Event Highlights Stroke in Young Women

On March 10, 2011, the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Medicine and the Texas A&M System Chancellor’s wife, Mrs. Lou Ann McKinney, hosted the college’s seventh Magnolia Tea luncheon benefiting women’s health research at the college.

More than 100 guests gathered at the Chancellor’s home, the Reed House in College Station, to celebrate healthy lifestyles and health related research at the TAMHSC-College of Medicine. Guests sported brightly colored hats, a Magnolia Tea tradition.

Hostess Lou Ann McKinney welcomed everyone and noted that this was her husband’s, Chancellor Mike McKinney’s, first Magnolia Tea. Sam Shomaker, M.D., J.D., Dean of the College of Medicine, then took the stage and donned his own hat—a green and white, Hawaiian-print bucket hat—perfect for the occasion.

“Our medical school is a community asset,” said Dr. Shomaker. “We exist to serve the patients here, whether it be at the bedside or through our research.”

Carmen Ramirez, M.D., M.Sc., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Texas A&M Physician, then spoke about the warning signs of stroke in women under the age of 55.

“Women aren’t as immune to stroke as we once thought,” Dr. Ramirez said. “Women of all ages, even in their 20s and 30s, need to be aware of the symptoms of stroke: slurred speech, a drooping face, sudden numbness, lapse in time without memory, loss of vision and sudden confusion.”  Any of these symptoms, Dr. Ramirez said, can indicate a stroke and should be evaluated by a doctor.

For the third year, Mrs. McKinney, Chancellor’s Circle members and friends have raised money for a Magnolia Tea scholarship to be awarded to an outstanding female student in the TAMHSC-College of Medicine. This year’s recipient was Giulia Ippolito, a second-year medical student from Dallas.

Mary Mike Hatcher of Bryan Broadcasting served as guest emcee.

See the complete Magnolia Tea 2011 photo album at the TAMHSC-College of Medicine facebook page.

Many thanks to those who were unable to attend Magnolia Tea but contributed to its success through their generous donations.