Press Release

Roll Out Red Carpet for Major Health Speaker

Heart healthy cookbooks and books like Fat Proof Your Child, held by Burgess Health Center's registered dietitian Michele Kirkendall, will be sold at the upcoming Joe Piscatella health events open to the public Oct. 22.

When Joe Piscatella noticed chest pain while he was playing tennis in 1977, he went to the doctor and changed his life – changing hundreds of thousands of lives since.

A businessman and father of two young children back then, he underwent emergency open heart bypass surgery for a blockage in his left main artery. He was 32. He began exercising more, changed his diet and did extensive research on heart health.

He created “how to” tools to benefit others, founded the Institute for Fitness and Health, and began writing books and speaking to groups across the country.

To date, Piscatella has presented motivational programs to 1.5 to 2 million persons including hospitals, large and small communities and a host of corporations.

The heart health expert and motivational speaker will present two entertaining health talks to the public in Onawa Thursday, Oct. 22 along with two talks to professional groups. His visit is funded by the Got 2 Move grant from Wellmark Foundation, Burgess Foundation and Burgess Health Center.

Piscatella will address adults at an 11:30 a.m. at a buffet luncheon program “Make Your Health Last As Long as Your Life" at the Onawa Community Center. Doors open at 11 a.m. with hands-on education, blood pressure screens and blood sugar checks.

At 7 p.m. Piscatella will present “Raising Fit Kids in A Fast Food World” at West Monona High School. Parents and persons interested in youth are invited to the program while kids are invited to a sock hop in school gym at the same time .

A free Staley's dinner with loosemeat or chicken sandwiches will be served 5:45-6:45 p.m. to both kids and adults. All parents are urged to attend. There will be stations for fun food displays, blood pressure screens, blood sugar checks and Piscatella's books sales.

Persons must register for both events at www.burgesshc.org so enough meals are prepared.

“Joe Piscatella attracts large crowds for his talks," says Sue McLaughlin, Got 2 Move grant coordinator. "We have added the kids sock hop, meals and other activities to make these memorable events."

Piscatella's all-day visit to Onawa also includes a morning address to healthcare professionals at7: 30 a.m. at the Onawa Community Center and a program for teachers and school staffs on Tools for theClassroom at 3 p.m. at West Monona High School Auditorium.

Persons can register by computer at www.burgesshc.org or filing out special forms. For more information call Shirley Bruegger at 712-423-9374.