Women today are often expected to do it all: maintain a happy home, work, and care for their family and community. But if today’s women don’t invest time in their own mental and physical health, their ability to keep up with those “caregiver” roles may suffer.
That’s why the University of Michigan Health System’s Women’s Health Program is presenting Women’s Health Day 2001, an annual event designed to help women put the focus back on themselves as they learn about numerous topics relating to the body and mind.
The event, planned for Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Morris Lawrence Building of Washtenaw Community College, will feature inspirational lectures, a choice of workshops on important health and wellness topics, and free screenings for common diseases that affect women. This year’s theme, “Who’s Caring for the Caregiver?” shapes the workshop topics, which range from managing menopause and handling stress, to building confidence and improving heart health.
Admission for the entire day, including continental breakfast and lunch, is only $10, with a limited number of scholarships available. Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended, by the Women’s Health Resource Center, (734) 936-8886 or on the Web at www.med.umich.edu/whp.
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with registration and health screenings, followed by a keynote address featuring Byllye Avery, founder of the National Black Women’s Health Project. Avery, described as both a dreamer and grass-roots realist who has been a women’s health care activist for more than 25 years, will give an inspirational talk on achieving balance in daily life.
The morning then offers the opportunity to choose two of twelve workshops, and to browse exhibits and take part in more health screenings. The day will conclude with a lunch address, “Simplify and Revive Your Life,” by Elizabeth Allen, associate professor of nursing. Allen will draw upon her unique life experiences and her “tell it like it is” philosophy to motivate women to put their lives into focus. The event will end around 2:30 p.m.
The event is sponsored by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories and the UMHS Women’s Health Program, a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.