Horizon Family Medical/Touro students, local cancer survivor ‘Turn the Town Teal’

WARWICK — Local ovarian cancer survivor Kathy Colquhoun and a group of Horizon Family Medical Group/Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine students “Turned the Town Teal” on Friday, Aug. 31, to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
The group tied teal ribbons to trees and telephone poles along Main Street in the village. They also talked with shop owners and distributed educational materials on the disease.
“Despite raising awareness and improving treatment strategies, we still don’t have a screening tool for ovarian cancer," said Dr. Alex Joanow, who is affiliated with both Horizon and Touro. "It is a disease process that has many vague signs and symptoms, such as bloating and pelvic pain that are often overlooked. Therefore, the best screening technique is to see your gynecologist on an annual basis or when these symptoms develop.”
Joanow, a Horizon obstetrician and gynecologist, is a founding partner of the medical group. He is also Director of Clinical Rotations and Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Touro.
Joanow oversees the clinical sites – including Horizon Family Medical Group – where third-year Touro students receive their training.
Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard said, “Public displays such as ‘Turn the Towns Teal‘ ribbons on street trees throughout our business district are visual reminders and conversation starters about the issues that surround ovarian cancer. The Village of Warwick promotes healthy communities and believes public awareness is the first step to education and advocacy. The ‘Turn the Towns Teal’ campaign is a simple but direct way to send that message and be supportive to an important cause.”
The teal ribbons were donated by F.H. Corwin Florist And Greenhouses, Inc. in Warwick.