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  • Students Reach Academic Goals with Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program

    Students Reach Academic Goals with Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program

    The continual rise of college tuition costs presents challenges for many students looking to affordably continue their education after high school. The Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program (JTS) offers scholarships to children of eligible 1199SEIU members to support undergraduate study at accredited universities. The award—which can help pay for tuition, books and personal expenses—is renewable up to the age of 23. See how a few recent graduates have put the program into action below, and learn more about the Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program.

    Andre Cheng

    Degrees received: Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University

    Andre used his scholarship to pursue his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, and continued on as a medical student. In 2018 he received an MD from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Andre believes the need-based awards he received during his undergraduate work were essential in funding his college education.

    Katelynne Bazile

    Degree received: Bachelor of Arts from Newbury College

    Katelynne graduated from Newbury College Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology. She was the 2017 recipient of the President’s Award for academic excellence, and was selected to be the student speaker at graduation. Outside of the classroom, Bazile has served as an Executive Admissions Ambassador, Resident Assistant, Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor. She used her JTS award for all four years of her undergraduate degree.

  • Maria Rodriguez: Member Profile

    Maria Rodriguez: Member Profile

    Maria Rodriguez

    With the help of her coverage, Maria Rodriguez received the care she needed and took control of her health.

    Hypertension has been a part of Maria Rodriguez’s life for as long as she can remember. The condition runs in her family, with one of her seven siblings suffering a heart attack and another needing two open-heart surgeries. But when Maria’s 55-year-old brother, Raymond, died after a cardiac arrest in 2013, Maria, a Secretary II at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, knew it was time to have her heart checked. On a co-worker’s recommendation, Maria made an appointment with a doctor, and after a physical exam and an EKG test, the doctor told her that the results were concerning. Two days later, Maria suffered a heart attack.

    “I’ll never forget the day it happened,” Maria said. She and her husband, Luis, were in bed when she suddenly felt a burning sensation in her chest. Before her checkup, she would have written the pain off as indigestion, but she knew that it could be something more serious. “Going to the doctor when I did saved my life,” Maria said. Her left artery was 99 percent blocked, and she had to have a stent inserted.

    The benefits I receive as an 1199SEIU member are amazing. They allowed me to find a doctor who really cared about me and is committed to helping me live a healthier life.

    Maria Rodriguez

    Secretary II

    Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx

    Since her heart attack, Maria has worked with her doctor to make lifestyle changes to improve her heart health, like altering her eating habits to include more vitamin-rich vegetables to control her blood pressure. Maria has also started walking during her lunch break three times a week, a low-impact exercise that is easy for her to fit into her busy schedule.

    “The benefits I receive as an 1199SEIU member are amazing,” Maria said. “They allowed me to find a doctor who really cared about me and is committed to helping me live a healthier life.” Now, she is feeling better and looking forward to seeing her daughter, Diamond, graduate from college: “I’m so grateful for the second chance my benefits have given me.”

    For Your Benefit Magazine

  • ChoosingWisely.org

    ChoosingWisely.org

    When it comes to medical tests and treatments, more is not always better. Although a number of them are commonly prescribed, many are frequently overused and unnecessary. That’s why your 1199SEIU Benefit Funds would like to connect you with ChoosingWisely.org — an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation — to assist you in making sound healthcare decisions for yourself and your family, as well as help stretch valuable benefit dollars.

    Being informed — knowing how, where and when to access medical care — can help you protect your health, avoid hassles and recover from illness faster. Helpful resources include lists of tests and procedures that may be overused, questions to ask your physician, and brochures and videos that explain appropriate care recommended by medical specialty societies.

    Visit ChoosingWisely.org

    Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice. The contents of this website, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
  • Episode One: Meet Your Pension Counselor

    Episode One: Meet Your Pension Counselor

  • Episode Two: How Do I Earn My Pension Benefit?

    Episode Two: How Do I Earn My Pension Benefit?

  • Episode Three: How Much Will My Pension Be?

    Episode Three: How Much Will My Pension Be?

  • Episode Four: How Do I Apply for My Pension Benefit?

    Episode Four: How Do I Apply for My Pension Benefit?

  • Episode Five: What Are My Pension Options?

    Episode Five: What Are My Pension Options?

  • Episode Six: Am I Eligible for Retiree Health Benefits?

    Episode Six: Am I Eligible for Retiree Health Benefits?

  • Episode Seven: After Retirement

    Episode Seven: After Retirement