BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Sheila Kar Health Foundation celebrated its sixth annual Valentine's Day at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Feb. 19 by presenting awards for outstanding service and research to Prof. Frank Litvack and Dr. Neal Eigler.
Litvack has authored over a hundred research articles and is the inventor of novel devices for enhanced treatment of coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. Eigler is a scientist who has also invented devices that have changed the outcomes of patients with heart disease.
Dr. Sheila Kar, a clinical chief of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and assistant clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, counts her SK Health Foundation as one of her proudest accomplishments.
"This event does give a new significance to Valentine's Day. One needs to he healthy to be happy, and we need to take care of our heart," she told India-West.'
A Heart Protection Seminar entitled "I Feel Fine, So Why Do I Need a Check Up?" included Kar, Gary Cohan. an internist and radio talk show host; Dr. Soram Singh Khalsa, author of "The Vitamin D Revolution;" Jack Lewin, a physician and veteran health care advocate; and Judith Reichman, a gynecologist and writer on women's health issues.
Dr. Khalsa emphasized that. a "deficiency of vitamin D is an independent risk factor for heart attack. It helps calcium absorbtion, and women need it."
Lewin spoke on awareness of symptoms, noting that "we need to learn to be healthy."
Personal empowerment was the keynote of Dr. Sandy Brewer, the author of the best selling biography, "Pursuit of Light, an Extraordinary Journey."
Brewer told India-West that "Valentine's Day is a reminder that love begins with us. It is all about concern and compassion. We have to care about ourselves. Heart complications and surgeries are not a pleasant ride, but we cannot let fear paralyze us."
Talk show host Larry King pointed out in his speech that he had a heart attack in 1987. Despite the best of treatment, he felt the fears and agony of being a heart patient and started a cardiac foundation with a similar reason and vision.
He then introduced award-winning television journalist Anderson Cooper, who confided in his brief speech that he was unsure of his ambitions until his mom told him to "follow his bliss."
He said that he has learned from experience that during tragic situations like Katrina and Haiti it is the relatives, neighbors, church groups and missionaries whose compassion to come to the rescue by digging through the rubble to save people is as important as money.
Shilpa Argade, Marie Nyugen and Logan Hubbard are three young students who have been SKHF grant recipients. Argade told India-West that "an event like this shows me all the possibilities out there to help the community."
Television personality Joe Piscope was the master of ceremonies. Music was provided by the original cast of Jersey Boys. including Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Matthew Scott. A live orchestra under the direction of Joe Muccioli played such all-time favorites as "Sherry," "My Eyes Adored You" and "Walk Like a Man."
A silent auction featured fresh pearl and crystal jewelry, shawls, and baseballs signed by legends of the sport.