This free program will help you learn about some of the ways to control your blood sugar from a real diabetes patient, providing real inspiration. Receiving critical information on controlling blood sugar may help significantly reduce risk of diabetes-related complications.

To register, please call DuPage Medical Group Diabetes Education at 630-286-5090.

Date/Time: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Location: DuPage Medical Group, 1801 South Highland Avenue, Lombard, IL  60148 

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older- about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year. That is nearly 60 million people. And mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Many experts now believe America is facing a mental health crisis. Mental and substance use conditions are now among the most prevalent health disorders in the United States. At DuPage Medical Group we believe that everyone must understand the importance of practicing wellness and seeking treatment when needed.

If you, or someone you love, is struggling with mental health, please contact Dr. Kroencke’s office at 630-510-2607 to schedule an appointment.

“This prestigious appointment only serves as further confirmation of the outstanding work Dr. Mataragas is doing with our patients,” said Dennis Fine, Chief Operating Officer of DuPage Medical Group. “His reputation precedes him. It’s rare to find a physician who performs at such a high level in both treatment and instruction. We are honored to see him included on their faculty.”

As a member of the Medtronic faculty, Dr. Mataragas will teach specific spinal procedures to other doctors across the globe. His extensive experience includes mentoring surgeons both nationally and internationally, in locations such as Greece, Spain, Korea and Japan. Through various nationwide discussion panels, Mataragas has contributed to the discourse on the evolution of spinal implant technology. He has also been instrumental in the development of minimally invasive spinal surgical techniques and devices.

Dr. Mataragas is credited as the first surgeon in the state of Illinois to perform the MAST® MIDLF^TM procedure, a Medtronic-commissioned spinal surgery technique. Referred to as a midline laminectomy approach, this procedure is uniquely designed to enable a minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery, accessing the spine in the middle lower back. This allows surgeons to avoid working through a tubular retractor.

Serving Naperville and Lombard, Ill., locations of DuPage Medical Group, Dr. Mataragas is one of a few U.S. surgeons who routinely perform multi-level minimally invasive anterior lumbar fusions. His patients have had significantly shorter hospital stays and excellent results compared to those treated with traditional techniques.

“I take great pride in sharing the valuable insight that I’ve gained,” said Mataragas. “This new experience will offer me the chance to collaborate with great spinal practitioners from around the world. Such exchange is essential in the advancement of medicine.”

About Dr. Mataragas
A Chicago native, Mataragas was valedictorian of Marist High School’s class of 1991. He earned his medical degree at the age of 22 from the University of Miami, having completed their prestigious six-year honors program in medicine. He held residencies at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, home of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the Ryder Trauma Center, the largest trauma center in the world. Dr. Mataragas went on to work at Texas Back Institute, the largest spinal clinic in the world and a world-leader in emerging spinal surgical techniques and technologies. Dr Mataragas is a member of the North American Spine Society and the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is affiliated with Advocate Good Samaritan and Edward Hospitals.

About Medtronic, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology –– alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people. The company has 38,000 dedicated employees in more than 120 countries around the world.

About DuPage Medical Group

With more than 330 physicians and 45 locations, DuPage Medical Group provides physician-directed healthcare that is focused on quality, efficiency and access. For more information, visit www.dupagemedicalgroup.com. For more information on The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group, please call 630-967-2225.

Please join DuPage Medical Group at 1100 W. 31st Street, Third Floor, Downers Grove for this important event. For more information or to reserve your seat, please call 630-364-7400, prompt 1 or email sleepmedicine@dupagemd.com.

Are you feeling stressed out?

There are proven, practical tools that can help you cope better.

You can feel more capable, less anxious & more resilient.

You can have more joy & more hope.

You can Live Your Life Well.^SM

Whatever your situation, life can be incredibly stressful. And too much stress can really damage your health, your mood, your focus, and your relationships with the people around you.

But you can tackle stress. In fact, decades of research suggest the best ways to do it. The 10 Tools to Live Your Life Well^SM are based on expert information about how people can better handle challenges and protect their overall health and well-being.

And the 10 Tools don’t demand huge changes. Just by setting aside a manageable amount of time each day, you can strengthen one of your greatest assets: your mental health. Good mental health keeps you productive, energetic, happy and hopeful–even in the face of life’s challenges.

Follow this link to learn more: http://www.liveyourlifewell.org/

To really get started, contact Dr. Dawn C. Kroencke about making a 30 minute appointment in order to learn how to apply these techniques to your specific life situation. She understands that many techniques are self-explanatory and obvious. However, in order to create lasting change and experience continued success, you must fully engage in these techniques. She deeply values facilitating that process for her patients.

For more information or for any questions, please contact our Psychology department at (630) 510-2607.　 　　　

Click here to read Dr. Gashkoff’s biography. Click here to read Dr. Manganelli’s biography.   Read the entire TribLocal article here.  

The NCQA Medical Home program recognizes physician practices that place a strong emphasis on patient access, physician-patient communication and care coordination. DuPage Medical Group has long been a leader in these areas, with early adoption of an electronic medical record to help facilitate patient care more efficiently, and the implementation of innovative patient conveniences such as same day appointments, after-hours clinics and e-prescribing. Patients have access to MyChart, an interactive website that allows contact with their doctor’s office for appointments and prescription refills and the ability to receive test results online.

“We are thrilled with the recognition we received but even more excited about what this means for our patients and the care they receive. We believe it is critical that physicians forge a strong relationship with their patients. As we move forward in this time of so much change in the healthcare system, patients need a system that allows them to be engaged and work in concert with their doctors in order to ensure they are getting the best care, asking the right questions and following through on treatment and orders in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for their health,” said David Dungan, MD, FACP, FAAP (Chair –Medical Home Committee).

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality and providing equality information through the web and media in order to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

With more than 330 physicians and 45 locations, DuPage Medical Group provides physician-directed healthcare that is focused on quality, efficiency and access. For more information, visit www.dupagemedicalgroup.com.

A board-certified gastroenterologist, he is regarded for his expertise with advanced endoscopic procedures including the management of various malignant and benign pancreatic and intestinal diseases.

“Dr. Alasadi is recognized as a pioneer in his field,” says Dennis Fine, DuPage Medical Group’s chief operating officer. “His extensive experience with several highly specialized procedures allows DuPage Medical Group to offer the latest treatment options to our patients with advanced esophageal and gastrointestinal issues. He provides a significant benefit to our patients in the western suburbs.”

Digestive disorders affect millions of Americans, often negatively impacting quality of life and daily routines. These ailments include Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, liver diseases and esophageal disorders.

Adding a seasoned physician such as Alasadi further strengthens DuPage Medical Group’s department of gastroenterology specialists. Their team combines personalized care with state-of-the-art technology to ensure accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment for its patients.

With a demonstrated passion for teaching, Alasadi also presents an educational component to the area’s healthcare community. He has conducted multiple workshops for colleagues in the gastroenterology field over the past few years. While formerly in practice at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital, he served as an assistant professor of medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“The balance of support and autonomy offered by DuPage Medical Group is very unique,” says Alasadi. “It’s very well organized, while allowing me the flexibility to treat patients in the way I find to be most effective.”

With more than 330 physicians and 45 locations, DuPage Medical Group provides physician-directed health care focused on quality, efficiency and access. The organization teams highly skilled physicians and specialists on the cutting edge of their medical fields. For more information, visit www.dupagemedicalgroup.com.

Medical Background

Dr. Alasadi is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is a past member of the Pancreatic Cancer Panel and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Previously, he practiced at the Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at Northwest Community Hospital.

After earning his medical degree, Alasadi completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern University in Chicago. He also completed advanced training in endoscopic ultrasound and gastrointestinal oncology at the University of California, Irvine.

In addition to praise from patients, fellow physicians hold Alasadi in high regard. Among his honors is being included on past lists of Best Doctors of America based on peer review.