Community Takes Torrance Memorial Conference to "Heart"

Torrance - In recognition of national heart health month and in collaboration with the American Heart Association, Torrance Memorial Medical Center reached more than 350 women by holding the First Women's Heart Health Conference, Feb. 2. Presented by the Melanie and Richard Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute, the day-long conference included health screenings, expert speakers presenting health-healthy advice, cooking demonstrations and Keynote Speaker Sherry Lansing.

Mark Lurie, M.D., Torrance Memorial's
director of Cardiology Program Development,
with Event Chair Melanie Lundquist and
Keynote Speaker Sherry Lansing,
former chair, Paramount Pictures.

The inspirational day also included practical advice for what to do if you think you're having a heart attack featuring emergency services physicians, on the front line in treating patients who are experiencing a heart episode. The panel presentation included an interactive question and answer session with three community members living with heart disease.

The conference sought to fulfill Melanie and Richard Lundquist's quest to help women recognize the dangers of heart disease - the nation's number one killer of women. The philanthropists gave $13 million to the medical center in 2006, $10 million in support of heart disease prevention. The gift established the Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute and expanded the Torrance Memorial Emergency Department.