Health | Princeton Magazine

Rebecca Boswell of Penn Medicine Princeton Honored by YWCA Princeton

Rebecca Boswell, Ph.D.

Rebecca Boswell, Ph.D., supervising psychologist at Penn Medicine Princeton Center for Eating Disorders, was recently honored in YWCA Princeton’s Tribute to Women, an annual awards ceremony celebrating professionals, volunteers, and activists who promote equity and support underserved and marginalized communities.

The Princeton Center for Eating Disorders — administered by Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health and housed at Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro — provides inpatient treatment for adults, adolescents, and children age 8 and older who are diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. more

A Closer Look at IVF in the Modern Era

By Taylor Smith | Images courtesy of shutterstock.com

When people begin to think of fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization (IVF) most likely comes quickly to mind. That’s because the procedure of fertilizing an egg and sperm outside of the body in a petri dish and then placing it inside the uterus has clinically been practiced since 1978. more

2023 HiTOPS Trans Youth Forum

On Saturday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., HiTOPS will celebrate the 9th Annual HiTOPS Trans Youth Forum. This day-long celebration created by and for trans and nonbinary youth will be held virtually and is free and open to all participants. more

Remember to Schedule Your Child’s Annual Visit to the Pediatrician

RWJBarnabas Health is reminding parents and guardians to remember to schedule their child’s annual checkup with a pediatrician. These visits are an important part of monitoring a child’s developmental health and can also act as an impetus for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. more

NJIT Receives NJDEP Grant with Focus on Water Quality Research

Image Source: NJIT

A collaborative research group led by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has been awarded a $788K grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to implement restoration and protection measures for polluted lakes and ponds.

The grant is part of a $10M allocation announced by the Murphy administration to develop water quality improvement projects across New Jersey, funding for which stems from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan that was appropriated by the state legislature. more

Holiday Safety Tips from Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad

Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS) urges families throughout the greater Princeton community to enjoy a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season with a few extra tips. Keeping home and travel safety in mind will help to minimize any unnecessary injuries and hazards.

Starting from December into the new year, hospitals and emergency departments tend to see an increase in accidents, injuries, and cardiac deaths relating to the holidays. The risk rises due to holiday stress, over-exertion, skipping medications, dietary mistakes, roadway accidents, and falls on the ice. Accidental burns from cooking, falling from a ladder, and allergic reactions from food choices can sometimes lead to injuries and even hospitalization. more

Over 25,000 New Trees Planted in the Sourlands

The Sourland Conservancy (SC) has announced that their staff, community partners, and volunteers have planted another 10,000 trees in 2022. This brings their forest restoration project total to 25,200 planted in the last three years.

Rob Aluck, the Conservancy’s stewardship director says, “We are tremendously grateful for the support of the entire community. Nonprofit organizations, land trusts, counties, municipalities, private residents, volunteers, and donors are all working together to restore the forest and reduce the impact of ash decline.” more

An Evening with Matthew Perry

Penn Medicine and Princeton House Behavioral Health invite the public to An Evening with Matthew Perry at the Hyatt Regency Princeton, located at 102 Carnegie Center Drive in Princeton on Friday, November 4 at 7 p.m. Admission is $45 per person, which includes a copy of Perry’s book, light desserts, coffee, and tea. Click here to register: https://bit.ly/3VdOXEj.

Join Friends star Matthew Perry and a special guest for a rare in-person conversation about his new memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. more

Saving the Sourlands, One Tree Kit at a Time

Do you feel you’re lacking a little biodiversity in your own backyard? Have you recently lost an ash tree or would simply like to see more birds, butterflies, and flowers? Well, consider the Sourland Conservancy’s new Biodiversity Tree Kit.

Each kit contains one back tree, two Carolina rose bushes, deer protection, and a new perennial bed design. This design was created by Pensive Weeds, a full service floral and landscape company located in Pennington. Conservancy members will also receive three little bluestem plants. These plants are ideal for replacing mowed lawn in a sunny, well-drained spot. more

Self-Defense for Women: Personal Empowerment Safety Program

Learn the basics of self-defense in this multi-session, in-person, activity-based program presented by Penn Medicine Princeton Health and held at the Community Wellness Center at the Hamilton Area YMCA. For $40 person, women will be led through RAD Women, a nationally certified defense course that includes safety drills, muscle memory work, physical defense techniques, and sensory awareness techniques. This course is open to all, regardless of age or physical fitness levels. Dress in sneakers and comfortable clothing. more

Drew University Announces New Public Health Dual-Degree with Boston University School of Public Health

Drew University and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have announced a Dual-Degree partnership through the BUSPH Select Scholars program.

The BUSPH Select Scholars program provides Drew undergraduates the opportunity to explore different options available in the field of public health and to connect with Boston University mentors for academic and career advising.

Students accepted into the highly competitive graduate program at BUSPH may choose to pursue a Master of Public Health, a Master of Science in Population Health Research, or a Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics. more

Princeton Health Establishes Institute for Nursing Excellence

From left, Sheila G. Kempf, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer (CNO), Princeton Health; Karyn A. Book, MSN, RN, associate CNO, Princeton Health; Kari A. Mastro, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, director of professional practice, innovation, and research, Princeton Health; Nowai Keleekai-Brapoh, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, professional development specialist, Princeton Health; James Demetriades, CEO, Princeton Health; and Lynda Benton, senior director, Global Community Impact Strategic Initiatives, Johnson & Johnson Nursing.

Penn Medicine Princeton Health has launched an Institute for Nursing Excellence to foster highly skilled and empowered nurses who will help lead the way in delivering high-quality clinical care across Princeton Health and in the community.

The institute will build on Princeton Health’s tradition of nurse-led quality initiatives and meaningful research that directly translates to better care at the bedside. more

HiTOPS Princeton Half Marathon, November 13

Go the distance for all youth in the HiTOPS Princeton Half Marathon on November 13. In-person, virtual and youth run options means that there is a race for everyone. The 13.1-mile course starts and finishes at Paul Robeson Place. The Victory Village will be stationed at Princeton YMCA and all racers will receive a commemorative medal, shirt, and bib. Participants cannot exceed a 14-minute mile and the field of racers is limited to 1,800. more

First Annual Mercer County Half Marathon

Join Beast Coast Productions on September 18 for the first annual Mercer County Half Marathon. This is a USATF 13.1-mile course that traverses farmland and quiet roads throughout the community of Robbinsville. Slightly rolling hills and a few turns will encourage fast race times and an enjoyable course. The race chip will be timed, and acclaimed Beast Pacers will be on-site to assist with timing all finishers. more

“Wild” Gentle Yoga: Yoga to Connect with Yourself and Nature

Every Wednesday in August from 8 to 9 a.m., Bowman Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, Pa. will host relaxing and restorative outdoor yoga sessions led by Priscilla Hayes. Hayes is a Preserve volunteer naturalist as well as a certified yoga teacher in the art of gentle yoga, which aims to build body awareness, flexibility, and strength. Holding the class outdoors adds another element for participants, enabling them to better disconnect from technology and reconnect to the sounds and rhythms of the summer season. more

The Labrador Retriever with a Tiger-Sized Heart

Meet “Coach,” Princeton University’s Therapy Dog, and Her Devoted Handler

By Taylor Smith | Photo by Puppies Behind Bars

Sgt. Alvan Flanders has worked in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at Princeton University for over 25 years, which spans his entire law enforcement career. “I love it here. I love the town, I love Princeton,” he said.

Typically, the role of the DPS is to police the campus, aiding in general security and supporting the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff alike. At times, the DPS has developed mixed reviews and reactions from college students who see them as strictly law enforcers, but the introduction of a therapy dog named Coach has changed all of that.

A black female Labrador retriever with a shiny coat and sparkling eyes, Coach was “matched” with Flanders through a rigorous program he attended at Puppies Behind Bars (puppiesbehindbars.com). Flanders learned of Puppies Behind Bars through a contact at Yale University, which also incorporated a therapy dog into their on-campus DPS services.

Puppies Behind Bars (PBB), based in New York City, was founded in 1997 at the Bedford Hills Women’s Prison to raise and train service dogs for aid in law enforcement. The program gradually expanded into training dogs for other lines of service such as veterans suffering from PTSD, first responders, therapy dogs for police departments, and an explosive-detection canine program. The first service dog paired with an Iraq War veteran took place in February 2008. more

Exhale and Unwind at Woodhouse Day Spa

With locations in Red Bank, Summit, Montclair, and Hoboken in New Jersey, Woodhouse Day Spa is a great way to treat yourself to some end-of-summer pampering.

In addition to year-round bridal packages, Woodhouse offers facials, massages, body treatments, nails, sculpting, and more. Their “ritual” treatments incorporate mood-enhancing aromatherapy oils as part of exfoliation, dry brushing, and deep tissue massage. The Happy Mama package includes a mother-to-be-massage and holistic rejuvenation pedicure. more

FDU Appoints New Dean for School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) has appointed Anastasia Rivkin, Pharma.D., Ed.D., as the dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, effective July 1. Rivkin has been serving as the interim dean.

“Anastasia’s leadership and expertise provide tremendous strength for the future of FDU’s heath initiatives in pharmacy and beyond,” said Michael J. Avaltroni, university provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. more

CHOP Opens New Hospital in King of Prussia

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has opened a new hospital, the Middleman Family Pavilion, in King of Prussia, Pa. Located at 550 South Goddard Boulevard, it is CHOP’s second location in King of Prussia. more

Raritan Valley Road Runners Summer Race Series

Raritan Valley Road Runners Race Series returns on Tuesdays — June 28, July 12, and July 26. The races all begin at 6:30 p.m., making for a fun evening spent outdoors. The races traverse mostly grass and dirt terrain with long stretches along the scenic Raritan River. There will also be a Youth Series each evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. Registration for the Youth Series opens at 5 p.m. more