The Long Island Health Collaborative is proud to announce its third annual AARP Long Island-sponsored Walk with a Doc series. Long Islanders are invited to join the two organizations and their physician partners at the following free community walks on the third Saturday of May, June, September, and October.
The series aims to tackle chronic disease through free community walks where physicians will briefly speak about how attendees can prevent or better manage chronic conditions in their own lives through simple lifestyle choices like a balanced diet and regular physical activity before leading attendees on a walk where they can ask the doc questions and keep the conversation going.
All walks are free and walkers must register in advance to attend. State parking fees are waived. Learn more and register for each walk at the links below.
Walk with a Doc: Belmont Lake
Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 10 AM
Belmont Lake State Park
Led by Dr. Keasha S. Guerrier, Family Medicine, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital
Walk with a Doc: Sunken Meadow
Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 10 AM
Sunken Meadow State Park, New York State Reference Route 908K, Kings Park, NY 11754
Led by Dr. Anupama Paranandi, Preventive Medicine Resident, Stony Brook Medicine
Special guest speakers from Suffolk County DOH’s Office of Minority Health and the Long Island Sound Study will discuss increasing equitable access to the Long Island Sound in the region and the Long Island Sound Estuary Program
Walk with a Doc: Hempstead Lake
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10 AM
Hempstead Lake State Park
Led by Dr. Gerard A. Baltazar, Critical Care Surgeon, NYU Langone Hospital
Why take a walk in the (New York State) park?
According to the New York State Department of Health, chronic diseases such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, health disease, and stroke are the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. These conditions account for seven of every ten deaths and affect 90 million Americans. The good news is that these diseases are preventable with simple lifestyle choices, such as regular physical activity and a balanced diet. Walking is a simple, free way to get in regular physical activity that can help you manage or even prevent chronic conditions.
It’s no secret that Long Island is home to a multitude of scenic locations that lend themselves to safe, beautiful walking opportunities. In 2024, New York State Parks and Historic Sites also celebrates their Centennial, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of our parks and sites system. Three of our four 2024 walks will be held at New York State Parks.
For more information about Walk with a Doc, contact Brooke Oliveri, Manager of the Long Island Health Collaborative at boliveri@nshc.org or call (631)963-4167.
—Submitted by Long Island Health Collaborative
