RECOGNIZED LEADER ON LGBT HEALTH ISSUES APPOINTED TO NEW POSITION AT BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER

Dr. Barbara Warren to Serve as Hospital’s Director for LGBT Health Services

Recognizing the importance of continuing its efforts to respond to the healthcare needs of New York’s growing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, Beth Israel Medical Center has appointed nationally recognized LGBT health expert Barbara E.Warren, PsyD, as Director of its newly established LGBT Health Services program.

Dr. Warren will spearhead an initiative at Beth Israel to develop effective partnerships between the hospital and other organizations serving the LGBT community, and to continue to advance Beth Israel’s nationally recognized efforts to meet the healthcare needs of New York’s LGBT community in a respectful and compassionate environment. For the past two years, Beth Israel has been one of the few hospitals across the country to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign – a national leader in LGBT advocacy-– for its efforts to address the healthcare needs of LGBT patients and in recognizing the contributions of its LGBT staff.

“I am thrilled to join Beth Israel in this important new role and to work with the hospital’s leadership and its thousands of employees in furthering our efforts to ensure that Beth Israel continues to build upon its strong commitment to serving the LGBT communities through effective and culturally competent care to LGBT consumers,” Dr. Warren said.  “Beth Israel Medical Center has embraced a unique opportunity to lead the way in establishing and sustaining LGBT affirmative, hospital-based and outpatient care.

Strong, lasting and sustainable partnerships with other organizations serving the healthcare and other needs of the LGBT community will be critical to the success of Beth Israel’s new LGBT outreach initiative.  “We asked Dr. Warren to join us in this effort because she has spent her entire career developing these kinds of partnerships,” said Harris M. Nagler, MD, president of Beth Israel. “We are confident that she will build on our early successes and serve as an outstanding representative of Beth Israel to the LGBT communities.”

Dr. Warren joins Beth Israel after serving for the past two years as Director of the Center for LGBT Social Services and Public Policy at Hunter College-City University of New York.  Prior to her tenure at Hunter, she served for almost 20 years in progressively responsible positions at the LGBT Community Center in the West Village, the last seven as Director of Government Relations, Planning and Research. Dr. Warren also has served and continues to serve as a consultant on a number of federal, state and citywide initiatives to eliminate LGBT health disparities and to establish LGBT health equity throughout the healthcare system.

 

Dr. Warren is an alumnus of Antioch College, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Legal Studies and Master’s degree in Education/Human Services and Counseling.  She also holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from The Florida Institute of Technology. A published researcher, she also has held or holds meaningful academic appoints at prestigious colleges and universities, including Columbia University and Hunter College.

One of Dr. Warren’s other principal assignments in her new position at Beth Israel will be to develop and implement ongoing, in-house educational programs to ensure that the hospital staff are attune to the particular healthcare needs of the LGBT community, including LGBT adolescents, transgender persons, LGBT parents with children and  LGBT older adults.  “Our goal is to make Beth Israel the health provider of choice for the LGBT communities and the model for LGBT affirmative and competent health care. Just in the last few weeks since I joined the hospital’s staff, I have been most impressed with the enthusiastic and positive response I have gotten from colleagues throughout Beth Israel and its parent company, Continuum Health Partners. I look forward to working collaboratively with them and with our community partners as we develop LGBT Health Services.”

FALL IN LOVE WITH VALENTINE’S DAY IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Hot hotel packages will top off an evening full of romance

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Feb 1, 2012 – The perfect gift, a romantic dinner, delectable dessert, and private suite accommodations for you and your sweetie… what more could you ask for on Valentine’s Day? West Hollywood offers everything you need to make Valentine’s Day 2012 one to remember.


First you’ll need to buy a gift. If you’re feeling a bit naughty, stop by Hustler Hollywood, The Pleasure Chest, or Le Bra Lingerie for something to spice up your night. Or for a more traditional gift, pick up flowers from West Hollywood Florist, which is offering a local special on roses, or Empty Vase, where you can pick from a wide variety of flower arrangements. Instead of a traditional box of chocolates, do something different this year by bringing your loved one a box of special Valentine’s Day tarts from Fruute – their lychee raspberry light cheese mousse tarts are available February 1 -14. Another West Hollywood favorite for sweets is Plaisir, a modern French bakery specializing in crème puffs.


Don’t get stuck in the kitchen this year, opt for a romantic night out at one of West Hollywood’s delicious and elegant restaurants. There will be Valentine’s Day-themed menus and prix fixe multi-course meals all over town including: a three-course dinner at BLT Steak for $70 per person; dinner for two available February 11-14 at The Palm for $120 per couple; Valentine’s Day Bistronomy at Comme Ca with four courses for $65; a special menu and, as always, delicious signature martinis at Lola’s; a four-course prix fixe dinner for $110 per person at Lucques; and a special Valentine menu at Le Petit Bistro.  


Lastly, cap off your night in comfort and luxury at a West Hollywood hotel (where you don’t have to make the bed in the morning!) and take advantage of one of these incredible packages:

• Fall in love all over again at the Chamberlain West Hollywood with the Cupid’s Sweet Dreams Special including one night stay in a luxurious Executive Suite, complimentary valet parking, a deliciously sweet Valentine’s Day basket from Cake and Art and complimentary wifi all for $285/night. Package bookable online at: chamberlainwesthollywood.com/#specials.

• Enjoy privacy, spacious accommodations and personalized service with the Romance Package at Le Parc Suite Hotel. Package includes overnight accommodations in a spacious Studio King Suite, chocolate dipped strawberries and a bottle of champagne delivered to suite upon arrival, two plush Le Parc bathrobes—yours to keep even after your stay, and breakfast for two. Book online at www.leparcsuites.com/specials.php.
• Let The London West Hollywood sweep you away with its Valentine’s Package. Enjoy a suite drenched in amorous ambiance, with fresh flowers, an assortment of treats, and a pink champagne toast upon arrival. Settle into the evening with a candlelit bath for two, and in the morning, enjoy a full English breakfast for two in bed. Package also includes overnight valet parking for one vehicle. Rates from $499; package bookable online at www.thelondonwesthollywood.com, available February 10-15, 2012.
• Petit Ermitage offers three Love Packages during ‘The Month of Love,’ along with an Aphrodisiac Menu and an Evening of Happy Endings on the day of St. Valentine. Love Packages offered are: The Ménage a Trois, which includes dinner and accommodations for three (or for those who lack a third willing participant, an inflatable consort will be provided compliments of Petit Ermitage) starting at $595/night; L'Amoureux (The Lover), which includes a complimentary erotic film and an intimacy kit, plus two complimentary tickets to the Evening of Happy Endings in the Private Rooftop Club, fairytale turn down service and breakfast for two, from $495/night; and L'Epoux (The Consort) from $395/night. Each package includes chocolate covered strawberries with vanilla candied pistachios, a bottle of champagne, and 2 p.m. late checkout. To book a Love Package, call 310-967-6335 or email reservations@petitermitage.com.