Walk with a Doc program in Chicago Heights offers expert health tips along with a good stroll

Chicago Tribune

a day ago

Area residents who want to learn more about improving their health and get some exercise at the same time have a new way to do just that thanks to Walk With a Doc, which meets at 11 a.m. Fridays through Aug. 22 at the Jones Memorial Community Center, 220 E. 15th St. in Chicago Heights.
The national program, which began in Ohio in 2005, features a short presentation by a health care provider followed by stretching and a walk.
Justin Davis, Franciscan Health community health improvement coordinator, has lined up speakers for the free program such as a diabetes specialist, a health screening coordinator and someone who will address issues related to mental health.
'I'm going to have someone give a presentation for about 15 minutes, and then afterward I'll lead the walk,' he said. 'The walk may not be an hour – it might only be 30 minutes – because I don't know if everybody can walk far distances. … We have a part I've mapped out for everybody on how the walk will go once we get there.'
If weather allows, the walk will take place on the sidewalk by the community center. 'If not, we can use a gymnasium or other rooms where we can walk,' he said.
Those who join the walk should plan to wear comfortable clothing such as shorts, T-shirts or sweats. 'We don't want you wearing anything professional,' Davis joked.
Attendees will be sitting during the presentation. 'You'll not be standing the majority of the time,' he said.
The center offers plenty of parking. 'The place is big and it's been around over 100 years,' Davis shared, adding that he'll be near the front entrance with the center's manager so people will know where to go.
Davis is enthusiastic about Walk With a Doc, which Franciscan Health in Lake County, Indiana, formally joined back in 2017. 'This program happens (already) in Indiana. It's my first time. I'm excited to see how it goes and I'll learn with everyone else,' he said. 'We wanted to try it here, wanted to expand.'
The community's response thus far has been lighter than Davis hoped. Ten people attended the first presentation July 18 by dietitian Tara Allen, a diabetes specialist, but only one person joined the walk that day.
'I would say the walk did not meet my expectations. I thought more people would be present,' he said. The second event also was lightly attended.
'One of my main goals is seeing the community turn out for the event. I also want them to learn something and engage with the physician and whoever the presenter may be,' Davis shared. 'I want them to take something home, invite their families and friends, so it goes farther than just this.'
He added that he'll know it's starting to succeed because the number of participants will increase even as others continue to attend.
'I want it to be the same people showing up. If it's new people showing up, I'm cool with that, but if it's different people every week, I don't want that,' Davis explained. 'That means they don't see the need for this program. So if it's new people coming, they probably heard about it, but if it's only one person, I won't think that's very successful.'
He expects some people may come for the presentation while others will be interested in the walk. 'I think it will be more social because people know each other and they'll get to talking. Maybe they haven't seen each other for a while, so it will be like a social thing too.'
Adding the Walk With a Doc program to the community center was a natural fit, said Juana Morales, its interim executive director.
'The community center has been networking with Franciscan systems for many years. They do workshops like today we have Healthy Choices with the children, and they sponsor a meal, lunch with Chick-fil-A for 120 people,' she said. 'They sponsor back to school festival book bags. They do many things for us.'
In November, the center hosted Healthy Choices, Healthy Cooking, 'and that was Justin,' she said. 'He's a sweet person and a nice person who is trying to help the community.'
Morales believes exercise is important at every age.
'A lot of times we don't take the initiative, and then when we're trying to do it, the old people, it's too late. We're sick and cannot even walk. It's a good thing to get into young people. We had a young kid who came with his mother,' she said. 'A lot of our young children are beginning to get sick with diabetes, obesity, and part of that is our fault too. But if we start (exercising) earlier, then we can prevent a lot of illnesses or diseases.'
She plans to participate in the program when she can. 'I am over 60, and it's good for us to walk too,' she shared, adding that long periods of sitting can make it hard to get up and lead to stiff joints. 'So walking, mobility, is what keeps us alive.'
Morales hopes Walk With a Doc will help the community. 'There are a lot of seniors, more seniors than used to be (around) when we were growing up. At 40, you were an old person back then. Nowadays, we need to keep walking to keep working,' she said. 'We need to stay in good health. I'm walking as much as I can so I can be healthy.'
She also wants to help build up the program. 'What I want from our community is to get engaged. It's hard to get to the community, to get them out and to start something,' she said. 'I invited 10 people and two came. … It's hard to build regulars.'
Despite low turnout thus far, Morales is determined to make this work. 'We don't give up – I never give up.'
On-site registration starts at 10:45 a.m. the day of the program. For information, email Davis at [e-mail].