RWJBH – The Media Pub News (TM)

PRINCETON, N.J. — Many local photographers and mixed media artists now have a chance to

showcase their artworks at local hospital galleries, thanks to a few area curators.

Princeton Photography Club Curator Sheila Geisler plans for future projects at their hospital galleries.
— Provided photo

Among others making this possible, are curators from the Princeton Photography Club (PPC), which include Sheila Geisler, Lillian Ciuffreda, and Mark Poiani. David Anderson is president of the club.

The PPC oversees Millstone River Gallery at Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro, and Lakefront Gallery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton.

Geisler explained that, “the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital (Lakefront Gallery) and the Millstone River Gallery at Merwick are maintained by the photo club in order to give local, emerging artists a place to show their work without a cost,” or fees because the club maintains the galleries.

At the recent opening reception for the “Pictures at an Exhibition” photography show at Millstone River Gallery, Geisler said that even though this specific exhibition is about photography, the galleries tend to be diverse with their artwork.

“We are able to invite many artists besides photographers to join us, including mixed media artists like what is currently at Lakefront Gallery,” she said.

The diversity of artists includes high school students who compete in the annual 4^thCongressional Dist. Art Competition by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, and recently the Trenton Street Artists.

It was very exciting for the Trenton Street Artists.

“This was the first time they ever hung in a hospital gallery,” said Geisler. “And we sold 10 pieces of their work. Then they got invited to other hospitals in the Trenton area to exhibit.”

She said PPC opened a whole new venue for them.

Geisler also said, “it’s a wonderful goal for the club to be able to allow the artists and the community to participate” in the art exhibitions.

She said they accept almost all the artists’ works.

Photo of “Anchors Aweigh” by Jim Amon at “Photos at an Exhibition” show at Millstone River Gallery.
— Provided photo

“If the work is interesting, we hang them” in the galleries, she said.

The hospital galleries have become community attractions.

According to Christina Fleming, vice president of marketing and strategy at Windsor Healthcare Communities, the parent of Merwick Care, having the gallery in the hospital benefits everyone.

“We are good stewards to the community by opening our doors for them to come into our building and see how positive we are,” said Fleming.

She said it is not really a marketing strategy, but instead it allows people who might need nursing care at sometime in their lives to come visit the place and see how it is firsthand.

Geisler said the galleries are well-known and popular with the artists and the communities.

The curators are busy with future projects such as a major Pine Barrens exhibition for PPC with Pinelands Preservation Alliance, which will open in Jan. 2020 at RWJ Hamilton Lakefront Gallery.

Other upcoming exhibitions will include artist Tasha O’Neill’s “Gifts from the Sea” and the Cool Women Poets at Millstone River Gallery in March.

Fashion show models show off their new bodies

HAMILTON, N.J. — Physicians and staff at Robert Wood-Johnson University Hospital Barnabas Health (RWJBH) in Hamilton hosted their annual Bariatric Fashion Show last week at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, to showcase their patients’ weight loss success stories.

A bariatric surgery patient models her before and after looks following her surgery at RWJBH.
-Provided photo

There were about 20 patients who have undergone bariatric surgery as their ultimate weight loss resort, and now they have life-transforming results that are inspirational to anyone who has struggled with weight and health issues.

“I was completely paralyzed. I was in a wheelchair, and I am a previous stroke victim,” said Tanza Baker, one of the surgery-patients-turned-model.

Baker who was a size 34 has lost 195 pounds. Two other patients have lost 140 and 197 pounds each. In total, the fashion show participants have lost more than 2,000 pounds, said Joe Hannan, communication specialist at RWJBH.

“Bariatric surgery is a weight loss option for people who have tried more traditional methods of losing weight and haven’t had success,” says Hannan.

There are several common types of bariatric surgeries that change the anatomy of the stomach and/or intestine. The effects of this include curbing the appetite and sometimes altering the metabolic processes. This results in gradual weight loss.

“It took about a year and a half for me to lose 195 pounds,” said Baker. “Now that I have lost the weight my medical issues have improved 1000 times.”

She said among her weight-related health issues, her cholesterol levels, her asthma, and the cortisone shots in her knees have all gotten better now.

Baker’s life has changed dramatically.

She said she that for about a year now she has been an Ashley Stewart plus-size model at a size 14. She is also a gospel radio show host on WBJL 103.9 FM for about seven months now. And, she is looking forward to having her story published by Bloomberg Business Week. She now also has a better relationship with food, eating healthier by including more vegetables in her diet and drinking more water. She plans on doing more activities and also on maintaining her new weight.

Previously, she suffered from depression. She said her weight was dragging her down. Even though she still struggles with balance and partial paralysis of the face, she said she is much happier and wants to be an encouragement to others with similar issues.

So she tell others to, “realize your situation if you’re struggling with your weight. Go for the surgery. Don’t be afraid. Go for being healthier. Without your health you don’t have anything at all,” she said.

Baker said she wants to see people happy, and has already encouraged five persons to have the surgery.

Hannan said there are risks associated with surgeries in general and also with this one, but by electing to undergo bariatric surgery, physicians and patients determine that the greater risk is to allow obesity to continue unchecked.

To maintain their weight losses, physicians and dieticians prescribe each patient a unique diet that they have created. The most critical part of the nutrition plan is portion control and staying well hydrated, said Hannan.

For those considering bariatric surgery, it is covered by many health insurance plans, and the out-of-pocket cost varies by insurance company.