Thanks to Dr. David Stern, who established a website for our Ornish group, this is the most asked question we get from several people that like what we have here in Rochester and want to duplicate it in other areas. Since our newsletter goes out on the Web, this article is intended to serve as guidance for them, and hopefully, it will also be interesting for our members.
Prior to going to my first one week Ornish Retreat in July of 1995, 1 did not want to do the program completely. After the retreat, I felt terrific, I knew how important the program was and I wanted to do it, but was not sure if I could. I also realized the following five facts or concepts:
1. No one else from Rochester NY had gone through the one week California Retreat.
2. My wife, while supportive, was not going to follow the program.
3. 1 needed to find other people on the program in Rochester because, to succeed, I needed their support.
4. At the retreat Dean, his staff and the original participants that Dean wrote about in his book showed such love and caring for us that I wanted to "bottle" some of that and carry it to Rochester.
5. 1 realized that for me, the best way to learn something is to teach it.
Two organizations that exist in every city and are worth joining are the Vegetarians and Mended Hearts. I introduced myself to the key people in both organizations, told them of my recent one week Ornish retreat and asked them if any of their members were doing or were interested in the Ornish program. I told them I was available to give a talk on the Ornish Program. A major advantage one has in trying to start an Ornish program is Dean's book "Reversing Heart Disease". This was a best seller and many people are following the program, or want to follow the program, or are health practitioners and want to recommend it to their clients. It can't be an accident that here in Rochester we have over 200 members in a fairly small city.
I met Allyson Prace, a nurse-nutritionist at a Vegetarian meeting, and told her I wanted to form an Ornish group. She told me to "count her in". At a Mended Hearts meeting some of the members were vaguely aware of a group that was following the Ornish program. I finally got the name of a member, Dr. Robert Klein, who is now our medical advisor. Bob was excited about the idea of an Ornish Group. Another key member of that group was Dolly Dickson.
Mended Hearts asked me to be a speaker. I invited these people that were interested and we had a good turnout. Our next step was an organizational meeting attended by 50 people (notified only through a small listing about the week’s happenings in the local newspaper), and the concept of a regular monthly meeting was born. Our first formal meeting was in January 1996. We had an article in the local paper, Dr. Bob Klein was our first speaker, and over 100 people attended. We were off and running.
One concern we had originally was how we were going to be perceived by Dr. Dean Ornish and his non-profit organization, PMRI. The good news is that they have a formal 3 stage hospital sponsored program that is currently in 10 cities. Stage one is a formal twelve week program where participants meet twice each week. Stage two depends on the individual, and once weekly meetings take place for the next 3 to 9 months. Stage three is a voluntary organization to keep people interested, and PMRI uses our group in Rochester as a model of what stage three can be. This is a nice compliment.
As I stated previously, this article is intended to be useful to others that are thinking of forming an Ornish Organization. Every city will be a little different. am available to answer additional questions and I can be reached by phone at (716) 336-9847 or by Email at tempapts@frontiernet.net
November 9.......Food and Stress management
November 15......5:30 Vegan Share A dish
...........................7:30 Vegetarian Travel: A Slide Show. call 234-8750 for information
December 14.......Ask Dean Ornish Live
January 11.......Save the Date
Dick Ludgate is one of the founding members of OSGGR whose stress test seemed to show his heart disease reversed thanks to the Ornish Program. We share his letter:
To Osggr Steering Committee Just a note to let you know I am doing fine. I find sailboat decks are much nicer to work on than concrete floors. This job, teaching sailing, is just about stress-free, and the weather here on Captiva makes my arthritis almost undetectable. I am very happy I went through the effort to make this change and I do not plan to move back to Rochester.
Dick Ludgate.
Recently, my wife and I took a hike along the Genessee River during Rochester's Annual River weekend which reminded me of Bill Davis. I had the privilege of working for Bill at Kodak and I remember when he retired he gave a speech that life can be divided into thirds. The first third is one's education. During the middle third, one raises a family and earns an income. During the last third one should give something back to the community. Bill has been instrumental in restoring the Charlotte Lighthouse and bringing an Awareness to the Rochester Community on the beauty and historical importance of the River. I never forgot his retirement speech and it helped awaken in me a need to give something back. Dean in his book speaks to the power of altruism and its healing abilities.
I believe there is an innate desire in all of us to help others in some way, but it is hard to find the right match. I experimented with several and they all had their pros and cons.
The purpose of this essay was to give thanks to Bill, help me focus my efforts and to encourage others to join our steering committee.
As a member of our Steering Committee you can have an active voice in helping us direct our collective energy. In March of 1996 we established
goals for members as follows:
1/1/97......100
l/l/98......200
l/l/99......400
We achieved our goals in 1998 but our members are currently at 175. We have had a series of goals meetings in our steering committee and
opinion is divided on how much energy to put into membership verses others goals. One thing that is clear is the need for new people to join us on
the Steering Committee to actively help us establish and implement goals.
When I think of volunteer options I am reminded of a career choice Allyson Prace, our nutritionist, made. She switched careers from a nurse to a nutritionist because she wanted to help prevent illness verses giving comfort to the ill. The same is also true when we promote the Ornish Approach for our loved ones, for ourselves and for others.
This is the meeting we have been anticipating for quite a while. At our December 12th general meeting we will have a live telephone hook-up with key people of Dean Ornish's Staff from 8:00 - 9:00 P.M. As of this writing, we are unsure if it will include Dean due to our restrictive time requirements of only the November or December Meetings. I know Dean thinks highly of us and will be included if his schedule permits. The good news is Dean's staff at PMRI (Preventive Medicine Research Institute) is as compassionate and capable as he is. Let me tell you a little bit about the two staff people that are committed to the 12/14/98 dialogue. Jim Billings is referred to as the #2 guy at PMRI. He is a PhD with degrees in clinical psychology, epidemiology and divinity. To get additional insight about Jim read pages 224 - 228 in Dean's latest book "Love and Survival". Jim is one of 22 experts that Dean dialogues with on subjects such as how isolation leads to disease. Lee Lipsenthal, MD, is an Internist with a fellowship in lipid disorders and cardiac rehabilitation. He has many years experience in directing lifestyle modification programs and is now serving as Vice President and Director of Medical Affairs at PMRI.
We may also hook up with other groups at the same time. Jim will be looking into the possibility of connecting with some of the 13 active hospital groups throughout the country. At our November 9th meeting we will be requesting you to submit questions you would like answered in December. So please think of some good questions and plan to come to both the November and December meetings.
Dr. Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease
Recommended Supplements
Spring 1998
Beta-carotene.....10,000-20,000 IU/day Emphasize food sources.
Vitamin C.....1 - 3 grams/day
Vitamin E.....100 - 400 IU/day
Folate.....400 - 2000 mcg/day
Multivitamin w/ B12, no iron.....One, providing 100% RDA. Adjust other supplements accordingly
Flaxseed* .....2 - 3 grams/day: 1 - 2 tsp. Oil (keep refrigerated) or 1 - 2 tblsp. seed, ground (store in freezer). Capsules are the least desirable because of potential rancidity.
Selenium** .....200 mcg/day
Soy.....One full fat serving/day -- food sources are preferable. Soy powders are okay for those who cannot easily eat soy foods. Read the labels carefully as these vary widely among brands. More than one full fat serving is acceptable for all prostate cancer patients and heart patients who are not getting an adequate variety of whole grains and dark leafy greens, or who are very physically active and consuming a large number of total calories.
*Flaxseed is not an automatic recommendation for heart patients with prostate cancer. More research is needed to ascertain if linolenic acid promotes growth of the prostate cancer cells in humans. However, if the patient has both heart disease and prostate cancer, this situation requires a physician's decision concerning the focus of treatment. Since flax supplementation is important to protect against heart arrhythmia, if the cancer has not become advanced, then flax may be beneficial. If the cancer is well advanced, then flax should probably be avoided.
**Selenium is primarily for the prostate cancer patients. Testing selenium blood levels is recommended prior to supplementation due to variability in regional soil and water levels. Retest one year after beginning supplementation. Beneficial effects have been seen with prostate cancer patients at blood levels of selenium of 150 -250 ng/ml.
OSGGR is a nonprofit organization based on Dr. Dean Ornish's book Reversing Heart Disease by diet, exercise, stress reduction and psychosocial methods. Please join us at the OSGGR meetings.
This will be a taste treat! Members are asked to bring a favorite holiday food prepared so that it can be sampled by those at the meeting. Requirements are:
1. the food should meet the Ornish Reversal diet guidelines.
2. the food should be something you might like to serve at a holiday gathering.
3. Contact Bob Klein at 288-6538 to let him know what you are bringing.
Plates and utensils will be furnished. Drinks will be provided. The meeting will open at 7:30 with announcements and discussion about our exciting December meeting (scheduled to be a phone conference with the Physicians from Preventive Medicine Research Institute).
We will sample foods from 8-9 P.M., and then hold a general discussion regarding why and how holidays are stressful and the Ornish approach to management of this holiday syndrome.
Ed Ehlers, President
Robert F. Klein, M.D., Medical Advisor
Abby Stern, Treasurer
David Stern M.D., Website
Allyson Prace, RN/RD, Nutrition Advisor
Barbara Sawicki Secretary
Mark B. Sandler, Yoga Instructor
Carrie Gaynor, Cardiac Rehabilitation RN and Ass't Yoga Teacher
Barb Kozel, Membership
Dale Petschke, Librarian
Gita Chandra, Cooking Instructor
Dolly Dickson, Advisor
The Rochester Ornish Support Group was initially formed by heart patients who had read Dr. Dean Ornish's book "Reversing Heart Disease Without Drugs or Surgery."
We believe heart patients including people who want to lose weight and reduce their risk of heart disease, cancer, etc. can benefit from our healthy and approaches to becoming responsible wn health.
Membership in the Ornish Support Group is open to anyone who has an interest in improved health through diet, exercise, stress reduction and group interaction.
Membership in this nonprofit group entities you to a monthly newsletter and invitations to monthly meetings and group events.
Individual Membership $15/year
Joint Membership (one address) $20/year