Pictured: Dr. Wee, Howard Lee and the walking group on their walk in Mililani.
By Tina Shelton, JABSOM Communications Director
Every Saturday morning in 46 states — Hawaiʻi included — medical doctors join regular folks for a stroll in a program called “Walk with a Doc,” started in 2005 by a physician who wanted his patients to get healthier.
We spoke to one of our John A. Burns School of Medicine alumna about her experience as a weekend health warrior.
Theresa Young Wee, M.D. (JABSOM MD 1979), a Pediatrician, started her nonprofit 501C3 organization, “Walk With A Doc-Oʻahu” two years ago. “My passion has always been promoting good health in our keiki, as well as preventing pediatric obesity,” said Dr. Wee, whose practice is in Waipio Gentry.
Dr. Wee held several Family Obesity Workshop Sessions in her office, but she still wanted to reach more families in her central Oʻahu community. That is when she stepped up her outreach to them through “Walk with a Doc.” She meets her group — anyone who wants to come — at Central Oʻahu Regional Park (C.O.R.P.) near the tennis courts every Saturday, “rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.”
“I start out with a new health tip weekly, followed by a warm up, then we all walk for 50 minutes and regroup to cool down and stretch. I have fruit refreshments and water for all walkers,” said Dr. Wee.
She loves the project because people of all ages come out to walk with her, and it is free for everyone.
