SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Crouse Health hosted a lively evening at their annual “Ladies Night Out” event .
The theme “Pinky Promise: Make a pact with your BFF” promoted health and fun with friends, creating a great time for Syracuse women. Attendee Deborah Patterson encapsulated the spirited atmosphere of the night.
“It’s a good place to be. I enjoy this group of people, and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Amidst the joyous ambiance, the event also spotlighted critical health disparities.
“Over time, we realize there’s disparities in health in terms of lung diseases or cardiovascular diseases in women vs. men. So this is a great time to highlight those differences, highlight what we can do early to either prevent or treat them,” said Viren Kaul, critical care specialist at Crouse Health.
“As a society, giving credence to what people are saying is important. If someone tells you ‘I have X, Y, Z happening,’ let that be their truth. I think that holds true for society in general and for us as physicians and nurses and healthcare providers.”
Jessica Liepke, the community engagement coordinator at Crouse Health, underlined the event’s significance.
“We feel like it’s very important for women to get out, have fun, have a drink with their friends, take care of their health, mix and mingle with our docs, and do a little bit of shopping,” Liepke said.
Kathleen Miller Murphy, director of Women’s Health Integration at Crouse Health, hopes events like this can bring attention to a worrying trend among women and their health concerns.
“Women tend to kinda sluff off a pain they’re having in their shoulder, their chest, and they’re like ‘Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing,’ where as if it was their partner perhaps they’d be like ‘Oh, you need to go to the ER and get that checked out.’”
Through events like “Ladies Night Out,” the hospital aims to empower women by providing healthcare knowledge and a break from daily routines.
“The women of the family are often their own chief medical officer. They take care of everybody’s issues, so it’s an opportunity for them to just have a night out to themselves, kinda do a reset, and relax, get some good health information,” said Murphy.
Through activities and health education, the event encourages women to prioritize their well-being and make informed healthcare choices.