Carmichaels Parish Hosts Fifth Annual Healthcare Seminar
Carmichaels, PA - With the Archpastoral Blessing of His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America, the Fifth Annual Healthcare Seminar was held at the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania on August 9, 2011. The theme for the seminar was “Drug and Alcohol Abuse-Impact on Families and Individuals. “
The Healthcare Seminar was held in conjunction with the commemoration of St. Panteleimon, the Slava for the Parish Nurse’s Office. Millicent “Mitzie” Hunchuck serves as the Parish Nurse Practitioner and has a leadership position in the holding of the seminar.
Father Robert Popichak joined in celebrating the early morning Divine Liturgy, the Blessing of the Slava Kolach and Koljivo. Living and departed healthcare workers from the parish were remembered in the Divine Liturgy.
Mother Ana, Sister Anastasia and Sister Margaret from Monastery Marcha were present at the Divine Liturgy to sing the responses with Choir Director Sonia Janson.
Experienced attorney in private practice and proven prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office, Linda Chambers has consistently been the lead speaker at the parish seminars. She has been a featured conference speaker on the national level due to prosecuting a death penalty case of murder which included sexual assault of a young child. This year Attorney Chambers spoke extensively on the impact of drug and alcohol abuse from a criminal justice perspective. Attorney Chambers provided valuable information on drug and alcohol related prosecutions and domestic violence issues. Attorney Chambers makes her legal assistance available to the parish throughout the year.
Deborah Migyanko, Licensed School Social Worker, and frequent attendee of the Healthcare seminars was the second featured speaker. Deborah Migyanko holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has specialized in family therapy and trauma for twenty years. She spoke her of experiences with various children, their families and the widespread drug abuse taking place among young children. She described the known suffering children experience when parents are alcohol and drug abusers. Social worker Migyanko told of the extensive knowledge youths have about where and how to obtain drugs.
Scott M. Newton is the Nurse Manager in the Department of Emergency Medicine Lifeline Critical Transport Team at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration in addition to his nursing degree. Mr. Newton described his personal experiences in the United States and in Germany including being a helicopter nurse. He has worked in emergency medicine during the past twenty five years. Mr. Newton attended the very first ambulance blessing at St. George Church more than twelve years ago and has continuously been supportive of recognition of emergency medical personnel. Mr. Newton referenced his work on the national level with the federal government in planning for emergency medical services.
The fourth presentation involved three speakers viewing the topic from a criminal justice perspective. Mr. Mark Opacic, Director of Standards and Accreditation for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole organized the presentation based on experiences with parolees and their families. In addition to a Master’s degree, Mr. Opacic has twenty six years of experience in the field of probation and parole in various capacities He has attended many continuous education classes and is trained in crisis intervention.. Mr. Opacic was accompanied by Parole Supervisor Thomas Cassidy.
Supervisor Cassidy worked in two different state prisons in addition to his lengthy service with the Parole Board. Supervisor Cassidy reviewed the conditions of parole and experiences with parolees. He addressed issues of drug abuse and alcoholism with great candor and honesty. Rebecca(full name withheld to protect her privacy),was the third speaker in this criminal justice segment of the seminar. With great detail and strong personal feeling, she informed the attendees of the personal effects of drug abuse and the process of addiction and recovery. She spoke about the effects on her family, being in court, going to prison and successfully overcoming drug use.
His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN participated in the seminar, raising questions and providing insight to give balance and dimension to the discussion.
His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN has consistently been present and provided the Archpastoral Blessings in the holding of educational seminars throughout the period of His Episcopacy in the Eastern American Diocese.
A significant and memorable part of each Healthcare Day celebration in the parish is the blessing of ambulances from Fayette Emergency Medical Services. Fayette EMS Director Rick Adabato consistently has provided ambulances for this purpose. Parishioners of St. George Church are greatly appreciative of the ambulance services provided during the year. This year Jennifer Shaffer and Michael Napollio from the Fayette EMS-Redstone station staffed the ambulance brought for a blessing.
His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN blessed the ambulance with seminar attendees looking on with great interest. EMS workers Shaffer and Napollio were informed directly of the great appreciation for the services provided by their agency and of their co-workers in the field of emergency medical services and were told of the grateful personal experiences of parishioners having used ambulances that were blessed.
St. George Church Executive Board President Stan Brozik enthusiastically greeted and thanked the seminar speakers and participants. The St. George Church Executive Board has always been supportive of the Healthcare Day seminars. The St. George Kolo provided the nourishing breakfast and hearty lunch enjoyed by seminar participants.
The afternoon program began with Parish Nurse Practitioner Millicent Mitzie Hunchuck giving a presentation focusing on treatment of the drug and alcohol abuse. Nurse Practitioner Hunchuck works in a mental health practice and is very knowledgeable and skilled in dealing with substance abusers. She provided information on terminology about drug abuse and gave illustrations from her direct treatment experiences. Practitioner Hunchuck has a major role in the holding of the Healthcare seminar each year and serves as the medical advisor for the parish throughout the year.
Father Rodney Torbic was the final speaker. He distributed a paper focusing on “Drug and Alcohol Abuse from a Religious Perspective”. He spoke from personal experience as a parish priest as well as having worked in the field of criminal justice for thirty years. Father Torbic worked at the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole with the earlier speaksers, Mr. Opacic and Mr. Cassidy.
With the honored presence and participation of the Diocesan Archpastor, His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, this seminar brought together for serious discussion clergy and monastics as well individuals with interest and experience in adult criminal justice, the law, nursing, pastoral care, education, juvenile justice, and drug and alcohol treatment.
The impact and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse were examined carefully and with strong interest from many different perspectives. This was the best attended Healthcare seminar and reflected a significant increase of participants from the previous year. The talks and discussion were informative, captivating and powerful.
Thanks be to God for this seminar. Thanks to His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, seminar speakers and attendees and the St.George parishioners working for the benefit of the seminar.. The seminar concluded with Vespers.
Father Rodney Torbic