News Release

'La Opinion' series on heart disease by Cedars-Sinai internist wins media award from AHA Western States Affiliate

Grant and Award Announcement

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

LOS ANGELES (June 7, 1999) -- A two-part series on heart disease -- focusing particularly on the risks to Hispanic women -- written by Aliza A. Lifshitz, M.D., an internist on the medical staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and published in "La Opinion" was awarded a 1999 C. Everett Koop Media Award by the American Heart Association (AHA) Western States Affiliate. The award for "Outstanding Column in a Spanish-Language Newspaper" was presented at the organization's annual Delegate Assembly June 4 in Los Angeles. Each year, the AHA Western States Affiliate, which encompasses California, Nevada and Utah, recognizes individuals who educate their communities about issues related to heart disease and stroke through the media.

"Coronary disease is the nation's number one killer for women as well as men, though women tend to be concerned primarily with breast cancer," explained Dr. Lifshitz who, in addition to running a busy practice, writes and reports for numerous Spanish-language media, including print, radio and television. "Especially for Hispanic women -- who have a high incidence of diabetes -- heart disease prevention, early detection and control are very, very important."

In the series, Dr. Lifshitz warns women who experience chest pain and other possible symptoms of heart disease to seek medical treatment, regardless of their age. "Too often these signs of potential health problems are not taken seriously, and it's important for women to get a work-up from their physician to determine whether coronary disease could be the culprit."

Medicine is much more than a profession for Dr. Lifshitz. It's a mission that encompasses Hispanic health issues, women's medical concerns, AIDS awareness, preventive medicine and consumer advocacy -- to name just a few. And Dr. Lifshitz has embarked on this mission through an amazing array of avenues: physician, author, medical writer, broadcaster, health advocate and national spokesperson. These tireless efforts have earned her national recognition-and an incredibly busy lifestyle.

"I certainly sacrifice personal time, but the work I do is really very rewarding," said Dr. Lifshitz, who was a featured speaker at the American Medical Association's 1999 National Leadership Development Conference, an annual meeting that also included presentations by Former President George Bush, C. Everett Koop, M.D. and New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. Dr. Lifshitz was one of four physicians invited to address "Pride in the Profession - Upholding the Oath Through Service to the Patient and Duty to the Profession." This session focused on physicians who bring a sense of pride to the profession through dedication and service in areas of challenge or crisis.

Work in the Hispanic community has been a major focus for Dr. Lifshitz, a Mexico native of Russian/German ancestry. "There's a significant part of me that identifies with Latinos," she explained. "When I came to Los Angeles, I felt that many of the new immigrants, in particular, had needs related to access to health care. I felt I could help and try to make a difference."

Dr. Lifshitz is a four-time president of the California Hispanic American Medical Association, serving as chairperson on its AIDS Task Force, Professional Education Committee and Foundation, which she established. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Confederation of Hispanic American Medical Associations. After chairing the Minority Physicians' Health Issue Committee of the California Medical Association, Dr. Lifshitz went on to serve as the first member of the Board of Trustees representing the Ethnic Medical Section. She is also a member of the Hispanic Task Force for the American Heart Association in California.

Women's health issues have been another concern for Dr. Lifshitz, who was a member of the Advisory Committee of the American Medical Association's Women's Health Campaign. "I believe that women are an under-served segment of the population - as wives and mothers, they tend to take care of everyone else before themselves."

"I'm very much into preventive medicine, which is the way we should all look at our health and the responsibility we have in maintaining it," she stated. "In Latino countries, if people feel okay, they tend not to go to a doctor. Or if they're sick, they too often accept it as 'God's way' or see a healer or neighbor for treatment."

Bridging such cultural concepts about medical care opened another door in Dr. Lifshitz's career - the media. Since 1988, Dr. Lifshitz has been the health reporter for the Univision TV Network, the nation's largest Spanish-language network. She is currently the medical editor of "Primer Impacto," Spanish-language television's highest-rated news magazine. Dr. Lifshitz has also reported locally for KMEX-TV in Los Angeles.

Dr. Lifshitz is currently a health columnist for "La Opinion," the largest Spanish-language daily in the U.S., and health reporter for "Radio Unica," a national Spanish-language radio network. She has been medical editor of "Mas" magazine and editor-in-chief of "Hispanic Physician." Her first book, entitled "Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby," a bilingual guide for Latinas, will be published in July 1999.

Over the years, Dr. Lifshitz has been honored with numerous awards, including recognition as a "Woman Making History" by the Comision Femenil, "Distinguished Contributor to Social Welfare" by the University of Southern California School of Social Work, "Woman of the '90s" by Robinson's and the Los Angeles Times, and "Physician of the Year" by the Multicultural Area Health Education Center. Dr. Lifshitz is married to Carl Kravetz, and enjoys traveling, music, reading and dancing in her "limited" spare time.

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