New York, NY (October 17, 2001) -- Although women are living longer and better than ever, they still need up-to-date information on such questions as, What is the best way to protect against heart disease? What are the signs of depression? What are the possibilities of modern laser surgery for vision correction? How can a woman keep a healthful, youthful skin? These are among the topics that will be addressed today at the 19th annual Women's Health Symposium sponsored by the New York Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The symposium, entitled "Aging Well: Good News for the Heart, Mind, and Body," will take place in the 12th floor auditorium of Citigroup, at 399 Park Avenue.

In light of recent world events, some of the speakers will also provide information to address current concerns such as bioterrorism and post-traumatic stress.

Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College, will deliver the keynote address, "A Woman's Heart." Dr. Gotto, who is also Professor of Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University, spent over two decades at Baylor College of Medicine, where he served as Scientific Director of The DeBakey Heart Center and was Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Internal Medicine Service at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. His research interests include the structure, metabolism, and function of the plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins and their relation to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. A member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, he has served as National President of the American Heart Association and as a member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council and of the National Diabetes Advisory Board.

The symposium moderator will be Dr. Orli Etingin, Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Professor of Clinical Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Editor-in-Chief of two nationally distributed newsletters, Women's Health Advisor and Food and Fitness Advisor, Dr. Etingin is the founder and Director of the Center for Women's Healthcare at NewYork-Presbyterian and Director of the new, comprehensive Iris Cantor Women's Health Center, located at 425 East 61st Street.

The speakers in the symposium will include:

Dr. Shelley Fox Aarons, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell, whose topic will be "Feel Well at Any Age." Since 1984, Dr. Aarons has had a full-time private practice in New York. She is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and has authored several articles on depression, its diagnosis and treatment.

The latest facts on laser vision correction will be presented by Dr. Sandra Belmont, Director of the Laser Vision Correction Center and Corneal Service at NewYork-Presbyterian and Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell. Her topic is "See Well at Any Age." Dr. Belmont was one of the first investigators to study the Excimer Laser, leading to the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the treatment for near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Tips on keeping a youthful, healthful skin will be presented by Dr. Richard Granstein, Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell and Dermatologist-in-Chief at the Medical Center, whose topic will be "Healthy Skin at Any Age." Dr. Gransteinâs research focuses on the regulation of immunity within the skin and the relationship of the skin immune system to the development of skin cancers, autoimmune disorders of the skin, and psoriasis.

Myra Mahon and Joan Weill are Co-Chairs of the event, and Eleanor Elliott and Ruth Stanton are Honorary Chairs; all of them have demonstrated long-term commitment to New York Weill Cornell and women's health issues.

Registration and a box lunch begin at 11:30 a.m. The program runs from 12 noon to 2 p.m.