Women's Health Archives - Swope Health

Swope Health Supports National Breastfeeding Month

Tanner Cobb — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:16:29 +0000

National Breastfeeding Month is celebrated every August to spread awareness and promote the benefits of breastfeeding. Swope Health’s Women, Infants, and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) supports breastfeeding in a variety of ways.

Jennifer Jones, Swope Health’s breastfeeding peer counselor who assists prenatal patients daily with their breastfeeding needs recognizes the advantages of breastfeeding.

“Babies tend to be less sick when they’re getting breast milk, and new mothers heal faster and safer when they breastfeed,” Jones said. “It helps reduce the mother’s risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.”

WIC provides families with breastfeeding support, nutritious foods/education, and referrals to community health resources. Before getting any of these services, a patient must qualify through guidelines based on family size and source of income.

“If they don’t qualify, we provide a resource list of phone numbers, websites, and mobile apps for additional breastfeeding support,” she said.

WIC offers two prenatal breastfeeding courses, which are available in person or virtually. The first class starts at the beginning of the pregnancy, and the second during the third trimester.

“The first class talks about what breastfeeding is, the differences between breast milk and formula, and the myths of breastfeeding,” Jones said. “The second class teaches how to breastfeed, and we practice with a breast model and a manikin baby.”

Swope Health continues to support after the women complete these courses and deliver their babies. WIC serves women who recently delivered up to 6 months, as well as children up to 5 years.

“After delivery, we follow-up to and assist them with ordering breast pumps through their insurance. If there are any issues, WIC offers rental breast pumps and free pumps. However long a mother offers breast milk to their baby, we’re there to support her,” she said.

Additionally, Swope Health offers after-hours breastfeeding support to families through a breastfeeding warmline, which is monitored from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. During that timeframe, patients may call or text (816) 799-1428 for breastfeeding support.

“The warmline is a service that doesn’t get talked about a lot, but it’s so convenient,” Jones said. “We try to be there for moms any time that they need it by addressing any questions or concerns that they have.”

In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, Swope Health has big plans.

“Throughout August, we’ll have breastfeeding fun facts presented throughout WIC, along with a random drawing for prenatal patients,” she said. “They can fill out a bingo card with breastfeeding questions on it, which acts as a raffle ticket that enters them into a drawing for free breastfeeding accessories.”

Black Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in the last week of the month (August 25-31) to highlight the disparities in breastfeeding rates among Black women. This year, Swope Health will offer celebratory snacks to breastfeeding Black mothers who come into WIC to congratulate them on their journey.

“There’s a stigma with minority groups in general, specifically with Black families, that they don’t breastfeed as much. We’re working hard to help change that by encouraging minority families to breastfeed,” Jones said.

WIC services are available at Swope Health Central. To learn more or to make an appointment, call 816-922-1080. To enroll in the program, you must be present at your first WIC visit. The following information is required for each applicant:

Proof of ID: For an infant/child, please bring a hospital record birth certificate, foster child placement letter, insurance card, shot record, or social security card. For an adult, please bring a driver’s license, government issued ID, work/school ID, or passport.
Proof of Address: Please bring a bank statement, foster child placement letter, paycheck stub, rent/mortgage receipt, or utility/personal bill that has been issued within the past 30 days.
Proof of Income: Please bring a recent bank statement, employer letter, foster child placement letter, paycheck stub, SNAP/TANF award letter, or social security income statement.

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Governor Laura Kelly to be Honored, Dr. Uché Blackstock Featured at Inaugural Swope Health Event

Bridget Locke — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:57:07 +0000

Kansas City, Mo. (May 19) – Swope Health, a leading provider of community health in the Kansas City region, announces Governor Laura Kelly as the inaugural honoree of the Dr. Dhana Rengachary Excellence in Healthcare Award. Governor Kelly will be recognized at Swope Health’s Honoring Women in Healthcare luncheon on Wednesday, May 21, 11:30 a.m., at Grand Street Café (4740 Grand Ave., Kansas City, MO). The award, named in honor of Dr. Dhana Rengachary, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist whose career at Swope Health spanned more than 50 years, will be presented to Governor Kelly in person at the luncheon.

Award-winning Kansas City-based journalist Cynthia Newsome will emcee the event and lead a conversation with nationally renowned physician, health equity activist, and author Uché Blackstock, M.D., who recently penned “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine,” a New York Times bestseller.

Throughout her time in office, Governor Kelly has prioritized investing in crucial healthcare programs to ensure all Kansans have access to affordable, high-quality care. She has fought to protect and expand Medicaid, extended Medicaid postpartum coverage for new moms from two to 12 months, created the statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and crisis hotline, and signed a bill that laid the groundwork for the most significant transformation of the Kansas community mental health system in decades.

Blackstock, a second-generation Harvard-trained physician and founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, works with organizations throughout the nation to dismantle racism in healthcare. During the event, she will discuss insights from her book and will focus on current opportunities and challenges in health equity.

“I am surrounded by excellence in healthcare every day,” said Swope Health President and CEO Jeron Ravin, J.D. “Women continue to mold the future of healthcare leadership, and that is true at Swope Health; there are many women who hold prominent positions at our health center—including seven on our executive team. Recognizing the brilliance and compassion of additional women leaders who are leading the way toward transformational change in healthcare seems a natural extension of our legacy and the most appropriate way to champion their work while garnering support for our own.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit Swope Health’s medical assistant training program.

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Dr. Dhana Rengachary recognized for lifetime contributions

Nancy Shawver — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:35:15 +0000

One of Swope Health’s longest-serving associates, Dr. Dhana Rengachary, was recognized by the KC Shepherd’s Center as one of its 70 over 70 Award recipients.

The 70 Over 70 Awards Celebration is a biennial event that honors 70 individuals who are 70 or more and who are living examples of meaningful and engaged aging. The event was held Sept. 21, 2024, at The View in Briarcliff.

The event included a dinner, silent auction and entertainment, as well as recognition of the 70 honorees.

Over the last 50+ years, Dr. Rengachary has served women and their families in the urban core. She is a quiet advocate for healthcare for the underserved, using her medical education, clinical skills and natural empathy to serve the community.

Photo credit: KC Shepherd’s Center

Her practice is in gynecology and obstetrics, especially high-risk pregnancies. Her clinical approach gives her the opportunity to build close relationships with women in pregnancy, childbirth, and as they raise their families. Her patient list, over time, has grown to include women whose daughters she helped deliver and has known since their birth, who now bring their own daughters to her for trusted care.

Her style of practice is deeply caring. She recalls details about each patient’s children and home life; she joins them in personal celebrations and mourning. She has always made a point of understanding the whole of a person’s life, treating everyone she encounters with dignity and respect. Dr. Rengachary is a daily inspiration to all who encounter her. At Swope Health, she embodies the joy of service and demonstrates making care visible to her patients and colleagues.

Dr. Naiomi Jamal, Chief Health Officer at Swope Health, said: “She is such an inspiration to me personally and to all of the care team at Swope Health. She is a role model for generations for her commitment to healthcare as a basic human right.”

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Celebrating Women – All Women, All Aspects of Health

Nancy Shawver — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:30:59 +0000

March is designated as a month to honor and celebrate women.

It is the month for learning about Women’s History, especially those contributions overlooked or undervalued by male historians. Organizations including the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution jointly name March as Women’s History month.

Swope Health also sees the month of March as a great time to support women, and help all women reach the best health possible. Our approach is in service to the whole woman – all ages, all aspects of health.

“We are committed to providing the care that women need as a whole person,” said Dr. Naiomi Jamal, Chief Health Officer at Swope Health. “That is, recognizing women in their entire personhood with special needs and interests, including but not limited to reproductive health. We know that women are so often responsible for the care of others that they might not pay attention to their own needs. We invite all women to take time for themselves and their own care.”

Swope Health’s providers will listen to you and help you listen to your own body. Your body sends signals when it is in need, undergoing changes, or responding to the external environment – and understanding those signals is a key to achieving your best possible health.

Whole-Person Care in Action

Swope Health caregivers routinely ask each patient about your personal situation: Are you living in a safe place? Do you worry about having enough food? Do you feel depressed, lonely or dissatisfied with your life? These questions recognize that life situations can be challenging, and there are ways we can provide help. It might take the form of support from our Behavioral Health department, with therapy, counseling or medical support. Or it might be help with housing, transportation, food and insurance.

For women with children, the support might include diapers, car seats, help with breastfeeding or education about nutrition and childcare. We understand your situation, like your body, is unique and our care focuses on you.

At Swope Health Clinics we provide care for women in all stages of their life: adolescence, adulthood and senior years. Services provided are:

Pregnancy testing, with walk-in options, no appointment needed
Prenatal and postpartum care
Minor surgical procedures
Comprehensive family planning services
Preventive education and treatment for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
Preventive services including Mammograms, Colon cancer screening, chronic disease screening and treatment
Cervical cancer screening and pap smears
Overall health assessment and management

Care for Today and Tomorrow

Our providers start a care plan based on your current state – your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and other basic measurements of your body’s activities. We are attuned to the common issues facing women and help look out for ways to prevent disease and illness.

These preventive steps might include coaching sessions with a highly skilled certified dietitian who can help you with cost-effective meal planning and show you ways to prepare meals for you and your family. Other steps might include our programs for managing diabetes or high blood pressure or help with ways to stop smoking and get more exercise. Your care team can help you understand specific information about your personal situation – for example, if you are at risk for heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in women, you will learn about the different symptoms of heart attack in men and women.

Your care team can help with vision and dental services, too. We frequently help patients coordinate schedules to allow for dental, vision, adult, pediatric, or behavioral health care appointments in the same day.

Addressing busy schedules

Swope Health has launched a service that provides text reminders of personal health needs. When you sign up with Swope Health, you can choose to get these convenient reminders about due dates for vaccinations, screening tests, check-ins for chronic health visits, kids check-up dates, and behavioral health appointments.

All of this is to say to women: We are here for you. We are ready to listen. We will support and empower you to make your own health a priority.

Start with a call – make an appointment for a visit today: 816-923-5800.

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