residents.

The State of Cancer Forum will kick off the day at the Holloman Center for Social Justice at 3459 Reading Road from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., with UC Health presenting the latest cancer statistics and trends impacting the region. A moderated panel discussion led by the Health Collaborative will follow with key partners in cancer education, awareness, and advocacy on the latest efforts to spark community action in advancing cancer research and resources for Hamilton County.

Immediately following the forum, the 513Relief Bus will be stationed nearby at 3458 Reading Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to provide critical cancer screenings and health services. 

The mobile health bus, a national model for community-based health care delivery, will offer lung cancer prescreening, HPV self-collection kits, and prostate and head/neck cancer screenings.

The event will also feature health services from the Pink Ribbon Good Trailer, Healthy Moms and Babes, and AmeriHealth.

Free mammograms are available courtesy of the UCHealth Health Bus. 

Registration is required. To schedule a mammogram, call (513) 584-PINK; financial assistance is available.

Presenters/Facilitators: Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PHD) from UC Health will present the regional state of cancer with data/statistical information obtained through the UC Health Cancer Center. The Health   Collaborative will be the lead facilitator of the community impact discussion featuring the participants below.

• Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner: Greg Kesterman

• City of Cincinnati Health Commissioner: Grant Mussman

• CEO Interact for Health/Survivor: Kate Schroder

• Mercy Health Physician: Dr. Keith Melvin

• Assistant Chief Nursing Officer UC Health/Cancer Survivor: Dr. Ruby Crawford

• UC Health Division Director of Survivorship: Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD

• The Health Collaborative: Deirdre Beluan/Tiffany Mattingly — Lead Facilitators of Community

Live remote broadcast Radio One’s Lincoln Ware

Onboard services;

• Lung Cancer Pre-Screening/Education

• HPV Self-Collection Screening and Cervical Cancer Prevention

• Prostate Screenings

• Head/Neck Cancer Screenings

Specific Service Vendors

• UC Cancer Survivorship

• Clinical Research Center

• Cancer Family Care /survivorship resources

• Cancer Justice Network/patient navigation services

• Cancer Support Community

The post Mobile health bus offers cancer screenings appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Alex Lolli

Media Relations | UC Health

UC Health announces the expansion of the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities. This groundbreaking initiative is dedicated to enhancing the health care experience for adults with developmental disabilities. Scheduled to open in 2025, the newly expanded Center on Victory Parkway will provide a comprehensive range of person-centered, interdisciplinary services. These services are specifically designed to meet the unique health care needs of adults aged 18 and older with developmental disabilities.

Since its founding in 2022, the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities has been dedicated to advancing health care for a frequently underserved population. Currently serving over 1,200 adults, the expansion will allow the Center to reach even more patients, reinforcing its mission to not only deliver top-tier medical care but also to educate health care professionals and foster community partnerships that promote health care equity and accessibility. With $3 million in state funding and an additional $3 million in federal funding, the Center has received strong governmental support to continue its mission for the Cincinnati community.

“UC Health is proud to expand the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities,” said Cory Shaw, President and CEO of UC Health. “We’re not just expanding services — we’re reinforcing our commitment to providing personalized, respectful, and dignified care that meets the unique needs of this underserved community. It’s all about making our city healthier and stronger.”

The expansion of the Center has been carefully designed with input from patients, families, caregivers, community leaders, and self-advocates. The facility will be larger, and the layout promotes collaboration among interdisciplinary team members and offers a supportive environment for patients. Key features of the new facility include:

• First-floor parking with improved access to the Center.
• Expanded primary care and behavioral health rooms to enhance capacity.
• Consultation rooms for use by specialty and community partners.
• A community room dedicated to education, collaboration, and other program options.
• A sensory room designed for support and anxiety reduction.
• Accessible Hoyer lifts, adult changing station, and on-site laboratory.

Lauren Wang, MD, Director of the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities at UC Health, emphasized the significance of this expansion: “The expanded facility will position the Freeman Center as a national leader in developmental medicine and interdisciplinary care models, transforming health care for adults with developmental disabilities in our community and beyond.”

The expanded Center represents a significant milestone in providing exceptional care and support for adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Beyond primary care, the Center will offer a broad range of services, including:

• Behavioral health and psychiatry
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Nurse care coordination
• Dietary support
• Social work
• Specialty consults with UC Health providers
• Health care transition planning

Individuals with developmental disabilities have faced significant health disparities due to several factors, including limited access to high-quality medical care, insufficient training of health care providers to address their needs, social determinants of health (such as poverty, race, and gender), and the exclusion of people with developmental disabilities from public health initiatives and preventive measures.

The Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities serves individuals with a variety of developmental disabilities, including but not limited to Angelman syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Rett Syndrome, spina bifida, Williams syndrome, and other rare genetic conditions.

For more insights into the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities Freeman Center’s mission and plans, visit: freemancenter.org

The post UC Health expands developmental disabilities center appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

UC Health’s UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute is leading the way in implementing cutting-edge screening tools for Alzheimer’s disease and offering patients access to the latest therapies and treatments.

The UC Memory Disorders Center has partnered with Cognetivity Neurosciences, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare technology company, to implement CognICA, a cognitive assessment tool, in the clinical setting.

This tool enables primary care and other specialty providers to screen patients who may be at risk for cognitive impairment, including older adults and spine surgery patients. Patients who screen positive on CognICA   will be referred to the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute’s Memory Disorders Center and geriatricians in the health system’s primary care network for further evaluation and diagnosis, allowing detection and treatment to take place as early as possible, when it is most effective.

“This collaboration with Cognetivity, a leader in rapid cognitive screening, will empower our primary care and specialty providers to smartly detect cognitive decline at its early stages and enable early intervention, which we hope will lead to lower mortality and morbidity rates,” said Rhonna Shatz, DO, a physician-researcher at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and medical director of the UC Memory Disorders Center.

Dr. Shatz is a national leader in the detection and treatment of memory disorders, recently partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Ohio Department of Health to lend her expertise to ongoing statewide efforts to develop care systems and pathways to support earlier detection of Alzheimer’s.

CognICA will be one of the tools used by UC Health to identify patients eligible for LECANEMAB, a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in July 2023.

LECANEMAB, also known as Leqembi, is a monoclonal antibody that helps a patient’s immune system target and reduces harmful amyloid proteins from the brain. These amyloid proteins, specifically amyloid beta, form clumps that contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Unlike other Alzheimer’s medications which improve thinking but don’t address the underlying causes, LECANEMAB is a disease-modifying treatment that can preserve cognitive function and independence, helping individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s potentially maintain a higher quality of life. It delays the transition between disease stages and the onset of new symptoms and can be taken alongside other Alzheimer’s medications.

“This new therapy and other pathology-specific dementia treatments have catalyzed a sea change in health system infrastructure, including awareness of the importance of early detection of cognitive change, improved screening tools, the use of biomarkers to diagnose memory disorders, and the need for coordination among multiple health systems to ensure safety and monitor progress over time,” Shatz said. 

Initially, LECANEMAB will be offered to a small number of existing UC Health patients who have already been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, confirmed with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker, and who meet other eligibility requirements for the treatment. However, the goal is to offer access to LECANEMAB to all eligible patients in the region. To meet that goal, the health system is partnering with primary care providers and community health systems to help expand access to the treatment.

The UC Memory Disorders Center also participates in the Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET), a national research initiative that will monitor LECANEMAB patients.

The UC Memory Disorders Center sees about 3,800 patients each year, including more than 600 patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The post UC Health leads alzheimer’s disease screening appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Contributed

Leigh R. Fox, president and CEO of altafiber, has been appointed chair of the University of Cincinnati Foundation Board of Trustees. Fox’s two-year term, leading the Foundation’s 40-member board, began in October. Rae Mang, Pharm ’89, is the immediate past chair.

Fox, MBA ’01, is a first-generation college student whose mother instilled in him the value of higher education. The leader of a 150-year-old global technology company with 4,500 employees says his graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati was instrumental in his success.

“I’m honored to start this year as board chair,” Fox said. “As a UC alumnus, I would not be where I am today without my experience as a Bearcat.”

In his role at the Foundation, Fox will advance the missions of the University of Cincinnati and UC Health through philanthropy.

“Philanthropy ensures that generations of students, thought leaders and innovators are prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow,” he said. “We are working to create a more equitable and inclusive today, across our university’s campuses and in the daily work of patient care and scientific research.”

Fox also serves on Lindner’s Executive Cabinet at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business. He and his wife, Julia, support UC students through scholarships at Lindner and the College Conservatory of Music.

“Leigh understands the impact both education and philanthropy can make on individual lives and entire communities,” said UC Foundation President Peter E. Landgren. “A true servant-leader, he brings passion, his savvy business sense and a desire to help others to this role.”

Fox begins his tenure in the last year of Next, Now: The Campaign for Cincinnati. The fundraising campaign marked its $2 billion milestone in September. He is leading the search committee for the next UC Foundation President; the committee was established after Landgren announced his retirement in August.

Two new trustees were also elected to the UC Foundation Board. Van Jones, BBA ’08, and Nancy Strubbe Santi, BSED ’84.

Jones is Deal Lead at Wellington Access Ventures, the fully dedicated early- stage fund for Wellington Management Company. He serves on the Lindner College of Business Advisory Council and is a mentor at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub.

Santi is a former elementary school teacher and serves on several boards supporting the arts and education, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago Women’s Board and the Women’s Board of the Arts Institute of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The post Altafiber CEO Leigh R. Fox appointed as chair of University of Cincinnati Foundation board appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matt Kittell 

Sam Hubbard Foundation

UC Health, the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, and the Sam Hubbard Foundation team up against food insecurity as part of the Rotary Club’s second annual Rotary Do Days – a three-day community-wide service project to connect volunteers with 35 non-profit groups that need extra hands for special projects.

The largest of those projects was on Thursday, Oct. 26, when more than 100 volunteers packed nonperishable breakfast meals for UC Health’s Food Is Medicine program and its longstanding partner, the Sam Hubbard Foundation.

Other projects from Oct. 26 through 28 ranged from clearing invasive honeysuckle along the Mill Creek to serving meals in homeless shelters, sorting clothing, packing school supplies and painting, cleaning and landscaping at various non-profit sites.

The Rotary Club of Cincinnati rallied more than 600 volunteers for this massive community service weekend. The program collaborated with CincinnatiCares.org – the online volunteer matching service that pairs volunteers with community needs. Making connections is one of the goals, said Rotary Do Days chair Linda Muth, of Union Township.

“We are introducing volunteers and the community to the work being done by some of our incredible non-profits in Greater Cincinnati,” she said. “People want to help, but so often they don’t know where to begin. Rotary Do Days makes it easy to volunteer by organizing projects with time commitments from 90 minutes to several hours and coordinating corporate volunteer teams, individuals, and sponsors for various projects.

The meal packaging project was a prime example of connections that are meeting a critical need in the community. Rotary member Rick Flynn’s Flynn & Company CPAs sponsored purchase of the 12,000 meal packets. The majority of the packaging volunteers are Rotary Club members. UC Health distributed the 12,000 meals to patients in the health system’s primary care clinics through the Food Is Medicine program, a partnership with the Sam Hubbard Foundation and the Freestore Foodbank, that supports individuals and families affected by food insecurity by providing free food, hygiene items and Freestore produce vouchers during visits to their primary care providers.

The meals also were distributed to families at local elementary schools and through The Last Mile Food Rescue as part of UC Health’s partnerships to support families in need across neighboring communities.

“It’s always special anytime you make an impact in your community,” said Cincinnati Bengal Sam Hubbard, founder of the Sam Hubbard Foundation to provide basic needs to local families. “It’s even more meaningful to make that impact with a long-standing community partner like UC Health. The entire Sam Hubbard Foundation team and I appreciate all that the Rotary Club of Cincinnati has done to facilitate this impactful gift that will serve Cincinnatians that need it most,” Hubbard said.

According to UC Health, food insecurity is a growing problem nationally and within our community. In the United States, 38 million people, including 12 million children, experience food insecurity. In the Cincinnati region, more than 270,000 households experience food insecurity.

UC Health’s Food is Medicine program screens patients for food insecurity during visits to their primary care provider. Those who need support can immediately access an in-office food pantry stocked with pantry staples and hygiene items, and they receive Freestore Foodbank vouchers for fresh produce. The program is located at the UC Health Hoxworth Internal Medicine and Pediatric Clinic in Clifton. However, patients across the health system will receive the meals donated by the Rotary Club and Sam Hubbard Foundation.

The post Cincinnati Bengal Sam Hubbard and UC Health Partner to Provide Free Meals for Those in Need appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Alex Lolli

UC Health 

and Kathryn Robinson

Cincinnati Public Schools

UC Health and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) have announced a partnership aimed at enhancing community safety and emergency response capabilities. These two respected institutions revealed their united commitment to introducing the “Stop the Bleed” training program to junior and senior students at CPS.      

“This initiative is set to revolutionize the way we prepare our future leaders to respond to emergencies, fostering a safer and more resilient community for all,”officials said.

The “Stop the Bleed” program is a life-saving educational initiative designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively in the critical minutes following a traumatic injury. By teaching students vital hemorrhage control techniques, this collaboration seeks to equip our youth with the tools to make a real difference in times of crisis.

The primary objective of this partnership is to raise awareness of the UC Health Stop the Bleed Training program among CPS stakeholders, which includes teachers, staff, and, most importantly, the students. UC Health’s Trauma Outreach teams will play a pivotal role in delivering this critical training, ensuring that as many individuals as possible receive the knowledge they need to save lives.

“Our partnership with UC Health enhances the safety of our school community, but also empowers our students with knowledge, skills and confidence to ‘Stop the Bleed,'” CPS Superintendent and CEO Iranetta Rayborn Wright said. “By teaching our students live-saving skills, together, we are equipping them with preparedness and compassion to create a safer, more resilient community.” 

“Stop the Bleed” isn’t just a program; it’s a movement that empowers students and staff with essential bleeding control techniques, Amy Makley, Director of Trauma at UC Health. “By arming them with the knowledge and tools to act swiftly in times of crisis, we’re paving the way for a community that’s better prepared to face the unexpected, ultimately protecting lives.”

This exciting collaboration will set in motion a series of training sessions at CPS, where students will acquire essential skills for responding to life-threatening situations. 

For more information on the “Stop the Bleed” training program, contact: Regina Menninger, UC Health Trauma Prevention and Outreach Coordinator at Regina.Menninger@uchealth.com

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By Heather Chura Smith, MS

Heather.Chura-Smith@UCHealth.com

Just 15 minutes could save your life. That’s why the breast cancer experts at UC Health provide mobile mammography visits in communities across Greater Cincinnati.

Throughout the month of October, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the UC Health Mobile Mammography Unit will visit various locations around the region.

Mammograms can detect abnormalities in breast tissue before more obvious symptoms are present, and they remain the most reliable screening method for early detection of breast cancer.

As the region’s only triple-accredited breast cancer center, UC Health’s highly experienced, board-certified team of experts provide the same quality of care via the mammography van as in an office environment.

UC Health’s 40-foot-long 3D Mobile Mammography Van is equipped with the very latest in mammogram screening technology and offers a comfortable registration area, waiting space and private changing rooms.

Screenings typically take about 15 minutes, and results will be sent to your provider within 1-3 business days. Mammograms for women ages 40 and up do not require a referral, but appointments are required.

Most insurance plans cover a yearly mammogram. Patients are encouraged to check their insurance policy for more information. Call now to schedule an appointment: 513-584-PINK (7465).

To find a mobile mammography appointment in a community near you, please visit https://www.uchealth.com/584-pink/events/.

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By Christopher Strauchon, D.O.

Director of Urogynecology

UC Health Women’s Center 

Urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine, is a common condition affecting an estimated 50% of adult women — and the issue becomes even more common as women age. Yet, many women are hesitant about seeking treatment for urinary incontinence. 

What’s stopping women from getting help? For some, it can be feelings of embarrassment or a lack of knowledge of treatment options. Others may think to themselves, “This is just a part of getting older.” 

The good news — urinary incontinence is not a normal part of the aging process, and there are treatment options available.  

So, if urinary incontinence is not a part of the normal aging process, what causes it? Urinary incontinence can be divided into three main categories — stress incontinence, urge incontinence (also known as overactive bladder) and overflow incontinence.

• Stress incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine associated with physical activity such as lifting, jumping, coughing, sneezing or laughing.  
• Urge incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine usually associated with a strong sensation of need to urinate and being unable to control it. 
• Overflow incontinence is the continuous dribbling of urine due to incomplete bladder emptying.

There are also risk factors that are associated with the development of urinary incontinence: 

• Caffeine and alcohol intake. 
• Smoking.
• Obesity. 
• Depression. 
• Number of births and type of delivery. 
• Family history
• History of a hysterectomy. 
• Diabetes.
• Stroke. 
• Neurologic disease. 

Depending on the type of urinary incontinence a woman has, therapies can range from lifestyle modifications to medications and surgical interventions. Helpful lifestyle changes can include quitting smoking, decreasing caffeine intake and weight loss. 

Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms? Here’s what to do next. 

It is very important for women suffering with urinary incontinence symptoms to let their primary health care provider know, as failure to seek treatment can significantly impact quality of life. In older patient populations, it can lead to medical problems such as urinary tract infections, skin irritation and breakdown and increased risk of falls. 

After speaking to your primary provider, he or she may be able to refer you to a urogynecologist, who is specialized in conditions such as urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse and can recommend the best treatment plan for you. 

Remember, you are not alone. Urinary incontinence is a very common condition, and there are many treatment options available to you.  

For more information regarding urinary incontinence, connect with our UC Heath Female Pelvic Health team by calling 513-475-8248 or visit uchealth.com. 

The post Don’t let urinary incontinence affect your quality of life – learn about treatment options appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .