In 1896, a group of more than 100 women founded Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital.

Now, more than a century later, Sparrow is showing its commitment to women’s health by sponsoring the Centerpoint 2000 lecture series.

This year’s lecture will be given at 7 p.m. today in the Kellogg Center by Joan Borysenko, a psychologist and medical scientist who will deliver a speech titled “The Power of the Mind to Heal.”

“I wanted to let women know that for every age group there’s a road map out there to help you figure out where you are and where you are going,” she said.

The annual lecture series focuses on various aspects of women’s health.

The series is sponsored by Sparrow’s Women’s Services, the Board of Managers, and the Center for Health, Humanities and Well-being.

Saralee Howard, a Sparrow community relations representative, said the series tries to take a balanced approach to women’s issues.

“(The series) looks at psychological issues, spiritual issues and physical issues as well,” Howard said.

Borysenko noted women often lack mentors and thus must figure out how to balance the different aspects of their lives.

“We really didn’t know how to balance work and family,”she said. “At the same time, a lot of younger women now are asking questions like, ‘How do I keep my life in balance?’”

She received a doctorate in medical sciences from Harvard University and conducted postgraduate research in experimental pathology, behavioral medicine and psychoneuroimmunology - which examines how attitudes, and emotions affect the immune system.

Borysenko founded the Colorado-based Mind-Body Health Sciences Inc. The center trains professionals in women’s health, offers retreats and performs “mind-body healing.”

And she said she feels women will benefit from her uplifting message.

“I wanted to do something that focuses on our wisdom instead of our deterioration,” she said. “Most women are good at taking care of everybody else and horrible at taking care of themselves. My goal is to educate and empower women.”