2008 Woodie Awards
Tabacchi speaks on lack of decent health care
Jerry Arnold
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Campus News
"I don't know about you, but I want to die dancing, not in a bed!" exclaimed Dr. Mary H. Tabacchi, the keynote speaker for the 2007 Lawther Lecture. The lecture is put on annually in memory of Ethel Martus Lawther, the first dean of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (now HHP).
"The program keeps alive her work and many dedications," says Dr. Celia Hooper, interim dean of the school of Health and Human Performance. This year, the lecture-"Wellness: The Power Within You!"-was held Thursday, Oct. 18 in the EUC auditorium. UNCG's School of Health and Human Performance and the Lloyd International Honors College sponsored it.
Tabacchi is an associate professor at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, where she began teaching in 1972. She has her Ph.D. in Biochemical Nutrition and Biostatistics. She has also published many papers and books on nutrition, spas, and other related subjects.
"It's not about how long you live; it's about how well you live," Tabacchi explained. "We are at a place where we have to make some decisions. We have no choice. We are at a crossroads, one leading to health care and one leading to sick care. What's it going to be?"
Tabacchi continued, explaining her problems with the current health care system and claiming the country spends the least money on health care yet has the most health problems.
"We've forced industries to make safer cars … What have we done for our own personal health," Tabacchi said.
Tabacchi went on to explain how the choices we make in life could be the cause of our premature death-things like drinking and smoking, the foods we eat, and our exercise routines. According to Tabacchi, of the factors contributed to early death, our genetics only count for 30 percent. Behavior is 40 percent.
"Your genes don't have to make you sick. We can no longer hide behind that. Do you realize it's almost as bad to be overweight as it is to smoke?" Tabacchi asked.
Dr. Tabacchi added that you know when you are at your best and when you are not. "Just because you don't have any symptoms, it doesn't mean you're well."
"The program keeps alive her work and many dedications," says Dr. Celia Hooper, interim dean of the school of Health and Human Performance. This year, the lecture-"Wellness: The Power Within You!"-was held Thursday, Oct. 18 in the EUC auditorium. UNCG's School of Health and Human Performance and the Lloyd International Honors College sponsored it.
Tabacchi is an associate professor at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, where she began teaching in 1972. She has her Ph.D. in Biochemical Nutrition and Biostatistics. She has also published many papers and books on nutrition, spas, and other related subjects.
"It's not about how long you live; it's about how well you live," Tabacchi explained. "We are at a place where we have to make some decisions. We have no choice. We are at a crossroads, one leading to health care and one leading to sick care. What's it going to be?"
Tabacchi continued, explaining her problems with the current health care system and claiming the country spends the least money on health care yet has the most health problems.
"We've forced industries to make safer cars … What have we done for our own personal health," Tabacchi said.
Tabacchi went on to explain how the choices we make in life could be the cause of our premature death-things like drinking and smoking, the foods we eat, and our exercise routines. According to Tabacchi, of the factors contributed to early death, our genetics only count for 30 percent. Behavior is 40 percent.
"Your genes don't have to make you sick. We can no longer hide behind that. Do you realize it's almost as bad to be overweight as it is to smoke?" Tabacchi asked.
Dr. Tabacchi added that you know when you are at your best and when you are not. "Just because you don't have any symptoms, it doesn't mean you're well."
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