Members of the Southcoast Worksite Health & Wellness Collaborative enjoyed a presentation on March 12, 2015 on Preventative Cardiology by Michael Rocha, M.D. Dr. Rocha is a cardiologist at Hawthorne Medical Associates and the Heart Failure Director at St. Luke's Hospital. Dr. Rocha titled his talk "How to Avoid Seeing Me as a Cardiologist and Put Me Out of Business" and went on to talk about what's needed to bring the rate of heart disease down in the South Coast Area. He emphasized the importance of healthy eating, regular exercise, mindfulness and stress reduction throughout the hour-long talk. The monthly Collaborative meetings, often held at the Sylvia Insurance Company headquarters on Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth, offer presentations on a number of topics related to worksite wellness. Past meetings have focused on healthy eating, stress in the workplace, ergonomics, CPR, and on substance abuse. Click here, here, here and here for video of previous presentations at the Collaborative meetings. Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP Chairperson Angela Bras at 774-400-4466.

(Top row) At the List Conference Room of the Family Service Association, Collaborative Chairperson Angela Bras talks with Elaine Couto of Joseph Abboud Manufacturing and Jennifer Boulay of Coastline Elderly Services, both of New Bedford, before the meeting. (Middle row) Dr. Rocha takes the audience through the research that supports preventative approaches to heart disease that can be practiced in the community with few additional resources, including his New Bedford Wellness Initiative that emphasizes moderate exercise, stress reduction and good nutrition. (Bottom row, center) Partners Executive Director Dr. David Weed chats with Dr. Rocha following his presentation. (Bottom row, right) Guests Tim Donahue of Yoga for Kids, Inc. and Jessica Webb who does workplace mindfulness teaching through Anchor Yoga and Meditation,enjoyed the presentation.