- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn today’s world, the pressures of being a teenager can be overwhelming. Not only are teens consistently pressured to do well academically and excel in extracurricular activities, but they also face pressure to be part of the crowd. On top of that, add in the struggles of peer harassment or even being the subject of online harassment. Life can quickly become one of misery. A school day can feel like an eternity and, at home, the effects of that day are far from over. Teenage peer-to-peer harassment occurs frequently, but the conversation at home and in school is rare. It can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, school refusal and depression. You and your teen should know how to identify harassment. Here are some important things to know: Harassing behaviors often start in childhood. These behaviors among young children are often characterized as “boys will be boys” or as children just being playful. Harassment does not start in a day. It is a behavior that develops over time. Correcting the behavior early on will lead to more appropriate behaviors during your child’s teenage years. Harassment is also verbal. Jokes, innuendos, slurs, name-calling and insults can have a traumatic and lasting effect. Oftentimes, verbal abuse starts in the home. Assess your family’s communication and stop using names and negative labels. It is important to model appropriate language and actions. Boys face harassment, too. We often think about harassment when it comes to girls, but boys do fall victim. Boys are less likely to talk about harassment or even consider the actions that have been taken against them as a form of harassment. Look for changes in behaviors, like becoming solitary or avoiding people or places they used to enjoy. Be sure to keep an open dialogue. Here are some tips to help you: Don’t dismiss your teenager’s concerns. Make them feel comfortable to talk to you if someone is repeating negative behavior toward them. Knowing that you are on their side will ease pain and embarrassment. Talk about social media. Smartphones, online messaging and social media sites make it easy for people to harass. You should also talk to your teenager about unwanted sexual advances, which can happen on any digital platform. Know the policies of your teenager’s school. Contact the school if your son or daughter is being harassed. Be sure to talk regularly with your child and with school staff to see whether the bullying has stopped and not increased. Teens are likely to feel that some behaviors are just normal teenage behavior that they have to deal with. Yet, the behaviors are truly making them feel uncomfortable and negatively affecting their self-esteem and sense of belonging. If your child comes to you with concerns of harassment, be sure to listen, come from a place of understanding and then, together, formulate a plan to stop it. Author For more information about Behavioral Health Care at Luminis Health or to schedule an appointment visit Luminis.Health/BehavioralHealth.
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNancy Long initially dismissed her early symptoms of ovarian cancer, chalking each one up to something else entirely. Fatigue? Indigestion? The Annapolis woman thought life stresses were to blame. A colonoscopy came back clear. But when she began to have horrible abdominal bloating, she knew something wasn’t right. She had a pelvic sonogram, and her disease was so far advanced that her ovaries weren’t even visible. A blood test then detected elevated levels of CA-125, a protein in the blood that may indicate ovarian cancer and other kinds of cancer. Nancy was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer, meaning it had spread outside of the ovaries and into other organs. She was in surgery within a week, followed by 18 months of chemotherapy. Now at age 70, she has been cancer free for 13 years. “I should have known the signs and symptoms,” she says, as at that time she was a nurse practitioner at a gynecologist’s office. The problem with ovarian cancer, though, is that the symptoms — constipation, tiredness, bloating, back pain, urinary tract issues — can so often be symptoms of something else entirely. There’s also no effective screening test for ovarian cancer. Now, as a longtime volunteer with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Central Maryland chapter, Nancy is committed to raising awareness of this form of cancer that strikes 1 in 75 women. Last year, 14,000 women died of ovarian cancer in the U.S. “I wish every physician would talk to their patients about this,” she says. Nancy is one of the organizers of the chapter’s 10th Annual Run/Walk — Together in TEAL — Ending Ovarian Cancer. This year’s run/walk takes place on Sept. 22 at Westfield Annapolis Mall. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Since 2009, Nancy has seen the event grow from 400 people in Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, to 2,000 participants. The chapter uses the money raised to fund its three main goals: Awareness, help for survivors and research. Judeth Davis, a nurse navigator with AAMC’s DeCesaris Cancer Institute, says Nancy is a tireless advocate for ovarian cancer awareness and education. “She leads our chapter of the NOCC with passion and relentlessness,” Judeth says. “She provides literature about early detection and warning signs, and she offers support to countless women and their loved ones as they face this challenge.” Nancy says many myths surround ovarian cancer. For instance, many women think their yearly physical would alert them if something was wrong. But the truth is, a Pap smear won’t detect ovarian cancer. Others also believe an ovarian cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. And while it is the most deadly gynecological cancer, Nancy says patients still have reason to be hopeful. “I’ve been alive and well for 13 years,” she says. Still, fewer than 20 percent of ovarian cancer cases are detected early, when the prognosis is best. So it’s best to always talk to your doctor about your health concerns, no matter how insignificant you may think they are. “I wish I hadn’t taken it upon myself to self-diagnose,” Nancy says. The deadline to register for the run/walk is Sept. 18. When you register, choose AAMC Avengers to join AAMC’s team. The Gynecologic Oncology Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center offers treatments for ovarian cancer and other gynecologic cancers. To learn more, call 443-481-3356. Originally published Aug. 30, 2017. Last updated Sept. 9, 2019.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) announces Adam Riker, MD, as its first chair of Oncology. Dr. Riker comes to AAMC from Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine, where he served as chief of Surgical Oncology and medical director of the cancer service line. Prior to LSU, he led cancer service lines at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans and Advocate Cancer Institute at Christ Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Riker assumed the role of chair of Oncology at AAMC in September. Along with Cathy Copertino, vice president of Cancer Services, Dr. Riker will lead the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC. He will oversee the continued development and creation of clinical programs, research and academic endeavors. Dr. Riker will provide leadership in all aspects of the cancer service line with regard to strategic, operational, resource management and education efforts. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Riker to Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Mitchell Schwartz, MD, chief medical officer and president of Physician Enterprise at AAMC. “We believe that Dr. Riker will bring leadership skills to Anne Arundel Medical Center that will enable us to broaden the scope and depth of our cancer program. He has the skills to facilitate the vision of the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, which is to provide high value cancer care that is scientifically based and designed to exceed patient and family expectations.” “I am thrilled to join Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Dr. Riker. “The Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute holds an incredible reputation for high quality cancer care. I look forward to building on that reputation and further advancing the institute’s cancer care delivery system for our patients and their families.” Dr. Riker attended medical school at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine and was an intern and resident at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. He completed his clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
- Senior Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRaising children is as challenging as it is rewarding. Being a grandparent can be much more carefree, but it’s not without responsibility. And things have changed since you raised your kids. Following these tips and brushing up on the latest guidelines will help you feel confident in your new role. Breastfeeding Support Your daughter or daughter-in-law has decided to breastfeed. Breastfeeding offers amazing health benefits to both baby and mom, and you can play an important role. In the 1960s and 70s, breastfeeding was not as common and doctors believed formula was better than breast milk. We now know that’s not true, and breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need to grow. Breastfeeding is a learned skill, and mom is more likely to succeed with support. In the first few weeks after baby arrives, you can help with chores or bring a meal, offering mom more time to focus on her baby and breastfeeding. Learn about the importance of breastfeeding and talk to mom about her goals. Encouraging her in this journey, offering support and simply listening can make all the difference. Sleep Safety Did your babies sleep on their stomachs? Guidelines for safe sleeping have changed. You should now always place infants to sleep on their back. This is proven to greatly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started telling families to put babies to sleep on their backs in 1992. Since then, the number of SIDS deaths in the U.S. has dropped by 38 percent. Babies should also sleep alone, and without loose blankets, toys or bumpers, which can pose potential choking or suffocation hazards. In fact, the sale of bumper pads is banned in Maryland. Studies show crib bumpers do more harm than good. READ MORE: Myths about infant safe sleep Car Seat Safety Properly installing a car seat and buckling a child correctly are critical, no matter how short the trip. The AAP says toddlers should ride in rear-facing car seats until the age of two. Research shows children under the age of two are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they’re rear facing. Ask the parents to show you the basics and help you choose a car seat for your car if you expect to help with transport. They’ll appreciate your dedication to safety! Social Media When you find out you’re going to be a grandparent and the little bundle of joy arrives, you’ll want to shout it from the rooftop. And today’s social media channels give you the ability to do that. Pause. Before you publically share news or photos, talk to the parents about their wishes. They may feel uncomfortable or have safety concerns about sharing photos and information about their baby on the Internet. In this age of technology, it’s important to talk about social media boundaries. No matter how many kids you raised, remember your grandchild’s parents are now in charge. Let them experiment and grow into their new role. Supporting their decisions and offering advice when they ask for it will help you step into your new role as a grandparent with grace. Want to learn more? Register for AAMC’s monthly Grandparent Update class. Your grandchild will thank you! Originally published May 9, 2016. Last updated Sept. 3, 2019.
- General Page Tier 3BlogGetting dinner on the table is a daily struggle for many parents, especially once school starts. We know you’re busy, but home-cooked meals can save you time, money and stress. Meals prepared at home generally contain a greater variety of nutrient-rich foods. Here’s your cheat sheet to get dinner on the table and start the school year off on the heathiest foot. Dust off your slow cooker. One recipe resource available for slow cookers you can freeze is New Leaf Wellness. From pulled pork, to lentil soup or even spaghetti sauce, the slow cooker can save time and allow family members to eat at different times if necessary. Try a pressure cooker. Instead of cooking low and slow all day, it cooks at high pressure at the end of the day usually in under an hour. Repurpose leftovers. For example, grill salmon fillets pm Sunday, have salmon on a salad Monday and add salmon to a pasta dish Tuesday, or make fish tacos. You can also bake six chicken breasts and use in soup, chicken salad, chicken enchilada or chicken tacos for meals throughout the week. Have a plan. Planning prevents ordering out or fixing a frozen pizza. Look at the family calendar, taking note of sports practices and other activities during dinnertime. For those active nights, fix something that can be prepared in the slow cooker or repurpose the leftovers into soups, fajitas, wraps or pasta dishes. Grocery shop during times you might waste waiting at kids’ activities. We have all been on the sidelines at practices or in the car reading or thinking about all the other things we should be doing, so go ahead and squeeze in a trip to the grocery store. Also, use this idle time to Google recipe ideas using ingredients you have on hand. Let the kids cook. Involve them in the menu ideas. The more hands on they are, the more likely they are to want to expand their palate and taste more things. Washing produce, assembling ingredients, cleaning as you go are all ways children can help. Look for recipes that can be doubled and/or frozen. Freezer cooking is a great way to combine the healthier aspects of home cooking with convenience we desperately need during the school year. Have groceries on hand. This is likely the most important element to assure menu success. Setting yourself up with healthy foods, ready to go, sets the stage for the entire week. Purchase precut vegetables or fruit. Use them for a baked potato bar, sandwich stations, or casserole add ins. Create a meal rotation. Bring peace to your meal planning with theme nights. For example, Monday is grill night, Tuesday is Mexican, Wednesday is a pasta dish. It is a great way to automate your pantry needs, and subsequently your grocery list. It can also help with picky eaters so they know what to expect and can offer ideas. Set yourself up for easy meal prep by creating a meal rotation for certain days or meals so that you don’t really have to think about it. If you need to store recipes, there are many apps to choose from, such as Evernote, Pinterest, Paprika, Pepperplate and OrganizEat. If you are moving towards plant-based eating, visit the Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine for recipe ideas. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published Sept. 4, 2018. Last updated Aug. 27, 2019.
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?