Mary Rutan Hospital received a special place of honor on the front page of the the Bellefontaine Examiner's February 25, 2013 edition.

Christie Barns, Coordinator of Community Events at the hospital, gave us the scoop. "Our first walk went extremely well and our local paper is a great supporter."

See the attached PDF article for yourself.

From the The Bellefontaine Examiner Staff

Mary Rutan Hospital is set to debut a new program that couples physical activity with expert medical advice. Logan County’s first Walk with a Doc program is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Hilliker YMCA, 300 Sloan Blvd. Walkers will enjoy a refreshing walk with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Robert Anderson and other healthcare professionals, including MRH medical director, Dr. Grant Varian, who will provide support to the walkers and answer questions during the walk.

“JustWalk” is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and wellbeing of the country. The walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. Future walks will be announced online, www.walkwithadoc.org.

According to the American Heart Association, walking as  little as 30 minutes a day can improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels; reduce the risk of osteoporosis; help maintain a health body weight; and enhance mental well-being. Walk with a Doc was created by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist who practices at Mt. Carmel Health Systems in Columbus. The program will be further detailed in MRH’s Healthy Habits focus article that appears in a display ad Saturday in the Examiner.

Benjamin Franklin quipped, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” These words are especially true when it comes to heart disease and disproportionate cardiovascular issues in the Mississippi Delta.

Therefore, Delta Regional Medical Center in partnership with the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA and the Greenville Mall are launching a Walk with a Doc Program this Saturday, February 16, at the Greenville Mall at 8 a.m.

“Delta Regional Medical Center is thrilled to bring this FREE program to our community as a fun way to encourage physical fitness as one simple step with the primary goal of improving health of the residents throughout our community,” said Terri Lane, DRMC director of public relations.

The walks will include refreshments and short educational talks from physicians on various healthcare topics. The first 50 people to show up Saturday will receive free pedometers to track the number of steps they take and make better health an issue uppermost in their minds.

“The American College of Cardiology endorses the Walk with a Doc program as a proven way to create healthier communities and a solid mechanism to reduce the negative impact of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabete0,s and cardiovascular disease,” states Dr. Michael Mansour, Greenville cardiologist and President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. “As the Mississippi Delta ranks highest in our state in deaths from cardiovascular disease, this program is a perfect fit to begin reversing the trend. Our community is the first in the state to launch a Walk with a Doc program and I am excited to be the lead physician at our walk this Saturday!”

Walk with A Doc is designed to encourage movement, fitness, and activity at the individual’s fitness level. According to the American College of Cardiology, just a few minutes of walking each day has been proven to reduce risks for heart disease such as hypertension and high cholesterol and prostate, colon, and breast cancers. Walking is a great exercise that does not place undue stress on the joints.

“The stated mission of the program involves encouragement of people of different fitness and ability levels to get out and walk,” Lane explained. “This is a great opportunity for families, friends, and coworkers to come out and encourage each other in a non-competitive way. Everyone walks at their own pace and the key idea is to have fun and to become healthier.”

Walks will take place on a monthly basis; plans are to move the walks to an outdoor venue in the coming months. Web surfers can like the Delta Regional Medical Center Walks with A Doc on Facebook and follow the events on Twitter (@justwalkevents) or view the schedule at walkwithadoc.org/our-locations/drmc. For more information, call the DRMC public relations department at 662-725-2322.