MEET & GREET—Kellen Hill, Ray Brooks, Lula Barron and Linda Holmes  (Photo by Debbie Norrell)

The best way for job seekers to find that next position is to network, network, network. On Feb. 21 at the beautiful Savoy Restaurant, Pittsburgh Mercy Health System sponsored “Meet & Greet: Focus on Diversity,” a networking opportunity for human and social service professionals who hold bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees. Attendees were able to enjoy a beautiful and comfortable atmosphere while learning more about Pittsburgh Mercy, one of the region’s largest health and social service nonprofit organizations, serving more than 26,000 people annually in 60 locations in southwestern Pennsylvania and all it has to offer.
Robyn Macklin, program specialist supervisor, says Savoy was the perfect place to bring people together to learn more about Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. “This was a good central location, I know the owner and this was a warm and inviting space,” Macklin said.
The Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, a member of Catholic Health East and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is an extension of the Catholic health care ministry to all people in southwestern Pennsylvania. They carry out their mission through core values and with a commitment to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities they serve. They stand with the vulnerable of our communities in assessing needs, collaborating with others, providing services that address the whole person and advocating for social change.

PREPARING FISH—A fishmonger prepares fish for a client in a market in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

by Marilyn Marchione

AP Chief Medical Writer

Pour on the olive oil, preferably over fish and vegetables: One of the longest and most scientific tests of a Mediterranean diet suggests this style of eating can cut the chance of suffering heart-related problems, especially strokes, in older people at high risk of them.

The study lasted five years and involved about 7,500 people in Spain. Those who ate Mediterranean-style with lots of olive oil or nuts had a 30 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular problems compared to those who were told to follow a low-fat diet but who in reality, didn't cut fat very much. Mediterranean meant lots of fruit, fish, chicken, beans, tomato sauce, salads, and wine and little baked goods and pastries.

Mediterranean diets have long been touted as heart-healthy, but that's based on observational studies that can't prove the point. The new research is much stronger because people were assigned diets to follow for a long time and carefully monitored. Doctors even did lab tests to verify that the Mediterranean diet folks were consuming more olive oil or nuts as recommended.

Most of these people were taking medicines for high cholesterol and blood pressure, and researchers did not alter those proven treatments, said one study leader, Dr. Ramon Estruch of Hospital Clinic in Barcelona.

But as a first step to prevent heart problems, "we think diet is better than a drug" because it has few if any side effects, Estruch said. "Diet works."

Results were published online Monday by the New England Journal of Medicine and were discussed at a nutrition conference in Loma Linda, Calif.

People in the study were not given rigid menus or calorie goals because weight loss was not the aim. That could be why they found the "diets" easy to stick with — only about 7 percent dropped out within two years. There were twice as many dropouts in the low-fat group than among those eating Mediterranean-style.

Researchers also provided the nuts and olive oil, so it didn't cost participants anything to use these relatively pricey ingredients.  The type of oil may have mattered — they used extra-virgin olive oil, which is minimally processed and richer than regular or light olive oil in the chemicals and nutrients that earlier studies have suggested are beneficial.

The study involved people ages 55 to 80, just over half of them women. All were free of heart disease at the start but were at high risk for it because of health problems — half had diabetes and most were overweight and had high cholesterol and blood pressure.

They were assigned to one of three groups: Two followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either extra-virgin olive oil (4 tablespoons a day) or with walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds (a fistful a day). The third group was urged to eat a low-fat diet heavy on bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables and fish and light on baked goods, nuts, oils and red meat.

Independent monitors stopped the study after nearly five years when they saw fewer problems in the two groups on Mediterranean diets.

Doctors tracked a composite of heart attacks, strokes or heart-related deaths. There were 96 of these in the Mediterranean-olive oil group, 83 in the Mediterranean-nut group and 109 in the low-fat group.

Looked at individually, stroke was the only problem where type of diet made a big difference. Diet had no effect on death rates overall.

The Mediterranean diet proved better even though its followers ate about  200 calories more per day than the low-fat group did. The study leaders now are analyzing how each of the diets affected weight gain or loss and body mass index.

The Spanish government's health research agency initiated and paid for the study, and foods were supplied by olive oil and nut producers in Spain and the California Walnut Commission. Many of the authors have extensive financial ties to food, wine and other industry groups but said the sponsors had no role in designing the study or analyzing and reporting its results.

Rachel Johnson, a University of Vermont professor who heads the American Heart Association's nutrition committee, said the study is very strong because of the lab tests to verify oil and nut consumption and because researchers tracked actual heart attacks, strokes and deaths — not just changes in risk factors such as high cholesterol.

"At the end of the day, what we care about is whether or not disease develops," she said. "It's an important study."

Rena Wing, a weight-loss expert at Brown University, noted that researchers provided the oil and nuts, and said "it's not clear if people could get the same results from self-designed Mediterranean diets" — or if Americans would stick to them more than Europeans who are used to such foods.

Dr. George Bray of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., said he would give the study "a positive — even glowing — comment" and called it "the best and certainly one of the largest prospective dietary trials ever done."

"The data are sufficiently strong to convince me to move my dietary pattern closer to the Mediterranean Diet that they outline," he added.

Another independent expert also praised the study as evidence diet can lower heart risks.

"The risk reduction is close to that achieved with statins," cholesterol-lowering drugs, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a diet and heart disease expert at the University of Colorado.

"But this study was not carried out or intended to compare diet to statins or blood pressure medicines," he warned. "I don't think people should think now they can quit taking their medicines."

Online:

Journal: http://www.nejm.org

Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

World Day of Prayer
MARCH 1—Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race St., Homewood, will host the World Day of Prayer 2013 at 1 p.m. Churches from Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, East Liberty, Homewood and Penn Hills will hold services together. The day is to bring informed prayer and prayerful action to the communities. Refreshments will be served following the event. For more information, call 412-241-1624.
Women’s Conference
MARCH 1—The T.J. Mitchell Ministries will host its 2013 Women’s Ministry Conference at 7 p.m. at the Georgetown Centre, 526 E. Bruceton Rd., Pleasant Hills. The theme for this two-day conference will be “Our Destinies, Journeys and Dreams.” It will feature spiritually uplifted guest speakers, such as Apostle Yvonne Black and Dr. Tanya Melendez Registration is requested. For more information, call 412-233-0971 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Chamber Music Concert
MARCH 3—East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty, will host a Chamber Music Concert at 4 p.m. The guest musician will be pianist Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Randy Bush. He will be joined by a woodwind quartet, along with others. Admission is free. For more information, call 412-441-3800.

World Day of Prayer
MARCH 5—Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, 271 Paulson Ave., East Liberty, will host the World Day of Prayer at 11 a.m. This is an international event that unites various denominations in prayer. Area churches from Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, East Liberty, Homewood and Penn Hills will hold services together. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 412-441-1800.
Revival Services
MARCH 6—Triedstone Baptist Church of Rankin, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host its Pre-Anniversary Revival Services at 7 p.m. The three-night event will feature several guest preachers, along with their congregation and choirs. They include Rev. Delbert Harris, Rev. Robert Tedder and Rev. Robert Young. There will also be a pre-anniversary Concert on March 9 at 5 p.m. The anniversary celebration will take place March 10 at 11 a.m. with guest preacher Pastor Darryl Grayson and at 5 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Braddock with Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis as the guest preacher. For more information, call 412-271-3000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Christian-Jewish Dialogue
MARCH 7—The Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee will host the Christian-Jewish Dialogue at 12 p.m, at the Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon St., Squirrel Hill. The topic of the evening will be “Welcoming the Stranger.” There will be a study of Jewish and Christian texts with Rev. Linda Theophilus and Bob Whitehill as the facilitator. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-605-0816 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Heroes In Our Midst
MARCH 9—The Baptist Minister’s Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity will host “Heroes In Our Midst” from 1-4 p.m. at Stratigos Banquet Center, 131 Colonial Manor Rd., North Huntingdon. The theme is “Shifting into 21st Century Ministry.” The event will honor Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch and Rev. Dr. William Curtis, senior pastor at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. Steeler Ryan Clark will be the master of ceremonies. Registration is required and the cost is $50 per person. For more information, call Barbara Gunn at 412-823-4049.
Young, Gifted and Black
MARCH 9—The Christian Education Department of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church will host their 6th Annual “Young, Gifted and Black” program at 3:30 p.m. at the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville. Ten young adults, ages 21-40, will be applauded for outstanding service and commitment to their church, profession and community. Evan Frazier, of Highmark, will be the keynote speaker and Kimberly Gill, of KDKA, will be the mistress of ceremonies. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased in advance. For more information, call Arzella Stewart-McCauley at 412-526-8981.
(To have items listed on the Church Circuit, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

NIKKI DYER works as an RN in the Pittsburgh Job Corps Wellness Department.

by Matthew Sior
Nikki Dyer, originally of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, has been named as the Pittsburgh Job Corps Staff Member of the Year. Dyer has been with the Job Corps program in several capacities for the past 20 years and truly represents the Job Corps mission of professional growth and success.
Dyer’s time with Job Corps began as a student enrolled in Pittsburgh Job Corps Off-Center Training Program in 1992. She completed her associates degree at CCAC in 1994.
She was hired by the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center in 1999 as a Recreation Specialist and continued in that capacity until 2009. During this time Dyer completed an associates degree in education and also obtained her Registered Nursing degree. She worked full-time while she continued her studies at CCAC.
After receiving her newly acquired credentials, she was hired as a Health Occupations Instructor for the center’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program. She served in this role until she received a position as a Registered Nurse in the center’s Health & Wellness Department. Today her basic duties include assisting Job Corps students with health care needs, processing new trainees into the program while assessing health needs and concerns, administering and educating about medications and immunizations, and developing new health initiatives on center through exercise classes and flu vaccination clinics.
Greatly respected among students and staff as, “Ms. Nikki” has utilized the opportunities by the Job Corps program to the fullest.
 “Having the chance to interact with students while positively impacting their own expectations helps them to achieve more than they ever believed possible,” she said. “This is the most rewarding part of my work.” She also reminds trainees that, “You will become what you choose to become based on the choices you make daily.”
Dyer is currently pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from California University, while continuing to work fulltime at the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center. She provides an excellent example of the success young people can gain from the Job Corps program.
Job Corps is operated by the US Department of Labor. With 125 centers around the country, each center offers education and vocation programs which specifically support regional labor trends. Pittsburgh Job Corps has an enrollment capacity of 850 students, providing training in the Construction, Culinary Arts and Healthcare fields, in addition to college education opportunities through partnerships with Community College of Allegheny County and Butler County Community College. These programs equip graduates with the education, training and hands-on experiences to prepare them for an entry-level position in their field.
“We are so proud of Ms. Nikki—we are lucky to have her as part of our team,” said Taleb, Center Director of the Pittsburgh Job Corps.
For more information about PJCC, please call 412-441-8779.