On October 19th, 2013, the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) will host an Open House to connect with the public bringing to attention how we work to meet the medical needs of our community. We will share essential health information and useful information of the medical services and other support services that are available at our hospital.
The Open House is scheduled in a month when the public is very sensitized about Breast Cancer. While we cannot provide sure ways to prevent breast cancer we want to remind women that they should take actions to check their health regularly because early detection is the best protection against breast cancer.
The Open House will begin with short lectures on breast cancer; prevention and care for persons living with breast cancer. Presenters are Dr. Henk Wassenaar, Oncologist at SMMC and Ms Shelly Alphonso, Positive Foundation President. Women wanting to learn how to do Breast Self Examinations should attend. Attendees will also learn about new developments in breast cancer studies and treatments. The lectures will begin at 3:00pm.
A special feature at the Open House is a Zumba Session. More and more, research is showing that exercise can reduce women’s risk of getting breast cancer. Exercise is also helpful in restoring movement for patients who have had breast cancer surgery. When we regularly do the right exercises for our body we can easily maintain good health. Twice a week, an SMMC nurse leads a Zumba session for employees at our hospital. This fun way to exercise will be shared with all who choose to register to experience this fun Zumba session in our parking lot at 5:00pm-6:00pm.
Free Breast Examinations is another special feature at this Open House. It is important to have your breast examined regularly to detect early, possible risks for breast cancer. Two of our specialists, Dr. F. Holiday, General Surgeon and Dr. H. Wassenaar, Oncologist will give breast examinations at no cost to the public. This service will be available between 4:30pm- 7:00pm.
On a guided tour during the open house, the public is invited to explore areas of our hospital. Career and education opportunities can also be explored at our open house. Each year we receive more than 50 interns at our hospital. We also teach accelerated nursing programs by our own education department. Information on these opportunities to learn and work at SMMC will be available.
We hope to connect with a lot of people at our open house on October 19th. There will be a lot to learn, great things to experience and interesting areas and opportunities to explore.