History of the Organization

Founders

Heartbeats for Life was founded in December 1995 ban Ornish-retreat participant, Ed Ehlers, and a local doctor, Robert F. Klein, both of whom have heart disease.  In response to a tiny write-up inconspicuously buried inside the local Rochester newspaper, some 50 people who had seen Dean Ornish's book and were interested in following the Ornish program braved the winter weather. Some 100 attended the second meeting.   Soon, monthly meetings hosted speakers on nutrition, exercise, and stress management techniques such as yoga. All were well received, and attendance grew rapidly.

By March 1996, it was necessary to institute annual dues in order to cover the costs of duplicating and mailing a monthly newsletter, as well as to provide for rental of a larger meeting room and audiovisual equipment. A steering committee was organized to help plan for future meetings, pot luck dinners, restaurant get-togethers, and to handle the growing number of memberships and associated paperwork. In September 1997, the group moved its meeting location from the limited facilities at Brighton Town Hall to the newly renovated facilities at Monroe Community Hospital. For the past ten years, Heartbeats has met at the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension.  

Dr. Dean Ornish has spoken to our group and is enthusiastic about our efforts. Our steering committee meets monthly and consists of a dedicated core of people who volunteer their time to organize meetings and other events, membership, finances, and publicity.

Growing Organization

In September 1997, the group moved its meeting location from the limited facilities at Brighton Town Hall to the newly renovated facilities at Monroe Community Hospital. This facility has ample space, free parking, and the support of the Center for Lifetime Wellness.

Heartbeats for Life! is not officially associated with the Preventive Medicine Research Institute (PMRI) founded by Dr. Dean Ornish. Dr. Ornish has spoken to members of our group and has been enthusiastic about our efforts. Rochester is not presently one of the 8 national Ornish program sites, but we are looking into the feasibility of setting up such a program in Rochester.

Heartbeats for Life! donates a modest fraction of dues to aid PMRI in its research into prevention of heart disease and certain types of cancer through dietary and other lifestyle modifications. While Heartbeats for Life!'s ability to contribute as an organization is limited, we feel that such support from the private sector is badly needed. Governmental funding for medical research has become more limited, and industrial support often depends on research associated with a product that has the potential to return a profit. Once regarded as "alternative" medicine, the subject of PMRI's research is now regarded by many medical professionals as "mainstream", and promises to make major contributions to quality of life for large numbers of people.

Group Management

Our steering committee meets monthly and consists of a dedicated core of people who volunteer their time to organize meetings and other events, publish the newsletter, and manage the group's library, membership, finances, and publicity. It includes professionals from a variety of disciplines such as physicians, registered nurses, a registered dietician and Ornish Retreat faculty member, cardiac rehabilitation specialist, yoga instructor, and an exercise specialist.