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The Communication Arts Department of St Francis College teamed up with the Theater Production Workshop to perform The Antigone Project on Dec. 3. There were two showings of the unique theatrical offering at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m at the Maroney Forum for Arts, Culture & Education in Brooklyn Heights.
The play was commissioned by the Women’s Project as a forum to discourse on the idea of Antigone, the archetypal symbol of female protest. The idea was spun off in different settings from contemporary rural Africa to a netherworld totalitarian regime at the beach.
Director Kathryn Grant decided that the students would have the opportunity to explore different milieus and the fact that there were parts for everybody sealed the deal.
The result was a play that traverses multiple genres using comedy, pathos, satire and elements of Greek tragedy. Below is a two-minute feeler of how it felt to be there on the occasion.

Everyone knows about the AIDS ribbon and the pink breast cancer ribbon. But how many people are aware of a ribbon that resembles two white twisted socks? Designed by students of Parsons the New School for Design, it’s the symbol for Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT. This singular image stood out at the 27th Annual Women’s Health Symposium to benefit the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Herbert Pardes, Dr. Andrew Schafer, Melanie Bloom, Dr. Orli Etingin, Joan Weill and Myra Mahon at the symposium. Photo by Joe Vericker, PhotoBureau, Inc.

But what is DVT? This serious medical condition occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. It affects an estimated two million Americans annually. Approximately 600,000 of them will develop pulmonary embolism, a complication that can damage the lungs and even result in death.

The symposium was one of the early programs in the city dedicated to educating women about significant health issues. Marilyn Meadow, who is turning 87 on Thursday, said she has attended the Women’s Health Symposium each of the last five years. So what keeps bringing her back? “They break down the issue for you to understand,” she said. “We are not well versed in it, so I find it very informative.”

Ironically, DVT is not a women-only condition. Melaine Bloom is the National Patient Spokesperson for the Coalition to Prevent DVT. Bloom became a champion for DVT awareness after her husband, NBC News Correspondent David Bloom, died from DVT complications while covering the war in Iraq. “By putting a personal face on DVT, the coalition has reached millions of Americans,” said Bloom. “DVT has been the dubbed the silent killer because 50 per cent of the time, there are no warning signs,” she added.

President and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Herbert Pardes said: “Our number one, two and three priority are patients and their families. We’re trying figure out ways to have the best treatment available and to give people the tools to help them help their families.”

The other speakers were Andrew I. Schafer, Physician-in-Chief of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Orli Etingin, the founder and Medical Director of the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center. They explained in detail about the symptoms of DVT and those who are at increased risk for developing the condition. The risk factors include a family history of DVT, immobility, such as bed rest or sitting for long periods of time, pregnancy, recent surgery, previous or current cancer, and use of oral contraceptives.

The symposium also made the point that the symptoms, when noticed, can be misdiagnosed. They include discoloration of the legs, leg pain or tenderness, swelling of the leg, warm skin and leg fatigue.

Robin L. Davisson, a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, said that though she knew about the scientific aspects of the condition, she had come to hear a more personal side of the story about DVT.

Most of the speakers stressed that DVT was still an unknown condition and that needed to change. “Raising awareness is key,” said Bloom. “For the past five years I have been telling David’s story to try and save lives, in his honor and his memory…”

Beyonce’s voice boomed out of the Harlem Hospital Centre auditorium and you would be forgiven if you thought it belonged in a nightclub. The image of Herbert Cave Auditorium with the students of P.S. 4, P.S. 197, and Bronx High School of Medical Science dancing to the tune of ‘All the single ladies’ along with the hospital staff was not one that you would soon forget. The freshly scrubbed white hospital walls outside the room looked like any other and the counters of the Hip Hop Public Health Education Center, Touro College and Project Aspire among others were the only exceptions.

Rapper Doug E. Fresh joined Easy AD and DJ Barry B in using hip-hop to educate kids and teens about eating and living healthy. “If you are healthy, put your hands up,” screamed Fresh and every kid was on his or her feet. Barry B spun created the beat and Fresh got the kids to shake their hips onstage. “Get the message to your parents,” said Fresh. “This is how you lose calories,” he added.

There was also a clever animated presentation about how strokes occur featuring Fresh’s music and voice. The children were fascinated by many of the items on display in the gallery, which included an actual human brain. But that was not all – two sets of lungs, one pair healthy and the other blackened by smoking, were on display next to it.

Dr. Olajide Williams of Harlem Hospital, the ‘Hip Hop Doc’, is co-creator of the ‘Hip Hop Stroke’ program with Fresh. The program was developed in partnership with the hospital center to teach schoolchildren about stroke symptoms and motivate them to take urgent action if they recognize it. “When you become famous, remember this day,” said Dr. Williams. “Fresh is putting his fame and fortune back into his community,” he added.

Timothy D. Bellavia, President/CEO of The Tolerance in Multi Media Education Company Inc, talked about what he called the ‘Yes, I can’ program. The company is partnering with Project Aspire, a program to encourage the healthcare aspirations of students in Central Harlem. “We are urging kids to make healthy life choices by eating smart and replacing sweets with carrots,” said Bellavia. “We are also broadening their world view with special children’s books,” he stated.

Dr. Stuart Feldman, Dean, Touro College of Pharmacy, said they were encouraging kids to think about a career as a pharmacist. “We believe in the community of Harlem,” said Dr. Lois A. Garland-Patterson, Assistant Dean, Assessment and Student Affairs, Touro College of Pharmacy. “Our mission is to minimize the health disparity present,” she said. “We do that by educating people to become healthcare providers,” she added.

Dr. Garland-Patterson also stressed the importance of the role of pharmacists. “People go to a doctor with a mindset of ‘what’s my diagnosis’,” she said. “But they come to us indicating what they have to take and we tell them more about the side effects. She also pointed out something else. “Most pharmacists don’t take drugs,” she said. “Drugs shouldn’t be the first choice. They play a vital role but lifestyle awareness is important,” she added.

In 1991, Robin Zarel, then 39, was recovering from a battle with breast cancer and had no idea that another threat loomed before her.

Robin Zarel (right) with other guests at the Super Luncheon.

Following her recovery, she was informed that her ovarian cancer risk was elevated. A follow-up doctor’s appointment led to further tests at a gynecologist and some bad news. She had Stage 3 ovarian cancer, which means that the cancer was in one or both ovaries and had spread to other parts of the abdomen. On Wednesday, she was one of those who had gathered at the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s (OCRF) Super Luncheon on Park Avenue to spread awareness about the disease. She had beaten the cancer and was eager to share her story to give hope to others.

Not many would understand what Zarel went through but Sol Schreiber does. The founder and co-chair of OCRF set up the organization after losing his wife to the disease in 1994. “I spent 50 nights at Mount Sinai walking the hallways and meeting Ovarian cancer patients,” he said. “They had no idea what the disease was.” OCRF has awarded $33 million in grants to 138 researchers at 44 medical centers across the country in hopes of finding better ways to detect, treat and ultimately cure ovarian cancer.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and OCRF is marking it with luncheons and other events across the nation. “We felt we needed to open the discussion about ovarian cancer around the country,” said Sabrina Schulz, director of marketing for OCRF. “This is the 13^th of 30 Super Luncheons being held.” The event was held at the home of OCRF Board Member Mindy Gray, who lost her sister to the disease. “We want to bring hope to the thousands of patients suffering from Ovarian cancer,” said Gray. New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum was present and she said she was there because women’s health was important to her.

Around 21000 women were diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and around 15000 of them died from it. Ovarian cancer is called the ‘silent killer’ because its symptoms are subtle and difficult to diagnose. “Increased abdominal gerth, bloating, pelvic pain, change in urinary and bowel habits are all symptoms,” said oncologist and professor Dr. Carmel Cohen. “If they continue longer than a month, consult a doctor and confirm that you don’t have ovarian cancer,” he said. What adds to the problem is that the teal ribbon message hasn’t spread enough. “Doctors don’t look for the disease and other diagnoses are given,” added Cohen.

But there is hope. “I had chemotherapy for 29 hours once a week for nine weeks,” said Zarel. “I have made a full recovery,” she stated. And what does she want to say to women out there? “Pay attention to your body. Be an advocate for yourself,” said Zarel. “If you have a gynecological problem, go to the doctor. If you need surgery, make sure it’s done by a gynecological oncologist,” she added.

Zarel now helps others struggling with ovarian cancer through her work as a psychotherapist. What has the experience taught her? “I know how lucky I am,” she said. “It helped me realize what I can and cant’ control.”