Marva Hinkson
Perioperative Assistant, NewYork-Presbyterian

WHY
Marva Hinkson isn’t just working toward better health—she’s working toward the future she’s always imagined for herself, her family and her community.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Marva Hinkson has a clear vision of what she wants to do when retirement finally comes. She imagines giving back to her community and staying connected to the people and places that helped shape her.
“It may sound corny, but I’d like to help bag meals at church or organize a block party for the kids,” she said.
But while the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Perioperative Assistant recently turned 61, she’s not retiring anytime soon. Instead, she’s focused on something just as important: taking charge of her health now so she can fully enjoy everything she hopes to do when she does retire.

Marva’s health journey began with a visit to her family doctor. He has cared for not only her but also her husband, Rufus, and her son, LaVar. “I’ve been seeing him for more than 30 years,” she said. “He’s honest and very friendly, but he’s also serious about our health. That’s why we trust him so much.”
At a recent physical, her doctor told Marva she was prediabetic and that she would need to make some changes, like losing weight, if she wanted to prevent the condition from progressing. With her husband also recently diagnosed with diabetes, Marva knew it was time to get serious—not just for herself but for the people she loves.
“I told myself, ‘Girl, you need to buckle down, it’s time to stop playing games!’” she said.
Her doctor recommended a GLP-1 medication to jump-start her efforts. Marva seriously considered his advice but decided she wanted to take an approach that felt right for her. “I thought about it and told him I want to do this the old-fashioned way, and he was okay with that,” she said.

She decided to start with the habits she knew she could change. One of the first was giving up candy—especially the Skittles she had been eating every day. Now, she’s replacing those old choices with more vegetables, including broccoli, snow peas and collard greens. She’s also thinking of rejoining Weight Watchers® through the Benefit Funds. The program has worked for her in the past, and she likes it because it doesn’t force you to give up the foods you love. “I know when it comes to my weight, it’s all about portion control,” Marva said. “With Weight Watchers, I can eat almost everything, just in moderation. That works for me.”
1199 has been good to me and my family in so many ways. I know what to do to stay on the right path for my health journey. And with my benefits, I know I can do it!
Movement has also become a part of her journey. Following her doctor’s recommendation to exercise more, Marva and Rufus got back on their bikes and started riding in a nearby park—something they haven’t done in years. Marva also walks the family dog, Sosa, every day and joins the Benefit Funds’ online exercise classes when her schedule allows. “The outdoor air feels good, but I also love to dance,” she said. “And even though the classes are for beginners, the instructors always seem to know all the right moves.”
Marva also knows that healthy living is about more than food and exercise. It’s about staying on top of preventive care and using the benefits available to her. She keeps up with recommended screenings, including colonoscopies, mammograms, OB/GYN visits and twice-yearly dental cleanings. “Early detection is important,” she said. “And with our benefits looking out for us by covering all these tests, to me it is absolutely worth the effort.”
Over the years, Marva has seen what her 1199SEIU benefits have made possible for her family. Her education benefits supported her when she went back to school and earned her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration in 2017. Her child-care benefits also helped LaVar, who received a Joseph Tauber Scholarship and went on to graduate from Lehman College and Brooklyn College.
“1199 has been good to me and my family in so many ways,” she said. “I know what to do to stay on the right path for my health journey. And with my benefits, I know I can do it!”
































































