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By Sally Crocker for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Health Systems Council, founded in 2021, has quickly grown to 100 members in just two years, bringing together innovative health organizations from across the US, with a shared goal to revolutionize healthcare using lifestyle medicine.

In just two years, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has reached a milestone in helping to prevent, treat and potentially reverse chronic disease across the U.S.  

Established in May 2021 with 19 founding members, ACLM’s Health Systems Council (HSC), now celebrates its 100th member. The HSC is comprised of some of the most innovative health organizations from nearly 40 states that are dedicated to providing the best high-value care through the pioneering trend of lifestyle medicine.  

Tani Richards walked into her first Jazzercise class in June 2019.  She wanted to change up her exercise routine and explore aerobics. That’s when she found the Southlake Jazzercise center and decided to give it a try.

“I’ve always been an athlete. Sports was my thing – softball, a little bit of basketball, and I’ve always liked music and singing,” she says. “I wouldn’t call myself a dancer, but I did want to give Jazzercise a try.”

The music is so important to immersing yourself in Jazzercise, and Tani says that’s one of the things she most enjoys about the classes and the body-changing workouts. Now that she owns her own studio and teaches Jazzercise, she advises her classes to “feel the music, let it speak to you, because it can change your whole day.”

The story of how Tani came to own a Jazzercise franchise in Southlake is an interesting one …

By Sally Crocker, written for Southlake City Lifestyle magazine, Southlake, Texas - January 2024 issue

Originally published in Southlake City Lifestyle

BUSY SOUTHLAKE-AREA COUPLE DEDICATE THEIR TALENTS TO SUPERLATIVE EYE CARE

Married couple Dr. Aaleya Koreishi and Dr. Jawad Qureshi are both well-known eye specialists in the North Texas area.

Dr. Qureshi specializes in retina care at his practice, Retina Center of Texas, with locations in Southlake, Fort Worth, Plano and Dallas, and Dr. Koreishi specializes in cornea and cataract services. Her Cornea Consultants of Texas locations are in Fort Worth, Arlington and Plano. In 2020, Dr. Qureshi won an Entrepreneur of Excellence in Healthcare award from Fort Worth Inc. magazine for the outstanding work of his practice. …

… Both physicians place a high emphasis on taking special care of their patients.

“It can sometimes be hard to balance our work with family and other activities,” she adds, “but we hope that our children will understand when they grow up and see that the hard work we put in for our patients is well worth it.”

Written by Sally Crocker for the Tarrant Regional Water District, Fort Worth, Texas - published to the TRWD website (News page) on Dec. 22, 2023

Drop by drop, the work of good folks like Jason Gehrig and other Tarrant Regional Water District employee volunteers is helping to improve quality of life in countries across the globe …

… Balancing his TRWD responsibilities and volunteer service to communities far away takes time, but it is so important to Jason to continue helping countries like Bolivia.

“Support efforts are very much appreciated in these countries. The people there who often struggle under limited resources are willing to sacrifice and put in the effort alongside volunteers. They’re not looking for a handout – goodwill efforts can open up opportunities, assist with the well-being of their families and neighbors and help restore their sense of dignity as a community. They embrace and welcome the friendships and assistance. In return the local people enrich us with lived values and perspectives that we sometimes lose sight of here,” he says.

Caring for others in need

In Bolivia, there is a saying, “agua es vida,” that means “water is life,” and there is so much truth in that message for all of us around the world.

“I only wish I had more time to help,” Jason says.

Warmest wishes from past to present

Holiday memories, traditions live on from generation to generation in this family

Article by Sally Crocker

Photography by Crocker family photos

Originally published in Southlake City Lifestyle magazine

December 2023 issue

“I can close my eyes and return to a very special Christmas Eve from many years ago. Me, sitting cross-legged under the Christmas tree with my dog Tipper, anxiously awaiting the warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies that would soon emerge from the oven. My mom was the best baker. All the neighborhood kids declared it so, as she always seemed to have homemade brownies, cakes or other sweet treats ready for us to enjoy with a glass of milk when they came by …

It's interesting how traditions are passed on from generation to generation …”

Written by Sally Crocker for the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) website and social media

Published to the TRWD website November 14, 2023, as part of an ongoing series of positive employee stories

“Dean Kuhn is a survivor.

Before he joined Tarrant Regional Water District in 1991, Dean’s life had taken a grim turn. At the young age of 19, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer that spreads quickly. His only path forward was through a punishing course of intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Dean was diagnosed in 1989, completed treatment in 1990, and in remission, started working for TRWD one year later. Things seemed to be going well.

His first TRWD job was in the tire shop, the operations division for vehicle repairs. Over time, he moved to a truck driver position, became an equipment operator and was promoted to an inspector role during construction of the Benbrook pipeline in the mid-1990s. He later returned to operations, running equipment and overseeing in-house construction projects along the floodway project.

From there, Dean became a construction coordinator, training and managing third-party permits, working in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He moved to the real property department as a Land Agent II in 2008, was later promoted to Senior Land Agent and has been in that position since.

In a heartbeat, everything changed …”

Written by Sally Crocker for the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) website and social media

Published to the TRWD website October 24, 2023, as part of an ongoing series of positive employee stories

“It was a natural for William Fruhwirth to get into the water business. He was practically born into the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) back in 1954. His dad, Eugene Fruhwirth, was chief of operations at what was then called Tarrant Water Control Improvement District Number 1. It was a much smaller enterprise in the 1950s, with probably only 15-20 employees. What would become today’s TRWD, providing water to more than 2.1 million people across 11 North Texas counties, started with humble beginnings, just like William’s career in the organization.

This September, William celebrates his 50th anniversary with TRWD. He has many great memories from over the years and many great friends that make his job enjoyable and worthwhile …”

Southlake City Lifestyle is written and edited by Sally Crocker.

https://citylifestyle.com/southlake/issues/2023-11

By Sally Crocker, written for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, published October 27, 2023

“ACLM’s Health Systems Council member Northwell Health transformed hospital food quality by eliminating processed options and sourcing locally, enhancing patient satisfaction. Their commitment to food as medicine has also sparked a shift towards healthier, plant-based menus at institutions like Emory, impacting their communities through wellness programs and culinary innovations.”

Image by Raimond Spekking courtesy of the International PressTelecommunications Council.

Story excerpt:

By Sally Crocker, written for The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, published Oct. 16, 2023

“With the return of fall comes cold and flu season, along with an uptick in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. With kids back in school and people moving indoors for more events and activities, opportunities for spreading viruses become a higher concern. Holidays are fast approaching as well, giving rise to travel plans and indoor family gatherings that can bring children and adults of all ages together in close spaces.

Experts note that COVID-19 circulates all year long, but picks up in the fall and winter, like influenza and other upper respiratory viruses. In addition to new vaccine formulations that have been approved for this fall’s COVID variants, there are a number of other ways to help reduce your risk and protect yourself and your family …”

Blog written for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)

“In just two years, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has reached a milestone in helping to prevent, treat and potentially reverse chronic disease across the U.S.  

Established in May 2021 with 19 founding members, ACLM’s Health Systems Council (HSC), now celebrates its 100th member. The HSC is comprised of some of the most innovative health organizations from nearly 40 states that are dedicated to providing the best high-value care through the pioneering trend of lifestyle medicine.  

Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty using therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to address up to 80% of chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer and obesity. Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change applying six pillars — a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connections …”

October 2023 issue. Sally Crocker is editor and writer of this publication.

https://citylifestyle.com/southlake/issues/2023-10

The bonds that people share with animals goes way beyond companionship- the connection we share with animals deeply affects our health and well being. UNTHSC associate professor Dr. Dana Litt shares how mental health awareness meets canine connection in this tail of compassion.

Sally started as editor and writer for the Southlake, Texas, City Lifestyle magazine’s September 2023 issue.

Newsletter developed/written/edited by Sally Crocker

Congratulations to Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, Dean of the UNTHSC School of Public Health, on the anniversary date of his joining UNT Health Science Center on August 15, 2022. As Dr. Dharamsi celebrates his first year, his latest newsletter shares the School of Public Health’s successes and plans for the future.

By Sally Crocker for UNT Health Center School of Public Health

How do School of Public Health faculty, staff and students from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth spend their summers? Often, you will find them volunteering time in neighborhoods across the U.S., doing the hands-on work that builds healthier communities.

Numerous studies show that housing quality and safety is a key predictor of health and wellbeing. Our homes are the key to our health in many ways.

For HSC Regents Professor Dr. Scott Walters, his two teenage children and his father, it was a labor of love when they joined a weeklong mission trip to repair homes in West Memphis, Arkansas. The trip is an annual project organized by White’s Chapel Methodist Church and partnering organization Ozark Mission Project, which provides practical assistance to families needing home repair and yard work in Arkansas.

Writer and brand storyteller Sally Crocker has won two new awards for her news and feature writing.

• PLATINUM AWARD WINNER FOR BRAND JOURNALISM/WRITING/ARTICLE, AWARDED BY THE HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS COMPETITION, 2022

• 2022 HONORABLE MENTION AWARD WINNER IN PR DAILY’S NATIONAL NONPROFIT COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS, COMMUNICATIONS ASSETS/ARTICLE CATEGORY

(originally published by The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, June 2021)

He didn’t know it at the time, but when Dr. Scott Walters was growing up in San Diego in the mid 1980s, a next-door neighbor was concealing a homemade meth lab just across the fence and mere steps away from his bedroom window. Now, decades later, the U.S. war on drugs is still being waged, and this public health researcher is leading the charge against today’s national opioid crisis.