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Sara Casell. Photo by Shervin Lainez

Grammy Nominee and world class violinist Sara Caswell and her quartet will be performing music from her new album The Way to You at the Jazz Loft on Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.

Caswell will be performing with Jesse Lewis, guitar; Adam Cruze, drums; and Ike Sturm, bass.

“Sara Caswell and her quartet will certainly be filling the Jazz Loft with exceptional music” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “I hope everyone will come out to help celebrate the release of her new album.”

Caswell has been voted into the DownBeat Critics and Readers Polls every year since 2013. The album features the stellar band that Caswell has led for the past decade.

Tickets are available on website www.thejazzloft.org for $30 Adult, $25 Senior, $20 Student, $15 Children or available to purchase at the door.

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Tony & Mary Liedtke, center, with RMHC NYM CEO Matt Campo (left, jacket & sunglasses) and the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, which performed before the awards ceremony. Photo by @hoonsohnvisuals

Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro honored Tony Liedtke and the Liedtke Organization at its 6th Annual Stony Brook Golf Outing & Dinner at the Baiting Hollow Country Club recently, raising more than $150,000 to RMHC NYM activities supporting families with children receiving medical care in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The funds will support existing RMHC NYM programs that help families with children receiving medical care.

Tony Liedtke, right, with grandson Anthony Liedtke, Jr. (hat) with Jennifer Nicholson, COO, and Matt Campo, CEO.

“This event, like so many we celebrate, honors the commitment of Long Islanders who have their heart in the right place and back it up with action,” said Matt Campo, CEO of RMHC NYM. “We are grateful for the leadership of Tony Liedtke and his whole family, making sure our families have the help, support and resources that we provide.”

Founder Tony Liedtke started his journey with McDonald’s after he returned from Vietnam, first as a manager trainee and later growing into an owner/operator with nine store locations across the region. Over that time, he has helped McDonald’s grow into new technologies, piloting the first 24-hour store in the country and introducing credit card payments in the late 1990s, resulting in millions of dollars in increased sales across the country.

Today, Tony leads a senior management team that includes his daughter Jaime and other members of his family. He has paid his good fortune forward with philanthropy, supporting local Boy Scout troops and rebuilding the Long Beach McDonald’s store after Super Storm Sandy. He’s also been an integral part of the Stony Brook Advisory Council that is spearheading the drive to build a Ronald McDonald House in Suffolk County to serve families there.

About Baiting Hollow Country Club 

The Baiting Hollow Country Club is a privately owned, members-only golf club located in the rolling hills of Long Island’s north shore, just 10 miles from the Hamptons.  The golf course, designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, has been restored to its former glory in recent years and a magnificent 25,000 square foot Clubhouse was completed in 2008.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro 

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) New York Metro provides free lodging, meals and emotional support to keep families seeking medical treatment for their sick children near the care they need and the families they love.

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Jaclyn Jahn in the Nursing clinical skills training area with Janet Galiczewski, DNP. Photo by Jeanne Neville

Jaclyn Jahn, a Stony Brook University School of Nursing student who will graduate on May 17, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Future Nurse Leader Award by the American Nurses Association – New York (ANA-NY).

The Future Nurse Leader Award is given to students nominated by their respective school as outstanding students who demonstrate leadership, make significant contributions to their school, promote activity in nursing organizations, and embody the values and ethics of nursing. This year ANA-NY is awarding 17 students in New York State with the honor.

Janet Galiczewski, DNP, Clinical Associate Professor, and Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Nursing, and an ASA member, nominated Jahn for the award.

“Jaclyn Jahn has not only strong academic and leadership skills, she is caring, empathetic, and compassionate with patients and their families, and ensures that their questions are always answered,” says Galiczewski.

Jahn, a Long Island native from Rockville Centre, is enrolled in the baccalaureate nursing program and one of the students selected for the school’s Nursing Scholars Program, which includes students who have high academic standing and are involved with extracurricular work related to the field. She was nominated for the award by School of Nursing leadership for her scholarship, student leadership skills at Stony Brook and statewide, and her involvement in nursing-related research.

While at Stony Brook, Jahn demonstrated excellence in her coursework and displayed her leadership skills to help advance Stony Book’s chapter of the Student Nurses Association, first as second VP and as its current President. In this capacity, she coordinated many community service activities. Jahn also extended her leadership skills outside Stony Brook and served as the Northeast Regional Director for the Nursing Student Association of New York State.

Jahn has also demonstrated excellence in the field of discovery. Before she began her nursing studies, she contributed to a published paper related to aortic valve replacement in the Journal of International Cardiology. As part of the Nursing Scholars Program, she conducted research with the former dean of the school on the association between financial resources, student resources, and student success. She presented the findings at a conference by the Eastern Nursing Research Society this spring.

A graduate of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, Jahn took part in many clinical services at Stony Brook and other medical institutions on Long Island as part of her training, including Covid and Influenza vaccination dispensing at Stony Brook.

Jahn is Basic Life Support certified, HIPPAA and CITI trained, and has completed Sexual Assault and Suicide Prevention Bystander Intervention training. She also completed red watch band training at Stony Brook with others for the upstanding award.

Jahn’s goal is to become a critical care nurse working in an Intensive Care Unit.

Caption: Jaclyn Jahn in the Nursing clinical skills training area with Janet Galiczewski, DNP.

Credit: Jeanne Neville

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Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).
Block the Sun, Not the Fun event hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Skin Cancer Screenings were held at Stony Brook Dermatology Associates and at the Smith Haven Mall Center Court ( 5/13/23).

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. with 1 in 5 people being diagnosed with it in their lifetime. May is designated as National Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month and with summer right around the corner, it’s important to know how to keep your family sun-safe during outdoor activities. This past Saturday, May 13, families across Long Island attended Block the Sun, Not the Fun hosted by Stony Brook Cancer Center at Smith Haven Mall.

The interactive, fun, and educational event featured family fun opportunities presented by Healthcare and Community Partners and Stony Brook’s Wolfie mascot aimed at promoting sun safety and teaching the community about preventing skin cancer. Before the mall event, Stony Brook Cancer Center and Stony Brook Dermatology Associates hosted free skin cancer screenings for nearly hundred individuals and Dr. Tara Huston, Director of the Melanoma Disease Management Team at Stony Brook Medicine, led an educational program for patients about melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

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Larry Fuller

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, is excited to announce that acclaimed Jazz pianist Larry Fuller and his trio will be returning on Saturday, May 20 for one performance at 7 p.m.

Fuller is a Yamaha-endorsed jazz pianist, band leader, composer, and clinician who is known to “swing like a beast!” He will be joined by Lorin Cohen on bass and Jason Tiemann on drums.

Before Fuller started the Larry Fuller Trio, he held the positions of musical director and pianist for vocalist Ernestine Anderson, pianist for Jeff Hamilton’s Trio, pianist in Ray Brown’s Trio, and has also toured and recorded with the John Pizzarelli Quartet.

Fuller is known for his emotive, swinging style, technique, and program versatility.

For tickets visit www.thejazzloft.org. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for students. The Jazz Loft is located just 90 minutes from New York City and is the only music venue on Long Island that features exclusively Jazz music. For more information about The Jazz Loft, visit thejazzloft.org.

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Summer is right around the corner and the Town of Brookhaven has a variety of fun and educational programs for young and old alike.

Pickleball
Centereach Athletic Complex
286 Hawkins Road, Centereach, NY 11720
Call: 631-451-6131 for more information.

Advanced BeginnerReview basic rules & regulations. Demonstrate basic shots and strokes, for example forehand, backhand, serve, return, volleys, etc. Sustain short rallies and play games with proper scoring. Rain dates – June 21st & June 28th.Dates: Wednesdays, May 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14Time: 8:00AM – 9:00AMVisit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Summer Fun Camp (Ages 6-11)Looking for a fun filled Summer for your child?  We still have some openings in our Summer Fun Camp Locations in Holtsville and Mastic.  Locations: – Holtsville Day CampHoltsville Ecology Site, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville, NY 11742– Mastic Day CampWilliam Floyd High School, 240 Mastic Beach Road, Mastic Beach NY 11951Dates: Monday, July 3 – Friday, August 18 Time: 8:00AM-4:00PMVisit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline to register or call 631-451-6113 for more information or help registering online.

Robert E. Reid, Sr. Recreation Center
Defense Hill Road & Route 25A, Shoreham, NY 11786
Call: 631-451-5306 for more information or help registering online.

Martial Arts (Ages 8-12yrs.)
This Class teaches techniques based on Chinese martial arts. Participants will work individually and take part in fast and dynamic moments that will increase agility, flexibility and stamina.
Dates: Mondays, June 5, 12, 26 July 3, 10, 17
Time: 4:30PM – 5:30PM
Fee: $45.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Country Line Dancing
These classes welcome beginner and intermediate dancers. Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well. 
Dates: Mondays, June 5, 12, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Time: 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Fee: $55.00 per 8-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Paint Your Pet
Join us for this exciting new program and have fun creating an 11″ x 14″ hand painted portrait of your furry friend. Must pre-register by Thursday, May 25. Upon registration you will receive an email address to supply the photo of your pet you would like to paint. Pet photo must be a clear, close-up picture of your pet. 
Date:Friday, June 9
Time: 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Fee: $45.00 per person
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline 

Skoblicki Scientists (entering grades K – grade 5)
In this interactive science program explore an exciting new topic each week in our summer series. Register for one or all. This class is open to school age students entering grade K through grade 5.
Dates: Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2
Time: 1:45PM – 2:30PM
Fee: $10.00 per class
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Broadway Kids (Ages 9-13yrs.)
Join us in this introduction to singing class and explore the exciting world of Broadway. Students will start each session with a 10-minute vocal warmup to wake up and strengthen their voices. Together they will sing some of the most well known songs from shows, old and new. Participants will have the opportunity to sing a chosen solo for the group. 
Dates: Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26 August 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM
Fee: $50.00 per 8-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Belly Dancing (Ages 18+)
Looking for a fun way to get in shape? This class is a great introduction to belly dancing as a form of fitness, stress reduction and a way to obtain grace and femininity. Emphasis will be placed on basic belly dance techniques and steps in addition to its exercise benefit. Please wear comfortable clothing & non-slip socks or slippers. No sneakers.
Dates: Thursdays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10
Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Fee: $35.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Jump Bunch Jr. (Ages 3-5yrs.)
Learn a new sport each week including soccer, football, lacrosse & volleyball. No equipment necessary, just bring water.
Dates: Fridays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11
Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM
Fee: $60.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline 

Jump Bunch Kids (Ages 6-9yrs.)
Learn a new sport each week including soccer, football, lacrosse & volleyball. No equipment necessary, just bring water. 
Dates: Fridays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11
Time: 5:15PM – 6:15PM
Fee: $60.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Bocce League (Ages 18+)
Meet and play with different people each week. 2 games per week. Individual sign up. 
Dates: Thursdays, July 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM
Fee: $30.00 per player per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road, Centereach, NY 11720
Call 631-451-5307 for more information or help registering online.

Kids Karate (Ages 6-12) 
Kids will learn confidence, concentration and respect.
Dates: Tuesdays, June 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15
Time: 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Fee: $50.00 per 8-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Zumba (Ages 16+)
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing.
Dates: Mondays, June 12, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7
Time: 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Fee: $50.00 per 8-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Dates: Fridays, June 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 5:30PM – 6:30PM
Fee: $50.00 per 8-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center
39 Montauk Highway, Blue Point, NY 11715
Call 631-451-6163 for more information or help registering online.

Country Line Dancing
These classes welcome beginner and intermediate dancers. Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well. 
Dates: Mondays, July 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21
Time: 2:30PM – 4:00PM
Fee: $45.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Motherhood Moves
This full-body workout is a combination of safe core movements, cardio, gentle stretching, breathing, labor prep and recovery. Postpartum, this class is geared for the just cleared six-week mama who is looking for a slower class to get her body readjusted to exercise. Please bring along a yoga mat and water.
Dates: Thursdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6
Time: 7:15PM – 8:00PM
Fee: $40.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline 

Belly Dancing (Ages 18+)
Looking for a fun way to get in shape? This class is a great introduction to belly dancing as a form of fitness, stress reduction and a way to obtain grace and femininity. Emphasis will be placed on basic belly dance techniques and steps in addition to its exercise benefit. Please wear comfortable clothing & non-slip socks or slippers. No sneakers.
Dates: Mondays, June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Fee: $35.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

Senior Fitness
The fitness class includes warm-up, low-impact, simple aerobic cardio moves, balance, strength training, resistance training and stretching exercises that can be done in a seated or standing position. There is no floor work in this class. Modifications are given throughout the class and is open to all levels. All participants need to wear comfortable clothes, sneakers and bring water. Please bring light weights if you have them.  
Dates: Fridays, July 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, September 1 
Time: 10:45AM – 11:30AM
Fee: $2.00 per class (payable to instructor at the beginning of each class)
Free for those with Renew Active, One Pass, Silver & Fit, and Active and Fit Insurance. 
Call 631-451-6163 to register. 

Pilates
This class requires participants to be on a mat on the floor. You must be able to get up and down from the floor position to standing without the use of a chair. This class is a strengthening and lengthening form of exercise that focuses on the core muscles while training your back, hips, glutes, arms and legs. Pilates tones, increases flexibility and aids in better posture. Participants should wear workout clothes and sneakers. Sneakers are optional while exercising. Please bring your own mat and water. 
Dates: Fridays, July 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, September 1 
Time: 11:45AM – 12:30PM
Fee: $2.00 per class (payable to instructor at the beginning of each class)
Free for those with Renew Active, One Pass, Silver & Fit, and Active and Fit Insurance. 
Call 631-451-6163 to register. 

Corey Beach
1 Corey Ave., Blue Point, NY 11715
Call 631-451-6163 for more information or help registering online.

Hula Hooping (Ages 16+)
Classes are for beginners or the more experienced “hoopers”. Beginners will learn basic fundamentals to keep the hoop up while spinning and dancing in and out of your hoop. More experienced students will learn some advanced skills and tricks. Enjoy one of the many beautiful beaches (weather permitting) in Brookhaven while having fun and burning calories. 
Dates: Wednesdays, June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Fee: $40.00 per 6-week session
Visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecOnline

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Paws of War and the Fabulous 50’s and 60’s Nostalgia Car Club will host a car show on Sunday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nesconset Plaza, 127 Smithtown Blvd. Nesconset to raise money to support local veterans and first responders in the Long Island community. The car show will include vintage, classic and custom cars, live music, hot food, 50/50 raffles and more. 

All proceeds from the event will support one of Paws of War’s core missions of providing injured veterans and first responders with a companion dog that will be trained to become a service dog through the organization’s service dog training classes. 

This program is designed to train these animals to cater to their owner’s specific needs, which in turn will provide the veteran or first responder with peace of mind as they learn to cope with PTSD and other traumatic physical injuries. These animals bring comfort and joy to local heroes, which is proven to enhance their quality of life and save lives. 

Free admission for spectators, $25 fee for car show participants. Judging begins at noon. Rain date is June 4. For more information, call 631-402-2798, 631-624-4126 or visit www.pawsofwar.org.

 

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Proton pump inhibitors should be taken at the lowest dose for the shortest possible time.

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Sometimes referred to as “reflux” or “heartburn,” Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most treated diseases in the U.S. Technically, heartburn is a symptom of GERD, so this is a bit of a misnomer.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), first launched in 1989, have become one of the top-10 drug classes prescribed or taken over-the-counter (OTC). PPIs currently available OTC include Prilosec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole), and Aciphex (rabeprazole). These and others are also available by prescription.

Their appeal among physicians has been their possible role in the reduction of esophageal cancer resulting from Barrett’s Esophagus. Interestingly, recent studies note that this perceived benefit may not be real (1).

PPIs are not intended for long-term use, because of their robust side effect profile. The FDA currently suggests that OTC PPIs should be taken for no more than a 14-day treatment once every four months. Prescription PPIs should be taken for 4 to 8 weeks (2).

However, their OTC availability can lead patients to take them too long or too often to manage reflux rebound effects when PPIs are discontinued without physician oversight. In addition, some existing medical risks are heightened by PPIs. 

Among potential associations with long-term use are chronic kidney disease, dementia, bone fractures, increased cardiac and vascular risks, vitamin malabsorption issues and Clostridium difficile, a bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract.

PPIs and the kidneys

In two separate studies, results showed that there was an increase in chronic kidney disease with prolonged PPI use (3). All of the patients started study with normal kidney function, based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, there was a 50 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease, while the Geisinger Health System cohort study found there was a 17 percent increased risk.

The first study had a 13-year duration, and the second had about a six-year duration. Both demonstrated modest, but statistically significant, increased risk of chronic kidney disease. But as you can see, the medications were used on a chronic basis for years. In an accompanying editorial to these published studies, the author suggests that there is overuse of the medications or that they are used beyond the resolution of symptoms and suggests starting with diet and lifestyle modifications as well as a milder drug class, H2 blockers (4).

Increased dementia risk

A German study looked at health records from a large public insurer and found there was a 44 percent increased risk of dementia in the elderly who were using PPIs, compared to those who were not (5). These patients were at least age 75. The authors surmise that PPIs may cross the blood-brain barrier and potentially increase beta-amyloid levels, markers for dementia. With occasional use, meaning once every 18 months for a few weeks to a few months, there was a much lower increased risk of 16 percent.

The researchers also suggested that PPIs may be significantly overprescribed in the elderly. Unfortunately, there were confounding factors that may have conflated the risk. Researchers also did not take into account high blood pressure, excessive alcohol use or family history of dementia, all of which influence dementia occurrence.

Increased fracture risk

In a meta-analysis of 18 observational studies, results showed that PPIs can increase the risk of hip fractures, spine fractures and any-site fractures (6). Interestingly, when it came to bone fractures, it did not make a difference whether patients were taking PPIs for more or less than a year.

They found increased fracture risks of 58, 26 and 33 percent for spine, hip and any site, respectively. It is not clear what may potentially increase the risk; however, it has been proposed that it may have to do with calcium absorption. PPIs reduce acid, which may be needed to absorb insoluble calcium salts. In another study, seven days of PPIs were shown to lower the absorption of calcium carbonate supplements when taken without food (7).

Vitamin absorption issues

In addition to calcium absorption issues, PPIs may have lower absorption effects on magnesium and B12. In one observational study, PPIs combined with diuretics caused a 73 percent increased risk of hospitalization due to low magnesium (8). Diuretics are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, heart failure and swelling.

A second study, a meta-analysis of nine studies, confirmed these results: PPIs increased the risk of low magnesium in patients by 43 percent, and when researchers looked only at higher quality studies, the risk increased to 63 percent (9). The authors note that a significant reduction in magnesium could lead to cardiovascular events.

Another study’s results showed long-term use of over two years increased vitamin B12 deficiency risk by 65 percent (10).

The bottom line

It’s best if you confer with your doctor before starting PPIs. You may not need PPIs, but rather a milder medication, such as an H2 blocker (Zantac, Pepcid). In addition, PPIs may interfere with other drugs you are taking, such as Plavix (clopidogrel).

Even better, start with lifestyle modifications including diet, not eating later at night, raising the head of the bed, losing weight and stopping smoking, if needed, and then consider medications (11).

If you do need medication, recognize that PPIs don’t give immediate relief and should only be taken for a short duration to minimize their side effects.

References:

(1) PLoS One. 2017; 12(1): e0169691. (2) fda.gov. (3) JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(2). (4) JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(2):172-174. (5) JAMA Neurol. online Feb 15, 2016. (6) Osteoporos Int. online Oct 13, 2015. (7) Am J Med. 118:778-781. (8) PLoS Med. 2014;11(9):e1001736. (9) Ren Fail. 2015;37(7):1237-1241. (10) Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2018 Feb;93(2):240-246. (11) Am J Gastroenterol 2015; 110:393–400.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

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METRO photo

By A. Craig Purcell, Esq.

A. Craig Purcell

In our two last columns, we wrote about the necessity of obtaining adequate SUM (Supplemental Underinsured Motorist) and UM (Uninsured Motorist) coverage in the event you are seriously injured in an automobile accident due to the negligence of a driver who has a limited liability insurance policy, or no insurance at all. We encouraged you to ascertain the amount of SUM and UM coverage you have paid for as part of your own automobile insurance policy, to make sure your policy adequately protects you in this unfortunate event.

A question we are almost always asked by our clients who have been injured in an automobile accident, is “how do my medical bills get paid? Are they paid by my health insurance carrier, Medicare if I am over 65 years of age, Medicaid if I am a Medicaid recipient, or in some other way?” Many people simply show their insurance card, Medicare card or Medicaid card when they are brought to a hospital emergency room, go to a walk-in facility or a doctor’s office without further thought.

NO-FAULT INSURANCE

If you are injured in an automobile accident, you should be relieved to know that your reasonable medical bills will be covered by your own automobile insurance carrier under the No-Fault provision of your insurance policy. This is listed on your policy as “PIP” (personal injury protection). The reason this provision in your policy is known as No-Fault Insurance is that your own company is obligated to pay your reasonable medical expenses, even if you caused the accident. 

Many, if not most, hospitals, walk-in clinics and other healthcare providers simply ask the patient or their family for the insured’s health insurance information, even when the provider is told that the injury was caused by an automobile accident. This often leads to confusion and even disputes concerning what entity is responsible for the ensuing medical bills.

METRO photo

While it may be difficult to provide a hospital emergency room with your automobile insurance information, it is important for you or your family member to provide that information at your doctor’s office or walk-in facility right away. Likewise, the same is true for the offices of your physical therapist, chiropractor, pain management specialists or any other health care provider. 

In addition to the confusion and the possibility of disputes over payment of medical bills arising out of injuries from your accident, certain insurance providers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, may have a lien on any recovery you obtain for your pain and suffering from the insurance company for the driver who caused the accident. The beauty of No-Fault Insurance is twofold.

First, your medical bills get paid regardless of whether you or the other driver caused the accident and second, your No-Fault Insurance company does not have a lien or claim against any recovery you might obtain.

Finally, with regard to No-Fault Insurance, it is important that you speak to your insurance agent or carrier about the amount of this coverage you have with your policy. The mandatory (minimum) amount of No-Fault, or PIP, Insurance in New York is $50,000. However, if you sustain a very serious injury in an automobile accident, your medical bills may well exceed $50,000.

Therefore, just as in ascertaining how much SUM or UM coverage you have in your insurance policy, you should consider paying for No-Fault coverage above the $50,000 minimum. This would protect you against your automobile insurance company asserting a lien against any recovery you obtain because it paid medical bills in excess of the minimum. It would also often avoid having Medicare, if you are over 65, pay any bills in excess of $50,000.00, which could also result in a lien against any recovery you obtain from the insurance company for the driver who caused your accident.

A. Craig Purcell, Esq. is a partner at the law firm of Glynn Mercep Purcell and Morrison LLP in Setauket and is a former President of the Suffolk County Bar Association and Vice President of the New York State Bar Association

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'Shadows We Carry'

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

Meryl Ain’s debut novel, The Takeaway Men (2020), focused on immigrants Aron and Edyta (Judy) Lubinksi and their twin daughters, Bronka and Johanna. Refugees from Hitler’s Europe, the family settles with Aron’s cousins in Bellerose, Queens. 

Author Meryl Ain

The absorbing story traced their struggles with adjusting to the new world and the burdens and guilt related to survival. Dealing with both the aftermath of the Nazi genocide and the rising Red Scare during the Cold War, The Takeaway Men offered a vivid portrait of a family in transition and ends in 1962.

Ain’s sequel, Shadows We Carry (SparkPress) picks up a year later for a brief prologue on the day of President Kennedy’s assignation. As the teenage Bronka states: “This is the end of the world … Nothing will ever be the same again.” 

In Shadows We Carry, Ain focuses on Bronka, the more serious of the twins. The narrative follows the young woman’s journey from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Ain once again displays her deft gift for presenting the intersection of historical events and cultural awareness. 

The sisters are a portrait in contrast. Bronka studies history and political science, aspiring to a career in journalism. Johanna (called “JoJo”) studies music education but has no desire to teach. However, her musical theatre dreams are derailed by a pregnancy, leading to an alternately fulfilling and frustrating married life.

Bronka’s odyssey takes her through a range of personal and professional obstacles. A well-drawn character, complicated yet likable, she is a good but flawed individual, often getting in her own way—a case of wrong for the right reasons. Even with her strong Jewish identity, she tends to seek romance with unavailable men. The first is Ned, the Queen’s College newspaper editor-in-chief and a graduating senior. Later, she falls for a priest, the charismatic Father Stan. Even more importantly, Bronka represents the pull between career and homemaking: her passion for making a life in the news world versus her desire for a traditional family constantly battles. 

Shadows We Carry also emphasizes the age of rebellion, reflecting an era of burgeoning self-discovery. Bronka’s neighbor and lifelong friend, Mindy, a middle-class version of anti-establishment, confronts Bronka with a hard truth: “Look, my mother and Tina Rosen and her sisters will all end up in boxes. It’s up to you whether you do or not. I think both of you could go either way. But I sure as hell will not. I’m going to find a different path. But first, I have to find out who I really am.”

In search of self, Bronka is unsure of her niche. Too intellectually curious to accept a narrow conservative marriage, she is conversely uncomfortable with the free-love, drug-taking hippie element. She constantly faces less than thinly veiled chauvinism and misogyny. 

Ain’s gift is the ability to veer from domestic drama to social and political issues. Whether addressing the mother’s Catholic heritage but embracement of Judaism (or the priest’s mirrored journey), she delves into the psychological turmoil of her characters. 

Mother Judy clings to an outdated vision of what women can be, subsuming her dreams to the needs of her often taciturn and haunted husband, Aron. Residuals of the Communist Witch Hunt and the search for Nazi War criminals play out against the age of the Viet Nam War. 

Canvassing for Eugene McCarthy, along with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, are affecting milestones. The beginning of the AIDS crisis is touched upon in a subtle but powerful stroke.

An interesting event occurs in 1973 when Bronka covers the renaming of the Nazi streets in Yaphank’s Fatherland Gardens. She is accompanied by a photographer unaware of his father’s direct connection to Auschwitz. 

If The Takeaway Men focuses on the immigrant experience in the post-1945 world, then Shadows We Carry highlights the assimilating America of the 1960s and early 1970s. Its quick, taut chapters reflect the peripatetic and energetic pacing of the latter part of the 20th century. A book of identity, it asks the twin questions “Can you ever escape history?” and “Can you ever escape your history?” 

A smart and welcome coming-of-age novel, Shadows We Carry is available on Amazon.com.

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