Good morning! We are sending a Special Edition of this week's newsletter early to coincide with President Obama's State of the Union Address to Congress this evening.  A brief informational letter will follow on Friday a.m.

Walk with a Doc began as an apolitical entity. For a simple reason: We have no interest in ticking off half our walkers.  This changed about a year ago when we became a bipartisan entity.  Kathryn has a longtime friend, Dan Boren, who is a great leader that has been serving the people of Oklahoma for many years now.  He is a very productive Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ironically, we discovered he is close friends and has jointly introduced multiple bills with my college roommate, also a driven leader, Paul Ryan.  Paul is a Republican representative from the Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District.  Paul would take the shirt off his back for anyone - tremendous individual.  We visited with both friends when last in D.C. and they have offered unending support of Walk with a Doc - including serving on our board.  Tonight, we are once again extremely proud of Paul as he was chosen to give the conservative response to President Obama's address (I asked him to wear his Walk with a Doc shirt; we will find out together what he decided to do).  We are equally thrilled that both parties are sitting together for the President's address.  While you have to wait until tonight to hear from President Obama and later, Congressman Ryan, your State of the Walk Address is now.

2011 State of the Walk Address
 

(After Kathryn announces me, make entrance, shake hands with those behind podium, allow them to sit, pause, and begin)

Madam Stephens, Fellow Health Care Providers, Just Walk Board Members, Fellow Americans, and Friendly Canadian neighbors (confirm fly is zipped):

We started planning WWAD in late 2004. We began with the notion that we had a special window of opportunity.  We were in a unique situation that could serve the overwhelming majority of our patients and the community as a whole with just a little bit of extra effort.  We built our program on the concept of breaking down the barriers to regular physical activity.  Studies continue to prove to no end what we have always believed in our hearts - that exercise is the fountain of youth (Applause).  In cardiovascular disease alone, studies show that regular activity, maintaining a proper weight, not smoking, and eating a healthy diet will reduce a woman's risk by 84%. (Applause)  These four modifiable components alone will reduce a woman's cardiovascular risk by 84% (Applause)  

We are motivated to no end for many reasons.  The volunteerism and devotion of our medical personnel and our community members is unmatched. We have found this attitude homogenous throughout the United States and into Canada.   In addition, we know that exercise is fun and easy.  The fun is in part from the large sustained release of endorphins and serotonin, time with friends, being out in nature, thousands of different ways to pursue fitness, etc.  It's as if we were programmed to want/need to pursue this activity.  The easy is because, well it is easy.  Many of us are fortunate enough that we can walk and for the unfortunate among us who cannot, there are many options that equal, or even surpass, the amazing benefits of walking. 
 

As maybe you've heard us mention in the past, regular exercise can dramatically reduce or eliminate the risk of 40+ diseases, and oh yeah, it makes you feel like a million bucks (Applause, confirm fly is still up) This understood, I would estimate that over 95% of the new patients in our office are getting significantly less than the recommended 150 minutes a week.  As you are aware, this problem is not unique to a cardiology practice in the Midwest.  This is far-reaching and as you know an issue of the utmost concern throughout the U.S. and beyond.   However, when issues as significantly challenging as this are present, there also exists an opportunity to provide a ridiculous amount of positive change.  An opportunity for all of us to be responsible for transforming the way medicine is practiced and delivered within our communities, our states, our countries, and beyond.  Walk with a Doc has been humbled to hear this on multiple occasions from many of our nation's medical leaders.  This is a remarkable responsibility, but one that we hope you will agree, is certainly reachable well within our lifetimes (say with thick JFK accent to evoke memories of 1960's Moon Promise during Inaugural Address). 

(Resume normal accent) 
 

Walk with a Doc, and for that matter, my approach to life, is based on seven (7) essential components - although not in the same order.   These are indelibly etched in my mind.  Fitness, Education, Nutrition, Family, Friends, Charity, and...and...I actually forget the seventh.  Kidding, it's Humor (pause for laughter, if none, continue on).
 

Fitness.  Let me introduce WWAD regular Mr. John Volpi (remind him ahead of time not to wear his T-shirt that says, Danger! Explosives in Rear).  Mr. Volpi, through his dedication to exercise, 30 minutes everyday, and diet has changed his life and improved his health to the point where his physician recently removed his diabetic medication and cut his blood pressure medicine in half (Applause, signal for him to stand and be acknowledged by group).  He is enjoying life more than ever. Thank you for being a shining example of Just Walk. We are proud of you John

As a whole, we have been absolutely thrilled with all of your progress to date.  Most all of you are walking at least 30-45 minutes with us on the weekend and carrying this on throughout the week.  In addition, you are wearing your free, very accurate pedometers provided by Anthem BC/BS and reaching 10,000 on most all days (Applause - Search audience for our Anthem representatives and mouth 'Thank You').  In 2011, we wish to push fitness to new heights.  We will be aiming for 100 or more of our walkers to participate as a group in a fall event,

that will be announced in the near future (wait for crowd murmurs to quiet).   This will be an empowering event that we will steadily be working towards together throughout the year.  Until then, we will continue to not only pursue 150 minutes a week, but work on 10% improvement each week.

Education.  One of our talented physician champions, someone like Dr. Rick Kratche of the Cleveland Clinic, starts with a few minutes of what we believe to be helpful information that can change lives.  This is late breaking medical studies, general prevention advice, or just answering your medical questions - either as a group or in private.   This is something we love to do as physicians and we certainly appreciate your willingness to engage and make us aware of your thoughts.  In 2011, we will be solidifying our panel of experts within each specialty of medicine.  This will help provide you with the most up to date answers to your questions.  Knowledge is power and one of the many cool things about medicine is all the wonderful research and breakthroughs we see all the time.

Family. Family is Everything. (Applause - point and blow kiss to my wife and children and signal for my son to wipe Buffalo wing sauce off his face).   WWAD is a place where families should feel welcome enjoying nature together. We want parents and grandparents setting the examples for the little ones.  Please bring your children to play on the jungle gym.  We have exceptional pediatricians that complement and help complete our program.  Our Nation's Third President Thomas Jefferson profoundly stated "The family that walks and plays together; stays together." (look around nonchalantly to see if anybody realizes I made that up).  A matter of fact, we are thrilled to soon be announcing our first obstetrician leader - and she's a very good one.
 

Friends. Thanks to Kathryn's dedication, the belief of our supporters such as Mount Carmel Health Systems, Anthem BC/BS, and the trust of community leaders, doctors, and nurses around the country - our 'friends' are growing exponentially.  Our collective grassroots effort has always relied upon and will continue to rely on you spreading the word.  This is critical in enabling our acquisition of new physicians, walkers, and sponsors to meet our goals.  There are many that have transportation to the walk as their sole barrier to exercise.  In 2011, we will looking to volunteer drivers, parks on public transit lines, and other creative means to overcome this hurdle.

Charity. So important, but I'm worried this talk has already gone longer than President Obama's.