The event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Hospital and led by doctors John Moore and Gary Rosas. Dr. Moore is an anesthesiologist and director of Pain Management Solutions at St. John’s Mercy Hospital. He completed his fellowship (specialized training) in pain management. Dr. Rosas, a family doctor at St. John’s Mercy Medical Group’s office of Rosas and Stearnes, completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine.

“This is an important topic because as we get older, we have more aches and pains,” said Dr. Rosas. “In the United States, as many as 50 percent of older adults experience some type of significant pain. People tend to write it off, but pain, really, is the body’s natural warning sign that something is wrong.”

Persistent, chronic pain can have both physical and emotional effects including depression, anger and anxiety that can affect a person’s daily life. The good news is that living with pain does not have to be a part of retirement.

“Pain doesn’t have to be a part of getting older,” said Dr. Moore. “Medicine has advanced to the point where a lot of chronic pain can be diagnosed and treated, often without surgery, and people can regain control of their lives.”

At Ask the Doctor, Drs. Moore and Rosas will address common types of pains, how pain is diagnosed and what can be done to treat it. After their presentation, the audience will have an opportunity to ask the doctors their questions.

“The Ask the Doctor series allows the public, in a relaxed atmosphere, to speak directly with medical experts to learn about health care topics that mean the most to them,” said Dr. Moore. “It’s also a way for the hospital and its affiliated physicians to inform the community about the many advances in medicine and the availability of new treatments.”

All Ask the Doctor sessions include refreshments and some will offer a light meal. Admission is free. The entire event lasts about 60 minutes.

“Our hope is that everyone will stay as long as people are still asking questions,” said Dr. Moore. “And if you don’t want to ask your questions in front of the audience, we will have note cards available. People can write down their questions and turn in the note card any time during the lecture to be included in the Q&A.”

Ask the Doctor will be held each calendar month. Times and dates vary based on each doctor’s availability. Future Ask the Doctor events include:

• “Anticoagulation Management Services” with Dr. Jennifer Stearnes at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. A light breakfast will be served.

• “Trends in Heart Disease Prevention” with cardiologists John Brunts, MD, and Joseph Polizzi, MD, at noon Wednesday, Sept. 2. A light lunch will be served.
• “All About Menopause” with Dr. Christy Bleckman, OB/GYN, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Refreshments will be served.

• “Back Pain After Surgery” with Dr. John Moore, director of Pain Management Solutions, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Refreshments will be served.

The presentations will be held in the Tucker Room, located on the second floor of St. John’s Mercy Hospital, 901 E. Fifth St. in Washington. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call Public Relations at 636-239-8234.

###