Heritage Harbour Grand Opening
The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Center opens Monday, Jan. 5, in east Manatee County’s Heritage Harbour community. The facility houses a wide range of Sarasota Memorial outpatient services – including rehabilitation, pain care and home health care services – as well as a walk-in/urgent care clinic. The public is invited to a free grand opening celebration on Thursday, Jan. 22, 5-7 p.m. Attendees can tour the facilities and meet the doctors/staff. Please call (941) 917-7777 for more information.

Parkinson Symposium
If you or a loved one is affected by Parkinson’s, don’t miss this annual community event featuring a panel of physician specialists discussing gene therapy and other advanced medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson disease. The program takes place Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 am-noon (early registration begins 8:30 am) at Sarasota Memorial’s Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd., ½ mile west of I-75 off Clark Road, Sarasota. Complimentary admission ($20 suggested donation at door). For information, call (941) 917-7777 or register at www.smh.com.

Put Your Best Foot Forward – Common Foot & Ankle Problems
Join former New England Patriots kicker Pat O’Neill, MD – one of Sarasota's two new foot & ankle fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons – as he discusses common foot and ankle injuries and conditions, and ways to prevent and treat them. Whether caused by bone, muscle or joint, congenital or age-related conditions, or chronic diseases such as arthritis or diabetes, you can find relief through proper footwear, foot care and new surgical and non-surgical treatments. This free community event will be held 6-8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the education center at Sarasota Memorial’s Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd., Sarasota (1/2-mile west of I-75 off Clark Road). For information or to RSVP, call (941) 917-7777 or register online at www.smh.com.

Sunshine From Darkness – Mental Health Research Symposium
Saturday, Jan. 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. This free community event’s featured speakers include: Herbert Meltzer, MD (Professor of Psychiatry & Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine); Elyn Saks (Professor of Law, Psychology & Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences – University of Southern California Gould School of Law); and Patty Duke, Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress of stage, film and television. Continuing education credits are available. To register or for more information, call HealthLine, (941) 917-7777.

Searching for Success in Relationships
Join us for a free community education event exploring the changes people experience at different stages of life and ways to manage conflicts that may arise as we adapt to changes in our relationships, Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 am-noon in Sarasota Memorial’s first floor auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail. Continuing education credits are available for qualified professionals ($20 for 3 CEUs). Call Miriam Lacher at Sarasota Memorial’s Bayside Center, (941) 917-1779, to RSVP.

Perfect Prescription for Weight Loss
While many people share the same New Year's resolution – eat healthy, lose weight – every person is different, and your weight management plan should be, too. If you’ve been thinking about getting your weight under control or diabetes in check, Sarasota Memorial offers a number of programs to suit diverse schedules, budgets and needs:

• Eating Healthy for Life: – a 4-week program that focuses on menu planning, grocery shopping, restaurant eating, exercise and education. A healthy balance of one-on-one counseling and a free support group helps participants overcome key barriers to weight loss. Next session begins Wednesday, Jan. 7 or Feb. 4, 6-7:30 p.m., Sarasota Memorial Care Center at Blackburn Point, Education Room, 929 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey. Cost: $200. Please call (941) 917-7777 for information or register online.

• Weight Management Partners Program – For a more intensive, medically supervised program of diet, exercise and education, try Sarasota Memorial’s 8-week Weight Management Partners Program. Each week, participants meet with a multi-disciplinary team of health and fitness experts to assess and refine customized weight loss strategies to meet your personal goals. For more information, attend a free introductory class 6 p.m. every Monday at the Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd., ½ mile west of I-75 off Clark Road, Sarasota. Upcoming session starts Jan. 5. Call (941) 917-4998 for information.

• Diabetes Management – For people struggling to manage their diabetes, individualized outpatient treatment services and free support groups are available. Information: (941) 917-7468.

• Weight Loss Surgery Classes – When other programs have proven ineffective and weight issues are threatening your health, bariatric surgery can present a life-altering solution. For information about your surgical options, attend a free monthly information session at Sarasota Memorial’s Care Center at Blackburn Point, Osprey. Gastric bypass sessions are held 6-8 p.m. the second Thursday of every month, and gastric band sessions are held 6-8 p.m. the third Thursday of every month. Call HealthLine at (941) 917-7777 or register online.

Healing Arts
Relax at Sarasota Memorial’s free expressive arts studio, a weekly program designed to promote creative expression, relaxation, health and healing. The class meets 2-4 p.m. every Monday at Sarasota Memorial’s Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd., ½ mile west of I-75 off Clark Road, Sarasota. Supplies are provided. RSVP to (941) 917-7293.