Health Is the Key

This month, 1199 members Sal Oliveri and Joanne Rosso from Long Island Community Hospital join us to share their WeightWatchers secret to success. Spoiler alert: It’s each other! For nearly two years, Sal and Joanne have supported one another throughout their weight-loss journeys on WeightWatchers – and they show no signs of stopping. Whether they’re celebrating successes or navigating challenges, these two friends and co-workers truly demonstrate the power of “strength in members.”
The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members, like Sal and Joanne, through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioSal Oliveri is a radiology imaging associate at Long Island Community Hospital, where he works with Joanne Rosso, a unit secretary in the emergency department. Friends for nearly 10 years, both Sal and Joanne began their health journeys on WeightWatchers to lose weight, feel better in mind and spirit, and ensure that they’re around for a long time to enjoy all of life’s pleasures with their families and friends. View their Healthy Living story in our Members' Voices  series.

In our September episode, Dr. Chiti Parikh joined us to explore how setting a health intention and focusing on four basics of well-being – nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management – can support you on your health journey. In this month’s Key Note episode, Dr. Parikh shares a brief overview of her book, Intentional Health, and the inspiration behind it.The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
For more information about the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program, visit www.nyp.org/integrative-health-program
To find Dr. Parikh’s book, visit www.intentionalhealth.io.
Guest Bio
Chiti Parikh, MD, is the Executive Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, with additional training in Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture and Ayurveda. 
 
To provide the highest level of compassionate and individualized care, Dr. Parikh combines cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern traditions into a truly holistic approach. She has co-founded the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program, the leading integrative center in the country, which offers modalities such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, nutrition and psychotherapy.Dr. Parikh’s focus on prevention helps her address not just the physical but also psychological, social and environmental influences on health and healing. She recently published her first book, Intentional Health. Dr. Parikh has been featured on NBC News and Vice news, and in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Women’s Health and The Wall Street Journal.

When Dr. Chiti Parikh meets a new patient, the first question she asks is “What is your health intention?” In the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program at NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Parikh treats each patient as a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms – a philosophy the Benefit Funds have long embraced. In this episode, Dr. Parikh explains how setting a health intention and focusing on four basics of well-being – nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management – can support you on your health journey.The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
For more information about the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program, visit www.nyp.org/integrative-health-program
To find Dr. Parikh’s book, visit www.intentionalhealth.io.
Guest BioChiti Parikh, MD, is the Executive Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, with additional training in Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture and Ayurveda. To provide the highest level of compassionate and individualized care, Dr. Parikh combines cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern traditions into a truly holistic approach. She has co-founded the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program, the leading integrative center in the country, which offers modalities such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, nutrition and psychotherapy.Dr. Parikh’s focus on prevention helps her address not just the physical but also psychological, social and environmental influences on health and healing. She recently published her first book, Intentional Health. Dr. Parikh has been featured on NBC News and Vice news, and in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Women’s Health and The Wall Street Journal.

In our August episode, Dr. Harly Greenberg explained the mysteries behind sleep – and the secrets to getting a good night’s rest, one of which is meditation. In our Key Note episode, we share a soothing sleep meditation, led by the Benefit Funds’ own Lupe Flores, an LMSW in the Wellness Member Assistance Program, to help you wind down and ease into a gentle sleep. Sweet dreams!The Takeaway
Practice these good-sleep habits: www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/special/get-good-night-sleep.pdf
If you consistently have trouble sleeping, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioHarly Greenberg, MD, FCCP, FASM Dr. Greenberg is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Associate Director of the Northwell Lung Institute, Medical Director of the Northwell Sleep Disorders Center and  Professor of Medicine Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.
Dr. Greenberg is a recognized expert in sleep medicine and has helped advance the field of sleep medicine as an investigator or co-investigator in multiple clinical research trials. His research has contributed to our understanding of the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Greenberg was a co-investigator in a major international clinical trial that established the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure therapy as an important treatment for patients with milder forms of obstructive sleep apnea. His work has contributed to the development of new therapies for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Sleep: It’s something we all crave but can’t seem to get enough of. Regular, restful sleep boosts brain health and mood and protects against a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, obesity and dementia. But a recent survey found that most of us don’t get the recommended seven hours a night. In this episode, Dr. Harly Greenberg explains the mysteries behind sleep – and the secret to getting a good night’s rest. Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Dr. Greenberg explains all things sleep: why we need it, what messes with it and what we can do to improve it.The Takeaway:
Practice these good-sleep habits: www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/special/get-good-night-sleep.pdf
If you consistently have trouble sleeping, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioHarly Greenberg, MD, FCCP, FASM Dr. Greenberg is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Associate Director of the Northwell Lung Institute, Medical Director of the Northwell Sleep Disorders Center and  Professor of Medicine Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.
Dr. Greenberg is a recognized expert in sleep medicine and has helped advance the field of sleep medicine as an investigator or co-investigator in multiple clinical research trials. His research has contributed to our understanding of the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Greenberg was a co-investigator in a major international clinical trial that established the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure therapy as an important treatment for patients with milder forms of obstructive sleep apnea. His work has contributed to the development of new therapies for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Healthcare leaders have called type 2 diabetes “a national health crisis,” but our guest this month has good news to share. Jessica Vatel, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, is excited by the latest approaches to treating diabetes, including education, coaching and personal empowerment. Working with people living with the condition to develop healthy habits and problem-solving skills, Jessica discusses how putting the power in patients’ hands—along with medical advances—is helping more people manage their diabetes.
The Takeaway: 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers:  www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. 
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with diabetes and get your primary care from a physician at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, learn more about their Diabetes Care Program by calling (718) 250-6433. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.virtahealth.com/join/1199. 
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
View Jessica in action, counseling Home Health Aide Lavern King: https://youtu.be/19slcdFvH7w. 
Guest Bio: 
Jessica Vatel is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she has been employed as an 1199SEIU member since 2015. Jessica specializes in all aspects of support for people living with diabetes, including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy), medications, weight management, monitoring/preventive screenings, and developing healthy coping skills/problem solving skills to better manage and live with diabetes. Jessica feels passionate about empowering patients to manage their health and increase their knowledge surrounding disease management to ultimately improve their quality of life. 

Healthcare leaders have called type 2 diabetes “a national health crisis,” but our guest this month has good news to share. Jessica Vatel, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, is excited by the latest approaches to treating diabetes, including education, coaching and personal empowerment. Working with people living with the condition to develop healthy habits and problem-solving skills, Jessica discusses how putting the power in patients’ hands—along with medical advances—is helping more people manage their diabetes.
The Takeaway 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers:  www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. 
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with diabetes and get your primary care from a physician at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, learn more about their Diabetes Care Program by calling (718) 250-6433. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.virtahealth.com/join/1199. 
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
View Jessica in action, counseling Home Health Aide Lavern King:  www.1199seiubenefits.org/jessica-vatel-and-lavern-king.
Guest Bio
Jessica Vatel is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she has been employed as an 1199SEIU member since 2015. Jessica specializes in all aspects of support for people living with diabetes, including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy), medications, weight management, monitoring/preventive screenings, and developing healthy coping skills/problem solving skills to better manage and live with diabetes. Jessica feels passionate about empowering patients to manage their health and increase their knowledge surrounding disease management to ultimately improve their quality of life. 

In this month’s episode, Dr. Hugo Ortega joins us as we take a look at lifestyle medicine – a fresh approach to healthcare that more and more physicians are embracing. Dr. Ortega, an associate program director for the Montefiore Einstein Internal Medicine Residency Program in the Bronx, shares his personal story of how he became interested in lifestyle medicine and how it informs the way he treats his patients and teaches his residents. He outlines the six basic pillars of lifestyle medicine and explains how paying attention to each can help get to the root causes of poor health and help us live our best lives. 
Keep the conversation going and tag us or comment on our Facebook or Instagram pages with your thoughts and questions.  
www.facebook.com/1199SEIUBenefitFunds 
www.instagram.com/1199seiubenefitfunds 
 
The Takeaway 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Learn more about lifestyle medicine by visiting the American College of Lifestyle Medicine website: www.LifestyleMedicine.org. 
Get the basics on whole-food, plant-based nutrition at www.PlantPoweredMetroNY.org. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts 
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.  
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our  YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
Guest Bio 
Dr. Hugo Ortega is an associate program director for the Montefiore Einstein Internal Medicine Residency Program in the Bronx and served on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Board of Directors as Young Director. The college also awarded him the Health Equity Achieved Through Lifestyle Medicine (HEAL) Initiative Scholarship, which aims to support a diverse healthcare workforce. With a passion for medical education and a master’s degree in health professions education, Dr. Ortega completed his residency in primary care and social internal medicine and has developed an expertise in lifestyle medicine. Believing education to be the cornerstone of changing the current landscape of healthcare, Dr. Ortega says teaching students and residents to be aware of the complex social systems that determine health allow for better adaptation to the system while also fighting to change it. Experienced in development, implementation and evaluation of undergraduate/graduate medical education curriculum, Dr. Ortega has also developed administrative and leadership skills during the creation and directing of the lifestyle medicine programs at Northwell Health. Dr. Ortega believes strongly in giving back to the community via education and mentorship, empowering people to take charge of their health and influence others. 

In this month’s episode, Dr. Hugo Ortega joins us as we take a look at lifestyle medicine – a fresh approach to healthcare that more and more physicians are embracing. Dr. Ortega, an associate program director for the Montefiore Einstein Internal Medicine Residency Program in the Bronx, shares his personal story of how he became interested in lifestyle medicine and how it informs the way he treats his patients and teaches his residents. He outlines the six basic pillars of lifestyle medicine and explains how paying attention to each can help get to the root causes of poor health and help us live our best lives. 
 
The Takeaway 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Learn more about lifestyle medicine by visiting the American College of Lifestyle Medicine website: www.LifestyleMedicine.org. 
Get the basics on whole-food, plant-based nutrition at www.PlantPoweredMetroNY.org. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts 
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.  
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our  YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
 
Guest Bio 
Dr. Hugo Ortega is an associate program director for the Montefiore Einstein Internal Medicine Residency Program in the Bronx and served on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Board of Directors as Young Director. The college also awarded him the Health Equity Achieved Through Lifestyle Medicine (HEAL) Initiative Scholarship, which aims to support a diverse healthcare workforce. With a passion for medical education and a master’s degree in health professions education, Dr. Ortega completed his residency in primary care and social internal medicine and has developed an expertise in lifestyle medicine. Believing education to be the cornerstone of changing the current landscape of healthcare, Dr. Ortega says teaching students and residents to be aware of the complex social systems that determine health allow for better adaptation to the system while also fighting to change it. Experienced in development, implementation and evaluation of undergraduate/graduate medical education curriculum, Dr. Ortega has also developed administrative and leadership skills during the creation and directing of the lifestyle medicine programs at Northwell Health. Dr. Ortega believes strongly in giving back to the community via education and mentorship, empowering people to take charge of their health and influence others. 

In this episode, the Benefit Funds’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Van H. Dunn, discusses the importance of building a healthy relationship with a primary care provider. Putting the emphasis on prevention – catching small problems before they become big ones – Dr. Dunn details the ways in which healthcare providers treat the whole person. He also explores the reasons why many people avoid seeing a provider regularly (and how to overcome them) and offers tips on what to look for in a provider – and what to avoid. 
The Takeaway 
Find a provider by browsing the Benefit Funds’ Provider Directory: www.1199seiubenefits.org/find-a-provider/.  
Visit our Healthy Living Resource Center for info on how to build a solid relationship with your healthcare provider: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships. 
Talk to your doctor about any screenings you may need: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthybodies.  
Know your numbers to know where you stand: www.1199seiubenefits.org/healthyhearts/
For additional support, call our Wellness Member Assistance Program: (646) 473-6900. 
 
Guest Bio 
Van H. Dunn, MD, MPH, FACP, is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the 1199SEIU Benefit Funds. As CMO, he oversees the Funds’ clinical, care management and analytics functions, and is responsible for pursuing health and wellness initiatives and value-based strategies. Prior to joining the Funds, Dr. Dunn served as Senior Vice President for Medical and Professional Affairs and CMO at NYC Health + Hospitals, and as CMO for MetroPlus Health Plan. He also served as Deputy Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and as Senior Health Policy Advisor to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, advancing policy and legislation relating to healthcare reform, health promotion, disease prevention, women’s and minorities’ health, disparities in healthcare and biomedical research, among other critical initiatives.  
Dr. Dunn holds a Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medical College) and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health (now the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).