Dallas physicians Erica Solis, DO, and Sarah Ashitey, MD, are celebrating two important anniversaries in April – one year of their West Dallas chapter of Walk with a Doc (WWAD) Texas, and 20 years of the national WWAD program, which they say has strengthened patients’ trust in health care and those who provide it.
“Two decades of this … amazing, wonderful program,” said Dr. Solis, a pediatrician. “We really love this event and appreciate support from TMA that [enables] us to bring Walk with a Doc to our communities.”
WWAD is a nonprofit organization that sponsors free, doctor-led walks in mostly outdoor venues worldwide, lasting 30 to 90 minutes, and usually meeting once a month. Before each walk, the physician walk host or an invited guest gives a quick talk to attendees on trending medical topics.
“Part of Walk with a Doc is not just movement, but socialization,” Marinel Munda, MD, told TMA Health Beat last fall, emphasizing its role in helping build connections for young patients facing mental health struggles post-pandemic.
Texas joined the movement with two chapters in 2012 but now leads the country in the number of chapters, at 62. The Texas Medical Association has covered members’ $2,100 walk start-up and renewal costs – which include merchandise and liability coverage for members’ walk chapters – for 13 of its 20 years. The national program is raffling off prizes to walkers who check-in at WWAD events with their smartphone. The first drawing will take place April 9th and then continue each month throughout the year. Raffle prizes include shoes, WWAD merch, and more.
Drs. Solis and Ashitey began their WWAD Texas chapter in April of last year with a generous grant from TMA, which covered the pair’s startup costs and provided free t-shirts to every participant.
At the start of the event, held every third Saturday of the month in the Tipton Park pavilion, the physician duo discusses trending topics in medicine and meets personally with each community member, some coming back each month for the weekend walks.
“This program works to enhance the relationship we physicians have with our patients,” Dr. Ashitey said. “One positive effect these walks have had on my patients is knowing that we’re here to help them move towards a healthier life, both inside and outside of the clinic.”
As the one-year anniversary of their chapter looms and as the program turns 20 the Dallas physicians are thankful for what the program has done for their community.
Dr. Ashitey, a family medicine physician, says the program has enabled some of her older patients to gain more mobility in their daily lives, including one patient who transitioned from using a wheelchair to a cane after months of movement, and most importantly, encouragement.
“This program doesn’t just get people moving once a month. It promotes continual health and wellness,” Dr. Solis said. “The people I speak to at these walks go home and continue to prioritize exercise and movement. I’ve had many come back and report positive outcomes.”
In conjunction with a community organization they both belong to, Drs. Solis and Ashitey plan to celebrate both April anniversaries with a litter cleanup that will give participants the opportunity to discuss medicine while beautifying their community.
Physicians can find a local WWAD chapter to support or fill out a short form on the WWAD website to receive a guide to getting started.
TMA’s Walk with a Doc Texas is funded by TMA Foundation with generous support from TMA Insurance Trust, and gifts from other institutions, physicians and their families.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469