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Breaking Ground to Better Serve You
We're excited to announce that construction crews have broken ground on our new office building at the corner of Pole Green Road and Right Flank Road in Mechanicsville. In April 2013, our office that is currently adjacent to Memorial Regional Medical Center will be relocating to this new office building, just a few minutes away. Just like our current office, our new location will offer nine health care providers specializing in obstetrics and gynecology as well as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for high-risk pregnancy care. In addition, our new office will continue to offer the following services: obstetrical genetic counseling, ultrasound, in-office surgeries, mammography, bone health, psychology, nutrition and onsite labs.
We look forward to being able to provide you with the same compassionate and quality care that you've come to expect from us, with the added benefit of increased parking and a convenient location.
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Welcome, Dr. Woo!
 | | Rebecca J. Woo, M.D. |
Please join us in welcoming a new physician to Virginia Women's Center! Rebecca J. Woo, M.D. joined Virginia Women's Center at our Henrico Doctors' office in early October. Dr. Woo delivers babies in the hospital Labor & Delivery unit as well as sees Virginia Women's Center patients with obstetrical or gynecologic problems who come to the hospital.
Dr. Woo received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and her Master of Science degree from the University of Georgia. She continued her education at the Medical College of Georgia, where she received her medical degree. Dr. Woo completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Baylor College of Medicine.
After completing residency in 2007, Dr. Woo lived in Europe for two years. She worked as a civilian contractor at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest U.S. military medical facility in Europe. There, she had the opportunity to care for active duty military and their dependents in service of the U.S. armed forces as well as experience life in Europe. In 2010, Dr. Woo and her family returned to the United States and relocated to Richmond. Prior to joining Virginia Women's Center, Dr. Woo was a physician with Richmond OB-GYN. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
When she's not practicing medicine, Dr. Woo enjoys spending all the time she can with her husband, three children and their Boston Terrier, Penny. Dr. Woo enjoys yoga, traveling and cooking. She is always up for an adventure, whether it means trying a new restaurant or visiting a new country!
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Breast Self-Awareness
Just like all aspects of your health, education and regular preventative check-ups can help keep you informed and engaged in your care. However, it's also important that you pay close attention to your own body so that you can know what is normal for you and seek medical care when your health changes and is no longer normal. With your breast health, this self-awareness is no exception.
Women's breasts are always changing. They change during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Along with these normal changes, problems can arise. It is important for you to be aware of any changes in your breasts. Tools such as screening mammograms and clinical breast exams, which are procedures that are performed by health care professionals at facilities like Virginia Women's Center, can help detect breast cancer before it has progressed.
In addition to regular screening mammograms and clinical breast exams, some women choose to perform a formal step-by-step breast self-exam and others prefer a visual inspection. No matter the technique you choose (both can be performed in the comfort of your own home and without any formal training), it's important that you are aware of what your breasts normally look and feel like. Should you notice any changes, you can proactively seek medical care.
To keep reading, visit our Living Well blog.
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 | | Lisa Cuseo-Ott, Ph.D. |
Wellness and Well-being: The Important Role of Sleep in our Lives
By Lisa Cuseo-Ott, Ph.D.
In our society, which has become increasingly more stressful and demanding, it is often easy to "burn the candle on both ends" by giving up sleep in order to complete our "to do" lists. Mothers of young children are especially tempted to do this, as late night hours are often the only quiet times to think or just relax. This strategy will come at a cost if we routinely deprive ourselves of sleep, as sleep is a very important part of maintaining healthy, productive and safe lives.
The process of sleep has often been misperceived as inactive. On the contrary, it is a very dynamic state that is structured and well-organized, broken into distinct stages with specific functions (Morin, 1993). Every 90 minutes, our brains cycle through two different states of sleep: Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM), which lasts 75 percent of the night and Rapid Eye Movement (REM), which lasts 25 percent of the night. NREM comprises the first four stages of sleep. During these quiet states of sleep, most of our physiological functions and cognitive activities are slowed down, though there are periodic body movements. This is the time when our bodies enter sleep (stage one) and gradually move into deep sleep (stage four). Following this deep sleep, the brain cycles into REM, characterized by dreams, which are vivid hallucinatory experiences. During REM, the body is paralyzed while the brain remains active.
Sleep is affected by many different variables, including age, individual differences, prior sleep history, circadian rhythms, drugs, lifestyles and psychological problems (Morin, 1993). For example, total sleep time is highest in infancy (16 to 18 hours) and gradually declines in adulthood (seven to nine hours). Each individual is governed by a circadian biological clock, which is the internal mechanism that regulates when we feel sleepy and when we feel alert. This clock is synchronized by several environmental time cues such as social contacts, mealtimes, work schedules and most importantly the light-dark cycle. Our bodies are designed to sleep during the absence of light, while being more alert in the light of day.
To keep reading this article, visit our Web site.
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Seasonal Flu Vaccine Now Available
While we have just started to enjoy autumn in Virginia, it's important that we take steps now to protect ourselves from what is just around the corner: flu season. Our flu vaccinations arrived last week and we have already started offering the vaccine in our offices. Patients who have an appointment with our practice during flu season will be able to receive the vaccine for the influenza virus. All doses that we have available for the 2012-2013 flu season are the inactivated form of the vaccine and are preservative free.
Vaccines for the seasonal influenza virus are often also available at primary-care physician offices, through your job, local pharmacies and some grocery stores. In line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, our practice suggests the following:
If you will be attempting pregnancy, are currently pregnant (in any trimester) or breastfeeding during flu season (October through March) the seasonal flu shot is recommended. The vaccine poses no danger to the baby, and you cannot get the seasonal flu from the seasonal flu shot. Pregnant women should not have the "live" or activated seasonal influenza vaccine which comes in nasal spray form.
It is especially important that our pregnant patients receive the flu vaccine. In addition to protecting the mother, the vaccine will also protect her unborn baby during pregnancy and after birth. Because of the changes that occur during pregnancy, the flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women and pregnant women who have the flu have a greater chance of having serious problems with their unborn babies, including miscarriage or preterm birth. Even if you received the flu vaccine last year, it is important to have annual vaccination as the virus can change from year to year and the vaccine becomes less effective over time.
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Female Incontinence: What's Normal and What's Not
Any unwanted urine leakage...is NOT normal!
If you leak when you cough, sneeze, lift or exercise...that's NOT normal!
If you wake up numerous times overnight to go to the bathroom...that's NOT normal!
If you know where every restroom is located at the mall...that's NOT normal!
But, you are not alone!
Join Dr. Lonny Green, urologist and director of Virginia Women's Continence Center,for a free seminar on the treatment options for unwanted urine leakage. Dr. Green will discuss an exciting, new option for the treatment of incontinence. Refreshments will be served.
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Lonny S. Green, M.D.
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Date: Monday, November 12
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location:The Hyatt House, 11800 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23233
RSVP:By phone, 804.662.6060 extension 2961
RSVP today as space is limited! |
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Virginia Women's Center
www.VirginiaWomensCenter.com
804.288.4084
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