We were born to move! There are so many incredible ways that movement is beneficial for both our mental and physical wellness. Movement can come in all forms - yoga, running, biking, swimming, hiking, and so on. But one of the simplest ways to move is by simply walking! Walking requires no gym membership, no fancy athletic clothing, and no equipment. As a primary care physician, I think it is so important to remind patients how much a little bit of movement each day can do for physical and mental health.
Walk with a Doc is a national non-profit organization started by David Sagbir, MD, a cardiologist in Columbus, OH. He noticed a need for more physical activity among his patients as they continue to recover from their heart disease. It was easy to remind them to be active but difficult to motivate them to be ambitious and consistent with their exercise routine. So Dr. Sabgir invited his patients to join him for a walk on a Saturday morning in a local park. This simple invitation turned into a regular event with patients and colleagues attending to engage in fellowship and movement. Now the program has expanded across the country and the world. Physicians lead chapters within their local community and invite patients and other providers to walk with them for 60 minutes on Saturday mornings.
Two years ago I helped to bring the program Walk with a Future Doc to the West Virginia University School of Medicine. The goal was to engage medical students with local providers and community members. It was to be beneficial for both medical students and community members. We hoped to use the same model as Dr. Sabgir and meet in a local park to engage in fellowship and movement with community members.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused our program to adopt a new format due to social distancing guidelines. What we thought would be an awesome way to get medical students, providers, and patients to be active turned into something much different than we ever imagined. It took some creativity, learning, and technology to convert walks to a virtual format and engage participants from all over the Mountain State. We decided to host our events via ZOOM and encourage participants to show their videos as the group walks together virtually.
At first, we were not too sure how things would go, but the virtual format allowed our program to expand beyond our home city of Morgantown, WV. We formed a faithful group of followers who attend every week and ask insightful and thought-provoking questions related to health and wellness.
Each walk begins with a 15-minute presentation by a health care provider (MD, DO, RN, PT, PhD, etc.) on the topic of their choice. For the remainder of the hour, participants are encouraged to ask questions and engage with the speaker via audio or chat functions. It has been amazing to see people tune in from sunny beaches, snowy mountainsides, state parks, and even their living rooms to learn about health and medicine. Movement is accepted in any form based individual abilities and resources.
Since our first walk in June 2020, Walk with A Future Doc at WVU SOM has reached 13 counties in WV, 15 US states, and 5 countries across the globe. Some of the topics we have entertained include:
"Skin Protection 101"
"Effects of Chronic Disease Effects on Weight"
"Sleep Hygiene - Do's and Dont's"
“A Walk a Day Will Keep the Doctor Away”
“Weight Bias”
Being a leader in this organization for my medical school has allowed me to engage with others in a way that is fulfilling my passions for wellness, validating the use of a medical education, and connecting me with so many peers, providers, and community members. I have given two talks myself. One on the "Mediterranean Lifestyle" and the other on "Gut Health". This organization has challenged me as a leader and public speaker.
Just last month I was invited to give the health talk at Dr. Sagbir's program at Highbanks Metro Park in Columbus, OH. It was a great privilege to be there and interact with some lovely and well-educated community members whom I encouraged to eat fiber and schedule their colonoscopies. I also handed out my recipe for Quinoa Stuffed Peppers! What I loved about their group is that each member walks at their own pace and skill level. Some walked a very flat and short route. Others invited me to adventure with them through the hills and trees. The conversation and morale of the group were amazing. They had us sticking around for over 2 hours, sharing recipes, book and Netflix recommendations, and life advice! I hope I have the opportunity to join them again in the future.
I have been so blessed with the opportunity to be a part of Walk with a Future Doc. This program has showed me how creative the field of medicine can be outside of the doctor's office. I believe it is wellness programs like these that are the future of healthcare. I hope to continue promoting, attending, and developing programs like these in the future as I find my role in medicine.
If you are interested in joining WVU SOM's Walk with A Future Doc program, you can sign up for our newsletter using this link! We will resume walks in Fall 2022 with a mixture of virtual and in-person walks in Morgantown, WV. We also have many of our previous walks recorded and posted to our YouTube Channel. I encourage you to take a walk on your own time and play a recording as if it was a podcast.
I would be so happy to connect with anyone who is interested in attending a walk, speaking at one of our events, or wanting to start up their own program. You can find information on chapters local chapters and how to start a new chapter by visiting https://walkwithadoc.org/. This program has really helped me as a medical student interact with attending, practice patient education, and keep in touch with my own wellbeing. I cannot say enough good things about this program and the opportunities it continues to provide. Looking forward to the future.
Read more about our program below!
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