Robitaille Begins Tenure as President and CEO of Martin Memorial
Mark E. Robitaille officially took the reins as president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial Health Systems on Oct. 1. Robitaille, who has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the health system since 1991, was named president and chief executive officer in September by the Martin Memorial Board of Directors.

"I am excited and honored to be taking on this new role," Robitaille said. "Martin Memorial holds a special place in this community and I am dedicated to continuing that legacy of care."

Read more about Martin Memorial's new CEO.

Grateful Patient Provides $500,000 Gift to Martin Memorial
Like many patients who receive treatment at the Martin Memorial Wound Medicine Center, David Smythe was impressed with the care he received.

But Smythe, who splits time between Stuart and Summit, N.J., was so impressed he wanted to give something back to the wound medicine center. So he made a gift of $500,000 as a gesture of gratitude to the staff who helped him through the healing process.

"The people over there, I don't know if you'll find people like them anywhere," Smythe said. "You could see that they just wanted to help people. They wanted to take care of you and they did."

Read more about the $500,000 gift.

St. Lucie West Fitness Center Undergoes Renovations
The Martin Memorial St. Lucie West Health and Fitness Center will be closed for renovations beginning Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. and will remain closed for six to seven months.

However, a temporary fitness center will be located at West Park Professional Center, 542 N.W. University Drive, Unit B 101, and will open Monday, Oct. 13 at 5:30 a.m.

Get more information about the temporary facilities and the St. Lucie West fitness center renovations.

Wed., Oct. 15, 12-1 p.m.
Smoking Cessation Program Begins

Thurs., Oct. 16, 2-3:30 p.m.
Stroke Support Group (meets the 3rd Thurs. of each month)

Tues., Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.
Weight Loss Surgery Educational Session

Wed., Oct. 22 & 29, 2-3:30 p.m.
Cancer Support Group (meets every Wed.)

Sat., Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.
Chrysanthemum Ball

Sat., Nov. 8, 7-9 a.m.
Cholesterol Screening in Jensen Beach

For more events,
see the complete calendar.

October's Health-E Recipe

Eating more fish could be one of the more important changes you can make in your diet. Fish contains fewer calories and less saturated fat than the same portion of any poultry or meat. In its guide to healthy eating, the American Heart Association puts fish at the top of its list for meat protein sources. But the real importance of fish in the diet is not its protein but the omega-3 fat it contains.

Try this recipe for Southeastern Seasoned Catfish--a tasty way to get those omega-3 fats.

Learn about nutrition counseling services.

Getting the Most from Physical Therapy
Physical therapists teach people recovering from surgery or with injuries, sprains or arthritis how to perform exercises that will help them gain strength and mobility and prevent recurring injury.

For the treatment to be successful, however, patients have some responsibilities, as well.

Learn how to make the most of your physical therapy.

How to Avoid Sports Injuries
Sports injuries happen when you exercise or play sports. Although not every sports injury can be prevented, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) says that injury rates could be reduced by 25 percent if all athletes--professionals and amateurs--followed essential safety, conditioning, and preventive strategies.

Most people who experience sports injuries have one or both of these in common:

• A history of injury. Previous injuries often develop into chronic problems if they're not properly and thoroughly rehabilitated.
• No rest days. Playing or training hard every day taxes your body. Rest days reduce injury rates because they give muscles and connective tissues time to repair themselves between training sessions, the NIAMS says.

Stroke Recovery Begins with Rehabilitation
If someone you love has had a stroke--a blood vessel in the brain was blocked or damaged--you may wonder what lies ahead. A stroke can cause problems with speech, vision, memory, balance or coordination. It can leave part of the body weakened or paralyzed, among other physical problems. Your loved one may have to relearn how to walk, talk or do daily activities.

It may help to know that rehabilitation can help people regain life skills and learn new ways to do tasks. "Most people can make significant strides in recovery with rehabilitation," says Lawrence Brass, M.D., professor of neurology at Yale University. A comprehensive program also addresses the person's personal goals.

Discover how rehabilitation facilitates stroke recovery.