There’s some awesome stuff happening at this year’s GC Wellness Festival!


Massage Therapy (sponsored by DSC Health & Wellness)

Will have scheduled slots throughout the day, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis—from 10am for the morning slots and from 1pm for the afternoon slots. The sign-up sheets (for specific times) will be available at the massage therapy station in Room C198. A valid GC ID is required. Appointments available for staff and faculty will be limited, and will cost $10. Student appointments are free.

Nutrition

Lauren Minchen, a registered dietician, will be providing 1 free 15-minute nutrition consultation per attendee, where she will work with them to provide basic nutrition recommendations, based on the attendee’s needs. Lauren will also be providing educational materials and delicious dark chocolate!

Acupuncturist (11am–1:30pm)

Theresa Costigan will provide a basic synopsis describing acupuncture and the Chinese medicine principles underlying it, including the various physical and emotional conditions it can help. She will also give a demonstration to interested participants on ear acupuncture and its effectiveness for helping reduce stress, cravings and other symptoms. A raffle on a complimentary acupuncture treatment will also be available here.

Acupuncturist (2–4pm)

Christiane Siebert, an acupuncturist, herbalist and naturopath, will provide information about safe, holistic approaches to treat or prevent illness–both acute and chronic–either in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, conventional medicine. She will offer a brief tongue diagnosis to explain key principles of Chinese medicine. A take-home primer on Qigong–simple exercises to improve your health and well-being – will also be available.

Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

Will provide information regarding services offered at the CBWCHC, as well as educational material on women’s health and healthy living.

Integrative Medicine

Integrative Medicine practitioners provide care that is patient-centered, healing oriented, and use therapeutic healing therapies from western and eastern medicine when appropriate. The Continuum Center for Health and Healing (Beth Israel) provides various mind-body therapies according to the individual assessment such as biofeedback, aromatherapy via ‘m’ technique, hypnotherapy, energy healing, yoga, meditation and breathing. At the festival, holistic clinical nurse specialists, a reiki practitioner and a yoga instructor will be offering ‘mini’ treatment sessions to relieve stress and anxiety, which can be linked to 80% of medical conditions.

Kinesiology and Fitness

Jeff Young, a medically trained Kinesiologist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Fitness Coordinator at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing will answer questions related to aerobic, flexibility, and strength training, as well as injury prevention. Handouts related to services provided at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing will also be provided.

Nutrition

Two dietetic students from Hunter College will be answering any questions and providing any recommendations and handouts regarding general nutrition, vegetarian diets, vegan lifestyles, flexitarian diets, and the benefits of plant-based diets.

Chiropractic Care

Dr. L. Gerard Ceccarelli, a board-certified Chiropractor, will perform spinal posture exams and office ergonomic evaluations.

Yoga

Two free yoga classes and guided mediation generously provided by the Urban Yoga Foundation:

  • Yoga classes: 45 minutes each at 11am and 2pm
  • Guided meditation: 20 minute session at 12:15pm

(Limited number of yoga mats will be available, but if you can conveniently bring your own, please do.)

Pre-registration is required for these classes with attendance capped at 15 for yoga classes and 25 for meditation. Please email healthed@gc.cuny.edu if you would like to register (indicating your name, email, which class, and if you are bringing a mat.

Participants can also visit their table to sign up for a free holistic wellness consultation at their Harlem studio.

Health Insurance

Representatives from the Office of Student Affairs will be available to provide information about health insurance plans and services available to doctoral and master’s students. Anyone having questions pertaining to eligibility, enrollment or benefits of either the NYSHIP program or other health insurance plans and resources should stop by.

Hearing Tests

The CUNY Audiology Program (Au.D.) will be performing hearing screenings, otoscopy, and will have information and handouts on issues related to hearing impairment. They’ll also be available to answer questions.

Advocacy for National Health Insurance

Healthcare-Now! NYC will provide information about a New York State universal single-payer bill and advocacy activities that they are organizing to enact the bill.

Student Counseling Services

We will be providing information about the services offered by the Student Counseling Services, we will be doing “mental health screenings” (depression screenings) and we will be providing information about signs of depression.

Dental

NYU College of Dentistry will provide oral health literature and products. We will promote the StuDent Plan, the dental plan for students.

Development Language Lab

The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at the Graduate Center will give out information on speech and language milestones. They will also offer free speech and language testing for children, ages 6–12.

Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access, HRA

Ana Juarbe, MPH will provide information about public and private health insurance programs, as well as resources for learning about health care reform and the Affordable Care Act. She will also provide information on the Family Planning Benefit Program, which provides services for sexual and reproductive health care and access. Please visit the New York City Health Insurance Link website: www.nyc.gov/hilink for additional information.

Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center

Kerri Ackerman, Clinical Nurse, will be offering information on breast and testicular cancer and displaying breast and testicular self exam models. Information on Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s community programs and on how to make an appointment with a physician will also be made available. Questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Vision Screenings

The University Eye Center will provide vision screening services including: visual acuity, glaucoma screening (non-contact tonometry), ophthalmoscopy, and pupil testing. They will have literature, and will be present to answer questions on eye health (e.g. cataracts, glaucoma), refractive conditions (e.g. myopia, astigmatism), binocularity, learning related vision problems, as well as new innovations in eyecare.

HIV/AIDS Rapid Testing

Ryan-NENA Community Health Center will be providing rapid HIV testing. In addition to HIV testing, Ryan-NENA will also be providing health education information about HIV, STI’s and the Community Health Centers medical services.

HPV/Cervical Cancer

The National Cervical Cancer Coalition was founded in 1996 as a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to serving women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV disease. The NCCC helps women, family members, and caregivers battle the personal issues related to cervical cancer and HPV, and advocates for cervical health in all women by promoting prevention through education about early vaccination, Pap testing, and HPV testing.