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Health Is the Key

Health Is the Key

Written by: 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds
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The Health Is the Key podcast is dedicated to you, our 1199SEIU members — healthcare workers who all too often put the health and well-being of others ahead of your own. By tuning in, you will learn how you can make your own health a priority with the latest information from leading medical experts, mental health professionals and other health leaders. You will learn about the wealth of programs, services and other resources the Benefit Funds provide to support you, wherever you are on your health journey.

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Episodes
  • Do You Know Your Numbers?

    Do You Know Your Numbers?
    Feb 18 2026
    In our February episode, we marked American Heart Month with Dr. Michael Ghalchi, the founder and medical director of Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Ghalchi explained the importance of regular screenings and shared lifestyle habits that can keep your heart strong. In this month’s Key Note, Dr. Ghalchi reviews the key health numbers to aim for to help you stay on track and live your best life. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback.Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook // Instagram // YouTube.Find out where you stand heart-wise by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts.Need support managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or overweight? Learn about our partnerships: visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/the-choice-is-yours/Browse healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine.Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Michael Ghalchi, MD, FACC is a board-certified cardiologist and the founder and medical director of Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates, a New York City–based cardiology practice dedicated to making high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics and care accessible, efficient and patient-centered. He is also a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. At Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates, Dr. Ghalchi focuses on delivering timely, evidence-based cardiovascular care supported by advanced in-office diagnostics, streamlined access and a concierge-level patient experience. His clinical work emphasizes early detection, accurate diagnosis and thoughtful management of cardiovascular disease across a broad patient population. Dr. Ghalchi is also the founder and Medical Director of Apollo 360 Health, a digital preventive-care platform designed to extend high-quality cardiovascular and lifestyle medicine beyond the clinic walls. Apollo 360 Health integrates remote monitoring, data-driven insights and multidisciplinary coaching to help patients proactively manage risk factors, improve outcomes and sustain long-term health. Across both organizations, Dr. Ghalchi’s mission is to modernize cardiovascular care by combining rigorous clinical standards with innovative delivery models — ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the setting that best supports lasting health.
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    4 mins
  • Heart-smart Living Starts Here, with Dr. Michael Ghalchi

    Heart-smart Living Starts Here, with Dr. Michael Ghalchi
    Feb 4 2026
    Welcome to American Heart Month, the perfect opportunity to focus on protecting our cardiovascular health to help ensure we can continue to do the things we love with the people we love. Experts estimate that heart disease is 80 percent preventable through early detection and simple lifestyle changes. So we are fortunate to be joined by Dr. Michael Ghalchi, the founder and medical director of Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Ghalchi discusses the importance of regular screenings, symptoms to watch for and sustainable habits you can adopt to support your heart health all year long. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: org/member-feedback.Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube.Find out where you stand heart-wise by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts.Need support managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or overweight? Learn about our partnerships: visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/the-choice-is-yours/Browse healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine.Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Michael Ghalchi, MD, FACC is a board-certified cardiologist and the founder and medical director of Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates, a New York City–based cardiology practice dedicated to making high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics and care accessible, efficient and patient-centered. He is also a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. At Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates, Dr. Ghalchi focuses on delivering timely, evidence-based cardiovascular care supported by advanced in-office diagnostics, streamlined access and a concierge-level patient experience. His clinical work emphasizes early detection, accurate diagnosis and thoughtful management of cardiovascular disease across a broad patient population. Dr. Ghalchi is also the founder and Medical Director of Apollo 360 Health, a digital preventive-care platform designed to extend high-quality cardiovascular and lifestyle medicine beyond the clinic walls. Apollo 360 Health integrates remote monitoring, data-driven insights and multidisciplinary coaching to help patients proactively manage risk factors, improve outcomes and sustain long-term health. Across both organizations, Dr. Ghalchi’s mission is to modernize cardiovascular care by combining rigorous clinical standards with innovative delivery models — ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the setting that best supports lasting health.
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    26 mins
  • Key Note: The Doctor Will See You Now!

    Key Note: The Doctor Will See You Now!
    Jan 21 2026
    In our January episode, we focused on our Healthy Now, Healthy Later philosophy with the Benefit Funds’ Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lela Mayers. Dr. Mayers shared how prioritizing your health now can help you lower your risk of illness and improve your quality of life later. For our January Key Note, Dr. Mayers walks us through what to expect during a typical wellness checkup—and explains why it’s so important to make that appointment. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: org/member-feedback.Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube.Start—or renew!—your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Visit our Provider Directory at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.Know your numbers to find out where you stand: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts.Visit our Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.Talk to your doctor about any screenings you may need: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthybodies.Connect with a primary care doctor or a therapist online through Teladoc: Teladoc.com or (800) TELADOC (835-2362).Need support managing your diabetes, hypertension or weight? Find the program that’s right for you: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/the-choice-is-yours/Find a mental health therapist through the Benefit Funds’ Provider Directory: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.For additional support, call our Wellness Member Assistance Program: (646) 473-6900.Contact our partners at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for a wide variety of community resources: naminycmetro.org.Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlistsSample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents Guest Bio Dr. Lela Mayers is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) of the 1199SEIU Benefit Funds, which provide comprehensive self-insured, self-administered healthcare benefits to more than 450,000 healthcare workers, retirees and their families. As DCMO, Dr. Mayers assists the Chief Medical Officer with the Benefit Funds’ clinical and care management strategies, as well as health and wellness initiatives. Prior to joining the Benefit Funds, Dr. Mayers served as Senior Medical Director at CVS Health/Aetna. There she collaborated with the account management teams, pharmacy teams, consulting firms and plan sponsors to drive improved health outcomes for commercial and labor health plan members. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Medicine at Premier Healthcare, where she managed five ambulatory health centers across New York City. Her previous experience with union membership was earned at the Benefit Fund of the New York Hotel Trades, where she was medical director of the Harlem Health Center. Dr. Mayers worked for many years as a primary care physician at the Farrell Health Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where she served as faculty and medical director of the resident training program. Dr. Mayers continues to hold a position as voluntary faculty/instructor in clinical medicine at Columbia University’s Center for Family and Community Medicine. She is a licensed physician in New York State and is board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Mayers received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, a Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medical College) and a Master of Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
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    3 mins
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