Rheumatologist Amanda Nelson, MD, MSCR, Walks with Patients to Encourage Physical Activity

So far, up to two dozen people have regularly participated in the walks, which typically include physicians, researchers, staff and patients. To boost participation, Dr. Nelson is exploring unique ways to market the program. For example, she tells patients to bring along their friends and family members, both the two-legged and four-legged variety. She brings her parents who have arthritis and also her 17-month-old daughter who, surprisingly, is able to walk most of the path.

The program has also been promoted in several newsletters, including Vital Signs, a monthly email newsletter that’s distributed to employees throughout the university’s School of Medicine. The newsletter recently highlighted Dr. Nelson and the Walk with a Doc program.

Dr. Nelson’s mother and daughter both participate in the one-mile walks.

She has also partnered with the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA), a coalition of different organizations that draw national attention to OA and is housed in the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. The organization has promoted the program on its website and in its biweekly newsletter.

“It doesn’t matter to me if it’s specifically our patients attending,” she says, adding that her outreach efforts also target individuals who access UNC’s Wellness Center or local senior center or live in the nearby retirement communities. “We’re happy to walk with anybody and talk with people about arthritis or any health topic.”

Not everyone is able to walk the full mile. She points to one woman who was concerned she could not keep pace with the rest of the group. Another rheumatologist walks with her, often turning around midway, making sure she feels safe and is not left behind or left out.

Across Boundaries

Dr. Nelson hopes the program attracts other physicians at the university, such as those who practice cardiology, internal medicine and geriatrics. Since the program’s founder is a cardiologist, she says most members nationwide are cardiologists. However, she says the program is able to cross medical disciplines and can help people afflicted with different diseases.

Meanwhile, the Walk with a Doc’s website features lecturettes, which are three- to five-minute talks that are packed with patient information and tips regarding heart disease or general medicine that doctors can present to patients before each walk. Dr. Nelson hopes to produce similar presentations that cover arthritis and other rheumatology-related conditions that can be available on the organization’s website.

Until then, she writes her own informal, short speeches that feature the general benefits of exercise, physical ailments that can improve as a result of walking, ways to incorporate physical activity into people’s daily routine and how to assess whether an individual’s activity level is minimal, moderate or vigorous.