"The best defense is a good offense" as the saying goes. Just in time for spring, women are invited to "Build Your Immunity, Boost Your Life" at Winthrop-University Hospital's free Spirit of Women program on Thursday, March 26, 2009. Featured guest speaker and Pulitzer Prize winner Irene Virag, Newsday's voice of gardening on Long Island, will discuss the healthy aspects of horticulture. Rounding out the program will be five Winthrop physicians who will discuss various issues that can impact your quality of life. The free event begins with registration at 5:45 PM, followed by the program from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Winthrop's Community Outreach Center, located at 101 Mineola Boulevard in Mineola.

The program will address how women can achieve wellness by maintaining balance in their lives through activities such as gardening, exercise and knitting, and other activities, while emphasizing the importance of addressing health concerns that can affect their immunity, such as allergies, sleep disorders, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) and smoking.

The following Winthrop physicians will be available for discussion: Luz Fonacier, MD, Head, Allergy Section, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology and Marcella Aquinos, MD, who will address allergies; Quanta Ahmed, MD, from Winthrop's Sleep Disorder Center will answer your questions about sleep problems; Maritza Groth, MD, Director, Critical Care Medicine and Assistant Director of Winthrop's Sleep Disorder Center and Shalinee Chawla, MD, from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine will discuss COPD and smoking cessation.

Parking and the entrance are in the rear of the building. Admission is free, but seating is limited; refreshments will be served. Reservations are required. To reserve your seat, please call 1-866-WINTHROP.

Winthrop is a member of Spirt of Women(r), a coalition of American hospitals and healthcare providers that ascribe to high standards of excellence in women's health, education and community outreach.