Spectrum Health Hosts May Web Chats

Consumers can have their health questions answered through live Web chats this month with Spectrum health medical specialists.

Three chats are scheduled for May at www.spectrum-health.org/onlinechat.

M. Ashraf Mansour, MD, will discuss circulatory and vascular disease including symptoms, treatment and prevention on Tuesday, May 18 at noon. Circulatory and vascular disease ranges from diseases of arteries, veins, and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation. Mansour is a nationally recognized, board certified surgeon who completed his fellowship at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine.

Talking to your teen about puberty will be addressed by Lisa Lowery, MD, on Monday, May 24 at noon. Talking about puberty remains an important parenting responsibility. Lowery will answer questions from parents regarding talking to their teenagers about their changing bodies during this live online chat. Lowery is board certified in adolescent medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan. She also completed a fellowship in adolescent medicine and a masters degree in public health, from Johns Hopkins University

Jeffry Knibbe, MD is helping people bone up on bone health on Thursday, May 27 at noon. More than 34 million Americans are at risk for osteoporosis. Participants will learn about risk factors for the disease, including medicines and medical conditions that can cause bone loss. Knibbe, a board certified internal medicine physician with mmpc and clinical care team leader for the Spectrum Health Osteoporosis Center, will share what people can do to prevent osteoporosis and build strong, healthy bones.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards since it was formed in 1997.