Posts Tagged ‘Francisco’


San Francisco Bay Area Nurses Dish up Humor, Stir Opinions, and Give Practical Advice

Saturday, October 20th, 2012


San Francisco, Oct. 11, 2012 (PRWEB) October 11, 2012

?Hi who?s on the line? Nurse Talk radio show co-host Casey Hobbs, RN, asks with an up-for-anything tone in her voice. A caller named Mary Ellen describes ?very swollen legs from my groin down to my toes.? ?Oh my god, death is imminent for you,? co-host Maggie McDermott, RN deadpans in her Irish brogue. ?Now Magster, let?s not start right like that,? Casey chides. And so goes another weekly episode of Nurse Talk, where laughter is the best medicine.

That was the very first broadcast. Since then, a lot has happened. Beginning in January of 2013 the show will expand to 50 stations nationwide. They will also move from the current one-hour format to two hours. Hobbs is still co-hosting but is now joined by RN and Nurse Practitioner Shayne Mason, who also teaches at the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Nursing and Health Professions. Maggie McDermott retired from nursing and from the show. Both Hobbs and Mason are full time RN?s, Hobbs with 36 years of experience in hospitals, visiting nurses, and hospice, and Mason with 13 years of experience in psychiatry/mental health, and now works as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Nurse Talk was the dream of two wild and crazy RNs who, after 30-plus years in nursing, decided it was time to make their vision of a national radio show a reality. In 2008, RNs Casey Hobbs and Maggie McDermott, along with long-time entertainment professional Pattie Lockard and award winning sound designer June Miller ,crafted their Nurse Talk pitch demo. Armed with the demo, a tag line of ?laughter is the best medicine,? and a lot of optimism, the group started to play the demo to friends, relatives and anyone else who would listen.

Next, the radio stations. Their response? ?Why isn?t it a doctor show?? ?Is it just advice?? ?There are too many advice shows.? ?Dr. Dean Edell has a corner on the market.? ?Maybe they?d like it in Mexico.? ?Radio is dying.? ?It?ll never fly!? Since that time, the show has expanded continually, and just got picked up for nationwide syndication. Other mediums have been added as well as many Internet and iPhone app stations such as TuneIn, I Heart Radio App, Radio Or Not, and ITunes.

“The opportunity for the public to learn about health care issues from a nursing perspective can dramatically increase their understanding of ways to deal with problems and proactively engage in prevention and health promotion,” said Judith Karshmer, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco. “We are excited that Shayne Mason, one of our faculty members, has been recruited to provide an on air voice for nursing and a resource for health advocacy.”

“I was thrilled and honored to learn I had become the new co-host of the Nurse Talk radio program,” said USF School of Nursing and Health Professions Instructor Shayne Mason. “Patient advocacy and education are extremely important to me, and the opportunity to reach a wider audience with this message is very exciting. My goal in becoming the new co-host is to utilize both my sense of humor and my academic credentials to bring healthcare advocacy to the listeners. As an alumnus and faculty member of USF, I am proud to have an educational background that enables me to articulate both the mission of the university, and the nursing profession as a whole.”

You can listen to Nurse Talk every Saturday @ 11am on KNEW AM 960 San Francisco and on 50+ terrestrial stations nationwide. For more information about Nurse Talk visit http://www.nursetalksite.com.

About the University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is located in the heart of one of the world?s most innovative and diverse cities and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields. Its diverse student body enjoys direct access to faculty, small classes, and outstanding opportunities in the city itself. USF is San Francisco’s first university, and its Jesuit Catholic mission helps ignite a student?s passion for social justice and a desire to ?Change the World from Here.? For more information, please visit http://www.usfca.edu.

###







Pathways Hospice Offers Grief and Loss Support Groups in the San Francisco Bay Area

Saturday, September 15th, 2012


Sunnyvale, California (PRWEB) September 07, 2012

Grieving can be a lonely process. Dealing with deep personal loss can leave people feeling alone, afraid, and not knowing where to turn. Pathways Home Health, Hospice & Private Duty is currently offering grief and loss support groups for Partner/Spouse Loss, Parent Loss, and General Grief Support.

Pathways Hospice grief support groups examine common grief issues such as coping skills, loneliness, anger, “normal” grief, and lifestyle change. Individuals grieving the loss of a wife, husband, mother, father, step-parent, grandparent, sister, brother, or friend are encouraged to attend. Registration is required.

Free of charge and non-denominational, these grief support groups will be held at various times in the evening and afternoons in Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Los Gatos, Fremont, Redwood City, and Oakland. These support groups run six-to-eight weeks. Please contact Pathways Home Health & Hospice for specific times and locations.

For more information contact the bereavement department at Pathways Home Health & Hospice by email bereavement(at)pathwayshealth.org or telephone 1(888) 905-2800, ext. 4241 or visit our website at http://www.pathwayshealth.org/grief-support/index.html

About Pathways Home Health & Hospice

Pathways Home Health & Hospice is a non-profit community based organization. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Pathways was founded in 1977 by a group of physicians who saw a community need for compassionate end-of-life care. That year Pathways served 12 patients. Pathways now serves over 5,000 families annually in five Bay Area counties.

Pathways cares for patients in their place of residence, whether it be their home, hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility. Affiliated with El Camino Hospital and Sequoia Hospital since 1986, Pathways is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a member of the Visiting Nurses Association of America, California Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and the California Association of Health Services at Home.

For more information about Pathways services, holiday grief workshops, volunteering, or making a donation in support of Pathways? families, call 1 (888) 755.7855 or visit http://www.pathwayshealth.org.







Luce at the InterContinental San Francisco and the California Culinary Academy Announce Finalists for “Luce’s Culinary Clash”

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

Luce at the InterContinental San Francisco and the California Culinary Academy (CCA) announce the top five student finalists in Luce?s Culinary Clash program, one of the school?s largest cooking competitions and scholarship efforts to date. Numerous students submitted three-course menus with corresponding recipes for the opportunity to cook with Luce?s Michelin-starred Chef de Cuisine Daniel Corey, a CCA alum. Five CCA students have been selected to showcase their menu at Luce on a designated night starting on Monday, February 27, 2012. The students? menus will be judged by a panel of hotel executives, local personalities and food writers in addition to restaurant guests.

The top three students will receive cash prizes and the first place winner will also be invited to cook with Chef Corey at the prestigious James Beard House in April 2012. A portion of proceeds from each menu sold during the five dinners will go to the California Culinary Academy Scholarship Fund.

The three course dinners are offered at $ 40 per person on the following dates with one student featured each night: Monday, February 27, 2012; Sunday, March 4, 2012; Sunday, March 11, 2012; Sunday, March 18, 2012; and Sunday, March 25, 2012. Wine pairing, tax and gratuity are not included. Seating begins at 5:30pm. The top three winners will be announced during a special event at the CCA on Monday, March 26, 2012.

The five CCA finalists competing in Luce?s Culinary Clash and the date their menu will be featured are as follows:

Monday, February 27, 2012: Sinesipho Baduza

Sinesipho Baduza was raised in East London in the province of Eastern Cape, South Africa, where her first job in the food industry was at a small-scale catering operation she ran with her sister while in college. Baduza decided to take some time away from her studies and traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2009, working as a chef on private yachts. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for food. She was inspired to build a firm foundation in the culinary arts and enrolled in the Culinary Arts Associate Degree program at the California Culinary Academy.

Sunday, March 4, 2012: Stephanie Davidovich

Although Stephanie has lived abroad and all over California, she considers San Francisco her hometown. Her inspiration for cooking was sparked at a young age and she credits her mother, who did not do much cooking, as well as her grandmothers with inspiring her to get creative in the kitchen. ?I started exploring the kitchen and cooking here and there for my family,? she says. While working simultaneously as a health counselor, 1st grade teacher, and middle school cooking teacher, Davidovich decided to pursue the culinary world in a more formal way. She is currently enrolled in the Culinary Arts Certificate program at the CCA.

Sunday, March 11, 2012: Bruce Pettit

Bruce Pettit was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida and is currently enrolled in the Culinary Arts Certificate program at the CCA. Before beginning to cook on his own, Pettit drew inspiration from Alton Brown?s ?Good Eats? program. ?I watched his show for years before I ever cooked anything, and I still love his way of thinking about cooking and food.? Pettit slowly started to cook for family and friends and enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to attend culinary school. When he is not in class, Pettit is experimenting in his home kitchen, making all kinds of ingredients from scratch including soda syrups, coconut milk and curry powder.

Sunday, March 18, 2012: Ashley Gates

A native of Thousand Oaks, California, Ashley Gates comes from a family that loved to cook. While her career path led her to work at Apple, Inc., she decided to pursue her passion for cooking after four years with the company. ?When I am in the kitchen and making food for family or guests, I know that I am doing something that brings people together and makes them happy. That alone gives me more satisfaction than eating.? Gates is currently enrolled in the Culinary Arts Certificate program at the CCA.

Sunday, March 25, 2012: Jessica Curtis

A California native, Jessica Curtis grew up in Menlo Park, holding jobs that fit with her interests ? the outdoors, skiing and food. With most of Curtis? family working in the food, wine, and beer industry, it seemed only natural that she would pursue the same direction. Inspired by cooking with her family, Curtis enrolled in the Culinary Arts Certificate program at the CCA. Looking towards her future, Curtis would like to focus on butchery and the craft of working with meats and breaking down animals.

In addition to showcasing their menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant, the finalists will also receive special training on wine pairing with Luce?s Beverage Director John Wight and partners from Treasury Wine Estates including Beringer Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean, Etude, St. Clement and Stags? Leap Winery. Students will spend a full day exploring each winery, meeting winemakers and learning about the varietals. Every dinner will have a designated wine partner, with the finalists pairing wine according to their menu.

Luce offers a dining experience that is the perfect marriage of local flavors and global inspiration, focusing on New American cuisine. In addition to sourcing the best sustainable products as possible, Chef Corey is committed to crafting many items in house, including pastas, desserts and pickled ingredients. Luce has been recognized with a Michelin star since 2009 and this year?s accolade marks the first Michelin star under Chef Corey?s direction. Luce is also the recipient of the Wine Spectator ?Award of Excellence? for two consecutive years.

Located on the lobby level of the InterContinental San Francisco in the South of Market district, Luce offers a modern and sophisticated dining atmosphere. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves brunch on weekends. For reservations, please call 415.616.6566 or visit http://www.lucewinerestaurant.com.

For more information on Luce at the InterContinental San Francisco and further details on Luce?s Culinary Clash, please visit http://www.lucewinerestaurant.com.

ABOUT INTERCONTINENTAL SAN FRANCISCO

The InterContinental San Francisco opened in February 2008 at Howard and 5th streets next to Moscone West Convention Center. The hotel towers 32 stories above the heart of the City and features 550 rooms, 14 suites, 43,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space with natural light, the Michelin-starred Luce restaurant, Bar 888, a ten-room treatment spa, full-service fitness center, and an indoor pool. Most recently, the InterContinental San Francisco received its LEED EBOM Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information and to make reservations, contact the InterContinental San Francisco, 888 Howard Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94103, at 415.616.6500 or 888.811.4273 or by visiting http://www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY

The California Culinary Academy has been creating culinary excellence in San Francisco for over 30 years. One of the West?s first culinary schools, they have been committed to providing high standards of culinary arts, pastry chef and personal chef training since 1977. Each student of the cooking school receives a comprehensive, challenging training in classic culinary techniques combined with modern innovations and the latest in global cuisine. They learn through demonstration by experienced chef instructors followed by hands-on, practical application. The Le Cordon Bleu curriculum of California Culinary Academy includes important theoretical concepts and industry-relevant general education courses. For more information on the California Culinary Academy, please visit http://www.chefs.edu/San-Francisco.

# # #