Virtua hosts Rachael Ray and more than 1,200 guests during Women’s Health Symposium
Rachael Ray speaks to the audience at Virtua's Women's Health Symposium about her childhood and passion for food that helped shaped her successful career as a television talk show host and best-selling cookbook author.
More than 1,200 women enjoyed a day of health and wellness information and an opportunity for some fun during Virtua’s Sixth Annual Women’s Health Symposium. Held this year at the Philadelphia Convention Center, the event featured television talk show host and best-selling cookbook author Rachael Ray as the keynote speaker.
The symposium was filled with enlightening health perspectives from panels of experts as well as health screenings, demonstrations, giveaways and prizes. Included among the sessions were discussions on looking younger without surgery, healthy eating during the holidays, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how to enhance your sex drive.
“As women, we often neglect our own well-being in favor of taking care of the people around us,” said Ninfa M. Saunders, Virtua President and COO, who served as a panelist at the symposium. “We must, however, remember to focus on ourselves as well. It is as vital to our loved ones as it is to us to spend some time taking care of ourselves.”
Rachael Ray spoke to the crowd in a casual setting, joined onstage by Marian Conicella, publisher of Philadelphia Magazine, the event media sponsor. Ray spoke of her childhood and her introduction to the world of food through many members of her family, then took the audience through the milestones that led her to where she is today.
Mixed with humor and some poignant moments, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Ray finished her visit with a Q&A from audience members, much to their delight.
This year’s attendance more than doubled with the move to the Convention Center.
“In years past, we had to turn away hundreds of women because we did not have a space large enough to hold more than 500 attendees,” said Jane Yepez, Virtua Vice President for Marketing & Public Affairs. “We listened to our constituents and moved this very successful event to a larger venue to accommodate all those who wanted to attend.”
In addition to Philadelphia Magazine, other sponsors of this year’s event included ACME Markets; Beneficial Bank; Microsoft; VOLVO; Pop Chips; AmeriHealth Administrators; Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence/Leonard F. Tau, DMD; and Virtua Woman.
As one of New Jersey’s largest health systems, Virtua helps people be well, get well and stay well through a comprehensive range of health care services. Services are delivered through three health and wellness centers, three fitness centers, four acute care hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices with more than 240 physicians, urgent care centers, seven ambulatory surgery centers, home health services, two long-term care and rehabilitation centers, 12 paramedic units and a wide range of outpatient services. A leader in maternal and child health services, Virtua delivers almost 8,000 babies a year. Virtua also provides employment and wellness services to 1,700 businesses and corporations. An innovator in clinical and information technology such as electronic medical records, Virtua is recognized for its ground-breaking partnerships with
GE Healthcare,
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the
Fox Chase Cancer Center. It is the official orthopedic provider for the
Philadelphia Flyers. Virtua employs more than 8,400 people and has been honored as the #1 Best Place to Work in the Delaware Valley for seven consecutive years. It is the recipient of the Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation. For more information, visit
www.virtua.org or
www.virtuabroadcastnetwork.org.