VCU Medical Center offers free educational health seminars

By Cassie Williams Jones

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center presents a series of free educational seminars featuring experts providing important health information, sharing their expertise and answering questions on current health topics.

In October, the following seminars will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Education and Library Complex, 1800 Lakeside Ave.:

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013
Breast Cancer: To Screen or Not to Screen and How About MRI?
Breast cancer screening can be a confusing topic. When do you begin? Is mammography right for you? What about your family history? What about MRI? Gilda Cardeñosa, M.D., from VCU Breast Imaging, will discuss the importance of screening mammography and the evolving role of MRI.

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013
The Causes and Treatments of Abdominal and Inguinal Hernias
A hernia is a protrusion of tissue from one area of the body through the wall that contains it. The abdomen is a common place for hernias to occur. Michel Aboutanos, M.D., from the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, will discuss causes and current treatments of abdominal and inguinal hernias.

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013
Family Health History and Emerging Genetic Technologies
We now have the ability to sequence the entire genetic code of an individual. Raymond Lewandowski, M.D., from the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, will discuss the latest technology and applications of genomic medicine in personal health care, medical management and how to obtain relevant family health information.

All seminars are free and open to the public, and registration is recommended. For more information or to register, call 804-828-0123, or email seminars@mcvh-vcu.edu.