Professionals who are Making a Difference
Barbara Strafella
Barbara Strafella - Making a difference by giving back to the American Cancer Society. Honored by the Cancer Society Navigation Program Sword of Hope Ball on March 21, 2009. Barbara gives so much of herself working with Cancer patients as well as hosting fund-raisers for the program.
● President of FanciFace Enterprises Inc. & Wake Up With Makeup! Inc. Barbara Strafella - Honored By The American Cancer Society We are delighted this evening to acknowledge the support of the American Cancer Society by a truly beautiful woman – Barbara Strafella. Barbara is a Practiced Skin Care Specialist and Tattoo Artist proficient in medical camouflage, which has specific cosmetic applications for cancer survivors. She is a licensed Cosmetologist and Aesthetician and the sole proprietor of “Wake Up With MakeUp”. As well, Barbara is a Lymphatic Drainage Specialist and Reiki Master and holds numerous accreditations. Her compassion for cancer survivors who need cosmetic enhancements is evidenced by a personal fund she maintains for women who could not otherwise afford her services. She has organized several very successful fundraisers in support of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigation Program. This unique program offers newly diagnosed patients hope, information and guidance as well as American Cancer Society and community resources offered by trained American Cancer Society volunteer Navigators( themselves cancer survivors). Barbara is also a member of our Business Council and as such helps our Region to expand our sphere of influence into the business community.With her expertise, grace and professionalism, Barbara brings beauty and hope to cancer survivors in their most vulnerable moments. Tonight is truly an example of the “right” thing happening to the “right” person for the “right” reason. She is so deserving of the honor we bestow upon her.Together with her husband Paul Culotta and her daughter Natalie, her colleagues, friends and fellow volunteers, the American Cancer Society publicly thanks Barbara for all her efforts in improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. American Cancer Society and Patient ServicesCelebrate. Remember. Fight Back!at Relay For Life of Staten Island. Visit www.relayforlife.org/statenislandny. About Patient Navigation To ease the impact of cancer on patients and their families, the Staten Island Region provides several direct and supportive Patient Service Programs through our Patient Navigation Program. A Patient Navigator is someone who will work, one to one with a patient diagnosed with cancer, in an effort to help the patient overcome the barriers to quality care. The barrier is an obstacle or challenge that makes access to services difficult or impossible. People diagnosed with cancer and their families need information and inspiration. The Patient Navigation Program allows patient navigators to address these issues by reaching out and saying “I am going to help you understand and get through this.” From the day an individual hears they have cancer to the day they say I am a survivor, there is a journey and the American Cancer Society’s Patient Navigation Program helps cancer patients through this journey, as well as ensuring that patients will receive assistances and guidance. Funding for the Patient Navigation Program will allow the American Cancer Society to purchase much needed wigs for patients who have lost their hair due to treatment, bras and prostheses for breast cancer patients, fiberfill for comfort pillows for breast cancer patients, transportation to and from treatment and quality of life and recreational activities for childhood cancer patients. Anyone interested in the program can contact me at: Professional Profiles: DANA G. COHEN, MD
Just a Few Conditions She Can Help With: Hormonal Imbalance TARGETED AMINO ACID THERAPY: HOLISTIC ALTERNATIVE TO ANTI-DEPRESSANTS by Dana Cohen, MDThe National Institute of Mental Health estimates about 10 million Americans take medication anti-depressants are commonly known as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Wellbutrin (SSRIs and SNRIs) to name a few. Prescription medication but don’t fix the problem. Most people who suffer with anxiety and/or depression have low levels of key neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. Anti-depressant medication works by blocking the breakdown of serotonin, yet does not replenish it, which is what the body truly needs. Additionally, medication does nothing to address the chemical imbalance. As a board certified internist, I have specialized in integrative medicine for the past decade, combining alternative therapies with western medicine. I have implemented an alternative treatment to prescribing anti-depressants called Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT), which in my practice has been one of the most dramatic treatments. TAA has been introduced to address neurotransmitter imbalances and provide patients with relief from anxiety and mild to moderate depression without the side effect and dependence on medication. Long-term use of common anti-depressant medications may accelerate the depletion of serotonin or nor epinephrine. Targeted Amino Acid Therapy can prevent that depletion by providing the precursors needed to sustain the supply of these neurotransmitters. Before determining which neurotransmitters a patient is lacking or low in, I order a urine test to assess neurotransmitters excretion from the body. This test can identify the body’s deficiency and see what type of amino acid therapy is needed, as neurotransmitters are made from amino acids. Many factors that inhibit the body’s absorption of amino acids causing key neurotransmitters to be depleted include: poor diet, conditions such as Candida, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, stimulants such as caffeine and prescription medication such as Ritalin can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of neurotransmitters. Of the 30 or so neurotransmitters that have been identified, researchers have discovered associations between clinical depression and the function of three primary ones: serotonin, nor epinephrine and dopamine. These three neurotransmitters function within structures of the brain that regulate emotions, reactions to stress and the physical drives of sleep, appetite and sexuality. Once the urinary test results confirm depletion ion neurotransmitters, we can work to customize amino acid therapy for each patient individually. For example, 5 hydroxytryptophan, an amino acid commonly known as 5htp, is given as a precursor for the production of serotonin and the amino acid Phenylalanine is given for the production of nor epinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. In addition and anxiety, TAAT may also be used to treat certain sleep disorders, insomnia and PMS. Unlike prescription meds that work on isolated parts of the brain and can cause potentially severe side effects, amino acid therapy has virtually no reported side effects. If side effects do occur, they very minor, and may include transient nausea or gastro-intestinal upset After 45 days, patients have their urine retested and we commonly find that urine neurotransmitters increase in number. In general, this the amount of time it takes for optimal neurotransmitter levels to be obtained. Though, in my experience, after one week of treatment, many patients have reported a remarkable difference. For those who suffer with a more severe form of depression, we have found that there is an excellent synergy between Targeted Amino Acid Therapy and prescription anti-depressants. It’s perfectly safe to use both treatments simultaneously and work toward a goal of wearing off medication.Some people may never stop talking medication, yet if they feel that it is something would like to try, it is imperative to remember to NEVER stop medication without physician supervision. Dr. Dana Cohen is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Cohen focuses on nutrition and preventative medicine modalities. She also has expertise in male and female hormone replacement therapy. Prior to joining Patient’s Medical, Dr. Cohen was an associate physician at Whole Health New England in Massachusetts, The Hoffman Center in New York City and the renowned Atkins Center in Manhattan where she trained in integrative medicine under Dr. Robert Atkins. She has also performed in an off Broadway show called “The Thinnest Woman with the Fewest Wrinkles Wins” a satirical modern dance performance commenting on today’s obsession with weigh issues and plastic surgery. For more information: 1-800-new living or www.newliving.com 
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Wake Up With Make-Up 
Dana G. Cohen, MD, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. She is a long time member of The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) where she contributes regularly to efforts that support the education of physicians on the latest findings and emerging procedures in complementary, alternative and integrative medicine. As an established Holistic physician, for over a decade Dr. Cohen has championed the incorporation of Integrative medicine into mainstream medicine. 
