Some of the VA's Efforts Towards Taking Care

Steven Raheb is the former resident and owner of the Women's Health Center of Putnam, Putnam, Connecticut, where he was heavily involved with patient care. A retired OB/GYN. Dr. Raheb is currently an adjunct professor of Biology and Human Sciences at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Connecticut. Steven Raheb also served in the Navy, and today is an American Legion coach.

American Legion is an association that represents American military veterans. The organization's mission statement is "to enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness." On its website, American Legion provides information on how the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides help to veterans who are going through PTSD and other related issues.

The VA has in-patient PTSD programs, day hospital, and residential treatment programs. The VA has also established over 206 Vet Centers and Sexual Assault Treatment Programs all over the country. These centers offer services to veterans from Vietnam, Korea, Panama, Grenada, Lebanon, Haiti, Somalia, Operation Iraqi Freedom, WWII, and more. In addition, the VA offers integrated health centers that are patient-centered through the Integrative Health and Wellness Program.

ACOG Recommends COVID Vaccination

An adjunct professor of biology and human sciences at Quinebaug Valley Community College, Dr. Steven Raheb served as an OB/GYN physician at the Women’s Health Center of Putnam, PC. In addition, Dr. Steven Raheb served as chairman of the Junior Fellow Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recently released a joint statement that emphasized the problem of low vaccination rates among pregnant women. ACOG urges its members to continuously recommend vaccination to their patients, citing the vaccinations' safety and the increased risk of serious consequences associated with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.

It is advised that all people aged 12 and above, including nursing and pregnant women and women who are attempting to conceive or may conceive in the future, should get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) review of data from its v-safe post-vaccination health checker surveillance system's pregnant registry, the COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations do not cause miscarriage. The benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC, exceed any known or possible hazards of immunization during pregnancy.

Wreaths Across America’s Mission

Seasoned obstetrician-gynecologist Steven Raheb, MD retired from medical practice to focus on teaching university students at the Quinebaug Valley Community College, where he serves as an adjunct biology professor. Dr. Steven Raheb, a former US Navy officer, participated in the 2020 National Wreaths Across America Day commemoration on December 19, an annual event hosted by the Wreaths Across America (WAA).

The annual National Wreaths Across America Day started as personal advocacy of Morrill Worcester. A veteran who owns a wreath-making business, Worcester started slaying wreaths on the tombs of fallen service members to honor them and thank them for their service. Later, Worcester founded the non-profit organization WAA as a vehicle to carry on a three-pronged mission: Remember, Honor, and Teach.

WAA stresses the importance of remembering America’s fallen heroes - the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of freedom. The WAA project remembers those who fought during the Revolutionary War up until America’s present conflicts.

Additionally, WAA honors those who survived the wars and lived to retell their stories of bravery and heroism. WAA has several programs to honor the veterans, such as the “Thanks a Million” campaign, which distributes thank you cards to veterans across the nation. Also, WAA actively participates in veterans’ events and liaises with other veterans organizations.

Finally, WAA teaches the younger generation to value the freedoms they enjoy, which came at a high price. Children are taught about the sacrifices of service members and their families using various tools such as interactive media projects and youth events.

QVCC Gets Donation to Fund Summer

A former military service member, Steven Raheb, MD practiced at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut. After his work in obstetrics with Day Kimball Hospital, Dr. Steven Raheb began teaching in biology and health sciences at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) in Danielson, Connecticut.

QVCC received a grant during the spring semester designated to help students going into healthcare-related fields fund their summer program. The announcement came from the fundraising arm of QVCC, the QVCC Foundation. The amount of funding was $25,000 in the form of a block grant.

The funding is to go toward students who are enrolled, incoming, and existing in the program. The funding will pay for particular courses, so students who take them do so free of charge. The free courses being offered are Introduction to Phlebotomy (HLT 141), Medical Terminology (MED 125), and Law and Ethics (HLT 170).

The donation was made by Steve and Marge Townsend, LIR Members, and the Buttner Family. According to Brian Clinton, a professor and medical assisting program director, the funding will assist students in their education. Through the grant, students at the beginning of their course load can take the medical terminology and phlebotomy courses, while those at the end of their coursework can take the law and ethics course.

Changing Child Birth Practices

Steven Raheb, MD spent several years practicing obstetrics before teaching health and biology at Quinebaug Valley Community College. Outside of his extensive career in medicine, Dr. Steven Raheb is also a member of Rotary International, an organization comprised of 35,000 plus clubs devoted to helping people in various areas, including saving mothers and children.

In Mongolia, for example, a project taken on by Rotary International has translated into changing childbirth practices in the region. The project started after Julie Dockrill was asked to use her 20 years of experience as a midwife and childbirth educator to help women improve childbirth practices.

Ms. Dockrill was approached after fellow member Gary Dennison, set out on a project to provide the region a way to source cleaner water and discovered that childbirth practices needed improvement. From this discovery, a four-phase plan that includes Ms. Dockrill was established.

While infant mortality rates in Mongolia were falling, the rate was still surprising. Many of the issues contributing to infant mortality (respiratory distress, congenital defects, and asphyxia) stemmed from poor prenatal care. Topics covered in the first session included breastfeeding, nutrition, exercise, smoking, and contraception.

In 2015, the project's second phase involved another midwife, Amarjargal Luvsandagva, shadowing Ms. Dockrill. During the visit to a New Zealand hospital, Ms. Luvsandagva learned pre-and post-natal practices and participated in training and seminars around the world and then sharing her knowledge with others.

The project's third phase involved returning to the region with updated materials and training an additional 300 healthcare workers. This training occurred over three days where obstetricians and physicians in other fields were given childbirth education and a one-day emergency skills clinic. Finally, the fourth phase taught these same skills to healthcare workers in hard-to-reach and rural areas.

The project was a success in that it contributed to the government's success in reducing infant mortality to 15 in 1,000 births. The latest figures reveal that this number is closer to 13.5 in 1,000 births.

Two Main Methods of Glassblowing

A former OB/GYN physician in Connecticut, Dr. Steven Raheb retired from clinical work and now serves as an adjunct professor at the Quinebaug Valley Community College. In his free time, Dr. Steven Raheb maintains a passion for the arts and enjoys glass blowing.

Dating back to the first century BC, glassblowing is divided into two major categories: free-blowing and mold-blowing. Of the two, free-blowing was the first technique used in glassblowing since the forming technique was first introduced. It involves delivering short puffs of air into the gather or the molten portion of the glass. This gather is spooled at one end of the blowpipe and is worked into the desired shape by the artist carefully rotating the blowpipe and incorporating air into the glass.

Meanwhile, mold-blowing was a technique that was developed some time after free-blowing. Similar to free-blowing, this method involves handling a gather at the end of the blowpipe. However, the artist does not shape and twist the gather using air. Instead, they place the molten blob into a mold and blow on the glass until it fills the mold. Once dry, separating mold panels or lifting them away frees the glass piece. This method of glassblowing is most commonly seen with tableware and other functional glass pieces to ensure uniformity.

History of the Empty Bowls Charity Event

A recipient of the Overseas Service and National Defense Medals, former Navy commissioned officer Dr. Steven Raheb teaches biology and human science at Quinebaug Valley Community College. Outside of his academic work, Dr. Steven Raheb participates in several charitable fundraising events, including Empty Bowls feeding campaigns.

First organized in 1990 by art teachers in Michigan, the Empty Bowls campaign aims to raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity through art. During Empty Bowls events, artists are invited to donate handmade ceramic bowls that are used to serve meals at fundraising events.

In exchange for a minimum donation, invitees can keep the bowls as a reminder of the billions of people around the world who do not get enough to eat. All proceeds from Empty Bowls events go towards organizations combating hunger. Since its inaugural run, Empty Bowls has transformed into a worldwide event, often celebrated in tandem with the United Nations’ World Food Day, observed on October 16th.