Dunwoody Launches Walk With A Doc Program

Free monthly walk events encourage exercise, outdoor activity and guidance on healthy lifestyle practices

Dunwoody, GA – August 17, 2017 – Beginning this September, the City of Dunwoody and program partner Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, provide community members of all ages with a chance to take active steps toward better health through the new Walk with a Doc program. The kickoff Walk with a Doc event will take place on September 9, 2017 at Brook Run Park (4770 N. Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody) from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The free Walk with a Doc monthly exercise and education initiative takes place the second Saturday of each month. The program is focused on getting participants active in a Dunwoody park while conferring with a healthcare professional host who can provide support to walkers and answer questions during the walk.

The host for the September 9th Walk with a Doc event is Dr. Stephen Szabo, director of community oncology at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Saint Joseph's who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and benign hematology. Dr. Szabo will lead walkers on a refreshing and rejuvenating stroll along the Dunwoody Trailway while providing information and answering questions on a number of health and exercise related topics.

Walk with a Doc is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve health and well-being. Healthy snacks, coffee and blood pressure checks are also a standard part of Dunwoody’s Walk with a Doc walking program.

“There’s no question that increasing exercise, even moderately, reduces the risks or many diseases, including heart disease, breast and colon cancer,” said Szabo. “I’m very pleased to be a part of this exciting and simple program which offers an opportunity for improved health results for so many people in and around the Dunwoody community.”

According to the American Heart Association, walking as little as 30 minutes a day can provide lasting benefits, including:

Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Help maintain a healthy body weight and lower the risk of obesity
Enhance mental well-being
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis

This is a free program and pre-registration is not required. Future walks will be announced via the Walk with a Doc website, www.walkwithadoc.org. Walk with a Doc was created by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist who practices at Mount Carmel Health Systems in Columbus, OH and has been walking every weekend since 2005. The expansion and support of the program also comes from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

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For more information regarding the City of Dunwoody, please contact Ashley Butts, Marketing and PR Manager, at 678-382-6700 or ashley.butts@dunwoodyga.gov.

About the City of Dunwoody, Georgia

Dunwoody is located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, Georgia and was officially incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008. The City of Dunwoody provides quality service to its citizens and supports the largest economic engine in the Southeast by planning in a careful and thoughtful manner. The City of Dunwoody is inventive, transparent and embraces responsible progress, tempered by the city’s rich history and strong desire to maintain a close and vibrant community atmosphere that values family life and the entrepreneurial spirit. The City of Dunwoody supports and nurtures a community dedicated to the preservation of family, education, religious institutions, and the environment.

About Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital is Atlanta's longest-serving hospital. Today, the 410-bed, acute-care facility is recognized as one of the top specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast. Emory Saint Joseph’s is a leader among all Georgia hospitals and is part of the Emory Healthcare system.

About Walk With a Doc

Walk with a Doc (WWAD) is a non-profit organization that encourages healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country. To learn more, go to www.walkwithadoc.org.

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