The Loud Whisper

In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this September, the 2014 annual Wine Women & Shoes Event will be taking place Sunday September 14, 2014, from 2:00 PM -5:00 PM at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. This exciting event is hosted to benefit Ovarian and GYN cancer research at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.

The event will be full of delicious wine tasting, silent/live auctions, and fabulous shopping for a cause — especially shoes. There will be a “Best in Shoe” contest run by judges who will roam the room in search of stand-out shoes including Sexy Stiletto, Wonderful Wedge, Fabulous Flat, and Sensational Sandal. On the catwalk, guests will see the latest fashion trends, dazzling jewelry, fun accessories, and, spectacular shoes. To top it off, our own Little Pink Book founder and CEO, Cynthia Good, will serve as mistress of ceremonies!

Our Associate Editor Ariana Feiner had the pleasure to sit down and speak with Dr. Benedict Benigno, the inspirational founder and president of the Ovarian Cancer Institute and the director of gynecologic oncology at Northside Hospital. With an exceptionally intellectual mind, kind words, and a friendly demeanor, Dr. Benigno is the sort of doctor who could make any patient feel at ease.

Dr. Benigno was inspired to become a doctor by his father, who was also a physician. He finds it important to spend his time doing what he loves and helping people, so studying to become a doctor was a natural decision for him. When asked what sparked his idea to found the Ovarian Cancer Institute, Dr. Benigno spoke of his desire to do something enriching and improve the lives of people suffering from ovarian cancer. He knew that there was no screening test for ovarian cancer, but he believed in the possibility of creating one. Dr. Benigno teamed up with Dr. John McDonald, the chair at the School of Biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, to begin research to find a screening test for ovarian cancer. Together, the two have collaborated to form the largest tissue bank, serum bank, and data bank for ovarian cancer in the world. In addition to this huge feat, they have published many research articles in peer review journals.

Outside of his outstanding work at the Ovarian Cancer Institute, Dr. Benigno also feeds his creative side. He enjoys literature and takes weekly piano lessons from a Julliard Medal winner. When asked if there was anything special he wanted our readers to know, Dr. Benigno remarked that Northside Hospital is the best hospital for very sick patients, and he is so grateful for their support of his endeavors at the Ovarian Cancer Institute.

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the “silent” cancer because it symptoms can be vague or only a whisper. The most common symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and experiencing urinary frequency and urgency. Recognizing these symptoms and identifying your particular risk for ovarian cancer is important in early detection.

As one of the largest and most respected providers of cancer care in the Southeast, Northside Hospital is leading the way in groundbreaking procedures and treatments for GYN cancer. Northside Hospital diagnoses and treats more cases of GYN cancer than any other hospital in Georgia and brings the highest level of expertise to help their patients. Not only is Northside Hospital committed to excellent care, but they also rank in the top 5 percent of all robotic GYN programs in the country. Last year, Wine, Women & Shoes Atlanta raised over $30,000 for research of ovarian and GYN cancers at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.

Dr. Jacob A. Spanier, OB/GYN, is the honorary event chair this year, and Martha Jo Katz is once again serving as event chair.

An afternoon of style and celebration for a wonderful cause, Wine, Women & Shoes Atlanta is an event not to be missed! Tickets are $125 per person, and sponsorships are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.winewomenandshoes.com/atlanta.

Photo courtesy of kjrdesigns.com