At University Hospitals, our mission is you. “A New Leaf” – A Free, Healthy-Eating Program University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center and City of Warrensville Heights’ free healthy-eating program, “A New Leaf,” begins third school year he “A New Leaf” healthy-eating program at Warrensville Heights Middle School, collaboration between University Hospitals (UH) Ahuja Medical Center and the City of Warrensville Heights, begins its third 9 Richmond Road year in September. school wood, Ohio 44122 program was initiated in The early 2013 by UH Ahuja Medical 73 UHAhuja.org Center President Susan V. Juris and Warrensville Heights Mayor Bradley D. Sellers to establish good eating habits in younger children. It offers students nutrition education and a fresh salad bar for lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year. The salad bar is free for all students and includes a mix of romaine lettuce and fresh vegetables. John Selick IV, CEC, executive chef, UH Ahuja Medical Center (pictured), regularly introduces unusual items like quinoa or watermelon T radishes to expand students’ awareness and palate. “This year, I want to show them vegetables they know but that grow in different colors, like yellow and white beets or purple, yellow and red carrots,” says Chef Selick. “The cafeteria should be an educational environment that offers vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nutrition information to encourage kids to think about what they’re eating.” 2013-14 was the first full school year A New Leaf was available to Warrensville Heights Middle School’s fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders. The number of students who each week supplemented their lunch or made their whole meal from the salad bar grew compared to the program’s initial year. Nearly 6,500 bowls were used, which was almost 2,100 more than the previous year. “A New Leaf has given our staff a vital tool to educate our students about nutrition,” says Jackie Thompson, food service supervisor, Warrensville Heights City School District. “UH Ahuja Medical Center is providing healthy food varieties and learning to a prime age group – kids who are old enough to be aware of healthy choices and young enough to more easily break unhealthy eating habits.” A New Leaf is part of UH Ahuja Medical Center’s annual Mayor’s Initiative for Health and Wellness, a collaboration between the hospital and the surrounding communities. For information about partnering with the hospital on “A New Leaf” in your community, visit www. UHAhuja.org and click Health & Wellness. Music Therapy: Why It Works Written by Seneca Block, Music Therapist, University Hospitals hroughout the ages, music has remained an essential aspect of day-to-day life for the majority of mankind in just about every culture. From its beginnings in early man’s ancient 40,000-year-old bone flutes to modern-day mp3 players, music has truly stood the test of time. But why has this universal language been so tightly woven into humanity and how is it used as a form of therapy? Plato recognized the effects of music on the human soul, advocating the positive effects of harmony on character and health. Fast forwarding to modern day, scientist have mapped brain activity using FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) T during musical play. Results show that music is diffusely activated throughout the brain regardless of pathology. This allows music to access memories and emotions, bypassing neural pathways and creating a “bridge” to these “lost” brain sections. In the face of pathology and deterioration, music therapy has developed to address and treat individuals by strengthening both physiological and psycho-social aspects of the whole person. This use of music as medicine has grown and been employed throughout the modern healthcare field, becoming recognized as an The Connor Integrative effective modality of holistic Medicine Network offers music treatment. therapy to in-patients as well as private sessions for out-patients. For more information, call 216.285.4070. 40 Beachwood Buzz n September 2014