Title
To honor and recognize David Sabgir, MD, for creating the Walk with a Doc program and expanding the program to a national and international level.
Body
WHEREAS, Walk with a Doc is an outstanding program that encourages people of all ages to be physically active; and
WHEREAS, the program was created in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a board-certified cardiologist at Mount Carmel St. Ann's Hospital as a way for patients to walk and talk with a doctor in-between normal visits; and
WHEREAS, the free fitness program attracts more than 200 walkers each week and seeks to reverse sedentary lifestyles and create healthier communities around the country; and
WHEREAS, the Walk with a Doc program has a national presence in nine states including Ohio, and an international presence in Canada; and
WHEREAS, over 20 physicians have joined in leading the charge to expand the program in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Places program at Columbus Public Health is incorporating Walk with a Doc into the Healthy Places' Columbus Walks Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Public Health is partnering with Walk with a Doc's Wendy Anderson-Willis, MD., and pediatrician at Nationwide Children's Hospital who will mentor and walk regularly with Columbus residents from the Near East area and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the partnership between Columbus Public Health and Walk with a Doc will benefit by a pre/post evaluation of the Columbus Walks Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus plans to enhance its relationship with the Walk with a Doc program to assist in the city's effort to tackle the obesity epidemic; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and recognize Dr. David Sabgir for creating the Walk with a Doc program and expanding the program to a national and international level.