Event spotlights women's healthTwo well-known speakers will headline the fifth annual Women's Health Symposium set for Jan. 28 at Pearl River Community College. Deanna Favre, chief executive officer of the Favre4Hope Foundation, will be the first speaker with author and story teller Kelly Swanson speaking at the luncheon.
"Deanna Favre's personal fight against breast cancer and her continuing efforts to raise awareness and research funding are inspirational to so many women," said Brenda Wells, chair of the symposium's speaker committee. "We are so fortunate to have Deanna as our first speaker of the day."
Favre, the wife of retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre, is a native of Kiln and attended PRCC on a basketball scholarship. Reviewers called her 2007 autobiography, "Don't Bet Against Me," candid, uplifting and a great read. She also co-wrote "The Cure for the Chronic Life: Overcoming the Hopelessness That Holds You Back" with Shane Stanford.
Since its formation in 1995, the Favre4Hope Foundation has donated more than $7 million to charities in Mississippi, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Swanson, who lives in North Carolina, is the author of "Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale?"
"Kelly Swanson comes highly-recommended to make you laugh, refuel your passion and purpose and help you see beyond your obstacles," Wells said. The 2012 Women's Health Symposium also includes a panel discussion about women's health issues led by Dr. Rick deShazo, better known as "Dr. Rick" on Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Southern Remedy radio show. He is a physician at the University Medical Center in Jackson. Joining him on the panel will be Dr. Allyn Bond, a colleague at UMC and on Southern Remedy; Dr. Virginia Crawford, health care director at the University of Southern Mississippi; and Dr. Melissa Holland of Hattiesburg Clinic.
The health fair will include screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, blood cholesterol, bone density, hearing and vision; posture analysis and a variety of information from area health care providers. Participants also can be pampered with a manicure and paraffin wax by PRCC cosmetology students.
During the health fair, the art walk also will be open featuring the works of artists from throughout South Mississippi and the guitar music of PRCC instructor Trevor Hunt.
Luncheon entertainment will be by The Voices, PRCC's elite vocal ensemble. Following Swanson's talk, the symposium will conclude with the presentation of favors and awarding of door prizes. The Women's Health Symposium grand sponsor is the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation.
"The Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation has assisted us in bringing health-related program activities to this area of the state," said Dr. Becky Askew, PRCC vice president for planning and institutional research and chair of the symposium steering committee. "We are certainly very appreciative of their continued support."