Health & Wellness Expo Sessions

9:00 a.m. - NAVIGATING MEDICARE

Seniors and those assisting seniors with Medicare issues are invited to join this session to learn the ins and outs of selecting a plan, the differences between plans, and details about programs which can save seniors substantial amounts on doctor, hospital and prescription copays. The program is being presented by Carmelo DeFranco of NYC Business Group.

Presenters:

Carmelo DeFranco – Insurance Professional

Carmelo Defranco grew up on Staten Island and has grown both his family and his business here. Following a collegiate career at St. John’s University, Carmelo launched a finance career on Wall Street where he worked his way up through various well known investment houses securing Series 7, 63, 24, and 65 licenses. The stock market crash in 2000 made him realize the need for a more stable career, and that set the wheels in motion for him to create his own business in a different field. After his 2006 wedding, he and his wife Rosa launched NYC Business Group, a full-service insurance agency offering property insurance, general liability, workers compensation, and group medical insurance.

Today, the Better Business Bureau-recognized firm is celebrating their 20th year in business, 13 of which have been at their current location in Travis. They have a full staff of insurance professionals and a growing list of individual and commercial clients.

One of Carmelo’s largest books of business is focused on Medicare and insurance policies for seniors and the disabled. When asked about the secret to his success, Carmelo says simply, “I answer the phone. I always answer the phone to help!”

10:00 a.m. - DEBUNKING HEART HEALTH MYTHS

“It’s a man’s disease.” “But I’m too young.” “Breast cancer is the real threat.” If you’ve heard or said any of this before, you’re not alone. The real fact is, relying on these false assumptions can cost you your life. It’s time to set the record straight and start thinking of heart disease as a disease that doesn’t spare anyone. Your health is non-negotiable; we need to separate fact from fiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, with one person dying every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. This panel, hosted by Richmond University Medical Center, will focus on debunking some of the myths and misconceptions about cardiovascular health.

Presenters:

Francesco Rotatori, MD, FACC – Chief, Cardiovascular Department

Dr. Rotatori graduated from medical school at the University of Milan in Italy. He followed up his education with postgraduate training at the Centro Cardiologico Monzino, a prestigious medical center in Milan that specializes in cardiovascular disease. He later attended the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine. Dr. Rotatori has earned board certification in Internal medicine, Cardiovascular disease, Interventional cardiology, Echocardiography, and Nuclear cardiology.

Fiona Shehaj, MD – Chief, Women’s Cardiovascular Health

Dr. Shehaj first graduated from the SUNY Downstage College of Medicine. She then went on to finish her residency with the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. She completed her postgraduate training and gained her fellowship in cardiology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, serving as chief fellow during her final year. Dr. Shehaj has achieved board certified in Internal Medicine At Richmond University Medical Center, Dr. Shehaj specializes in women’s heart health. She provides expert management for heart failure, works with advanced cardiac imaging, and continues to educate medical students and residents.

11:00 a.m.  - GAINING HEALTH THROUGH MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS

Join the experts from Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health who can help you make the right lifestyle choices for a healthier you.  Learn about various treatment options that make lasting and healthy weight loss a reality including options such as dietary planning, behavioral modification, pharmacotherapy, and surgery all of which help individuals achieve weight loss goals.

Presenters:

Olivia Haney, MD -  Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Olivia Haney came to New York City from Tennessee. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and UTHSC Medical School. She went on to complete her general surgery residency in Chattanooga, TN where she honed her surgical skills. She then travelled to Staten Island for a Minimally Invasive/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. She fell in love with the patients and the staff at Staten Island University Hospital and decided to make it her permanent home. She enjoys connecting with her patients on a personal level while offering them the latest in surgical techniques. She performs a wide range of general surgical procedures, including minimally invasive hernia and gastrointestinal surgeries (such as stomach, small intestine, and gallbladder surgery.) Her primary focus is laparoscopic and robotic Bariatric Surgery (including sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.)

Shiara Ortiz-Pujols, MD - Medical Weight Loss Attending Physician 

Dr. Shiara Ortiz-Pujols joins the Northwell Health family after most recently serving as the Medical Director of Obesity Medicine at MedExpress/Optum Health. She helped develop and grow a national comprehensive medical weight loss program focused on whole-person care, which was offered as an employee benefit.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Yale University. She then went on to receive her MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and her MPH at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. She continued her training as a United Health Group Clinical Scholar in Obesity Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, under the mentorship of Dr. Louis Aronne.
Her post-medical training includes training in surgery, preventive medicine/population health, and obesity medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is board-certified in Public Health & General Preventive Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine.

12:00 p.m. - LET’S TALK ABOUT DIABETES

Over 1.8 million adults in New York State have been diagnosed with diabetes and every year an estimated 92,000 more adults in New York State are diagnosed. In this feature, Richmond University Medical Center’s board certified endocrinologist, Philip Otterbeck, MD, discusses this condition that affects just over 11% of the state’s adult population and explains how it can be managed successfully.

Presenter:

Philip Otterbeck, MD – RUMC Chief Medical Officer; Chair, Department of Medicine; and Chief, Endocrinology

A native Staten Islander who was born at RUMC when it was known as St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dr. Otterbeck graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a minor in Russian and Slavic Studies. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism. In addition to maintaining a large private practice, Dr. Otterbeck is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, St. George’s University, and American University of Antigua.

1:00 p.m. - JOINT REPLACEMENT FOR PAIN RELIEF & RESTORED MOBILITY

The wear and tear of everyday life can cause irreversible joint damage resulting in the need for joint replacement surgery. If you or someone you love are considering a total or partial joint replacement, learn what to expect before and after surgery. There is world class care right in your own backyard, including minimally invasive procedures to get you back on your feet faster and less pain. Get answers to questions you’ve been afraid to ask from the orthopedic expert at Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health. 

Presenter:

John P. Reilly, MD – SIUH/Northwell Health - Interim Chair of Orthopedics
John P. Reilly is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and trauma specialist. He is also a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine and a consultant for several organizations, including the Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Eger Health Care Center, and Golden Gate Rehabilitation Center. As a leader in his field, Dr. Reilly is Chair of Orthopedics at Staten Island University Hospital, his focus on the team approach to orthopedic surgery, from evaluation to treatment. Dr. Reilly has lectured, presented, and published on a variety of topics, including trends in spine surgery, management of orthopedic trauma, total joint arthroplasty, and injection therapy. Combined with his tenure at Healthcare Associates in Medicine, a division of Orlin & Cohen Medical Specialists Group, Dr. Reilly served as a delegate for the NYS Society of Orthopedic Surgeons and former President of the Medical and Dental staff at Staten Island University Hospital.

Dr. Reilly earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and obtained sub-specialty training in Orthopedic Traumatology at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) in Baltimore, Maryland.