NJRPA Inaugural Women’s Conference
“Building a Better You”
March 19, 2024
9 am to 4:30 pm
Penn Medicine Princeton Health
One Plainsboro Road
Plainsboro, NJ
Education Center
.425 CEUs are pending. You must attend the entire conference.
Directions to Parking: Once on the Penn Medical Campus follow signs to Parking lot P2 toward the East Entrance.
9:00 am -9:45 am –Check-In– coffee/tea service
9:45 am-10:00 am – Opening Remarks
Jeanne Montemarano, CPRP, President, New Jersey Recreation and Park Association
Jennifer Hollander, DNP, RN Director of Maternal Child Health, Penn Medicine
10:00 am-10:30 am
#1 Opening General Session –Building a Better You
Lori Gustave Penn Medicine SVP & Chief Strategy Officer.
The challenges women face, how to overcome them, and how they can accomplish great things – a presentation that empowers women to succeed in their workforce and daily lives – a work-life balance.
Lori Gustave provides executive oversight for Business Development, Marketing, Network Development, Affiliations, Strategic Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions, Penn Global Medicine, and Patient Facilitated Services. Lori joined UPHS in 2007 as the Director of Strategic Planning at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Since then, she has held various leadership positions, including Associate Executive Director for PPMC, Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Chief Administrative Officer of the Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Service Line. Lori was promoted to Senior Vice President for Business Development in April 2017 and Chief Strategy Officer in September 2022. Lori serves on several regional non-profit boards, including Community Volunteers in Medicine, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, and Chester County Hospital. Lori has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed the Academic Medicine Leadership Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2015 she received the Modern Healthcare Up and Comers Award. Before joining Penn, Lori held positions at UPMC Health System in Pittsburgh and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
10:30 am – Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am – Concurrent sessions
#2 Pelvic Wellness 101: Exercise and Incontinence
Molly Walsh, PT, DPT, CSCS & Jordan Glass, PT, DPT
What is the pelvic floor? What does it do? How do I know if I have problems with my pelvic floor? How would I benefit from pelvic health physical therapy? Join our discussion to discover the answers to these questions as we explore the pelvic floor anatomy and its relation to bowel, bladder, and sexual function.
Molly Walshworks as a pelvic health physical therapist who is passionate about educating the public on the benefits of physical therapy. She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Ithaca College in upstate New York. She enjoys treating all populations through education and exercise. She focuses on Women’s health and Oncology. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Molly understands the value of exercise in treatment and prevention.
Jordan Glassis a pelvic floor physical therapist who sees people of various ages and conditions. She is a 500-hour certified yoga instructor, has experience teaching a wide variety of group exercise classes, and even worked as a Program Coordinator for Fitness and Wellness during her undergraduate education. She wants everyone to feel empowered to reach their goals and strives to improve patient access and care.
#3 Eating Healthy On The Run
Beth Young, MS, RDN, CSOWM
Join Beth Young, MS, RDN, CSOWM for a presentation about healthy eating on the go. We will discuss what foods to bring from home, what to look for when stopping at a convenience store, and which restaurants/fast food places have options that will do in a pinch. We will identify breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner options. The focus will be on chronic disease prevention and weight control.
Beth Young B.S. Nutrition – Virginia Tech, M.S. Applied Nutrition – Rutgers, The State University, CSOWM – Board Certification in Obesity and Weight Management has worked in health promotion/disease prevention all her career. She aims to help individuals stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, emphasizing good nutrition. She has a private practice in Princeton, New Jersey, where she provides individual counseling in person and through telehealth. She has worked with businesses, employers, universities, social service organizations, governmental organizations, and hospitals/healthcare facilities to provide nutrition lectures, cooking demonstrations, menu reviews, and food safety information.
11:45 am-12:00 pm – Move to lunch
12:15 pm– 1:15 pm - Concurrent sessions
#4 Lunch and Keynote – Being Your Best
Susan L. Swatski Esq. Hill Wallack LLP
An uplifting discussion based on how you can shine and be the best “you” for success -sprinkled with comedy and laughter.
Susan L. Swatski is a partner in the Princeton, N.J. office of Hill Wallack LLP. She is a member of the firm's Employment and Labor Law Department, which services all the Firm's other Departments and Practice Groups. Ms. Swatski focuses on litigating federal and state employment matters including claims involving allegations of discrimination, whistleblowing, harassment, retaliation, misappropriation of trade secrets and restrictive covenants and wage and hour violations, including class and collective actions. Ms. Swatski has handled matters in state and federal courts, as well as before various state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, the United States Department of Justice, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the New York Division of Human Rights, New York City Commission on Human Rights and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Swatski regularly counsels employers of all sizes on an ongoing basis on labor and employment law matters, including negotiation and preparation of employment agreements, separation agreements, and employee handbooks, counseling regarding employee discharge and discipline, training on other personnel matters including diversity, harassment, workplace sensitivity, and family and medical leave issues. With decades of experience litigating employment matters, Ms. Swatski adds an element of reality to her training sessions by using industry-specific examples. Ms. Swatski also regularly assists companies with establishing reporting mechanisms, equal pay audits, and internal investigations. Ms. Swatski also represents employees, including high-level executives, in connection with reviewing, negotiating, and preparing employment contracts and separation agreements.
1:15 pm-1:30 – pm Break
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Concurrent sessions
#5 Fitting in Fitness
Sharon Casper and Taylor Grace Gecsey
Princeton Fitness & Wellness
We all know the importance of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, but with so much information, it's challenging to determine how best to move forward. During the Fitting-in Fitness Workshop, Taylor and Sharon will bust the myth that lifting weights will make you “bulky.” Answer the following questions (and any others you have!): What are the National Institutes of Health guidelines for exercise duration and intensity? What type of exercise is best? Is there a benefit to exercising at a gym vs exercising at home? What are the latest fitness trends, and are they right for me? What can I do if I don’t have much time to exercise? Do I need to exercise to lose weight? Why is strength training necessary for women?
Taylor Grace Gecsey
Personal Training Manager Princeton Fitness & Wellness; Education: B.S. in Physics from Drew University
NASM – CPT and Corrective Exercise Specialization; USAW Weightlifting Coach; Specialties: Corrective Exercise, Core Strength, Olympic Weightlifting, Jiu Jitsu
Sharon Casper
Personal Trainer Tier III; Princeton Fitness & Wellness Education; B.A. in Spanish and Political Science Elementary Education Certification; ACSM – Clinical Exercise Physiologist; NSCA – Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist; Certified Spin instructor; Specialties: Cardio Fitness, Strength Training for Women
#6 Women’s Health Overview: – What Every Women Needs to Know.
Dr Aubrie Nagy
This session will provide an overview of women's health, covering a wide range of topics including reproductive health, maternity care, preventative screenings, mental health, and general well-being. Our expert speaker will discuss the unique health challenges that women face throughout their lives, as well as the latest advancements in women's healthcare.
Dr Aubrie Nagy is a board-certified internist practicing outpatient internal medicine at Penn Medicine Princeton Medicine Physicians in Plainsboro. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from Yale University, a medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr Nagy’s primary role at Penn Medicine is to deliver high-quality care to adults. She also serves as a clinical instructor for Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she teaches residents and students in training. She chairs the Medication Safety Committee for the Penn Princeton Medical Center, where she helps guide the analysis of medication safety concerns within the hospital to provide a safer environment for all.
#7 The Sandwich Generation
Christine A Truisano, BSN, RN, GERO-BC
Penn Medicine Princeton Health
Taking Care of Yourself, Your Family, and Your Aging Parents, Oh My! Learn how to provide and navigate care for the older adult while ensuring you are properly caring for yourself and your family.
Christine A. Truisano, BSN, RN, GERO-BC Christine Trusiani attended Rutgers University for her BSN. She was a nurse in the Acute Care of the Elderly Unit of Princeton Medical Center for four years. During this time, she obtained her Gerontological Certification. In 2021, Christine was one of Princeton Medical Center's Nursing Succession Fellows, focusing on leadership and education. Christine is the Magnet Program Coordinator and Geriatric Coordinator for Penn Medicine Princeton Health.
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm – Break
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm – Concurrent sessions
#8 Banking on Your Retirement
Erik Larson and Marie Bardzilowski
Are you ready for retirement? Could you be financially independent? Statistically, women have less retirement savings than their male counterparts. 50% of women aged 55-66 have no retirement savings. Women also lag behind men in overall savings at 22%, having about $100,000 in savings compared to 30% of men of the same age. In this session we will discuss all aspects of banking and strategies to prepare for your retirement.
Erik Larson, Senior Vice President of Northfield Bank, is a Senior Vice President/Team Lead in commercial lending at Northfield Bank. Erik received his Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, majoring in economics. Erik started his banking career thirty years ago as a Midlantic National Bank/Merchants management trainee. He has worked for Midlantic Bank, PNC Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank of America, and Investors Bank before joining Northfield Bank. Erik has been a Hamilton Area YMCA board member for ten years. In addition, he is a board member of the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce and The African American Chamber of Commerce for NJ.
Marie E Bardzilowski Marie is a 30+ year banking professional. Her career has spanned many aspects of the financial industry. Marie spent 18 years with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in branch and premier banking. In 2009, Marie moved to PNC at the inception of their Private Client Program to move into the role of Team Leader, managing several regions of affluent bankers before ultimately managing the Private Client Program for North New Jersey, Central New Jersey and Pennsylvania Delaware South Jersey Markets. Marie is currently Branch Manager with Northfield Bank in Pennington, NJ. Northfield Bank is a 136-year Community Bank has a presence throughout NY and NJ.
#9 RAD Women
Debbie Millar, RN, Maria Benerofe, and Craig Harley
Penn Medicine Princeton Health
A Personal Empowerment Safety Program For Women- Empower yourself with new awareness and confidence through RAD Women®, a national self-defense course for women! The FBI estimates that 1 of every three women in the United States will be assaulted in their lifetime. Learn to be more aware of potential danger and how to protect yourself. RAD Women® is an activity-based program that is 12 hours long and held over four classes. It includes lectures, safety drills, muscle memory, and physical defense techniques. This class is designed for every woman, regardless of physical fitness and age. Dress in sneakers and comfortable clothing. While our RAD programs are trademarked by RAD Systems and currently promoted for men and women, Penn Medicine Princeton Health is dedicated to inclusivity.
Deborah Millar, RN, has been employed by Penn Medicine Princeton Health for 30 years. She is the Director of Community Wellness and Engagement, managing a comprehensive and vital resource serving professionals and the public, providing more than 2,000 programs annually, serving some 55,000 people. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Ms. Millar is a member of several boards of directors and chairs of multiple committees. Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached our community in March 2020, she has overseen the planning and implementation of health screenings and vaccine clinics required for all staff, patients, visitors, organizations, and community members.
Craig Harley has over 30 years of management experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He is the Associate Director of Community Wellness and Engagement for Penn Medicine Princeton Health. He is responsible for providing thousands of health and wellness and environmental-based programs serving diverse community members. He serves on several committees and boards of community-based organizations. In addition to his regular duties, he is a dynamic speaker on both local and national platforms.
Maria “Ria” Benerofe is a Program Associate in the Community Wellness and Engagement department of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. She is responsible for collaborating with organizations and educating community members to provide a variety of health and wellness programs. She is a certified instructor in Mental Health First Aid, Yoga, Mindfulness, Meditation, Self Defense, BLS, Safe Sitter, Child Passenger Safety, and Safe Zone. She serves on several committees at Penn Medicine and in community-based organizations. Her passions are yoga, hiking, golf and staying active.
#10 GI Health for Women: Colon Cancer Screening
Dr. Monica Saumoy
This session will discuss the current screening methods and the benefits from performing colon cancer screenings.
Dr. Monica Saumoy
She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College. She completed her internal medical residency, GI fellowship, and advanced endoscopy fellowship at NY Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell. During that time, she also pursued coursework and research for a Master of Science (MS) degree in Health Policy and Economics. She has received awards for Community Service, the Distinguished Housestaff award, fellow of the Year, and Chief Clinical Fellow. During her Advanced therapeutic endoscopy fellowship at NYP-Cornell, she had specific training in advanced endoscopic techniques, which allowed her to perform minimally invasive procedures in addition to endoscopy and colonoscopy. Her clinical interests include biliary and pancreatic diseases, therapeutic endoscopy, endoscopic resection of early-stage GI cancer, and endoscopic bariatric procedures.
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm - Closing remarks
Thank you to our sponsors -
MRC/Gametime, Penn Medicine Princeton Healthcare, General Recreation & Hill Wallack
