Hospital’s Women’s Heart Wellness Center receives $18,500 raised from 5K run

June 25, 2015

The Hospital of Central Connecticut’s Women’s Heart Wellness Center recently received a check for $18,500 as beneficiary of the March 28 second annual Running with Scissors 5K Run/Walk in memory of Karen Pfaffenbach at Sears Park in East Hampton.

The run, with nearly 200 participants, was organized by a group of childhood friends of Karen Pfaffenbach who died in April 2013 from heart disease. Funds for the center will primarily support community outreach and education for women about heart disease prevention and management.

“We are so pleased to be the recipient of this wonderful donation from this terrific event that continues to raise awareness of the prevalence of heart disease in women,” says Justin Lundbye, M.D., FACC, chief of Cardiology. “We are especially grateful to the women who started the Running with Scissors event. Some of last year’s run proceeds went toward our recent successful Pinot and Prevention event in New Britain that also helped get the word out about women and heart disease.”

Pictured with the oversized check at HOCC are (from left) Justin Lundbye, M.D., FACC, chief of Cardiology; event organizers Dorothy Winch, Monica Turning, JoAnn Pagliughi, Corliss Gucci; Heather Swales, M.D., FACC, director, Women’s Heart Wellness Center; Laura Labrecque, RN, MSN, director of Cardiovascular Services, Central Region; and Nancy Kroeber, HOCC vice president, Operations.

At the March run, The Hospital of Central Connecticut fielded a team of participants and had a station representing the Department of Cardiology and WomenHeart of Central Connecticut.

Those who visit the Women’s Heart Wellness Center, which specializes in cardiac care for women, are seen by a board-certified cardiologist. At the initial center appointment a patient will receive a gender-specific risk factor screening to address cardiac risk factors specific to women, symptom assessment and a physical exam. If necessary, tests will be ordered and followed by a personalized treatment plan.

HOCC, a founding member of the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance, provides a monthly peer-led support network, WomenHeart of Central Connecticut, for women with heart disease.

For more information about the Women’s Heart Wellness Center or to schedule an appointment, please call 860-224-5694. For more information or to register for an upcoming WomenHeart of Central Connecticut support network meeting, please call 1.800.321.6244.

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) is a 414-bed, 32-bassinet acute care teaching hospital with two campuses, New Britain General and Bradley Memorial in Southington. A member of Hartford HealthCare, HOCC services include emergency, inpatient, surgery, laboratory, outpatient, and radiology. Among specialty areas are cardiovascular care, metabolic health, obstetrics, oncology, orthopedics, and psychiatry/behavioral health. For more information, please visit www.thocc.org; for a physician referral, call 1.800.321.6244.