Syracuse Woman Magazine - May 2026

From resilience to renewal

A NURSE’S JOURNEY BACK TO BALANCE

As one of 11 children, chaos was my norm. Always surrounded by people going in different directions, plenty of chores to do and work to be done, I think it’s fitting that I became a nurse. Nurses are nothing if not chaos coordinators; we keep things moving, pay attention to everything around us and make sure everyone has what they need. As a nurse, mother, daughter, sister and wife, I live the reality of what it means to keep showing up for others while trying to care for yourself.

In health care, we are trained to be resilient. We move quickly, think critically, and carry responsibility that doesn’t pause at the end of a shift. But what we don’t talk about enough is that resilience, when left unsupported, can quietly become exhaustion. Burnout doesn’t always look like someone breaking down. More often, it looks like someone continuing on, still performing, still caring, but feeling increasingly disconnected from themselves.

I have seen extraordinary nurses question whether they can keep going. Not because they lack skill or passion, but because they have been giving from a well that hasn’t had time to refill. And it’s not just in health care. As women, many of us are navigating multiple roles at once. We are professionals, caregivers, partners, decision-makers, and often the emotional anchors in our families. We manage schedules, needs, and expectations. We are used to being the ones that others rely on.

But somewhere along the way, we learn to minimize our own needs. We tell ourselves we’ll rest later. We push through fatigue. We normalize stress. We convinc-e ourselves that this is just what it means to be strong. What I have learned, both personally and professionally, is that strength is not the absence of struggle, it’s the willingness to acknowledge it.

For me, that has meant learning to set boundaries, even when it’s hard. It has meant being honest about the days that feel heavier than others. It has meant accepting that I cannot pour endlessly into others without also making space to be replenished. It has also meant leaning on others.

In health care, we talk often about teamwork in clinical terms, but the emotional side of that support is just as critical. The colleague who checks in. The friend who listens without trying to fix everything. The partner who notices when you’re carrying too much. These moments of connection are not small, they’re sustaining. The same is true at home.

As a mother and a wife, I am constantly reminded that wellness is not just something we model through what we say, but through what we do. When we prioritize our own mental and physical health, we give others permission to do the same. We show our children that caring for yourself is not selfish, it’s necessary.

If there is one thing I hope women take away this month, it is this: you do not have to earn rest. You do not have to justify taking care of yourself. And you do not have to do it all alone.

In professions like nursing, and the many roles’ women carry every day, we’re often recognized for how much we give. And that’s something to be proud of, but we also deserve support in how we sustain ourselves. The compassion, resilience, and commitment we rely on…need care too. When we take that seriously, we don’t just get through our responsibilities; we show up with greater clarity, presence, and purpose.

That’s not stepping back from what’s expected of us, it’s honoring it!

Andrea Lazarek-LaQuay, MS, RN, is the chief clinical officer at Nascentia Health.

SyracuseWomanMag.com contact@ syracusewomanmag.com

PUBLISHER

David Tyler

dtyler@eaglenewsonline.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Jennifer Wing jwing@eaglenewsonline.com

DESIGN

Andrea Reeves

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alice G. Patterson

Sarah Heppell Photography CONTRIBUTORS

Michelle J. Auerbach

Janelle Davis

Elena Ehrhart

Kate Hill

Jason Klaiber

Andrea Lazarek-LeQuay Eric Rose

Cover photo by Alice G. Patterson

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Renée Moonan

315.657.7690

Rmoonan@ eaglenewsonline.com

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From First to Next

In 2023, United Way of Central New York created From First to Next as a Black History Month celebration of the “firsts” achieved by local people of color, and a platform to share their thoughts on how we can help the next generation to continue to blaze new trails in Central New York and beyond. For this year’s program Sharon F. Owens - Syracuse’s first Black Mayor - joined Newschannel 9’s Iris St. Meran and over 200 guests at Sky Armory for a powerful discussion and Q&A. This event was sponsored by Community Bank and OneGroup. Sarah Heppell Photography photo credit

Hope & Dignity

On April 16, the third annual Hope & Dignity fundraiser was held to support the collaborative work of the Housecalls for the Homeless and In My Father's Kitchen not-for-profit organizations. Held at Drumlins Country Club, 340 attended supporting the lifesaving work these two organizations have provided for the homeless since 2018. As part of the program, co-founders of Housecalls for the Homeless, Dr. David Lehmann and Mia Ruiz Salvador, and In My Father's Kitchen co-founders John and Leigh-Ann Tumino shared the impact of this collaboration for homeless men and women in our community. More than $150,000 was raised from the event, which is shared evenly between the two organizations.

Cheers to 15 years: SWM & WBOC

The WBOC Spring Social brought together a vibrant community of women in business for an evening centered on connection, collaboration, and celebration. Hosted in partnership with WISE Women’s Business Center and Syracuse Woman Magazine, the event highlighted the power of local partnerships and the impact of women supporting women.

A special moment of the evening was celebrating Syracuse Woman Magazine’s 15-year anniversary, recognizing their longstanding commitment to amplifying the voices and stories of women across our community. Alongside WISE, WBOC, whose work continues to empower and equip women entrepreneurs, the evening served as a reminder of what is possible when organizations come together with a shared mission.

From meaningful conversations to new connections formed, the Spring Social was more than just a networking event, it was a reflection of WBOC’s mission to elevate women in business and create spaces where they can grow, lead, and thrive.

Join us for our monthly programs, held on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Find more information at wboconnection.org.

The Upstate Foundation

50 YEARS OF IMPACT AND

COMMITMENT

In 2026, the Upstate Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of advancing patient care, education, research, and community health and well-being at Upstate Medical University and across Central New York. Since its incorporation in 1976, the Foundation has grown into a vital philanthropic partner — strengthening Upstate’s mission as an academic medical university while expanding its reach to support community organizations serving the region’s most vulnerable populations.

Early investments laid the groundwork for services that continue to benefit patients and families today, including support for the Central New York Burn Treatment Unit, the Regional Oncology Center and endowed professorships in neurosurgery, pathology and pediatrics. In 1984, the Foundation became one of the first members of Children’s Miracle Network, reinforcing its enduring commitment to children and families.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, philanthropy fueled growth in emergency services, specialty care and academic excellence,

while deepening partnerships focused on improving health outcomes, access to care and quality of life.

“For 50 years, the Upstate Foundation has connected the generosity of our donors to the mission and priorities of Upstate,” said Eileen Pezzi, MPA, vice president for development. “Every campaign, endowment and program reflects a shared belief that investing in patients, students, faculty and staff transforms health care and strengthens our community.”

In 2014, the Foundation transitioned from a supporting organization to a public charity, expanding its ability to make a broader, more direct impact on regional health and well-being.

That evolution accelerated remarkable growth. What began with five staff members now includes 32 professionals stewarding more than 1,300 funds, up from 80 in the early years; total assets increasing from $25 million to $325 million, a 1,200 percent rise in philanthropic investment. This momentum has supported transformative milestones, including Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Upstate Cancer Center, pediatric emergency services and expanded mental health resources. Today, the Upstate Foundation continues building on 50 years of progress to ensure lasting impact for generations to come.

Lavender, innovation, and growth

CAZENOVIA’S CODY NAMED TO INC.’S FEMALE FOUNDERS 500

Kate Hill

Monica Cody, founder of Farmstead 1868 in Cazenovia, has been named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500, a list celebrating the nation’s most innovative and dynamic women business leaders. Farmstead 1868 is a family-run lavender farm that produces natural, small-batch lavender products for the bath, body, kitchen, and home. The business also hosts agritourism experiences, including educational workshops, farm visits, and a seasonal lavender festival, scheduled this year for July 11–12.

“At its core, Farmstead 1868 exists to help people slow down and reconnect with agriculture through simple, farm-grown products and experiences,” said Cody. . . . “Everything we create is rooted in the land and the agricultural community we’re proud to be part of.” Inc. is an American business media company founded in 1979, based in New York City, and owned by Mansueto Ventures. It focuses on entrepreneurship, startups, small businesses, and business growth.

According to a March 31 Inc. press release, the company’s 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue.

“Each year, Inc. editors evaluate applications through a rigorous, multi-round selection process,” the press release states. “Founders are assessed on both quantitative performance metrics, including revenue growth, funding, sales, and audience size, as well as qualitative factors such as innovation, social impact, and brand momentum. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year.”

While Inc. editors conduct the primary review of applications, the selection process is further refined by a designated advisory board featuring Patty Arvielo, co-founder and CEO of New American Funding; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation; Joy Mangano, co-founder and CEO of CleanBoss; Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of GORGIE; Sheila Lirio Marcelo, co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai and founder of Care.com; and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover.

Previous Female Founders honorees include Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede.

Cody launched Farmstead 1868 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to diversify her family’s existing dairy operation.

“Like many farms, we’re always thinking about how to evolve and build resilience for the next generation,” Cody said. “Our children are the fifth generation of Cody family farmers, and it’s important to us that they grow up seeing that agriculture can be innovative and full of possibility.”

With the supply chain turned upside down during the pandemic, the Codys had to dump a little bit of milk. Not wanting to waste that milk, they saved it. In addition

to drinking the milk and using it to make typical dairy products such as cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt, the family experimented with making milk bath, bath bombs, and soap. During that time, Cody also planted lavender in an unused area of the farm.

The brand first gained traction through farmers’ markets and community events. It later expanded into direct-to-consumer e-commerce and now partners with specialty retailers and wholesale accounts.

“The early support from the Cazenovia community played a huge role in helping us grow, and while Farmstead 1868 began during COVID, it has since developed into a standalone business alongside our family dairy farm,” said Cody.

According to Inc., Farmstead 1868 follows responsible farming and production practices and participates in several industry programs, including pollinator-friendly lavender cultivation, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, and recyclable and reusable packaging materials.

“Farmstead 1868 began simply with lavender plants, curiosity, and a desire to explore what natural ingredients could become when grown and crafted on a working farm,” Cody said in the Inc. press release. “What started as a small-scale experiment has grown into distilling our own essential oil, creating farm-grown products, teaching classes,

and welcoming visitors to experience life on the farm. The Female Founders list highlights women who are building companies, creating jobs, and reshaping industries. Being included alongside so many inspiring founders reinforces something I believe deeply — that local farms, small businesses, and women-led companies play an important role in the future of our economy and our communities.”

Looking ahead, Cody says the business sees several paths for continued growth.

She noted that as demand for natural, farm-grown products continues to rise, Farmstead 1868 is expanding its product line based on consumer feedback.

The business is also working to reach new audiences and continuing to build its agritourism experiences in Cazenovia.

“We believe helping people experience agriculture firsthand, and seeing where their products come from, strengthens the connection between farms and everyday life,” Cody said.

Farmstead 1868 is located at 4690 Shephards Rd., Cazenovia. For more information, visit farmstead1868.com, email info@farmstead1868.com, or follow @farmstead1868 on social media.

To view the complete 2026 Female Founders 500 list, visit inc.com/female-founders/2026.

Under direction of Sue Dodge, pantry provides plenty

WILL HONOR HER COMMUNITY SERVICE ON MAY 12

Jason Klaiber

When discussing her involvement with Heaven’s Pantry in Minoa, its chair Sue Dodge will tell you herself that she’s been at it “forever.”

And while that may be stretching it, it has been a long time — 45 years to be exact, going back to its founding by her and a small group of fellow churchgoers.

In the beginning, Sue saw just how much people needed help securing enough food to put on their tables day after day and week after week for themselves and their families.

From then to now, that need has not gone away, she said, but the pantry itself has continued to grow.

Originally operated out of Assumption Church for a short time, then the basement of St. Mary’s Church where Sue belongs as a parishioner, and then Minoa’s municipal building, Heaven’s Pantry eventually found refuge inside First United Methodist Church at 246 East Ave. in Minoa.

“With open arms, they said you can come here,” Sue said, speaking about the Methodist church. “We’ve been here for a long, long time, and they’re just so wonderful and nice.”

Year-round, the non-denominational Heaven’s Pantry has assisted people of all different ages, backgrounds and affiliations living within the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District or on the outskirts, including residents of Kirkville, Sue said.

“It’s just unbelievable how tough it can be for people out there…it’s eye opening,” Sue said. “We always give food we have to them, and they’re always so gracious.”

Aside from donations of supplies that it receives, the pantry purchases its groceries from the Food Bank of Central New York, at any given time usually keeping a month’s worth of food inside its roomful of shelves, which can be accessed through First United’s back entrance. There are point values for the different pantry items, and every visitor is given a certain point total to start with based on their

number of family members that is subtracted from section by section for every item they choose to put into their cart.

The pantry stocks everything from fruits, vegetables, sauces, soups and juices to different cheeses, peanut butter, yogurt, shelf-stable milk, boxes of cereal, tuna and chicken. It also keeps hygiene and cleaning products on hand like paper towels, toothpaste and shampoo as well as coats during the colder months. Recently it’s had boxes of Girl Scout cookies to go around.

In certain instances, the pantry’s volunteers will also go out to pick up people who have trouble getting in and out of their homes on their own.

Around Easter, Heaven’s Pantry gives out hams, at Thanksgiving it passes out turkeys, and come Christmastime it distributes as many gifts as possible to local families—to the point that it starts to look “like Santa’s toy store” in there, Sue said.

But she said none of it would be possible without the continual, meaningful support for the pantry’s cause offered by so many area organizations and businesses. That has included but is not limited to the ESM district’s schools, other churches, the Town of Manlius Police Benevolent Association, Toys for Tots, Thekchen Choling Syracuse, Minoa Library, Charlie’s Tavern, Spill the Tea Cafe, Butter-nut Sport Shop, and the local VFW post, Sue said.

“We have a lot of people who are just helping us out all the time,” Sue said. “We’re very, very lucky.”

Sue said she’s also thankful for the “super group of people” that comes in to volunteer as pantry workers, whether it’s to guide patrons from shelf to shelf or carry packaged food out to someone’s car. For years, one of the volunteers by Sue’s side has been her own daughter, Donna.

Sue, who is turning 76 on May 7, can often be found signing people in nowadays, but she doesn’t plan on giving up contributing to Heaven’s Pantry anytime soon. She said her role with the pantry is not only fun but fulfilling, referring to it as her “calling” and something that has become like second nature to her. She has gotten to know most if not all the returning pantry patrons, and that Heaven’s Pantry has grown into her “home away from home.”

Sue tells people they should never feel too proud or at all embarrassed to seek out their local food pantry in times of need and difficulty, adding that pantry volunteers understand whatever they’re facing and that’s why they’re there in the first place: to lend a helping hand. People were stopping into the pantry “by the droves” last year when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits ran out for example, and that her Minoa pantry alone serves more people than some might think, showing that it could be someone’s own next-door neighbors who depend on the pantry’s food in many cases.

Sue also encourages people to visit not just once if they need help, highlighting the fact that Heaven’s Pantry can be relied upon again and again every single month. It operates the third week of each month Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday mornings 10 to 11 a.m.

“If anybody knows anybody who could use our help, just send them our way,” Sue says.

The Onondaga East Chamber’s annual Party for the Pantries will be taking place Tuesday, May 12 at Heritage Hill Brewhouse, during which Sue will be honored with the John Goodfellow Community Impact Award.

The event at the restaurant at 3149 Sweet Road in Pompey is a fundraiser dinner with proceeds benefiting Heaven’s Pantry and the F-M Food Pantry. The evening will feature a silent auction, live music, barbecue food, and networking.

On the side, Sue enjoys quilting and traveling, having checked off trips to 44 of the 50 states in America.

Previously a billing manager for medical and dental offices, Sue also helps out with St. Mary’s annual Lenten fish fries and she has been married to her husband, Ralph, for 55 years now. For decades, the two have lived in the same house in the village of Minoa, a community she said she loves and appreciates. SWM

If you go…

The Onondaga East Chamber will honor Sue Dodge at its annual Party for the Pantries on May 12 at Heritage Hill in Pompey. This annual fundraiser helps support Heaven’s Pantry in Minoa and the FM Food Pantry in Manlius.

The event includes Heritage Hill’s signature barbecue dinner, a cash bar, live music and a silent auction featuring dozens of goods and services from local businesses and restaurants. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Tickets are available at onondagaeast.com.

"Trust

isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you build—on purpose, every day, in every room you walk into."

By Angela Moonan

Let me ask you something. When someone says your name in a room you’re not in, what do they say? What do they trust to be true about you—without you there to spin it, explain it, or defend it?

That’s your real brand. Not your logo. Not your website. Not your LinkedIn headline. Your brand is what people believe to be true when you’re not looking.

And here’s what I know after years of working with businesses to build the kind of trust that actually moves the needle: you cannot engineer trust in your business until you’ve built it in yourself. These two things—your personal integrity and your professional credibility—are not separate conversations. They are the same conversation.

Accenture put a number on what we already feel in our bones: companies that focus their entire organization on delivering excep-tional experiences grow their profitability at rates at least six times that of their industry peers. Six times. That’s not a marginal advantage. That’s a transformation. And the foundation underneath that transformation? Trust.

This is what I call The Exceptional Way. It’s a way of operating—in business and in life—guided by a framework I’ve developed called The TRUST Formula. Five principles. One unshakeable foundation. And it starts somewhere most people aren’t brave enough to begin.

T — Tell the Truth

The first step of The Exceptional Way is also the hardest: name what’s really happening. I call this the Elephant in the Room principle. Whether it’s a difficult conversation with a client, a team that’s quietly disengaged, or a personal pattern you’ve been avoiding—radical clarity is the beginning of every transformation.

We don’t trust people who are vague. We trust people who are willing to say the true thing out loud, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially then. If you want to be trusted, you have to earn it with your honesty before you ever earn it with your results.

R — Remarkable Promise

Sara Blakely built SPANX into a billion-dollar company on the back of one clear, repeatable idea: women deserve to look and feel their best, and no one was solving that problem with dignity. She didn’t lead with product specs. She led with a promise—and she said it the same way every single time, until her customers started saying it for her.

That’s what a Remarkable Promise does. It’s not a slogan. It’s certainly not a ‘tagline.’ It’s something your team and your clients can say out loud and mean it—a one-line declaration of the transformation you deliver, the change you stand for, the reason someone would choose you over everyone else. In life, your promise is your word. It’s what you show up as, consistently, whether anyone is watching. Are you keeping your own promises? Are you being your word? Because the gap between who you say you are and how you actually live is where trust quietly collapses.

U — Unite the Team

I call this the OLIVUS Principle —a reminder that no great promise is fulfilled by one person alone. You cannot build an exceptional business, an exceptional life, or an exceptional reputation in isolation. You need your people aligned.

Think about the women in your circle. Your collaborators, your mentors, your team. Are they saying the same things you’re saying? Are they living your values, or are they quietly undermining them? Internal clarity drives external impact. When the people around you understand the promise and believe in it, trust radiates outward into every interaction, every client call, every handshake.

S — Serve Exceptionally

When Blakely launched SPANX, she personally stood in department stores and walked women to the fitting rooms. She wanted to understand the experience at every touchpoint—not just the product, but the feeling. I call these touchpoints “Moments of Truth.” And they’re what creates something I call a 6-Star Experience. Not meeting expectations. Exceeding them so memorably that people can’t stop talking about you.

Exceptional service isn’t a department. It’s a decision you make every day, in every interaction. In business, it’s the follow-up nobody asked for, the detail nobody would have noticed, the problem you solved before your client knew it existed. In life, it’s showing up fully for the people who trust you with their time, their problems, their hopes.

Exceptional experiences don’t happen by accident. They’re the difference between businesses that survive and businesses that thrive. Build yours on purpose.

T — Ten-X Mentality

This is the one that separates the women who build remarkable things from the women who almost did. Ten-X thinking isn’t about working ten times harder. It’s recognizing that while iterations and ‘solution after next’ are appropriate, there are also quantum leaps you must be willing to take… to think beyond incremental. It’s about asking: What would this look like if it were truly extraordinary? What would I do if I weren’t afraid? What’s the version of this that people remember for a decade?

SPANX didn’t tinker at the edges of the shapewear industry. Sara Blakely reimagined it. She built systems, protected her IP, turned down early buyout offers, and stayed the course when no one believed her. That’s Ten-X Mentality. It requires confidence—and the courage to change what isn’t working without abandoning what is.

You Are Your Word

Here’s the truth that ties all five steps together: you cannot build trust in your business that exceeds the trust you have in yourself. Your clients, your team, your partners—they’re always watching the gap between what you say and what you do. Every time you close that gap, trust grows. Every time you widen it, it erodes.

The Exceptional Way is first a way of being before it ever can become a way of branding. It begins with the radical act of telling the truth—to yourself, to your team, to your market. It grows from a promise you’re willing to keep, a team you’ve aligned with, an experience you’ve designed with love and intention, and a vision bold enough to be worth building.

Trust is today’s currency. Not likes. Not followers. Not press mentions. While so many of our old institutions are crumbling because they’re devoid of trust, be the unicorn. Be the builder. Be your word. The businesses that will win—and the women who will lead them—are the ones building something people actually believe in because they’re worth believing in. Trust starts with you. Be the very thing you desire from others. Show your employees, your customers, your patients, your neighbors, your family, what trust looks and feels like. I’ll meet you there.

Angela Moonan is a strategic brand consultant, corporate storyteller, and creator of the 6X TRUST Formula. She helps service companies transform from commodity providers to trusted market leaders. Learn more at angelamoonan.com.

“Trust is the new currency. And it doesn’t happen like the weather. It’s designed from the inside - out.”

More than just a fundraising walk, Relay For Life is a movement. For 40 years, passionate supporters have come together to advance the American Cancer Society’s vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone

Relay For Life celebrates survivors, honors caregivers, remembers loved ones lost, and raises funds to ensure everyone can have the chance to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

Park |

Join with cancer survivors and the greater community at this year’s Relay For Life event in Rome, NY.

There will be food, activities, and - most of all - fun! Can’t wait to see you there.

Healing beyond words

HOW MEG TOBIN IS CHANGING THE WAY CNY WOMEN APPROACH TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH

Janelle Davis

Meg Tobin will be the first to tell you that talk therapy has its place. She is not here to dismiss it. But after years of sitting with people in pain, she came to understand something that changed the entire direction of her work: a lot of what people carry never makes it into words at all.

“Trauma lives underneath or before language,” she says. “It shows up in the body, in patterns, in reactions that don't always make logical sense, but make perfect sense in the context of how someone learned to survive."

Meg is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Vermont, and the founder of Breathing Space Psychotherapy. Her approach mixes traditional therapy with experiential modalities including EFT Tapping, Brainspotting, EMDR, psychodrama, and art and movement-based practices. For the women who find their way to her, many who have spent years in conventional therapy and still feel stuck, what she offers is often something they did not know existed.

Her own road

Meg did not come to this work from the outside looking in. She went through it herself.

She is open about the fact that she experienced non-familial sexual abuse, something her system, or mind and body, protected her from fully remembering for a long time. That protection showed up in other ways as she moved through life, including people pleasing, dissociation, perfectionism, an eating disorder, and self-harm. She describes all of it not as failure, but as intelligence.

“Those protective behaviors are intelligent responses to what someone has been through and the age they were when it happened,” she says.

Her own healing led her to experiential therapy before she even became a therapist. She was not seeking it out specifically. She just assumed all therapy was the same, and then she experienced something different that changed everything. When she went on to graduate school, she chose a program at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. that specifically integrated these approaches, earning her master's in Counseling Psychology with a focus in Expressive Therapy.

“I don't see myself as the expert on someone else's life,” she says. “I believe each person is the expert in their own body and experience and walk alongside them. I help create the conditions where healing can happen”

Continued on page 24

“Trauma lives underneath or before language. It shows up in the body, in patterns, in reactions that don't always make logical sense, but make perfect sense in the context of how someone learned to survive.”— Meg Tobin

What experiential therapy actually looks like

For anyone unfamiliar with modalities like Brainspotting or EFT Tapping, Meg has a way of explaining them that cuts right through the jargon.

Brainspotting works on the idea that where you look affects how you feel. In a session, the therapist helps a client find a specific eye position

connected to something they are holding, whether that is stress, a trauma response, or even something they cannot quite name. Once that spot is found, the brain and body are allowed to process at their own pace. No forcing or analyzing. Meg describes it as surprisingly quiet work, but very deep.

EFT Tapping is more active. Clients gently tap on specific points on the body while speaking what is true for them in that moment. It helps calm the nervous system and allows emotions to move. People often feel a shift relatively quickly.

“Both are about helping the body do what it already knows how to do,” Meg says, “instead of trying to think your way out of something.” She also brings art, movement, and drama into sessions, which she describes as a way of bypassing what she calls the judgy brain. That is the part of us constantly evaluating whether we are feeling the right things, saying them the right way, making enough progress. When that voice is given less control, something can actually move.

“You're not trying to find the perfect words or explain everything just right,” she says. “You're creating an environment where the brain and body can begin to unwind what's been held, often for a long time.”

Theater, storytelling, and the same calling

Before and during her clinical work, Meg has been involved in theater for change, co-directing a Syracuse production of the national play “Birth” by Karen Brody and co-writing and directing the Reflections Project, an educational theater piece about eating disorders that performed throughout Boston, Burlington, New Haven, and Central New York.

She does not see that work as separate from her therapy practice. Not even a little.

“Theater is storytelling, and healing is storytelling too,” she says. “It's how we make meaning of our lives, how we reclaim parts of ourselves, and how we're witnessed in our truth.”

What struck her most in that work was how much healing happened for the actors themselves, not just the audiences. As performers stepped into these roles, they were

“Healing isn't about getting rid of what happened, it's about changing your relationship to what happened. It's about your nervous system learning, over time, that you're safe now, even if parts of you still feel like you're not.”—Meg Tobin

touching something real and personal, and Meg had the privilege of holding that space. She says it felt no different than what happens in the therapy room.

What she offers now

Meg's practice has expanded well beyond weekly sessions. She offers individual therapy, therapy intensives, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, known as KAP, as well as retreats, workshops, and online classes.

The intensives are for people who are ready to go deep without the interruption of waiting a full week between sessions. They can range from a few hours to several days, and Meg describes them as powerful precisely because the momentum does not get lost.

KAP is something she is equally passionate about. KAP pairs a legal, medically prescribed medication with psychotherapy to help soften the mind's usual defenses, creating access to emotions and insights that can sometimes feel out of reach in traditional talk therapy. Meg is clear that the medication itself is only part of the equation, about 25 percent in her estimation. The preparation, the supported dosing session, and especially the integration work that follows are where the real change takes root.

“It allows for experiences that aren't forced or analyzed, but actually felt,” she says. “That matters to me.”

She also offers retreats, including one in Ireland, a place she has returned to multiple times and describes as having a quiet depth that feels potent in a way that is hard to articulate. The vision behind international retreats is to give women the chance to step fully out of their everyday lives and into something more intentional, where even the land itself becomes part of the healing environment.

“Many women describe it as a kind of homecoming,” she says, “ even if they don't have a direct connection to Ireland.” For CNY women.

Meg is thoughtful when asked what she wants women in Central New York to know about asking for help. She understands the culture here, one that does not exactly encourage women to slow down and ask for help.

“You don't have to wait until things are unbearable,” she says. “So many women here are carrying a lot, quietly, holding families, jobs, relationships, expectations. There can be this unspoken belief that asking for support means something about your strength. It doesn't. If anything, it means the opposite.”

She also pushes back gently on one of the most common misconceptions about trauma and healing, the idea that if you do enough work, eventually what happened will stop affecting you.

“Healing isn't about getting rid of what happened,” she says. “It's about changing your relationship to what happened. It's about your nervous system learning, over time, that you're safe now, even if parts of you still feel like you're not.”

She says those parts are not a problem. They are protective. And the process of helping them soften takes time, not because something is wrong, but because the body has been doing its best to take care of you all along.

“Be gentle with yourself,” she says. “Honor the younger iterations of yourself. If you are feeling hopeless, reach out, and know that I am holding hope for you until you can pick it up for yourself.” SWM

Meg Tobin and Breathing Space Psychotherapy can be found at breathingspacepsychotherapy.com or reached at meg@therapycny.com. She is currently accepting referrals for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and intensives.

Mind. Body. Wellness. And the women who care for us all

Chef Eric Rose

There is something about May in Central New York that feels like a fresh start. The sun lingers a little longer, the air softens, and everything around us begins to come back to life. We naturally start thinking about feeling better, getting outside, and taking care of ourselves again. But the truth is, just because the season changes does not mean we automatically feel better. If your energy has been low, if your habits have been inconsistent, or if your body has been running on fumes, summer is not going to fix that for you. Real change comes from alignment. It comes from understanding

Hormones shift, blood sugar becomes unstable, and what once felt simple starts to feel like a constant uphill battle.

that your mind and your body are not separate. They are constantly communicating, constantly responding to each other, and shaping how you feel day to day. You can eat well and still feel stuck. You can try to do everything right and still struggle with energy, cravings, or progress. That is because your body is not just responding to food. It is responding to stress, sleep, emotional load, and how supported or overwhelmed your system feels. When your mind is exhausted, your body follows.

This is where the conversation around wellness needs to go deeper, especially this month as we recognize and celebrate nurses.

There are few roles that demand more from both the mind and the body than nursing.

Long shifts, unpredictable schedules, emotional intensity, and the constant call to care for others make it one of the most selfless professions there is. Nurses are asked to show up at a high level no matter how they feel. They push through fatigue, delay their own needs, and often give everything they have to the people in front of them.

What often gets overlooked is the cost of that pattern over time. Skipped meals turn into energy crashes. Grabbing whatever is available leads to blood sugar spikes and drops. Caffeine becomes a crutch instead of a choice. Sleep is inconsistent. Stress builds. And eventually, the body starts to push back. Not because something is wrong, but because it is doing exactly what it is designed to do.

The good news is that even in a demanding environment, small intentional shifts can create a powerful change in how you feel. It does not require perfection. It requires consistency and a willingness to take care of yourself in the same way you take care of everyone else.

One of the most important places to start is with stabilizing your energy, and that begins with stabilizing your blood sugar. When you go long stretches without eating or rely on quick sugar and caffeine to get through a shift, your body rides a rollercoaster. Energy spikes, then crashes. Focus fades. Cravings increase. Mood becomes unpredictable.

On the other hand, when you fuel your body consistently with simple, balanced choices, everything starts to feel more steady. Energy levels even out. Hunger becomes more manageable. Your mind feels clearer. You are no longer reacting all day. You are operating with intention.

And here is where things really start to shift. When your blood sugar is more balanced, you do not experience those intense crashes that make you feel like you need another coffee, an energy drink, or something sugary just to keep going. You simply do not feel as dependent on them.

That creates a ripple effect. Less reliance on stimulants leads to more stable

energy later in the day, which then supports better sleep at night. And better sleep brings you right back to improved energy, mood, and overall function the next day.

This does not mean sitting down for perfect meals in the middle of a busy shift. It means being prepared with small, realistic options that fit into your day. Keeping a few go-to snacks at your station, in your locker, or in a small cooler can make all the difference. Something as simple as Greek yogurt with berries, apple slices with string cheese, a handful of almonds with a few grapes, or a couple of hard-boiled eggs with baby carrots can give your body exactly what it needs to stay balanced. A protein shake or a few turkey roll ups can be just as effective when time is tight.

The key is pairing protein with a healthy carbohydrate so your body has both immediate and sustained energy. These small choices help prevent the highs and lows that leave you feeling drained by the end of your shift. They allow you to stay ahead of your hunger instead of constantly playing catch up.

Hydration is another piece that is often overlooked. Many people walk around dehydrated and assume they are tired or hungry, when in reality their body is simply asking for water. Even mild dehydration can impact focus, mood, and energy. Starting your day with water and continuing to sip throughout your shift can make a noticeable difference in how you feel.

Beyond food and hydration, there is another layer that matters just as much, and that is giving your mind small moments to reset. You may not have an hour to yourself during a shift, but you do have moments. A few deep breaths before walking into the next room, a quick pause before eating, or stepping outside for even a minute of fresh air can help bring your system back to a more balanced state. These are signals to your body that it is safe to come out of constant stress mode.

There is a common belief that taking care of yourself is something extra, something that

happens when there is time. For many women, and especially for nurses, that time never seems to come. But self care is not a luxury. It is a strategy. It is what allows you to continue showing up, to continue caring, and to continue performing at a high level without burning out.

As we move into this new season, there is an opportunity to reset. The longer days, the fresh air, and the natural shift in energy all work in your favor. Getting outside more, choosing lighter and more nutrient dense foods, staying hydrated, and committing to small consistent fuelings

throughout the day can help your body regulate and recover in a way that feels sustainable.

Whether you are a nurse caring for patients, a mother caring for your family, or someone simply trying to feel better in your own skin, your health matters. It matters now, not later. Because when your mind and body are working together, you have more energy, more clarity, and more capacity to show up for the people and the life that matter most.

And for the women who spend their days caring for everyone else, that might be the most important shift of all. SWM

ELIZABETH EVETT

Filling your own cup

HOW ONE CNY THERAPIST IS REDEFINING SELF-CARE FOR WOMEN

Janelle Davis

If you have ever scrolled past a self-care post and rolled your eyes, Elizabeth Evett is not offended. In fact, she gets it.

“Self-care has become one of those taboo words, kind of like mindfulness," she says. "People hear it and they think massages and vacations. That is not what I am talking about.”

Elizabeth is a licensed mental health counselor with over a decade of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings and the founder of Speaking Emotions, a coaching and wellness practice built on a simple but powerful idea: that every woman deserves to know how she is doing, and that finding out does not have to take more than 60 seconds.

The mirror moment

Elizabeth spent years working with patients in high-pressure clinical environments, from crisis intervention in inpatient settings to long-term goal work in outpatient care. What she kept coming back to, no matter the setting, was that the skills her patients were learning in therapy were not things most people ever just picked up naturally.

“We all need these skills,” she says. “There is more conversation about it now, which is great, but there is still such a need.”

The desire to reach more people beyond her office walls was one motivation. The other was a lot more personal.

After having her second daughter and stepping into stay-at-home mom life, Elizabeth hit a wall that a lot of women will recognize immediately. She was caring for everyone around her, running on empty and one day looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself.

“I thought, who the heck is this person?” she laughs. “I had just been living on autopilot. I had not stopped to ask myself how I was doing.”

The fact that she was a trained therapist did not make her immune, though it did add a layer of internal judgment she had to defeat first.

“There was that thought of, geez, I am a therapist, how did I not see this?” she says. “But then the therapist in me was able to shut that down pretty quickly and remind myself that being in the day-to-day chaos is completely different from sitting across from a client and looking at their life objectively. We are all human.”

That looking-in-the-mirror moment became the foundation of Speaking Emotions and everything Elizabeth has built since.

What self-care actually is

Elizabeth's definition of self-care is less spa day and more oil change. She compares it to maintenance on a car.

“Your car needs gas every day,” she explains. “Then there are bigger things, like getting it inspected once a year. Self-care works the same way.

There are small, daily things and bigger things, and you need both.”

The daily things are where most women get tripped up, she says, because they are either waiting for a big block of time that never comes or they are already doing something that counts without realizing it.

“A lot of self-care is things we do habitually," she says. "We are just not doing them intentionally. Like drinking your morning coffee. There is a difference between chugging it down without tasting it and actually slowing down and enjoying it. That intention matters.”

For anyone who insists they genuinely do not have time, Elizabeth's answer is two words: Your breath.

“No matter what is going on, you have your breath,” she says. “There is so much research on how breathing brings us back to a regulated state. If your kids are screaming and you cannot leave the room, you can still close your eyes and take a few breaths. That is self-care in the chaos.”

The whole practice starts, she says, with a morning check-in that takes less than 60 seconds. Just a few honest questions: How am I feeling? How did I sleep? Where am I carrying stress in my body right now?

“If I wake up already at a five out of ten, and then something goes sideways, I am going to react harder than if I had known where I was starting,” she says. “When we know, we can intervene. When we don't, we just get swept along.”

Continued on page 34

Progress, not perfection

Elizabeth is clear that she does not have this all figured out. Her threeand-a-half-year-old still does not sleep through the night. Some days are messier than others. And that is kind of the whole point.

“Self-care is not something you nail once and you are done,” she says. “We change. Our kids change. Life changes. The check-in is what keeps us from losing track of ourselves again.”

She describes it as a ripple effect. When she is taking care of herself, it shows up in how she responds to her kids, how she shows up in her relationships, how she moves through hard days. And when she is running on empty, that shows up too.

“Self-care is not selfish,” she says. “It is a necessity. You cannot get around the impact it has on everything else.”

Get involved

Elizabeth hosts workshops throughout the year, including the upcoming Self-Series on May 2 at Lustre Loft from 10 a.m. to noon, alongside Elizabeth Gullotto and Jill Johnstone. She is also available for speaking engagements and offers free 15-minute consultations for women interested in one-on-one coaching support. Every Monday at noon she hosts Monday Move, a free virtual dance session open to anyone, three songs, no experience required. The zoom link is available through her social media stories or by filling out the contact form at speakingemotions.com. SWM

Learn more and connect with Elizabeth at speakingemotions.com.

“Self-care is not something you nail once and you are done. We change. Our kids change. Life changes.”

—Elizabeth Evett

‘Happy mom, happy baby’ POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS MORE THAN ‘THE BABY BLUES’ Elena Ehrhart

Mallory Conner learned about the importance of mental healthcare from a very young age. Her mother’s work at a nearby psychiatric facility showed her first-hand the impact it can have on a person’s life. The seeds of desire and determination to help those struggling bloomed quickly and Mallory knew she wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. However, it was not until she was confronted with her own struggles following the birth of her first child in 2020 that she realized precisely how she wanted to make that difference.

Mallory graduated from SUNY Brockport twice; the first time in 2014 with her degree in health sciences and then again in 2015 with her nursing degree. In that time, Mallory met her now-husband, a fellow nursing student, and experienced the various nursing positions within the medical field at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Despite enjoying that, Mallory knew her heart was in psychiatry. Mallory and her husband then returned to her hometown of Syracuse, where she attended SUNY Upstate Medical University for her Master’s degree as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. “I didn’t know what specific area of psychiatry I wanted to go in,” Mallory said of her clinical work as a graduate student at Upstate Medical University. “I explored different areas like addiction treatment, but then I met Christine.”

Christine Kowaleski, a maternal mental health consultant for Crouse Medical Hospital, instantly connected with Mallory and inspired her to take on a similar role following her graduation in 2020 and the eventual birth of her son that October.

health conditions or a family history can be at a higher risk for developing postpartum depression, yet many do not realize it can happen to anyone, especially if they have had a traumatic birth, a difficult pregnancy or challenges breastfeeding.

Ten to twenty percent of mothers will experience postpartum depression – it is a lot more common than people realize, yet many mothers still do not get the help they need. They can experience guilt, judgment internally and externally, as well as isolation. Yet, Mallory is determined to help mothers overcome this stigma to help themselves and their children.

“Mothers are so hard on themselves,” Mallory said. “Sometimes we don’t do anything for ourselves, only for our baby…they have a vision of who they want to be – the mother, the partner they want to be – and it is our job to help them.”

During her time at Upstate, Mallory advanced her knowledge of psychiatric nursing and provided the best individualized care she could for patients. “I knew I wanted to help people,” Mallory said. “I thought I could relate to these moms and when you can relate to someone, it helps to lessen their feelings of isolation.”

After passing her board exams in October of 2020, Mallory was officially hired with Crouse Medical Practice, where she meets with mothers struggling with postpartum depression and helps to form a plan for them to manage medication and therapy.

“Being a mom is isolating,” she said. “And we offer different forms of support, like family support groups and different books. Maternal mental health is so important.”

Postpartum depression can be debilitating. Many people brush it off as “baby blues,” for two to three weeks after giving birth, but often the symptoms of anxiety, depression, brain fog, extreme worries or fears persist long after the first few weeks. Mothers with a history of mental

In recent years, more research has been done on postpartum depression and how to best support mothers who may be struggling. Now, screenings happen during pregnancy and shortly after giving birth, but professionals realize that everyone has symptoms that manifest differently, so care and support may look different.

“I never leave a session if I am truly deeply concerned about a mother. We do not end until we have a clear plan of action, and sometimes that includes meeting multiple times a week,” Mallory said.

Mallory’s thoughts are often with her patients and she sometimes finds herself worrying or wondering about them in the quieter parts in her day. Those moments show that she really is in the right line of work. As a mother to three bright and spunky children herself, Mallory knows that not every mother has the same support or flexibility with work as she does, but has made it her goal to ensure that each of her clients are set on a path to being happy and healthy in a way that works best for them. While she admits she may not have a way of balancing everything in her life perfectly, Mallory encourages hobbies and healthy routines – “happy mom, happy baby,” she emphasized.

As more research and information is spread about postpartum depression, Mallory hopes to see more mothers reaching out. Right now, her office has a steady clientele that she hopes may increase over time.

“It is important to support mothers,” Mallory said. “It is important for them to know that [postpartum depression] is not their fault and they’re not alone in this. It is very common and we have treatment options to help them.”

SWM

CNY Women of Distinction

CELEBRATING SERVICE, STRENGTH, AND IMPACT

Several local women were recently honored by Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D–Cicero) as winners of the 14th Annual Women of Distinction Awards. A ceremony on announcing the honors was held in March at the Fayetteville Fire Department.

“I’d like to thank our honorees for all the selfless work they have done to strengthen the fabric of our community,” Stirpe said. “I’d also like to acknowledge the friends and family of our honorees for recognizing the extraordinary efforts and acts of service that our Women of Distinction provide for us in the course of their everyday lives.”

This year’s honorees include:

EDUCATION: JENNIFER KIRCHOFF, MINOA

Kirchoff has dedi-cated 40 years to educating the students of Central New York.

She has taught more than 3,500 students across the FayettevilleManlius and East-Syracuse Minoa School Districts, as well as Le Moyne College.

She is an avid leader and participant in the National Education Association (NEA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), having been involved in their work since 1997. Outside of her contributions to education, Kirchoff volunteers for David’s Refuge as a weekend respite host, helping over 500 couples and families with special needs children get rest, support, and a sense of community.

VOLUNTEERISM: MARYANN D’ADDIO, CICERO

Since 2022, D’Addio has served as the fundraising committee chair and vice president of Erin’s Angels: an organization devoted to fighting childhood food insecurity in Central New York.

As described by her coworkers, Maryann is the type of person whose presence inspires. She comes in early, leaves work late, and makes everyone at Erin’s Angels feel valued and supported.

Having been in the healthcare field for almost two decades, Maryann is no stranger to helping others and making a genuine impact. Outside of her work at Erins Angels, D’Addio has volunteered for over 10 years for a local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, offering support and resources for patients and families facing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: ANNE SALTMAN, CAZENOVIA

Saltman is a true leader in environmental stewardship across Madison and Onondaga Counties.

She previously held the position of executive director of the NYS Federation of Lakes Association, later becoming the principal planner at the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board. Currently, she works through the United Climate Action Network (UCAN) to write and publish the annual report: Climate Change in Cazenovia and Neighboring Communities, which focuses on local climate trends and environmental indicators.

Additionally, she was instrumental in securing a weather monitoring system for the town of Cazenovia. Anne’s volunteerism efforts and activism in her community cannot be understated – from

working with the Red Cross on their natural disaster deployment team to various organizations in and around Cazenovia, Anne is a clear example of lifelong service to one’s community.

BUSINESS: MONICA BROWNING, MANLIUS

Browning is a self-made entrepreneur who operates her own photography studio, ‘Monica Browning Photography,’ in the heart of Manlius.

She uses her skills to capture family moments, grad photos, and professional headshots and volunteers to photograph local school and community events, such as theater performances and sports games, at no cost. Along with operating a certified MWBE, Browning partnered with her husband ‘Of Moose and Mind Bookshop’ last October in the village of Manlius.

Outside of her business-related endeavors, Browning has spearheaded the Enders Road Sidewalk Initiative to increase safety in the area and has led the Parent-Teacher Association at Enders Road Elementary. At home, she and her husband, Mark Browning, have opened their homes to foster children to support them and give them better opportunities.

HEALTHCARE: SARAH MATT, MD, FAYETTEVILLE

As a physician, MBA-trained executive, and published author, \Matt is a true triple threat.

In 2025, she authored The Borderless Healthcare Revolution, which challenges the status quo of healthcare delivery and provides concrete, hands-on solutions for making care more equitable and accessible beyond geographical limits.

Her expertise has made her a keynote speaker at various conferences and national panels on the topics of healthcare delivery reform and digital transformation.

In Central New York, she serves as a member of the Fayetteville Fire Department, helps uninsured patients at the Mary Rose Clinic as an acting physician, and is the current President of the Salt City Roller Derby League.

Since 1987, March has been officially known as Women’s History Month in coordination with the Week of March 8 as International Women’s Day.

Nominations for Stirpe’s Women of Distinction Awards opened in February, offering residents in the 127th Assembly District an opportunity to nominate their loved ones, friends, and colleagues to be recognized for their exceptional works of service, heart, and leadership.

The event was largely attended by the honorees, their family and friends, former Women of Distinction winners, and the firemen and EMTs from the Fayetteville Fire Department where Sarah Matt volunteers. SWM

Finding real balance

A GYNECOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE ON MIND-BODY WELLNESS

Michelle J. Auerbach, DO, FACOOG

If you spend any time on social media, the idea of achieving balance in mind, body and overall wellness seems to be everywhere. From redlight facial masks to “fast” nutritious recipes whipped up in a jar, we are constantly bombarded with recommendations promising to help us become our best selves. And yet, paradoxically, the very information filling our feeds often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, as if true wellness is always just out of reach.

As a gynecologist at Associates for Women’s Medicine, I see this tension play out every day. I care for thousands of women who are striving to do it all, keep their families healthy, succeed at work, and somehow carve out a few moments for themselves. Slowly and almost imperceptibly, the demands of daily life push their own needs to the bottom of the list. By the time many women come to see me, years of self-prioritization have been sacrificed.

Some haven’t been in for a routine exam in a long time. Others have kept up with visits yet still feel that something is missing. What many share is a common frustration: persistent fatigue, unexplained weight gain and a nagging feeling that they don’t quite feel like themselves anymore.

I am not immune to this struggle. Over the past several years, I’ve been on my own journey to define what mind-body wellness looks like in real life; not as a perfect ideal, but as something sustainable, flexible and personal.

One of the most powerful ways women can take control of their health is by seeing their OB-GYN annually, and it’s about so much more than a Pap smear. My goal is to remind patients that their most valuable asset is themselves. Staying current with mammograms, bone-density testing, colon-oscopies, screening labs and routine exams is an essential act of self-care.

While it can feel daunting to be vulnerable and share your whole self, these visits are often the first meaningful step toward reclaiming your health. They create a moment of reflection. A pause to ask how we can better support the incredible bodies we live in.

So where do we begin?

One of the most important things to remember is that our bodies thrive on consistency, particularly when it comes to sleep, movement and nutrition.

Sleep consistency, meaning going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time each day for seven to eight hours, is strongly linked to cardiovascular health, metabolic function, mental health, cognitive performance and overall longevity. Different stages of life can make this challenging - whether you’re in school, raising children, growing your career or navigating perimenopause and menopause. Many women are juggling several of these phases at once.

Prioritizing sleep, and speaking with your doctor if sleep is a struggle, is a meaningful first step toward improving overall wellness. As a gynecologist who specializes in caring for perimenopausal and menopausal women, I see this concern frequently, and it is often something we can address and improve.

Our bodies, which can sometimes feel like they are working against us, are actually communicating with us constantly. Learning to recognize these signals, and then developing a plan, takes patience. Nutrition and movement form the foundation for building a body that keeps us strong, mobile and independent throughout our lives. What’s essential is a willingness to adapt. What worked at 25 may no longer work at 38, and what helped at 38 may feel ineffective at 45. As we age, our bodies require different fuel and different forms of movement, and discovering what works is an ongoing process.

Food, in particular, has a complex relationship with health. It can evoke strong emotions while also meeting a basic human need. Nourishing our bodies is about far more than hitting a certain calorie count or protein goal. Food is what fuels our bodies to get through the day, and how our food is grown and prepared matters just as much as the label it carries. Sometimes, the best nourishment comes from food without a label at all, such as fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

At our practice, we’ve partnered with an incredible nutritionist who helps patients understand what a healthy diet truly looks like and how to fit it into their busy lives. While not every meal can come from a local farm, learning the type and amount of food your body needs is knowledge every woman deserves. It’s information that can benefit the entire family, at any age. Nutrition is so much more than a number on the scale, it’s the cornerstone to wellness that allows us to build strong bodies and resilient minds.

A strong body also craves movement. Movement is more than simply staying busy; it is intentional time we give ourselves with the purpose of strengthening our bodies. Whether it happens early in the morning, over a lunch break or after work, it is a moment in the day when we choose ourselves. We choose the version of ourselves that allows us to show up for everyone else who depends on us.

This is not selfish, it is necessary. Finding ways to enjoy movement makes it far more likely to become a habit and eventually a non-negotiable. Whether that means listening to your favorite podcast, joining a gym, walking outdoors or exercising with a friend, the key is finding something that keeps you coming back.

Achieving this kind of balance almost always requires planning. Just as many women schedule their children’s dental appointments, pediatrician visits and even oil changes, we must learn to do the same for ourselves. Taking just one hour at the start of each week to plan meals, schedule movement, make a grocery list and book your own health appointments can lay a strong foundation for success. This intentional planning helps create space for self-care amid meetings, practices, games and celebrations. I often learn just as much from my patients as they do from me. Through them, I’ve discovered incredible gyms, wellness practices and resources right here in our community. Their openness reminds me daily that we are all searching for balance, and that sharing our struggles is often the first step toward finding practical, meaningful solutions.

What I’ve learned over the past 13 years as an OB-GYN in this community is this: women are extraordinary. They are resilient, strong and endlessly resourceful. When we surround ourselves with one another, we become even better. Through community, we discover that we are not alone. We hold each other accountable, push one another forward, and lift each other up…and in doing so, we move closer to a version of wellness that is not perfect, but real.

SWM

St. Joseph’s Physicians launches new Menopause Clinic

As national attention continues to grow around menopause and midlife women’s health, St. Joseph’s Health has launched the St. Joseph’s Physicians Menopause Clinic, expanding access to comprehensive, specialized care for women in Central New York.

Led by Dr. Madison Healey, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), the clinic offers compassionate, personalized treatment for patients navigating perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.

Menopause has become an increasingly popular healthcare topic nationwide, as women advocate for better recognition, education, and treatment of symptoms that are often misunderstood or dismissed. Despite affecting millions of women, menopause care has historically

been limited. The new clinic responds directly to this unmet need by providing evidence-based care tailored to the physical, emotional, and long-term health effects of hormonal changes.

Perimenopause, the transitional phase leading up to menopause, can begin years before the final menstrual period and may include symptoms such as irregular cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, fatigue, and weight changes. Menopause is officially defined after 12 consecutive months without a period and can bring continued symptoms along with increased health risks.

“Many women experience symptoms for years without realizing they are related to hormonal changes,” said Dr. Healey. “Education and early intervention can make a profound difference in both quality of life and long-term health outcomes.”

The St. Joseph’s Physicians Menopause Clinic approaches menopause care as an essential form of primary care, not a niche service. Hormonal changes during midlife significantly affect cardiovascular health, bone density, metabolism, and mental wellbeing. Appropriate treatment may help reduce the risk of heart disease, provide bone protection, and address health concerns that extend past managing symptoms.

While hormone therapy is part of the treatment plan for some patients, the clinic emphasizes that menopause care involves more than estrogen alone. Comprehensive care may include lifestyle strategies such as nutrition counseling, physical activity, better sleep habits, stress management, and support for maintaining muscle and bone strength. Dr. Healey personalizes each patient’s care plan, based on their symptoms, medical history, risk factors, and goals.

Recognizing that menopause affects multiple aspects of health, Dr. Healey works collaboratively with primary care providers, OB/ GYNs, and mental health professionals to ensure coordinated, wholeperson care. This team-based approach allows patients to receive consistent support across specialties while addressing both physical and emotional health needs.

“Menopause doesn’t exist in a silo,” Dr. Healey said. “By working alongside primary care, women’s health, and mental health colleagues, we can provide patients with thoughtful, comprehensive care that truly supports them during this stage of life.”

The clinic also seeks to empower women by helping them understand how to find a menopause-informed provider. Patients should look for clinicians who listen carefully, stay current with clinical guidelines, acknowledge the full range of symptoms, and treat menopause as a meaningful health transition, not simply something that has to be endured. SWM

For more information or to schedule an appointment, patients may contact Dr. Healey’s office, located in North Medical Center, Liverpool, by calling 315-452-2828.

“Many women experience symptoms for years without realizing they are related to hormonal changes. Education and early intervention can make a profound difference in both quality of life and long-term health outcomes.”—Dr. Madison Healey

A teacher at heart

ANN FURZE CELEBRATED FOR VOLUNTEERISM

Janelle Davis

Ann Furze doesn’t volunteer for the recognition. She’d be the first to tell you that.

“I run under the radar,” she said with a laugh. “I’m not looking for any awards.”

But this past month, the Baldwinsville-area resident and longtime volunteer at Beaver Lake Nature Center was honored for her work.

Furze was presented with the Distinguished Citizen Award at the 2025 Central New York Recreation and Parks Society Awards Luncheon in East Syracuse, one of 10 awards given out at the annual ceremony recognizing achievements in parks and recreation across the region.

Furze said she was genuinely surprised when her name was called.

“I thought there were going to be people from each group,” she said. “And then I was it. I was shocked.”

The honor came after Beaver Lake staff nominated her and gathered written support from volunteers at Baltimore Woods Nature Center in Marcellus, where Furze also gives her time.

She estimates she’s been volunteering at Beaver Lake for roughly eight years.

Her background made the work a natural fit.

Furze spent 25 years teaching science in Syracuse City Schools, most of that time at Danforth School, a science magnet school now known as Brighton Academy.

She worked with pre-K through eighth grade students, leading hands-on experiments, animal and plant studies, and field trips to parks and farms across the area.

After retiring, Furze wanted to try something different.

She started by helping with bigger events at Beaver Lake, like the Enchanted Forest and Golden Harvest festivals, enjoying a new side of the work she hadn’t experienced before.

But it wasn’t long before the pull of the classroom found her again.

“I caved in,” she said. “I said OK, I’ll do the school groups again.”

Now she serves as a trail guide, leading school visits out to the bog trail and through the woods. She admits she goes off script sometimes, letting curiosity lead the way, for her and for the kids.

“You can’t appreciate or love something if you don’t know anything about it,” she said. “So you have to know what something is before you can even say, ‘Who cares?’”

That sense of wonder is what keeps her coming back.

“I go nuts over stuff,” she said. “I’m very childlike. And I think that’s exactly how it should be.” SWM

On view May 2-Sept. 27

LIFE: Six Women Photographers

What: The Annual Charles D. Edelman & Ilene C. Siegler exhibition. LIFE founder and editor-in-chief, Henry R. Luce, was convinced that American political, economic, and cultural power would, and should, dominate the era he defined as the “American Century.” Six pioneering female photographers were among those who contributed to LIFE’s pursuit of this American character: Margaret Bourke-White, Marie Hansen, Martha Holmes, Lisa Larsen, Nina Leen and Hansel Mieth. These pho-tographers were among the few women who were retained as full-time staff or on a semi-permanent basis rather than as freelancers. Their cameras captured events both international and domestic, wide-ranging and intimate, serious and playful.

Where: Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse.

When: During museum hours.

Info: Admission: $14, $10 seniors 65 and up, $5 for students, $2 for children 5-12, free for children 5 and under and military with ID. For more information visit everson.org.

Wednesday, May 6

World Ballet Company: Cinderella

What: This production will feature a dazzling cast of 40 international dancers, over 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, exquisite hand-crafted sets and enchanting choreography by Marina Kesler. From the mischievous evil stepsisters to the breathtaking ballroom scenes, every moment is filled with charm, wonder and everything you’ve loved about this story for years.

Where: The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse When: 7 p.m.

Info: For ages 2 and over. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com.

Eat Drink Pray Food and Wine Celebration

What: Held in celebration of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, this event will feature delicious foods, wines and music inspired by the Umbrian region of Italy, along with the Sisters' warmest hospitali-ty and a great auction.

All funds raised benefit the retirement care of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.

Where: Timber Banks, 3536 Timber Banks Parkway, Baldwinsville

When: 6 p.m.

Info: Tickets: $100. For more information visit sosf.org.

Friday-Saturday, May 8-10, 15-17

‘1776: Female Version’

Friday-Saturday, May 15-16

Farm Open House & Plant Sale

What: Held rain or shine. Take a tour of the farm, chat with the farmer, and learn more about Community Supported Agriculture and sustainable vegetable production. Then enjoy a home-made snack and purchase some plants for your home garden. There will be vegetable, herb, flower, ever-bearing strawberry and native plant seedlings for sale. All plants are grown in their greenhouse using sustainable growing methods.

Where Common Thread Community Farm, 3424 Lake Moraine Road, Madison

When: 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday

Info: For more information visit commonthreadcsa.com. Free admission.

Saturday, May 16

Open Up Downtown

What: This new and engaging event providing participants with the opportunity to explore iconic buildings in Downtown Syracuse and enjoy deals from participating downtown businesses. Participants will have the chance to step inside intriguing structures, see behind the scenes into spaces typically not open to the public and gain insights into their significance to Downtown Syracuse and its place in history.

Where: Downtown Syracuse

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Info: Tickets: $15. For more information visit downtownsyracuse.com.

Wednesday, May 27

Menopause The Musical 2:

Cruising Through ‘The Change’

What: The hysterical sequel to the smash-hit Menopause The Musical is finally here! Five years after their chance encounter in a department store, we set sail with our beloved ladies for more high jinks on the high seas. This is a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses! Join us on a trip of self-discovery, backed by a new soundtrack of toe-tapping parodied hits from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Where: Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Info: Ticket prices vary; visit ticketmaster.com.

What: Baldwinsville Theatre Guild Inc. (BTG) will be presenting this gender swapped adaptation of the musical “1776,” reimagining the debates of the Continental Congress with a cast of women. The story still follows figures like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as they strug-gle to unite the colonies and draft the Declaration of Independence, but the casting choice highlights themes of representation, power, and whose voices are historically centered. Through humor, music, and political tension, the production both preserves the original narrative and re-frames it, encouraging audiences to reconsider the founding of the United States from a more inclusive perspective. “1776” is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Director/choreographer is Shannon Tompkins and music director is Caryn Patterson. Where: First Prebyterian Church Education Center at 64 Oswego St., Baldwinsville.

When: 7 p.m. May 8, 9, 15 and 16 and 3 p.m. May 10 and 17.

Info: Tickets: $35/$30; to purchase tickets, visit baldwinsvilletheatreguild.org. Accessible seating accommodations & group ticket pricing can be made by calling the box office directly at 315-546-5234.

Wednesday, May 13-Sunday, June 21

Disney's Frozen the Broadway Musical

What: This “snow-stopping” production brings Anna, Elsa, and all your favorites to life on stage with dazzling effects, icy enchantment, and a flurry of fun for the whole family. A story of sister-hood and embracing your true self, Disney’s majestic musical riff on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” is a thrilling theatrical event with stirring songs, spectacular adventure and one magical snowman. Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions, the Syracuse Stage show is co-produced with the Syracuse University Department of Drama.

Where: Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee St., Syracuse. When: Show times vary.

Info: Visit frozeninsyracuse.com for full schedule and pricing.

Jenkins appointed to ACR Health board

ACR Health is recently announced the appointment of Tanya Jenkins to its board of directors.

Jenkins is a recovery coordinator at the Center for Community Alternatives and brings more than 20 years of experience in the human services field. A certified recovery peer advocate, she has spent her career supporting individuals through recovery, community reintegration and access to care. With 24 years of lived recovery experience, Jenkins brings a personcentered, evidence-based perspective that strongly aligns with ACR Health’s efforts to deliver inclusive, affirming care to individuals and communities facing health and social inequities.

ACR Health looks forward to the insight and leadership Jenkins will contribute as the organization continues to expand access to compassionate, community-based services across the region.

ACR Health is a not-or-profit, community-based organization providing an array of support services to individuals affected by chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, with the goal of positive outcomes. ACR Health also offers navigation services, harm reduction services, youth and family programs, and HIV/STI/ Hepatitis C prevention and testing.

Founded in 1983 as the CNY Health Crisis serving those with HIV/ AIDS in Onondaga County, the organization evolved into ACR Health to respond to the changing HIV/AIDS crisis and meet the needs of more communities. ACR Health maintains facilities in Syracuse, Watertown and Utica.

Acchione promoted at Solvay Bank

Solvay Bank recently announced the promotions Mirabella Acchione to retail operations specialist as part of the Branch Administration team.

Acchione began her career with Solvay Bank in 2020 at the Baldwinsville office. Her leadership skills earned her a promotion in 2022 to assistant branch manager for the Cicero team. A graduate of SUNY Empire State College with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, Acchione is also deeply involved in community service. She supports financial literacy initiatives such as the “Reading Pays” program at the Solvay Public Library and workshops at the Syracuse Boys and Girls Club.

Founded in 1917, Solvay Bank is the oldest community bank established in Onondaga County, with 10 branch offices located in Solvay, Baldwinsville, Camillus, Cicero, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Westvale, downtown Syracuse in the State Tower Building and a commercial lending presence in the Mohawk Valley.

Dems to compete at Miss New York for America Strong pageant

Megan Dems will be taking the stage as Miss Syracuse at the Miss New York for America Strong pageant on May 31 at the RIT Inn and Conference Center. Dems has held the title of Miss Syracuse for the past two years and will once again compete for the state crown. She works full-time in nonprofit finance at Abundant Life Church in Syracuse and am currently completing her MBA at Syracuse University.

In addition to her professional work, she serves as an ambassador for Vera House and am the founder of Voices Against Violence, a platform dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for those impacted by domestic violence. She stays actively involved in community events, advocacy efforts, and fundraising initiatives throughout Central New York.

As a local titleholder balancing a full-time career, graduate studies and meaningful community impact, Dems says she hopes to represent a story of leadership, service, and ambition within the Syracuse community.