Women's Health Care Expo Returns This Year to Crowne Plaza East

Correction: The "Healthy Women, Healthy Communities Women's Expo" takes place Saturday, Jan. 28. An earlier version of this story had an incorrect date.

Update: Coverage of the Jan. 28 event is posted at, Women Make Their Health a Priority at Health Care Expo

 

It's been less than a year since two hospitals joined forces in a public gathering to focus on the health care concerns of women, touching on issues traditionally discussed over private lunches between friends.

That event, the "Healthy Women, Healthy Communities Women's Expo," is scheduled this year for Jan. 28, hosted by and South Bay Hospital of Sun City Center.

"We got an overwhelming response from the community after our April [2011] event to offer this event again," said Patty Montgomery, director of marketing and public relations for Brandon Regional Hospital. "Women enjoyed themselves, they learned valuable health information and the connected with many of our local health vendors in the community, as well as with other businesses in the community."

To satisfy that call, the "Healthy Women, Healthy Communities" health care exposition returns for a second annual gathering, this time at the Greater Brandon Crowne Plaza, at 10221 Princess Palm Ave.

Last year's event was held at HCC at The Regent, in the Winthrop community.

"We needed a facility that was more accommodating," Montgomery said, referring to the one-floor flow of the hotel allowing for a closer mix of seminars and vendor tables.

"As women, we put our own health behind everyone else's," Montgomery said, in discussing why the exposition has been deemed a must-do hospital event.
"We are asking women to take time out from their busy schedules to take care of their own health."

Topics include even the most sensitive of issues, including:

• Menopause, Hormones, Health and Happiness

• Immunizing Yourself Against Stress and Depression
  
  
• Heavy Periods Put a Cramp in Your Life?
  
  
• Heartburn Reflux: It's Time To Talk
  
  
• The Road to Healthy Living, which involves a discussion of screenings women should have at certain ages.
  
  
• Not Tonight Honey, I Have a Headache, which "focuses on how busy our lives are and how that interferes with our intimate relationships," Montgomery said.

The cost to attend is $10 and includes the price of lunch. Registration begins at 8 a.m., to be followed by a tour of vendor tables, lectures at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and lunch.

"Our lunch speaker is Betsy Lieberman, who is going to talk about how as women we can learn to fix things around the house and to do it with the right, proper ergonomic tools, so we don’t strain ourselves," Montgomery said.

Screenings available include:

• Bone density
• Blood pressure
• PAD peripheral
• Arterial disease
• Skin cancer

Also, a foot doctor to will examine women's feet and hearing exams will be provided. Florida Blood Services will be on hand for women who want to donate blood.

Sponsors are The Tampa Tribune, Osprey Observer, Brandon Mitsubishi, Compounding Shop, PNC Bank and Women's Care Florida, Montgomery said.

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