On December 4, 2022, Gary Haley was home after a physically demanding day at work at Cushman & Wakefield/UBS, where he is an engineer. He was about to start decorating the house for Christmas when he realized something was wrong.

In the past, patients having colorectal surgery required an operation with large incisions, called open surgery. Today, colorectal surgeons perform many procedures using minimally invasive techniques. “This means smaller incisions, faster recovery, with less pain and less need for opioid painkillers,” said Ziad N. Kronfol, M.D., a colorectal surgeon with Highland Surgical Associates and Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. Nearly 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year.

A stroke is a medical emergency. It can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. During a stroke, every minute counts. ‘The faster a person having a stroke gets to the Stroke Center, the faster we can intervene to save the brain and the person’s quality of life,” said Andrew Erian, MD, Director of Stroke at Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Highland Medical, P.C.

Choosing well-fitting footwear is one important way to protect your feet this summer, says Steven Adler, D.P.M., Director of Podiatry at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

“Make sure summer shoes fit appropriately,” he said. “Flip-flops are fine for around the pool, but don’t wear them to play football or Frisbee—you can easily injure yourself.” Flip-flops with padding or thick bottoms can cushion the ball of your foot. Look for flip-flops with arch support to provide stability and balance.