In celebration of American Heart Month, Saint Thomas Heart, which includes the cardiology programs at Baptist Hospital, Middle Tennessee Medical Center and Saint Thomas Hospital, is offering multiple awareness and education events throughout the month of February.

The events include free cardiac screenings, cooking schools, educational lectures from physicians, caregivers and patients, and much more.
 
Saint Thomas Heart is the local presenting sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement in Middle Tennessee. By educating more women about the threat of heart disease, Saint Thomas Heart is working to help more Middle Tennessee women survive heart disease.  
 
In the month of February, Saint Thomas Heart will offer Heart Healthy Cooking Schools at Baptist Hospital, Saint Thomas Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center – a series of free heart healthy cooking demonstrations and tastings designed to provide you with valuable information on how to choose ingredients and recipes that are better for the heart. During the month of February, the following Heart Healthy Cooking Schools presented by Saint Thomas Heart will take place:
 
Friday, February 4, 2011, Noon
Healthcare Expo
Paris Convention Center
NOTE: Admission to the cooking school will be limited to the first 100 Healthcare Expo attendees.
 
Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 3 p.m.
“Valentine’s Dinner for Two”
Saint Thomas Hospital
RSVP: 1-800-588-3270
 
Friday, February 11, 2011, 10:45-11:15 a.m. and 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Women and Heart Disease Luncheon
Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro
RSVP: 615-396-4953
 
Thursday, February 17, 2011, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Heart Healthy Cooking With Middle Tennessee Medical Center
“Date Night”
RSVP: mtmc.org/classes
 
Thursday, February 24, 2010, Noon
“Welcome Home…Italian Style” with special guest, Renee Lassinger, Nurse Practitioner with Saint Thomas Heart at Baptist Hospital
Baptist Hospital, Gladys Stringfield Owen Education Center, 21st Avenue North entrance, in Conference Room E
RSVP: 1-800-588-3270
 
In addition, Saint Thomas Heart will host several educational and awareness events in February, where Middle Tennessee residents have a chance to hear from our nationally recognized cardiac physicians on advances and treatment options for heart disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, vascular disease, cardiac surgery, transplant options, diet and exercise.
 
The following educational and awareness events will take place during the month of February:
 
Friday, February 4
National Wear Red Day – Associates at Baptist Hospital, Saint Thomas Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center will be encouraged to wear red. Babies in the nurseries at Baptist Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center will receive red hats – instead of the normal pink and blue hats – to help raise awareness for heart disease in women. The babies’ mothers will receive a Red Dress pin, identified with the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women initiative.
Baptist Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center
 
Friday, February 4, 12 p.m.
2011 Healthcare Expo: Celebrate heart month and National Wear Red Day by joining the Heart Healthy Cooking School presented by Saint Thomas Heart for a free cooking demonstration and tasting.
Paris Convention Center
 
Saturday, February 5, 6 p.m.
Saint Thomas Heart, co-sponsor for the American Heart Association’s Nashville Heart Ball
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
For more information, call 615-340-4139
 
Wednesday, February 9, 5:30 p.m.
Red for Women Men’s Event
Saint Thomas Heart, local presenting sponsor for the Go Red for Women movement
Belle Meade Country Club

Friday, February 11, 10:30 a.m. (lunch begins at noon)
Women and Heart Disease Luncheon with featured guest speaker Dr. Chester J. Falterman, a Heart Healthy Cooking class and free blood pressure screenings; donation of $25 suggested.
Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro
RSVP by February 7: 615-396-4953
 
Wednesday, February 16, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Free Cardiac Summit hosted by Amy Marsalis; lunch provided.
Saint Thomas Hospital, Conference Rooms A & B
RSVP: 615-284-LIFE to RSVP for Summit
To Schedule Free Cardiac Screenings: 615-269-4545
 
For more information Saint Thomas Heart, please visit www.saintthomasheart.com. To learn more about Saint Thomas Heart’s commitment to the Go Red For Women movement, visit www.NashvilleGoesRed.org.
 
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH SERVICES
Saint Thomas Health Services is a faith-based ministry with more than 6,500 associates serving Middle Tennessee.   Saint Thomas Health Services’ regional health system consists of five hospitals – Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospitals and The Center for Spinal Surgery in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville – and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, the Center for Spinal Surgery, clinics and rehabilitation facilities.   STHS is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.sths.com.
 
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEART
Saint Thomas Heart is the cardiac division of Saint Thomas Health Services and includes the cardiology programs at Baptist Hospital, Middle Tennessee Medical Center and Saint Thomas Hospital. With approximately 60 cardiac specialists in more than 25 regional clinics throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky and Tennessee’s largest network of accredited Chest Pain Centers, Saint Thomas Heart offers greater access and experience, seeing more patients than anyone in Tennessee. www.saintthomasheart.com or www.moresurvivors.com.