Expanded Partnership Between Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore and LifeBridge Health Offers New Services to Support Orthodox Community
Baltimore, MD - LifeBridge Health and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore (JCC) are expanding an already strong partnership to offer innovative new health and wellness opportunities for JCC members and guests in Park Heights, with an emphasis on supporting the area's growing Orthodox community. The Weinberg Park Heights JCC is located just minutes from LifeBridge Health's flagship facility, Sinai Hospital.
"LifeBridge Health's purpose statement is "˜Caring for Our Communities Together' and caring for the Jewish community is a very important part of who we are," says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. "As part of our commitment to Park Heights and the area's growing Orthodox community, we are excited to expand our JCC partnership to bring additional health programming and services."
Before launching these new initiatives, the partners worked with members of the Orthodox community to identify their interests. This research found a growing need for support in nutrition education, chronic disease management and women's health, while ensuring a culturally sensitive approach.
"The Weinberg Park Heights JCC is a vital part of the Park Heights community. Our mission is to engage our community of families and senior adults by offering a rich array of cultural, social, educational, and wellness programs. We strive to provide JCC programs in collaborations to leverage the best partners to meet the diverse needs of our Jewish community. Our wonderful partnership with LifeBridge Health enhances our wellness goals and vision," says Barak Hermann, CEO of the JCC of Greater Baltimore. "Collectively, we are eager to share these innovative new programs and services that will enhance the focus on healthy minds and bodies to enrich the lives of our members and the Baltimore community." 
A key component of these initiatives is the newly created position of a LifeBridge Health community wellness coordinator at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC. Sherri Zaslow recently joined the LifeBridge Health Community Outreach team in this role.
In her new position, Zaslow is coordinating the health and wellness programs and will become a health information resource for members, including connecting them with LifeBridge Health physicians and services. In fact, LifeBridge Health experts are leading a variety of virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic until in-person events can take place. Zaslow is already working to relaunch the Park Heights JCC's diabetes support group by converting it into virtual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic
At the Park Heights JCC itself, members will see a larger LifeBridge Health presence. Zaslow will have office space there adjacent to the brand-new Sinai Health and Wellness Suite. Once completed, this facility will serve as the hub for the health and wellness services.
The Park Heights initiative builds on a successful program launched by the JCC's executive leadership and community lay leaders in 2015 at the Owings Mills JCC, including having a LifeBridge Health community wellness manager on site there. During the last five years, hundreds of JCC members and community members have attended health events on topics ranging from heart disease and women's health to stress management and nutrition. LifeBridge Health also takes its resources and health experts to Owings Mills JCC for events including the annual "Community Block Party."
Members of the Jewish community may already be familiar with Zaslow from her company, Sherri Zaslow Pr