Scott & White Memorial Hospital – Temple announces the launch of a new "Walk with a Doc" program in coordination with Get Fit Temple, part of the Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness, and the Scott & White Health Plan. On Saturday, February 20th, William Bohannon, MD, FACS, vascular surgeon at Scott & White Memorial, will lead the first walk at Lions Park located at 4320 Lions Park Road, Temple beginning at 9 a.m.
Walkers will enjoy a brief, informative discussion on the vascular system of the legs before setting off on a refreshing and rejuvenating walk with Dr. Bohannon, who will continue the conversation and answer questions during the walk.
Dr. Bohannon encourages anyone in the community to join the walk.
This is a FREE program and pre-registration is not required. Walks will be held the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. at Temple Lions Park. The Temple "Walk with a Doc" program is part of a state-wide initiative funded by a grant from the Texas Medical Association Foundation with major support from the Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust.
"Increasing exercise, even moderately, reduces the risks of many diseases, including coronary heart disease, breast and colon cancer and Type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Bohannon. "Research has even shown that you could gain two hours of life for each hour that you exercise regularly."
According to the American Heart Association, health benefits from walking as little as 30 minutes a day include:
- Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
- Help maintain a healthy body weight and lower the risk of obesity
- Enhance mental well-being
- Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
"Walk with a Doc allows physicians to interact with their patients outside the office, where they can see their doctors practice what they preach. What's discussed in the office is put in motion outside the office," said Debbie Fuller, MD, vice president of the TMA Foundation and immediate past chair of the TMA Council on Health Promotion. She said patients" comments and questions during the walks tend to feed off of one another as they discuss general health and lifestyle issues with a person they trust — their physician.
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com