Annette Medina
For many participants, Walk with a Doc is a monthly opportunity to get outside, connect with others, and take a step toward better health. For longtime walker Annette Medina, it has become something even more: a reminder that healthy habits and meaningful connections can follow you wherever life takes you.
Annette, who has attended Walk with a Doc programs in San Antonio, Texas for more than a decade, found herself experiencing the program in a whole new way during a trip to Valencia, Spain in September 2025.
“I am an avid walker,” Annette shared. “When I went to Valencia for an extended visit, I decided to check out the Valencia chapter of Walk with a Doc.”
For Annette, the decision felt natural. She began taking her health seriously about fifteen years ago and has embraced the concept of “stepping” toward better health ever since.
“I started walking seriously in 2010 and embraced the concept of stepping toward better health regardless of where you are in the world,” she said. “I am also a curious person and wanted to enjoy walking with people from another country.”
What she discovered was a powerful reminder that while each Walk with a Doc chapter is unique, the mission remains the same.
The Valencia chapter meets weekly during the school year and focuses on children and families. Founded by pediatricians Dr. Julio Alvarez-Pitti and Dr. Maria Isabel Torró, the walks are part of a multidisciplinary program called Program Atención Integral Obesidad Infantil (PAIDO), which supports children who are at higher risk of developing health concerns related to weight.
Parents or guardians attend alongside their children, creating an environment centered on family support, encouragement, and healthy habits.
One of the traditions that stood out most to Annette was the chapter’s year-end celebration.
“At the end of the school year, they have a get-together with the families at the park where they share healthy food, give medals to the children who participated, and a grand prize to the family who attended the walk the most.”
The setting itself was also unforgettable.
While many of the walks Annette attends in Texas take place in local parks or on walking tracks, the Valencia chapter walks through Turia Garden, a vibrant park built on a former riverbed.
“When we were walking, you could see hundreds of people exercising—walking, running, biking, using exercise equipment, participating in dance, yoga, and tai chi classes. It was just a great vibe to see.”
But what left the biggest impression wasn’t the scenery. It was the people.
What left the biggest impression on Annette, though, was the sense of care and connection she witnessed throughout the walks.
She remembers seeing families make time for the program despite busy schedules and responsibilities. One evening, a father came straight from work to attend with his daughter, who had an intellectual disability. On another walk, she met a family from Venezuela whose uncle accompanied his nephew because the child’s mother was home caring for a sick sibling.
“I just saw that as a real commitment from the family,” Annette said.
She was also struck by the enthusiasm of the physicians leading the program.
“I was just impressed with the excitement that the two doctors showed to the children being there with their parents and families. They made it a point to talk to each of the children.”
Together, those moments reflected the supportive, family-centered atmosphere that made the Valencia chapter so memorable.
These moments reinforced what Annette has experienced throughout her years with Walk with a Doc: the power of community.
For anyone hesitant about attending their first Walk with a Doc event, Annette offers simple advice:
“Just do it. Go ahead and step out of your comfort zone.”
She admits she wasn’t sure what to expect when she attended her first walk in Valencia.
“I was asked to introduce myself and tell them a little bit about how I ended up joining them, and they were just so surprised and pleased that I joined them.”
Her experience serves as a reminder that Walk with a Doc is more than a local program: it’s a global community.
“You can do this anywhere there is a Walk with a Doc program.”
After more than a decade of involvement, Annette says walking has become her go-to activity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“You don’t need any equipment. Just a good pair of walking shoes and the desire to improve your health lifestyle.”
Whether in Texas, Spain, or anywhere in between, Annette’s story highlights one of the most remarkable things about Walk with a Doc: wherever life takes you, there may be a Walk with a Doc there waiting for you. In a world often divided by distance, language, and culture, walking remains a simple activity without borders; one that brings people together, one step at a time.
