Dennis Dowling, executive director of North Shore University Hospital, said, "Bob Waldbaum is a leader in the medical community and a strong advocate of encouraging men to take a more active role in their health. He has been an invaluable member of our team for many years and is the ideal professional to lead this newly created Urology Department."Dr. Waldbaum has served as director of the hospital's Division of Urology for the past 30 years. Under the old structure, he reported to the hospital's chairman of surgery. He is now head of a stand-alone department, which was created to meet the growing demand for men's health services. The hospital's Department of Urology has about 20 physicians and six full-time physician assistants.In addition, he is a clinical professor of urology at Cornell University Medical Center, vice president of the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America and chairman of its Urology Advisory Committee, and national historian of the National Urological Association. He received his medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is also a trustee of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
Seminars on treating obesity
Franklin Hospital Medical Center is now highly equipped to offer the latest in minimally invasive surgery, including bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity. Alan Geiss, M.D., and Colin J. Powers, M.D., renowned laparoscopic surgeons from North Shore University Hospital at Syosset, perform the sophisticated Lap-Band surgery at Franklin. Performing the procedure using minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, equipment is more precise, less traumatic for the patient, with less discomfort and offers a quicker recovery and a more rapid return to normal activities.Geiss and Powers will present a series of free seminars entitled "Surgical Options for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity." The seminars will provide an introduction to the Lap Band surgical device, and a multimedia presentation will outline the current surgical and medical research on the national weight crisis. A question-and-answer session with the bariatric team will follow. The free seminars will be held on the following Tuesdays: Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8, April 12 and May 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the hospital's Shankman Auditorium.To reserve seating at the free event, call Franklin's External Affairs Department at (516) 256-6397.
Parents still celebrating miracle
The miracle of birth at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre is still celebrated more than a year after twins were born to a couple who know only too well how precious life. This explains why they came back to the hospital to thank their physicians, nurses and support staff and to celebrate the place where they were born.Alice and Frank Naudus say their twins spent the first 49 days of their young lives in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where they received round-the-clock care and the type of specialized treatment that ensured their survival. The staff's professionalism and the sophistication of the technology so moved the couple that they presented a donation to the unit following the one-year birthday of their twins, Frank and Marie.Proud mom Alice explained, "We couldn't have done it without the NICU. My babies would not have survived without this unit. Being here is our birthday present to our children."The twins were born at 32 weeks, and both of baby Frank's lungs were collapsed. He was in such serious condition that doctors candidly told the parents that his chances for survival were slim. In addition, little Marie was born with a small hole in her heart. Fortunately, the hole closed before she was discharged; however, both children were on respirators, both were jaundiced and both needed all the help they could get to survive.Swarna Devarajan, M.D., chairperson of pediatrics, explained, "Alice and Frank are very kind to credit the staff at Mercy for helping both children pull through in what was an enormously difficult fight. Yet, these young infants had the support of loving parents who were there virtually around the clock pulling for them. It was the synergy of that love and our medical professionals who brought the twins through and those children will have that inside their souls forever."
