Listen and Learn
Periodically, Support Connection offers educational programs by webinar or toll-free teleconference. On this page you’ll find audio recordings, slides and transcripts from past programs.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 914-962-6402 or toll-free 800-532-4290.
This program is presented in partnership with NewYork–Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
The first part of this program is a presentation by Dr. Natalie Berger, medical oncologist, about the importance of lifestyle factors, social support, diet, exercise, mindfulness, and other self-care activities.
After Dr. Berger’s presentation, Chef Marti Wolfson will discuss how nutrients support the immune system. Through a live cooking demonstration Chef Marti will share recipes and speak about the significant role nutrients play in helping to manage stress and inflammation.
Presenter: Natalie Berger, MD is an Assistant Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Associate Director of Breast Medical Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
Dr. Berger earned her medical degree from St. George’s University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut and her fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Before joining NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital and Columbia, Dr. Berger was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, focusing on breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies.
Presenter: Marti Wolfson is a certified health-supportive chef and nutrition educator of over 15 years. She specializes in food therapy, Functional Nutrition, and mindfulness practice for preventing and healing chronic illness. She has taught food as medicine for those healing from chronic illness as well as universities, nutrition conferences, culinary schools, advanced nutrition certifications, corporate wellness programs and health retreats. Marti has a master’s in nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She has been newly inducted into the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier New York, an unparalleled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all sectors of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. She is honored to be the chef and coordinator of The Chef Peter X Kelly Teaching Kitchen at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, a teaching kitchen that serves the community, staff, and patients.
Recorded on October 29, 2024. Moderated by Robin Perlmutter, LMSW – Support Connection Peer Counselor
Support Connection invites Women of Color who have been diagnosed with breast, ovarian or gynecological cancer to join us for a virtual, small panel presentation with Dr. Gizelka David-West, MD, FACOG, Gynecological Oncologist at Northwell Health and Ebony-Joy Igbinoba – 4-year breast cancer survivor and advocate.
Dr. David-West will be speaking on topics including:
Ebony-Joy Igbinoba will be speaking on topics including:
Let’s meet our panelists.
Dr. David-West received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Mt. Sinai’s school of medicine and is fellowship trained at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Dr. David-West is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as gynecological oncology.
Ebony-Joy: In 2019, Ebony-Joy was a 38-year-old single mother of two young children. A routine medical visit led to a breast cancer diagnosis. On an already challenging journey, Ebony-Joy had to navigate cancer care during Covid. She is here with us today to share her story, lessons learned, skills honed, and resources gathered.
Recorded on September 10, 2024.Moderated by Marlene Stager, MS – Support Connection Peer Counselor.
This program was presented in partnership with NewYork–Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
The first part of this program is a presentation by Dr. Natalie Berger, medical oncologist, about the importance of lifestyle, living with uncertainty and continuing cancer screenings.
After Dr. Berger’s presentation, Chef Marti Wolfson will talk about how nutrients can support your health. Through a live cooking demonstration Chef Marti will share recipes and speak about the important role nutrients play in helping to manage stress and inflammation and how to use them in recipes.
Presenter: Natalie Berger, MD is an Assistant Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Associate Director of Breast Medical Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
Dr. Berger earned her medical degree from St. George’s University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut and her fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Before joining NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital and Columbia, Dr. Berger was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, focusing on breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies.
Presenter: Marti Wolfson is a certified health-supportive chef and nutrition educator of over15 years. She specializes in food therapy, Functional Nutrition, and mindfulness practice for preventing and healing chronic illness. She has taught food as medicine for those healing from chronic illness as well as universities, nutrition conferences, culinary schools, advanced nutrition certifications, corporate wellness programs and health retreats. Marti has a master’s in nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She has been newly inducted into the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier New York, an unparalleled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all sectors of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. She is honored to be the chef and coordinator of The Chef Peter X Kelly Teaching Kitchen at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, a teaching kitchen that serves the community, staff, and patients.
Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) supports the management of stress and anxiety and overall mental wellness. Yoga Nidra meditation is “yogic sleep.” Through a series of guided instructions, the body is led into a state of supreme relaxation where the unconscious and subconscious mind awaken, opening the potential for deep healing.
Benefits of Yoga Nidra include:
The instructor will guide you every step of the way, preparing you for comfortable participation. No experience is necessary. All you need is a quiet, comfortable space to lie or recline and rest.
INSTRUCTOR: Instructor Jaimee Roncone is a multi-modality healer for over 20 years. She is a certified Daring to Rest™ Yoga Nidra facilitator. Jaimee is also a health and wellness coach and navigator.
Click on the image below to view the program.
Click below for the audio file.
Recorded on May 24, 2023.
This program was presented in partnership with White Plains Hospital
Endocrine therapies are commonly used to treat breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive. To name a few: Tamoxifen, Evista (Raloxifene) Arimidex (Anastrazole), Aromasin (Exemestane), Femara (Letrozole), Fulvestrant(Faslodex). Endocrine therapies may be used at different points in a treatment plan and to treat various stages of breast cancer.
Dr. Karen Green, Medical Oncologist at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, NY, presented on the following topics pertaining to Endocrine Therapies for Breast Cancer:
Instructor: Dr. Karen Green, Medical Oncologist at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, NY graduated from New York University School of Medicine, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received the NYU Alumnae Club Award for the outstanding woman medical student. She was a resident in internal medicine and fellow in hematology/oncology at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. After serving on the full-time faculty at the Weill Cornell Medical College for eight years where she specialized in breast cancer, she joined White Plains Hospital in 2003. She continues to focus her practice on breast cancer, and she also treats patients with a wide range of other types of cancer and benign blood disorders. At White Plains Hospital, she is the site principal investigator for the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and she is also the principal investigator or a co-investigator on a number of clinical trials. She serves on the White Plains Hospital Institutional Review Board and is a member of the White Plains Hospital Breast Program Leadership. She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the New York Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group.
This program was presented in partnership with NewYork–Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
The first part of the program included a presentation by Senior Physical Therapist Jennifer Looby, PT, DPT, CLT, about how to manage and soothe symptoms of lymphedema and other inflammatory issues.
After Dr. Looby’s presentation, Chef Emilie Berner conducted a live cooking demonstration and shared information about 13 foods which help fight inflammation as well as how to use them in a few recipes.
Dr. Jen Looby is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist is the Senior Physical Therapist for Lymphedema and Breast Cancer Rehabilitation at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Center for Rehabilitation. Dr. Looby received her Master of Physical Therapy from New York Medical College and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Dominican College. She became a certified Lymphedema Therapist after training at the Norton School of Lymphatics. Dr. Looby has completed advanced training in head and neck cancer and axillary web syndrome from the Klose Institute.
Emilie Berner, MA: Emilie Berner, MA received her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Barnard College in New York City. Her passion for food led her to train at The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health Supportive & Culinary Arts. She later earned a master’s degree in Food Studies from New York University. In 2016 Berner joined the Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen, which is part of the Harvest for Health initiative at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. The larger program includes an organic garden, a farmer’s market and food service for patients and employees. The program’s goal is to teach people how to better manage their health through diet and lifestyle changes.
