Power 100 Women

Congratulations to STHCS Board Members Eva Benedict and Betsy Wright for being honored by Buffalo Business First as one of their 2015 Power 100 Women! Please click on Power 100 to see the slideshow recognizing Betsy and Eva. Both were recognized for their leadership and influence in the health-care field across Western New York. Business First’s 2015 POWER 100 WOMEN includes a diverse group of business, education, health care, political, and sports leaders who wield the most clout in Western New York’s eight-county region. Nominations were solicited from reporters and community and business leaders across the eight-county region. Please join me in congratulating Eva and Betsy.

Olean Meditation Center

Concerned about stress and burnout among our STHCS staff, I organized an evening at the Olean Meditation Center this week. Several STHCS staff members attended this session, including myself. We were taught some meditation techniques to control stress and how to be mindful of our own reactions to events which trigger stress and anxiety. I wasn’t sure how effective these techniques would be, but the next day several staff members thanked me. One said after she went home, she was able to sleep soundly for the first time in recent memory. That was my experience as well. Several other staff members said they found our introduction to using meditation and yoga to reduce stress very beneficial. We all know how psychologically and physiologically dangerous chronic stress can be. Learning how to control and prevent stress is key to program efficiency, staff health and ultimately to achieving our mission. I want to thank Rich Reilly, a founding member of Olean Meditation Center, for opening the center to us and for guiding us in meditation. I also want to thank Andrea John for guiding us through our yoga session. I would encourage anyone struggling with stress or an inability to relax to visit the Olean Meditation Center, you won't regret it.