Spirit of the Heart Brings Free Heart Screenings to Brooklyn, NY

Association of Black Cardiologists, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration and Bridge Street AME Church brings Awareness Campaign to Brooklyn, NY

Community Leaders Breakfast Forum & Health Screenings – Saturday, December 7, 2013

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SPIRIT OF THE HEART-BROOKLYN BY ASSOCIATION OF BLACK CARDIOLOGISTS (ABC), SUNY DOWNSTATE AND BEDFORD STUYVESANT RESTORATION begins on Saturday, December 7 at the Bridge Street AME Church, 277 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, with a Community Leaders Forum Breakfast that will feature top doctors, public health officials, nutrition experts and civic leaders.  Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, incoming Brooklyn Borough President Sen. Eric Adams, U.S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, NBA 4-time Champion John Salley, local Cardiology specialist Oluyemi Badera, MD, ABC President Ola Akinboboye, MD, ABC President Elect, Icilma V. Fergus, MD, McDonald's Nutritional Consultant Shaye Arluk, MS, RD, HFI,  and Pastor Natalie Mitchem, Executive Director of Connectional Health Commission of the AME Church Worldwide, will discuss prevention, balanced food options and treatment of heart disease with the audience.

McDONALD'S SHOWCASES COMMITMENT TO NUTRITION

During the forum, McDonald's® USA nutrition consultant, Shaye Arluk, MS, RD, HFI,  will discuss the quick service restaurant's commitment to offer improved nutritional choices and highlight heart-friendly, balanced meal options. In addition, McDonald's will provide attendees with a complimentary breakfast, featuring popular menu items, including Egg White Delight McMuffin®, Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and more.

SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY JOHN SALLEY

BROOKLYN'S HOME TOWN BOY IS A 4-TIME NBA CHAMPION.  Salley played for the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.  He is a father, athlete, actor, entrepreneur, talk show host, philanthropist, wellness advocate and champion.  He is working with the ABC as a wellness advocate and role model to the community of Brooklyn.

ABC COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

Following the breakfast forum, the community is invited to the Health Fair at the church that will offer participants free health screenings and assessments, consultations with healthcare professionals, and healthy lifestyle cooking and exercise demonstrations. Children are invited to participate in the "Kid's Area" where they will learn about nutrition tools while having fun. Participants will be treated to live entertainment celebrating health throughout the day while visiting the vendors providing information about services related to healthcare.

Special Health Messages from the Pulpit - Sunday

SPIRIT OF THE HEART-BROOKLYN culminates on Sunday, December 8 with mini-health messages from ABC member physicians at participating AME churches.  Congregants will be provided educational materials and hear about lifestyle modifications, nutrition and healthcare seeking tips.

"We are bringing experienced health care professionals to residents in low income communities," said Ola Akinboboye, MD, president of the Association of Black Cardiologists. "The Spirit of the Heart program is free. Friends and family are welcome to take part in heart health screenings and interact with the many different healthy living vendors on site at the health fair."

Spirit of the Heart comes as national health data and government research show widening health disparities between people of color and the general population. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicates that there is a significant increase of teens, and young people, aged 15 to 44 hospitalized for stroke due partly to the increasing numbers of young people who have conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. They report that more than 1 out of 4 deaths in New York are due to heart disease.

"Community outreach," said Icilma Fergus, MD, President Elect of ABC and Chair, Community Programs, "is an essential component to the work that health care providers do to ultimately reduce cardiovascular mortality because it reaches people at the elemental level."

Area residents will have an opportunity to speak with experts and learn about resources available to improve their health.

WHO: Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. (ABC), SUNY Downstate, elected officials, community leaders and heart patients and their families.

WHAT: Spirit of the Heart - Brooklyn

WHEN: December 7-8, 2013  8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

WHERE: Bridge Street AME Church, 277 Stuyvesant Ave, Brooklyn, NY

7 Steps to a Healthy Heart patient education booklet

Trailer - Before You Eat the Church Food, Watch this Video!

www.abcardio.org

Contact: Andre Williams, [email protected], 202-375-6524

SOURCE Association of Black Cardiologists