President of NJAOPS, Michelina DeSanti, DO, Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness as Year-Round Campaign

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. - Nov. 8, 2016 - PRLog -- President of NJAOPS, Michelina DeSanti, DO, Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness as a Year-Round Campaign for Women's Health in New Jersey

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ — The President of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS), Michelina DeSanti, DO, FACOOG, has encouraged a continuation of breast cancer awareness beyond the confines of the month of October. This initiative is meant to encourage women and families in New Jersey to remain vigilant in their preventive health care throughout the year, and to draw further awareness of the seriousness of breast cancer. Likewise, it also seeks to inform women of the positive outcomes of early detection.

"National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an effective way to raise awareness about breast cancer, and has been extremely successful in educating about and promoting early detection," Dr. DeSanti comments, "But since breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women, with approximately 1-in-8 women in the U.S. being diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives, NJAOPS as an organization feels that the issue should remain on the minds of all women throughout the year. We have a unique opportunity as a patient-centered organization to provide additional focus and energies to this important effort."

With early screenings and intervention, many women can survive breast cancer. A mammogram can help find breast cancer early when treatment is significantly easier. NJAOPS, through its leadership and many practicing members throughout New Jersey, encourages spreading the word about mammograms and educating communities, organizations, families, and individuals on how to get involved.

Dr. DeSanti is using this opportunity to spread the word about steps both patients and providers can take to detect breast cancer early. "There are a number of simple steps that we can encourage health care providers to take, such as asking doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer, or encouraging women of all ages to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms."

American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) are both recommending that yearly breast cancer screenings should begin at 40, and continue thereafter. Dr. DeSanti agrees with these organizations, as the majority of breast cancer diagnoses (75-90%) are found in women who are not high risk and therefore she firmly advocates that annual screening is important for all women 40 years and older.

NJAOPS will make a special effort throughout the year to draw significant focus on these issues, and continue to educate all of its members to raise awareness and draw attention to early detection for their patients. NJAOPS offers many educational events throughout the year at NJAOPS county society dinner meetings held throughout the state. Many of these events feature programs on women's health — with many including Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for participating. There are also opportunities for non-members, interns and medical doctors (MDs) to attend specific events.

NJAOPS will also be providing online CME activities focused on women's health, archived from their recent AROC conference (Atlantic Regional Osteopathic Convention) held in Atlantic City this year. Health care provides can sign up for a free user account at http://www.njosteo.com/onlinecme

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Media Contact:
Mr. John McInerney
Director of Communications, NJAOPS
Phone: (917) 859-2673
E-mail: jmcinerney@njosteo.com

About NJAOPS
The New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS) is a professional medical association that represents the interests of more than 5,000 osteopathic physicians, residents, interns and medical students in New Jersey. NJAOPS works to unite New Jersey's osteopathic physicians and supporters of quality patient care to take action on important professional and public health issues. Membership in NJAOPS provides you with a comprehensive and growing array of benefits and services to meet your professional and personal needs.

Michelina DeSanti, DO, FACOOG is currently the 95^th President of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, known as NJAOPS. Dr. DeSanti is board certified, and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She has been a member of NJAOPS since 1985, first as a medical student and then as a physician. She has served on NJAOPS's board of directors since 2009.

Dr. DeSanti is a privately practicing gynecologist in Columbia, New Jersey (Northwest NJ), and is affiliated with Hackettstown Medical Center. In addition, Dr. DeSanti has provided mentoring and training of Family Practice Residents from Christ Hospital, which is an academic affiliate of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Having served two consecutive terms on Hackettstown's board of directors, Dr. DeSanti has also served on the medical executive board, the strategic planning committee, credentials committee, and now sits on the foundation board for a second term.

For Information about Michelina DeSanti, DO, President of NJAOPS

For professional bio,and headshot photograph, please visit: http://www.njosteo.com/President