Rita Kaplan Fights For What She Believes In:
Honored at NYU School of Medicine
By Pola Rosen, Ed.D.

It was a grand turn-out for "Tea with Our Doctors," an innovative approach to disseminating information about women's health, honoring an individual whose contributions to medicine have been outstanding and raising money for the New York University School of Medicine, one of the oldest and most venerable in the nation. Founded by Carol Levin, the 14th conference had gaily-colored tables with one or two physicians at each, specialists in disciplines such as cardiology, advanced cancer treatments, alternative medicine, mood swings, and radiation therapy. Along with the plentiful tea sandwiches and sweets, women asked questions about their own health, those of their families and of general concern. Every 10-15 minutes a bell rang and women could change to another table or stay where they were.

According to Dr. Daniel Roses, a breast surgeon, the traditional methods of treating cancer, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, will gradually yield to the new phase of molecular biology and genetic testing to identify high-risk populations. This holds a great deal of promise for the future. Currently, among the three screening devices used, sonography, MRI and mammography, the latter is still the best.

Dr. Martin Blaser, Chief of Medicine, spoke about the "terrorists being successful and unsuccessful. They are successful in getting our attention and making us worried. They are successful in disrupting our economy; they are not successful in conquering our spirit." He went on to say, "If I were the President of the United States, I would make sure that every American would get the smallpox vaccine if needed. We should be stockpiling it."

In discussing increasing heart disease in women, Dr. Larry Chinitz recommended taking a baby aspirin daily. "Empower yourself with knowledge of the symptoms, which can be a pressure sensation in the chest; it could go into your jaw or arm and stops when exertional activity stops." Dr. Chinitz believes in treating the elderly just as aggressively as younger people.

Rita and Stanley Kaplan founded the Kaplan Cancer Research Center in 1983. Speaking about her compassion for all the patients at the medical center, Rita Kaplan's thoughts went back to 1947 when she wanted to be a physician. Her father underscored the difficulties she would have as a woman in medicine so she turned to a career in social work. Stanley tried to get into medical school in 1937-38 and even though he was Phi Beta Kappa at CCNY, he was turned down. "Through his brilliance in knowing what doctors needed to learn, he helped many, many others become doctors," said Rita. She continued, "I fight for what I believe in. If you do that, people will eventually hear you. Clinics are the most important thing in our building. My grandparents went to Bellevue for health care. I want New York women to be healthy and their children to be healthy." She referred to her three children, one who had been ill, one who had died and said these heartfelt words: "When you get bad news, you grieve for 48 hours and then you fight." The theme of the new center will be butterflies and will be decorated with photos of immigrants from all over New York City.

Rita Kaplan is an inspiration to all of us to fight for what we believe in, to never lose our sense of compassion for others, and to truly become victors.

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