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Breast cancer screening has long been a cornerstone of women's healthcare. With 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime1, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has developed screening recommendations to help detect early-stage cancer. Notably in 2023, the USPSTF revised the recommended age for biennial mammogram screenings for women with average risk to start at age 40 instead of 502, estimated to result in 19% more lives being saved3 by starting screening earlier. While initiating screening at an earlier age offers advantages to a wide demographic, concerns about the potential of over-screening prompted research into the feasibility of identifying women with lower breast cancer risk who could safely delay mammograms. While guidelines address high-risk individuals, a notable gap exists in providing recommendations tailored to those at lower risk. To gain insight into a patient's risk level, physicians are able to utilize genetic testing to understand an individual's genetic makeup, providing precise insights into their predisposition to various health conditions, including breast cancer. Armed with this genetic information, healthcare providers could craft tailored screening strategies that align with an individual’s specific risk profile. This genetic risk-based approach underscores the value of genetics in individualizing the onset of screening to help avoid over-screening and its associated costs. Surprisingly, genetic information is not currently being widely utilized to identify women at risk of breast cancer or other diseases in clinical practice, despite its potential to make a significant positive impact for patients. A recent retrospective analysis of 25,591 women from the Healthy Nevada Project4 sheds light on the potential benefits of this genetic risk-based approach. The study classified 2,338 (9.1%) of these women as having a low genetic risk for breast cancer. What's remarkable is that these women exhibited a significantly lower and later onset of breast cancer compared to their average or high-risk counterparts. This finding suggests that it might be safe for low-risk women to delay mammogram screening by 5 to 10 years without compromising their health.

Read More About Optimizing Mammogram Screenings: A Genetic Approach to a Personalized Screening Schedule

As we enter the holiday season, many of us are beginning to plan and partake in festivities such as shopping, cooking, baking, holiday parties and family gatherings. While the holidays often bring joy and cheer, the hustle and bustle can also lead to fatigue, stress, anxiety and sometimes depression. To avoid holiday burnout, it’s important to find ways to care for yourself mentally and physically. Galen Gorelangton, Renown's Spiritual Center Volunteer, discusses how yoga and meditation can benefit you. What is yoga and meditation?  Yoga is defined as performing a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you're encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment. Meditation involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques. While there are many different types of meditation and yoga practices, they both share similar benefits including: Reduced stress Lower blood pressure Decreased anxiety and depression Increased energy Better sleep Lower inflammation and pain levels Improved strength, balance and flexibility  Better focus and concentration  And much more!

Read More About Meditation: Give Yourself the Gift of Inner Peace

On behalf of Renown’s more than 7,000 employees, we are thrilled to introduce our healthcare system’s next CEO and President, Brian Erling, MD, MBA. Dr. Erling joins Renown after working for more than 20 years in Colorado, most recently as the CEO and President of Penrose-St. Francis Health System in Colorado Springs for Centura Health. “I am so excited to join Renown Health at this important time. Healthcare and our economy are amid a major transformation, and Renown Health is very well positioned for the future,” Dr. Erling said. “Our ongoing success will hinge on our ability to establish positive and productive relationships, maintain high-quality patient clinical outcomes and experiences, reduce healthcare costs, encourage innovation and improve access and affordability for patients and members.” Q: Let’s start at the beginning. When did your interest in healthcare first begin? A: Believe it or not, I started my healthcare career during high school in Minnesota when I worked as a nursing assistant. I then worked as a monitor tech while pursuing my undergraduate degree in biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Q: Where did you go to medical school, and what was your first job after training? A: After graduating from The John Hopkins University School of Medicine and spending three years at the University of Virginia for my residency, I spent more than a decade in the emergency department at a level 1 trauma center. Q: Does your experience as a physician impact your approach to healthcare leadership? A: Yes, absolutely. I have worked my fair share of nights, weekends and holidays, and I know the sacrifices healthcare workers – and their families – make to care for our communities. I will never take it for granted. I also understand how complex healthcare organizations are, and I have experienced these complexities from both the clinical and non-clinical sides. I have provided clinical leadership for a large, regional health system and understand that quality, safety and innovation come from the people doing the work, not from a corporate office. But you also need strong managers and leaders to facilitate and prioritize the work while providing support and coaching. Q: What is the key to a successful healthcare system? A: Teamwork. In fact, being part of a high-performing, mission-driven team is my number one motivation. It’s what gets me up in the morning and why I work in healthcare. I view our greatest resource to be our people, meaning Renown’s more than 7,000 employees. Modern technologies – such as fancy robots and imaging equipment – are essential and pretty cool, but they are not why our patients choose us. They come for trusted care in their hometown. Q: Renown Health is going through a lot of exciting changes right now. What is one thing that excites you about joining this healthcare system in a rapidly expanding area of the country? A: I am very excited about the new partnership with Renown and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. While still in its infancy, it provides the platform for us to be the center for training, research and tertiary care for the region and beyond. Q: What is something you have learned from working with CEOs at other healthcare systems? A: Healthcare leaders often have a short half-life, but that is not me. I believe it is difficult to create and move an organization toward a unified vision when your leader changes every few years. As my track record will support, this is not my style. I have been in Colorado for over twenty years and now look forward to making Reno and Renown my home for years to come. Q: As you know, Hometown Health is Renown’s health insurance arm. How does equitable access to insurance fit into a person’s and a community’s overall well-being? A: Most health systems would love to have their own health plan. The reality is that you cannot meaningfully improve the health of the population without managing value and risk. We are fortunate to have Hometown Health as part of Renown Health, and in our community, and I am excited to work with Bethany and the team to fulfill the mission of the organization. Q: What does working at a not-for-profit healthcare system mean to you? How does it differ from the for-profit sector? A: I have worked in for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare. Renown is unique as the only not-for-profit health system in the market. What that means is that we invest every penny earned back into caring for our community. We don’t send money to shareholders in California or Pennsylvania, we invest it right here in Nevada. Not only is a not-for-profit healthcare organization where I want to work for, but it is where my family and I want to go for care. Q: What do you like to do for fun? A: I love spending time with my wife and three adult children. I met my wife, Jessica, while attending medical school in Baltimore. She was working as a nurse in the surgical ICU, and I was smitten. I offered to help her with a 3 a.m. bed linen change and bath for our trauma patient, and the rest was history. I also love exploring the outdoors, especially snowboarding!

Read More About A Q&A with Dr. Brian Erling, CEO & President of Renown Health

Early detection is a significant piece of the breast cancer puzzle. Susan Cox, Renown Health Director of Cancer Operations, discusses what you need to watch for and how the latest technology can help detect potential cancer sooner. When should women start getting breast exams? It depends on risk factors: Average-risk women: Most medical organizations recommend the first mammogram between 40 and 44. Higher-risk women: Dependent on their high risk, which will dictate when they start screening, but generally around the age of 30 and not before 25 years old.

Read More About Ladies! Get Screened for Breast Cancer

Reviewed by: Jessica Blauenstein, a Board-Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition and Registered Dietitian at Renown Health. As the temperatures continue to rise around northern Nevada, our farmer’s markets and home gardens are bursting with produce – making this the perfect time to prepare a fresh summer salad for you and your family. American salads have come a long way. No longer must we settle for iceberg lettuce topped with pale tomatoes and store-bought salad dressing. Fresh fruits, exotic vegetables and aromatic herbs are proudly taking up residence as entrees on menus around the globe. These refreshing Pritikin salad recipes are chocked full of phytonutrients – plant compounds that provide a host of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits while supporting the body’s natural detoxification process. When it comes to ingredients, freshness counts! Try to use local and unsprayed produce in your salads whenever possible for added nutritional value. Already thinking of ways you can put your own personal touch on these recipes? Andria Herron, dietary educator with Renown’s Healthy Heart Program, encourages you to experiment. “Salads are the perfect recipes to substitute, omit and add in additional ingredients based on your personal preferences,” said Andria.

Read More About Healthy Summer Salads

Renaissance Don   The Sterling Silver Club is honored to have thousands of members who’ve led and continue to lead incredibly vibrant and diverse lives. And we’re absolutely thrilled when those members volunteer to share their stories and experiences so we can all appreciate and learn from them.   This issue’s featured member is no exception. From his love of cooking, travel and music to his drive to learn new languages, take on new hobbies and keep himself active and fit, Don is an aspiring Renaissance man who may already be deserving of the title.    Revolutionary Family Roots   Don’s father, who was born in Beijing, China, earned a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and was working on his PhD there on a full scholarship from his home country when the Chinese Communist Revolution occurred. In order to stay in the United States and avoid potentially being thrown into prison by the new communist regime (a fate that befell some of his family members), his father married Don’s mother, who was a U.S. citizen and also a student at Berkeley. Together, they started a family.   “My father met my mother in a class and received his green card by marrying her,” says Don. “They proceeded to have six kids in nine years, I was number three. Dad never finished his PhD, but clearly earned what we like to call his “PSK” degree – Papa with Six Kids.”  Proud (of) Papa: Don’s father was a professor of metallurgy and a brilliant research scientist who was responsible for virtually every breakthrough in the development of titanium in the 1960s.

Read More About Meet Multifaceted Member Don Chang

Did you know an estimated 1.9 million neurons and 14 billion synapses are lost per minute during a stroke? That’s why every second counts. Anyone can have a stroke, but your chances increase if you have certain risk factors. That’s why the best way to protect yourself or your loved ones from a stroke is to know the risks and how to manage them. You can make changes to your lifestyle to lower your risk of stroke by asking yourself the following questions: 1. Is my blood pressure normal? High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor. If you’ve had a stroke, lowering your blood pressure can help prevent future strokes. 2. Can I quit smoking? Smoking damages blood vessels, clogs arteries and raises blood pressure — doubling your risk of stroke. If you want to reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack, quitting smoking is the first step — and Renown can help you with this. Learn more: Renown Health Quit Tobacco Program. 3. Do I make time to exercise 30 minutes a day? Many studies link consistent exercise habits with lower stroke risk. Also, being overweight contributes to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, all increasing your stroke risk. You don’t need to run a marathon — just commit to making time to move each day. 4. Do I regularly eat processed food and sugar? Eating less cholesterol and fat, especially saturated and trans fats, may reduce the fatty deposits (plaque) in your arteries. Also, eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day may reduce your stroke risk. If you are diabetic, follow recommendations to get your diabetes under control.

Read More About Are You at Risk for Stroke?

Over the past year, the safety of healthcare providers has received more public attention than ever before. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – and particularly in the early days – the public learned about the vital role of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other important processes that keep healthcare workers safe and healthy. However, people may be surprised to learn that germs and viruses are just one of the many risks that healthcare professionals face every day. Many people are fortunate enough not to have to worry for their physical and mental well-being when they go to work. Unfortunately, this is not the case for countless healthcare workers across the nation, for whom workplace violence is a daily concern. According to the American Hospital Association, healthcare workers are four times more likely to experience serious workplace violence than people in other industries. This is particularly troubling knowing that healthcare workers have dedicated their careers to serving others, putting their communities first- day in and day out. What is Considered Workplace Violence? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines workplace violence as, “Incidents where staff are abused, threatened, or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, including commuting to and from work, involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being, or health.” WHO considers both physical and psychological harm, including attacks, verbal abuse, bullying, and both sexual and racial harassment, to be workplace violence. Responding to the Challenge of Workplace Violence At Renown Health, we have no tolerance for abuse against our employees. As an organization, we have several systems in place to support and protect our staff. During staff orientation, we provide classes to prepare employees to prevent and de-escalate verbal or physical abuse. We also offer ongoing education to train our staff to respond to violent situations. If an incident does occur, our Violence Prevention Task Force reviews incidents and ensures the impacted employees receive resources and counseling to help them process what has occurred. We are among the first in the nation to have instituted a Zero Tolerance policy on workplace violence. This policy is in place to let our employees know that we have their backs in preventing workforce violence and we will address it assertively if the environment becomes unsafe. As a leader, I am continually impressed by our team’s desire and ability to support one another. However, I know that it is my responsibility to protect our team. No one should have to face harassment or abuse – in any form – in his or her workplace. I believe so much in this cause that I volunteer as Chair of the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence steering committee, which works to understand the causes behind violence against healthcare workers and develops tools and processes to prevent these incidents from occurring. Violence was already a concern facing health care organization leaders prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the ongoing health crisis has elevated tensions. Health care is an industry like no other, with our most precious resource being our employees. As a community, as patients and family members, we have an obligation to ensure that all healthcare workers are safe while they go about their work. This starts with understanding, communication and unequivocal support for the profession. This month we launched the Be Kind campaign across Renown, a reminder to all of the importance of values like patience, kindness and gratitude. If you would like to join us in recognizing a healthcare hero, please submit your thoughts here. Thank you for working with us, and all healthcare providers, to create and maintain places of health and healing for all – and for kindly caring for those who care for you.

Read More About Kindly Care for Those Who Care for You

Often, when we think of Italian dishes, we think of pasta. In fact, there are more than 600 different pasta shapes, each holding the task of delivering Italy’s flavors.  While we all crave pasta, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a cup of pasta shells contains about 166 calories, 6 grams of protein and 32 grams of carbohydrates. When you add all the other comforting ingredients that comes with cooking Italian, it’s nearly impossible to keep it healthy.  Caitlin Bus, Registered Dietitian with the Renown Healthy Heart Program shares a healthier version of an Italian favorite –deconstructed manicotti using zucchini as a substitute for noodles. If you’re looking for a healthier Italian dish and wondering how to use a spiralizer to turn vegetables into noodles, this recipe is for you.

Read More About Healthy Zucchini Manicotti

In Nevada, we are so fortunate to have a number of not-for-profits and philanthropists who are supporting our mission at Renown Health; we couldn’t do it without them. In the world of healthcare, we are doing well in driving community benefit programming through operations. However, the things our communities need investments in are so much broader than we might be able to afford on our own. That is why it is essential for us to be supported by the people who are so in love with this community and want to assure we get the kinds of services and care for those who can’t afford it or add new services that are contemporary and leading edge that have not been offered here before. Establishing Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute We are so excited to receive a very generous donation from Chuck and Stacie Mathewson for the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute. This institute is so sorely needed in northern Nevada. Renown Health has a very important role in being able to bring attention to this important problem of mental health and addiction challenges in northern Nevada. Keeping Pediatric Care Close to Home One of the most important areas where philanthropy comes in handy for us at Renown Health is by assuring that we have the foundational programs that we would not be able to afford with operations alone. For example, the William N. Pennington Foundation’s generous gift has allowed us to create 15 pediatric specialty areas here in northern Nevada so children who have an illness or injury no longer need to leave town. The William N. Pennington Foundation supported Renown Children’s Hospital in a way that we never would have been able to support on our own. We are eternally grateful, and their gift — that 100,000 children are assured access to contemporary health and healthcare services — is beyond comprehension.

Read More About How Philanthropy Helps Address Gaps in Care

Over the past year, the safety of healthcare providers has received more public attention than ever before. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – and particularly in the early days – the public learned about the vital role of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other important processes that keep healthcare workers safe and healthy. However, people may be surprised to learn that germs and viruses are just one of the many risks that healthcare professionals face every day.  Many people are fortunate enough not to have to worry for their physical and mental wellbeing when they go to work. Unfortunately, this is not the case for countless healthcare workers across the nation, for whom workplace violence is a daily concern. According to the American Hospital Association, healthcare workers are four times more likely to experience serious workplace violence as people in other industries. This is particularly troubling knowing that healthcare workers have dedicated their careers to serving others, putting their communities first day in and day out. Responding to the Challenge of Workplace Violence At Renown, we have no tolerance for abuse against our employees. As an organization, we have several systems in place to support and protect our staff. During staff orientation, we provide classes to prepare employees to prevent and de-escalate verbal or physical abuse. We also offer ongoing education to train our staff to respond to violent situations. If an incident does occur, our violence prevention task force reviews incidents and ensures the impacted employees receive resources and counseling to help them process what has occurred.   As a leader, I am continually impressed by our team’s desire and ability to support one another. However, I know that it is my responsibility to protect our team. No one should have to face harassment or abuse – in any form – in their workplace, and I think about the risks our employees face every day. I believe so much in this cause that I volunteer on the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence steering committee, which works to understand the causes behind violence against healthcare workers and develops tools and processes to prevent these incidents from occurring.

Read More About Workplace Violence: Protecting Healthcare Workers

Stroke is unfortunately common, with 1 in 5 American women experiencing it each year. When it comes to a stroke the phrase “time is brain” speaks to the urgency of getting rapid care. In fact, a woman may lose nearly 2 million neurons per minute of oxygen loss to the brain. The Renown Health Comprehensive Stroke Center experts share the importance of timely treatment and how stroke symptoms can differ in women. Women and Stroke – Surprising Symptoms  Each year stroke affects more women than men. Even more concerning, women are less likely to recover from a stroke. The following non-traditional, less common, warning signs can be common in women: Hiccups with chest pain Sudden disorientation, drowsiness, confusion or a general altered mental status Nausea or vomiting A sudden headache that feels like the ‘worst headache of your life’ Unusual chest pain (especially with hiccups) Body numbness or weakness, such as an arm or leg suddenly ‘falling asleep’ Fainting or loss of consciousness Stroke Diagnosis The first step is neuroimaging by CT scan. This allows for rapid identification of any bleed, and also assists in determining candidacy for the early clot busting medication. MRI brain imaging is much higher resolution, and can better determine the core stroke size, assisting in prognosis and recovery. Since strokes have several different origins, an inpatient workup is essential to determine the underlying cause. Whether the stroke is secondary to plaque in the large vessels, clots being thrown in the setting of atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), or small vessel disease from years of uncontrolled vascular risk factors (high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes), determining the cause is essential to implementing a management plan to reduce risk for further strokes. Quick Treatment for Stroke is Key Early recognition of stroke symptoms and seeking prompt attention is paramount. There are interventions that can be instituted to minimize the stroke and increase likelihood of recovery, but only if a patient presents to the hospital early. A clot busting medication, called tPA, can be given to patients with stroke if given within 4-5 hours from time of onset. Renown Regional Health Center is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the highest level of stroke certification available. To earn the designation of comprehensive stroke center, a hospital has to meet stringent requirements, including biannual on-site evaluations. This includes care for ischemic stroke patients (lack of blood flow), hemorrhagic stroke patients (bleeds), and determining the underlying cause to guide secondary stroke management prevention. Stroke Symptoms Remember “B.E.F.A.S.T.” to recognize the symptoms of a stroke below: B – Balance Being off balance or dizzy, is common. E – Eyes An eyesight change such as blurring or double vision may occur. F – Face droop One side of the face, or lip, droops A – Arm weakness Does one arm drift down? S – Speech Talking may slur or sound strange. T – Time Time to call 911. Call an ambulance immediately if you or anyone else, experiences any of these symptoms.

Read More About Women and Stroke Surprising Signs to Know