DATE: Friday, June 6, 1997                  TAG: 9706040128

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP! 

SOURCE: BY SUSAN SMITH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   78 lines

HUSBAND-AND-WIFE DOCTORS MAKE AWARD-WINNING VIDEO

Dr. Harold J. Marioneaux Jr., a dentist and pathology professor at Old Dominion University, and Dr. Stephanie J. Marioneaux, an eye physician and surgeon, care about more than just teeth and eyes.

Several years ago, the husband-and-wife team formed H.J. Marioneaux Productions to make public-service videos about a variety of medical issues, such as prostate cancer, organ donation, depression, proper exercise and good nutrition.

In April, one of their 90-second health spots was awarded the Jules Bergman Award by the National Association of Physician Broadcasters for its excellence in health communication. Physicians and medical journalists determine the annual award, which is based on instructional design, production and performance. The announcement was made at the American Medical Communications and Health Reporting Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif.

``Proper health care and preventive health measures make such a positive difference for a long and healthy life,'' said Stephanie Marioneaux. ``There are many simple steps most of us could take such as using sun screen, eating healthy, exercising and having annual check-ups. We want to pass along that information.''

The production company is just one of the many accomplishments of the busy couple.

Harold Marioneaux, originally from North Carolina, was a U.S. Navy dentist stationed in Portsmouth. Stephanie Marioneaux was raised in Washington and Paris. She attended the University of the Sorbonne and later, Harvard Medical School.

In 1989, Harold Marioneaux opened a private dental practice in Portsmouth. On a trip to Boston, his future wife's 75-year-old cousin and his 75-year-old cousin played matchmakers when they introduced the two doctors.

After they were married, Stephanie Marioneaux, who specializes in corneal transplants and diseases of the eye, started her practice in Chesapeake. She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

In the early 1990s, when a severe hand injury forced Harold Marioneaux to close his office, he donated his dental equipment to the Chesapeake Care Free Clinic, and moved on with other plans. With his wife and sister-in-law, Lisa Jones, he started a production company, and he now teaches at ODU.

To make a video, they select an idea, sketch their intent and research the facts. Then Jones, an attorney who lives in Los Angeles, writes the script.

Harold Marioneaux canvases for corporate sponsors and works with the graphics, lighting and cameras.

Stephanie Marioneaux appears on camera to present in laymen's terms facts, figures and advice about the presented topic. Often hours of filming are edited down to seconds of broadcast time.

So far, they have produced 13 ``Health Street'' videos, which have been shown by WJCB-TV and WVBT-TV. Four, 90-second health programs, have aired in North Carolina, Virginia and California. And they have filmed eight ``Portraits of Excellence,'' which include subjects such as women in medicine or a day in the life of a vascular surgeon.

``We have also benefited and learned from our own work,'' said Stephanie Marioneaux.

Two of her family members, who viewed the breast cancer film, discovered they had similar symptoms and sought medical help.

``Some of the facts and figures we reviewed are startling,'' said Harold Marioneaux.

For example, Harold Marioneaux said that more than 38,000 men die each year from prostate cancer, although the disease is treatable if detected early.

Stephanie Marioneaux added the number of incidences of skin cancer have increased 800 percent. Last year there were about 700,000 reported cases.

For their next project, the couple plans plan to discuss diabetes and hypertension. They said that although many people talk about high blood pressure, they do not know what body changes make their pressure high. And for every discovered case of diabetes, there is an undetected case. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY

A 90-second TV spot by Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, left, and her

husband, Dr. Harold Marioneaux, was recognized by the National

Association of Physician Broadcasters for its excellence in health

communication.

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