Vol. 17, No. 3
Fall 2007
The Institute for Neurosciences: At the Vanguard of Specialized Care
Nine Winthrop Specialists Named to New York Magazine's “Best Doctors List
Good Health - It's in Our Hands
Tuskegee Airman Regains the Gift of Sight
Stroke Care at Winthrop
Under the Big Top
Golfing for the Kids
Pat Lyons Foundation Shows Unwavering Support for Generation of Survivors Program
Winthrop Opens LI's Only Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
Migliozzi Family Donates Rocking Chair to NICU
Jay's World Foundation Shows Ongoing Support
Winthrop's Home Health Agency Tops National List Again
Clinical Trials: Bringing the Future of Medicine to Long Island
2007 MineolaStreet Fair
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 Bernard G. Chambers
Early intervention is key to
minimizing or even preventing the
long-term effects of stroke.
Just ask Bernard G. Chambers, an
attorney who resides in Garden City
and often tries cases in the Nassau
County court houses near Winthrop-
University Hospital.
During his typical morning routine
not too long ago, Mr. Chambers had
the frightening realization that he, in
fact, might have been suffering the
early stages of a stroke.
Parked outside of the Supreme
Court building in Mineola, Mr. Chambers
felt tingling on the right side of his face
- not numbness, he reported, but a gentle
tingling. Then he noticed poor motor
coordination in his right arm.
But these were not his first symptoms.
In the days before, Mr. Chambers
had noticed occasional bouts of dizziness.
"It was an imbalance reminiscent
of an inner ear infection," he remembers.
"But it was very sporadic- it
would come for a brief period of time
and then go away. It really wasn't
constant enough for me to become
alarmed."
 Staff members from Winthrop's Neurosciences Unit proudly display the AHA/ASA Silver
Performance Achievement Award, awarded to the Hospital's NYS-designated Stroke
Center for its success in providing superior care to stroke patients.
Once he felt the tingling on one
side of his face, and the diminished
coordination on the same side, he
knew it was time for speedy action.
"I called my office from my cell
phone to let them know that I was
going straight to the emergency
room," he said.
Fortunately for Mr. Chambers, the
expert help he needed was just down
the road at Winthrop's New York Statedesignated
Stroke Center.
Upon his arrival at Winthrop's
Emergency Department, Mr. Chambers
informed the triage nurse that he
believed he was experiencing symptoms
of a stroke.
"I was quickly ushered into an
examination room, and after answering
some pointed questions and having a
brief neurological test, I was immediately
given medication," he said. He
was told that the examination strongly
suggested that he was having a transient
ischemic attack (TIA) - also
known as a stroke.
In a short while, a CT scan
confirmed the diagnosis. Mr. Chambers
had experienced a minor blockage in
his cerebellum.
A stroke occurs when a blood
vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients
to the brain is either blocked by a clot
(ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic
stroke). When that happens, part
of the brain cannot get the blood - and
the oxygen - that it needs to function.
The medication that Mr. Chambers
received, known as tissue plasminogen
activator (tPA) is a drug that dissolves
blood clots, which can almost immediately
restore the flow of blood to the
brain in ischemic stroke patients.
This rapid action, on the part of
Mr. Chambers and Winthrop's healthcare
providers, prevented any of the
potentially debilitating side effects
that might have occurred if he had not
gotten rapid and appropriate care.
"As a trial lawyer, I have to be
sharp," said Mr. Chambers recently.
"And thanks to the care I received at
Winthrop, I have not lost my edge,
and have not suffered any lasting
effects from the episode." In fact, Mr.
Chambers reports that he feels better
today that he has in a long time.
"This event was a wake-up call,"
he reflects. Smiling, he says, "I think
of it as a gentle tap on the shoulder-
instead of what could have been a
face-to-face meeting with my maker."
Awakened to the importance of a
healthy lifestyle, Mr. Chambers has
become more attentive to his diet,
cutting out or reducing high-fat foods
like french fries, potato chips and ice
cream. On the advice of his physician,
he takes one baby aspirin a day
to help keep his blood flowing.
"I feel great, and I'm grateful that
I had the opportunity not only to continue
my life's work, but also to enjoy
a heathier life," he said.
And Winthrop is proud to be able
to deliver top-notch stroke care to Mr.
Chambers and other members of the
community. The Hospital attained its
prestigious status as a NYS-designated
Stroke Center more than two years ago
after meeting rigorous state requirements
including the creation of a
dedicated Stroke Care Team.
Earlier this year, Winthrop received
the American Heart Association/
American Stroke Association's Silver
Performance Achievement Award for its
success in providing superior care to
stroke patients, and was included in US
News & World Report's 100 Best
Hospitals in America July edition.
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