Home|Blog | October 2021 Health e-Connection

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time for everyone to help raise breast cancer awareness and to celebrate the successes of breast cancer screening and improvements in breast cancer treatment.

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital offers advanced breast cancer screening and diagnosis, including genetic counseling and testing services to help individuals and their families better understand their chances of being affected by breast cancer. Dr. Denise Barajas, a breast cancer surgeon and Medical Director at Hewitt, specializes in breast cancer detection and treatment. If you or a loved one has been putting off this important test, call 203-732-7101 today to schedule a screening.

Meet Dr. Barajas, Breast Health Specialist

Denise Barajas, MD, FACS, is the Medical Director of The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, an experienced breast surgeon and expert on breast cancer screening, early detection, and treatment. Read More

Genetic Counseling & Testing at Griffin Health

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness offers genetic counseling and testing services to help individuals better understand the chances of being affected by breast cancer.

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Start a Fulfilling Career in Healthcare in Weeks!

The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is accepting applications for the winter semesters of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Phlebotomy programs. The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and accelerated CNA programs start Jan. 17, 2022 and the Phlebotomy program begins Jan. 18, 2022.

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Breast Health Guide

This guide will help you practice breast cancer awareness, understand breast cancer risk factors, and gain tips to improve your breast health.

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The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital

We provide leading-edge technology, highly trained physicians, specially trained Breast Health Navigators and staff, and a Planetree healing environment.

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Lifestyle Tips to Lower Risk of Breast Cancer

Making minor lifestyle adjustments and taking care of your health can lower your risk of developing breast cancer and help your chances of survival if you do get it.

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Win Prizes throughout November with The Valley Goes Pink

The Valley Goes Pink Campaign is holding a prize calendar fundraiser for the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital throughout November.

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13th Annual Center for Cancer Care 5K Walk/Run raises record $65,000

More than 300 participants raised an event record $65,000 at the 13th Annual 5K Walk/Run to Benefit the Center for Cancer Care, which was held on Sept. 25. Read More.

Free Virtual Presentations on Weight-Loss

Griffin Bariatrics will offer free virtual presentations on weight-loss services on Mon., Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m., Tues., Nov. 30 at noon, and Mon., Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Led by Griffin Hospital Director of Bariatrics Dr. Abe Fridman, this seminar will explain how bariatric surgery can help patients lose significant amounts of weight, enhance their health, and provide long-term outcomes. Learn More.

Griffin Offers Mobile COVID-19 Vaccinations

Connecticut’s COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Teams provide no-cost, walk-up vaccinations across the state in addition to its vaccination centers in Shelton and Naugatuck.

The highly visible yellow Mobile Vaccination SUVs, provided by the CT Department of Public Health and run by Griffin Health, can administer 100-125 shots per day in a six-hour window of time. The shots are available to individuals 12 years and older without an appointment. It is not necessary to have health insurance or a state-issued ID. All residents are welcome and no one will be turned away for lack of insurance or ID.

Visit griffinhealth.org/Coronavirus-COVID19-Information/COVID-19-Vaccination for a schedule of upcoming mobile vaccination clinics. Additionally, Griffin’s COVID-19 vaccination center at 10 Progress Drive in Shelton is currently open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The Naugatuck vaccination center at 727 Rubber Ave. in Naugatuck is currently open from 12 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Starting July 6, the Shelton location will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The Naugatuck location will be open from 12 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Volunteers Needed for Study of Phototherapy

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center’s cardiovascular laboratory at Griffin Hospital in Derby is looking for volunteers to take part in a study to test how well a phototherapy product can improve health. The product uses two small patches worn on the skin that, when activated by body heat, reflect low levels of infrared and visible light to stimulate the skin’s surface. The patches don’t contain any drugs or herbal compounds, and don’t put any chemicals in the body.

Virtual Presentations on Joint, Hip Replacement

Griffin Health offers free virtual presentations joint replacement options and on minimally invasive hip replacement surgery in November.

Advances in Joint Replacement is an open discussion of the causes of joint pain, conservative treatment options, total joint replacement techniques, post-surgical recovery and the return to normal activities. The presentation will also include information about Griffin’s advanced surgical technology, including 3D Mako SmartRobotics™ which provides unmatched precision in knee procedures.

Advances in Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery discusses the advanced direct anterior approach for hip replacement, which offers important advantages over standard surgical procedures. Direct anterior hip replacement patients generally experience less pain along with a shorter length of stay in the hospital and faster recovery.

These seminars are offered monthly. For more information about joint replacement or to get log-in information for the virtual presentation, contact Vivian Ramia at vramia@griffinhealth.org.