Healthy Coloradan - Nov 2015

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November 2015 HealthyColoradan.com

Coaching Americas Finest Troy Calhoun’s Full-Circle Journey Back To Air Force p. 24 Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Pediatric Program Team Approach Makes the Difference p. 10

Internet Addiction

Significant Social and Behavioral

Disorders Emerging in Children

and Adults p. 43

Profiles in Excellence: Brad Riley & iEmpathize p. 36

Introducing COPPeR! p. 49 “Photographer Don Jones”

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Happy Autumn to You,

Creative Team

I am so please to present this edition to you. It was a very big deal for our team to work with Coach Troy Calhoun to bring you this unique and insightful story of one of our state’s - our country’s outstanding Division I collegiate football coaches.

Like most people we only get see on television, or read about in newspapers, they present us with a sliver of their personality and overall perspective on a very focused topic or two. We only get access to how they are to deal with what is immediately in front of them. Well, with this long-interview, we get to learn more about the individual man who is orchestrating and sculpting the young men who have earned their way onto the United States Air Force Academy football team - on top of having to earn their way into the Academy in the first place.

The Air Force Academy is truly a very special and unique place, perhaps unlike any other collegiate environment - even among the other two service academies. And the individual selected to head this or any other sporting program at the AFA is truly someone in whom we should take a great deal of pride in knowing they are there. In particular, we would be spot on to consider the depth and character of the men who have chosen to lead the Academy’s football program all the way up to the present moment. Why? Because like any other program in the nation, the USAFA football program has to, and does compete at the highest levels of athleticism year in and year out. And unlike the vast majority of NCAA D1 programs, the individuals on the field must maintain academic standards befitting a United States Air Force Cadet, maintain rigorous physical condition on and off the field, live by a code of personal and collective honor, integrity and discipline, and an expectation that they too will do their part to serve the nation’s interests all over the world - sometimes in combat situations.

Coaching this particular breed of men is not something you enter into lightly. Troy Calhoun is not only the right man for this job, as were his predecessors, I found him to be extraordinarily genuine, personable, and candid about his view of his role, his players, the game today, and much more. Contrary to loose sports reporting, he is deeply concerned for his players. He just doesn’t allow excuses to enter the conversation or the outcome of those who are otherwise not directly affected by another’s adversity. He is vehemently competitive, fiercely loyal to mission at the Academy, and driven to win and bring out the best in his coaches and players. When in season, Coach is all business and espouses little more than what is in front of him - the heat of the season or a critical reflection or assessment of the game at hand - and like most great coaches, with sparing praise. But trust me when I tell you, there’s a great deal more to Coach Troy Calhoun than meets the eye and I’m confident you’ll agree, it’s good.

Creative Director Marcum Group Media Senior Graphic Designer Ajay Resha Photographer Don Jones Senior Writer Laura Avers Web Site Host Jim Bradford Web Site Manager Kim Ronkin Marcum Group Media Eric Marcum

Editorial Departments Colorado’s Finest Health & Wellness Resources Health & Wellness Journeys Fun! Food & Nutrition Destination Colorado Colorado Home & Design Wellness

We are fortunate to have Troy and the other coaches leading our Cadets in this facet of their collegiate life. This is a program (and a profession), that is defined by the narrowest of margins of error. The people on the field, in the classrooms HEALTHY COLORADANS POWERFUL & AFFORDABLE and those leading the administrative vision of the Academy deserve our respect and our MEDIUMS TO SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS/PRACTICE support by virtue of attending and supporting the athletic pursuits of Cadets and coaches info@medicalvoyce.com who make up the Air Force Falcons Athletic [P] 719.884.1184, ext 2 [F] 719.884.1189 [C] 719.330.7448 programs. And for a great deal more...

It is my genuine pleasure to say, Go Falcons!

Web site: http://www.healthycoloradan.com Outreach Platforms: DIGITAL + WEB + WEBTV + RADIO + PRINT

Dirk R. Hobbs, ACHE ACHJ

See the full, commercial-free video interview on the home page of www.healthycoloradan.com Copyright © 2015 Healthy Coloradan Media Group, Inc. A Division of Medical Voyce Sciences & Multimedia, LLC

FDA Panel Endorses Women’s Libido Pill Vote came after the agency twice rejected the daily sexual dysfunction medication due to side effects.

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended approval Thursday of what many call the “female Viagra” pill.

The panel voted 18-6 that the FDA grant approval to the drug, flibanseri, which is designed to boost a lack of sexual desire in premenopausal women. However, the panel members who voted yes said full FDA approval should come with certain conditions.

Those conditions include proper warning labels and education about side effects of the drug, which had been twice rejected by the FDA in recent years. Earlier trials of the drug revealed potential side effects such as fainting, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness and low-blood pressure, the Washington Post reported.

Thursday’s endorsement by the advisory panel was somewhat muted, with the committee calling the drug’s benefits “moderate” or “marginal,” the Post reported. The FDA typically follows the recommendations of its advisory panels, but is not bound to do so. Formal approval of the drug could come by the end of summer, the newspaper said.

The refiled application for flibanserin followed a strong lobbying effort by women’s groups, consumer advocates and politicians who support approval of the daily pink pill for sexual dysfunction, the Associated Press reported. There is no drug on the market for women with low libido, and drug companies have been trying to get one approved since Viagra’s successful introduction for men in the late 1990s.

In clinical trials conducted by Sprout, women whose average age was 36 took the medication for five months and reported an increased sexual desire, reduced distress and an increase in “sexually satisfying events” compared with women taking a placebo, the Los Angeles Timesreported.

The latest application by Sprout included new information requested by the FDA about how the pill affects driving ability. FDA scientists asked for the data because previous results in company clinical trials found that sleepiness occurred in nearly 10 percent of women who took the drug.In the new study, Sprout compared the driving ability of women the morning after they took flibanserin with those who took a common sleeping pill or a placebo, the AP reported.

The FDA refused to approve flibanserin in 2010 and again in 2013, citing low levels of effectiveness and such side effects as nausea, dizziness and fatiguen In an effort to pressure the FDA, groups funded by Sprout and other drug companies began pushing the lack of a female libido drug as a women’s rights issue. An online petition by a group called Even the Score stated: “Women deserve equal treatment when it comes to sex,” and has collected nearly 25,000 supporters.

In a statement before the panel convened Thursday, Cindy Whitehead, CEO of flibanserin maker Sprout Pharmaceuticals, said, “The review of flibanserin ... represents a critical milestone for the millions of American women and couples who live with the distress of this lifeimpacting condition without a single approved medical treatment today,” according to an NPR report.

The group receives funding from Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Palatin Technologies and Trimel Pharmaceuticals, all of which are working on drugs to treat female sexual disorders. Nonprofit supporters of the group include the Women’s Health Foundation and the Institute for Sexual Medicines, the AP reported. However, the National Women’s Health Network, a nonprofit advocacy organization, called on the FDA to deny approval of the drug in an organization news release, saying, “Based on our review of the data about flibanserin, it’s clear the problem with this drug is not gender bias at the FDA but rather the drug itself.”

Flibanserin, which would be sold under the brand name Addyi if granted final approval, shifts the balance of the brain chemicals dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin to treat what is called “hypoactive sexual desire disorder,” or HSDD, in premenopausal women. Viagra, on the other hand, works by increasing blood flow to the male genitals.

In response to the panel’s action, Cindy Pearson, executive director of the organization, expressed disappointment and said, “Women rely on the FDA to ensure that any drugs or devices market to and used by them are both safe and effective. In this case, we still have serious doubts about women’s ability to make informed decisions about the safety and effectiveness of this controversial drug.”

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NOVEMBER 2015

FEATURED STORIES

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43

10

49

24. Coaching Americas Finest Troy Calhoun’s Full-Circle Journey Back To Air Force

10. Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Pediatric Program Team Approach Makes the Difference

49. Introducing COPPeR!

36

43. Internet Addiction

Significant Social and Behavioral Disorders Emerging in Children and Adults

36. Profiles in Excellence: Brad Riley & iEmpathize

CONTENTS 6. FDA Panel Endorses Women’s Libido Pill 6

45

Vote came after the agency twice rejected the daily sexual dysfunction medication due to side effects

11. Why You Should Learn From the Mistakes of Others – Not Their Successes!

By Adam Sinicki

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50

13. Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu By: Nikki Burnett MS CNTP MNT

14. Understanding Blood Clots – Part 2 What are the symptoms of Blood clots?

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53

21. A Winter Miracle 33. Twelve Things Emotionally Intelligent People Avoid

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54

37. University of Colorado School of Medicine Colorado Springs Branch 45. Too Much of a Good Thing? Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports 50. The Millibo Art Theatre:

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55

Innovation and the Conversation of Performance

53. Helicopter Parenting

Not letting your kids fail early could be a mistake

54. Calcium 33

58

37

60

55. Former Colorado High School Track & Field Star Credits Adoptive Parents for His Achievements on and off the Track 58. C h i l d r e n’s Ho s p i t a l C o l o r a d o Announces Plans to Open New Hospital in Colorado Springs 60. How to Keep Hands Soft 61. Sexting: What you Need to Know

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This teen phenomenon on the rise and one in four teens have sexted. Has Yours?

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Penrose-St. Francis Healt h Ser vices Pediatr ic Prog ram At St. Francis Medical Center, we know that children are not just tiny adults; they have very different physiological, medical and emotional needs and as part of the Centura Health Pediatric Network, we strive to meet all of them. Bumps and bruises happen and so do serious illnesses and at St. Francis Medical Center,we take children’s health seriously. It begins with a world-class neonatal intensive care unit to support newborns from their first moments.

From birth, through childhood and into young adulthood, our pediatric network ensures our younger patients receive the highest quality expertise and resources possible.

“St. Francis has the expert staff and capabilities to treat just about any illness or condition a newborn may have,” Dr. Meg Prado, NICU neonatal and perinatal physician, said. “We are definitely competitive and team-oriented, that’s one of our greatest strengths.” The Pediatric Care Unit at St. Francis has 15 large private rooms, each equipped with a monitor that lets nursing staff check in on patients from multiple areas in the department. Dedicated nurses provide expert medical, surgical, orthopedic, oncology and chronic illnesses care management, with lots of TLC. Compassionate care and genuine concern for patients make the difference at Penrose-St. Francis, Prado emphasized. “Nobody counts on being here right after their baby is born, or when their child is ill, but we try to create an environment of genuine compassion and we want our patients to feel cared about and cared for,” Prado said. “It’s something intangible, put parents and family members really pick up on it.”

St. Francis treats an average of 11,000 children every year and a percentage of them first come to the hospital through the Emergency Department, Christine Freeman, RN, MSN, Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Centura Health, explained. In order to ensure the most up-to-date health care and medical interventions, the physicians in the ER maintain excellence in pediatric skills. “We want the medical attention our younger patients who come in with an emergency to make sense and to allow for efficient communication across departments,” Freeman said. “At Centura Health and Penrose-St. Francis, we are always looking for ways to improve and streamline the continuum of care for all our patients.”

Caring not just for patients’ medical needs, but for their emotional and spiritual needs as well, the Pediatric Care Unit is designed to make children and adults alike feel comfortable and welcome. A large and colorful fish tank, special meals and child-friendly décor help make a stay in the hospital a little easier and parents are always encouraged to be with their child. Accommodations are available in patient rooms for one parent to spend the night. For immediate family members who want to stay close by, the Ronald McDonald Family Room has two sleeping rooms available.

Always looking to the future, St. Francis plans to expand its pediatrics program by incorporating pediatric surgery capabilities and by obtaining the coveted Baby-Friendly Facility designation. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother-baby bonding.

“Being a Baby-Friendly hospital is a long and detailed process with lots of conditions and standards we have to meet, but we’re definitely in the right track to get there,” Freeman said. “Our goal is to be able to deliver the highest quality of pediatric care to every child we treat and we will achieve that.”

Visithttp://www.penrosestfrancis.org/specialties/pediatric/ to learn more about the Pediatric Care Unit at St. Francis, to take a virtual tour of the unit and for more information.

Why You Should Learn From the Mistakes of Others – Not Their Successes!

BY ADAM SINICKI

It is common wisdom that one route to success is to emulate the success of others. Find someone who inspires you and who has achieved the things you want to achieve and then follow their exact footsteps to get the same for yourself.

Model yourself on other successful people and you’re sure to be successful, right?

Well, actually this is not the view that all self-help gurus take and there is in fact a fairly strong argument for not doing that, and for instead doing the precise opposite…

The Problem With Success

The idea of working from a ‘blueprint’ for success is a good concept in theory and seems straightforward enough until you realize that no such blueprint really exists. Not only is every single person different, but so too is every single situation, every single industry and every single aim. Just as different workouts work better for different people, so too do different paths to success – in fact that’s even more true in this case.

You might decide for instance that you want to be the next Steve Jobs – it’s a noble aim and one shared by many other people. As such then you might decide to try and follow his specific route to success, but what you would discover is that the circumstances just aren’t there for you to thrive by doing this. It may be that if Steve Jobs was starting out today, even he wouldn’t be successful. Steve Wozniak for instance was highly instrumental in Jobs’ early success and without your own equivalent with the same skills you might not achieve the same success.

and identify an emerging market before the competition do, but if no emerging market is forthcoming, or someone else happens to get there first… then you’ll probably struggle to capitalize on just such an opportunity.

Then there are the unique skills that Steve brought to the table: his design sensibilities, his dogged determination to make things perfect, his ability to spot new trends before anyone else did… Not only are these very rare traits that are incredibly difficult to emulate or learn, but they are traits that were precisely what he needed to thrive in the market at that time, with the help of Steve Wozniak. Still think you can just copy Steve Jobs? Steve Jobs couldn’t copy Steve Jobs!

Dangers of Emulation

So the big problem with emulating success directly is that it generally can’t be done (and that is a big problem…).

But actually the issue goes further than this, as attempting to emulate success can in fact hamper your ability to succeed and have the precise opposite effect to the one you want.

Likewise, when Jobs was starting out the computer industry was completely different. The first Apple computer was designed to bring computing into the mainstream and to make it commercially viable. Obviously that’s not a problem today, so you’d need to have a new ‘angle’ to find your successful niche. Sure, you could try and ‘think like Steve Jobs’

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Continuing with the example of Steve Jobs, you might find that you become so wrapped up in the idea of being ‘the next Jobs’ that you fixate on the technology industry. This could then lead you to actually miss another opportunity that was in a better position to be exploited and that better lent itself to your particular skillset and situation.

At the same time, trying to emulate someone else necessarily also means that you are suppressing your own creative drives and your own ideas. By trying to fit the mold made by someone else, you can end up being a square peg in a round hole and underperforming as a result. Most success actually comes from people who are willing to 100% commit themselves to their own vision and their own ideas rather than trying to appease the ideas of others. You must have faith in yourself and be individual if you want your work to have integrity and to reflect the best of what you have to offer.

How to Learn From Others

So if you can’t really emulate someone else’s success, how can you learn from other people? Well one thing you can do is to learn from their attitudes, their approaches and their

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advice. These are more ‘general’ concepts that may be vital ingredients in the recipe for success, but they don’t set you down a specific path either.

You should also recognize the limitations of your heroes and the dangers of ‘hero worship’. Don’t follow anyone precisely and make sure that you do take note of their failings as well as their strengths.

And actually something you can safely learn from is the mistakes of others. You might not be able to learn precisely where to go from your heroes because you possibly won’t have the same opportunities available to you to go down those paths but what you definitely can do is to learn where you shouldn’t go and what to avoid. Even the most successful people on the planet will have had failures – many of which are probably quite public.

Knowing where others have made mistakes will then enable you to avoid making similar mistakes yourself, thus taking a much more direct route to success and hopefully avoiding some of the pitfalls along the way.

So forget about watching the successes of your heroes closely, and start paying attention to where they trip up instead!

Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu By: Nikki Burnett MS CNTP MNT

When it comes to cold and flu season, prevention really is the first line of defense. To keep your body’s defense system—the immune system—in peak condition, follow our immunity-boosting tips to help your body fight off the bugs looking for a host.

And, for times when you are feeling ill, the second set of tips can help ease your symptoms and support a quick recovery.

Cold & Flu Prevention Tips

Your immune system is at work 24/7!

The best approach to supporting immune function is a healthy lifestyle that includes stress management, exercise, whole foods, nutritional supplementation, and the use of plant-based medicines. On a daily basis, you can take the following steps to help your immune system keep you healthy:

1. Wash your hands regularly to help prevent transfer of

bacteria but avoid anti-bacterial soaps as it kills the healthy bacteria that our immune systems depend on. Regular soap and warm water is sufficient.

2. Stay clear of people sneezing or coughing. Avoid shaking hands or other close contact with anyone whom you know to be sick.

3. Make sure your home and work space are well-ventilated.

Even on a cold day, open a window for a few minutes to clear out stale air.

4. Follow a consistent sleep/wake schedule so the immune system can repair and recover.

5. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet that includes

a variety of fruits and veggies, which contain antioxidants that help the body neutralize cellular damage.

Healing Tips 1. Rest. Sometimes the body’s only way of getting your

attention is to force you to slow down by getting sick. Don’t push through fatigue. Honor your body and sleep/rest as needed to promote healing. Reduce activity at home and at work as much as possible.

2. Increase fluid intake to include water, diluted, fresh pressed

vegetable juices, soups (preferably made of homemade broths and bone broths), and herbal and green teas.

3. Eat light meals and eat more soup. Whether you choose a vegetarian broth or a heartier bone-broth, soups for healing should be loaded with a variety of herbs and veggies.

4. Manage stress. Even just 10 minutes of meditation a day

has positive effects on the immune system and promotes a positive mindset.

5. Laugh—it truly is good medicine. Patch Adams was onto

something when he brought humor to his patients’ bedsides.

Read a funny book. Watch stand-up comedy. Share jokes with a friend or your kids. Laughter lowers the stress hormones and elevates your mood—both are good for healing.

Vitamin, Mineral, and Botanical Support for the Immune System

There’s no panacea, but a growing body of research has shown that certain vitamins, minerals, and plant-based supplements can help prevent/curtail the symptoms of colds and flu. Some that you may want to include are listed below.

Talk to me as these suggestions must be tailored to your specific needs and health status.

• Multivitamin and mineral formula • Vitamin C • Bioflavonoids • Vitamin A • Vitamin D • Zinc • Echinacea, elderberry, and astragalus (tea, capsule, or liquid extract) help prevent common cold and viral infections.

Physician-scientists continue to study the immune-enhancing effects of these and other botanical remedies.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because you have a cold or the flu, this doesn’t warrant the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are overused and over prescribed, which has created gut issues for many of us and has lead, in part, to the proliferation of “superbugs”. First, be sure you know if your illness is bacterial or viral. If it’s viral, antibiotics are of no use. Antibiotics should be used sparingly but if they are necessary, be sure to load up on probiotics at the same time. There are specific strains that work well with antibiotics and there is a right and a wrong time to take probiotics along with antibiotics. Let me know if you have questions.

Understanding Blood Clots

What are the symptoms of Blood clots?

Part 2

Blood clots in the veins do not allow blood to return to the heart, and symptoms occur because of this “damming effect.” These clots often occur in the legs or the arms, symptoms include:

• swelling • warmth • redness • pain

Blood clots in the arteries do not allow blood get to the affected area. Body tissue that is deprived of blood and oxygen begins to die and becomes ischemic. Symptoms of blood clots in the arteries are: • Pain. Pain is the initial symptom of the oxygen deprivation (ischemia) due to loss of blood supply.

• Location of the blood clot: Other symptoms depend upon the location of the clot, and often the effect will be a loss of function, for example: • heart attack or stroke (self-explanatory), • in an arm or leg; in addition to pain, the affected limb may appear white, and weakness, loss of sensation, or paralysis may occur.

• to an area of the bowel, in addition to intense pain, there may be bloody diarrhea.

How blood clots are diagnosed?

The initial step in making the diagnosis of a blood clot is obtaining a patient history. The blood clot itself does not cause a problem. It’s the location of the blood clot and its effect on blood flow that causes symptoms and signs. If a blood clot or thrombus is a consideration, the history may expand to explore risk factors or situations that might put the patient at risk for forming a clot. Venous blood clots often develop slowly with a gradual onset of swelling, pain, and discoloration. Symptoms of a venous thrombus will often progress over hours. Arterial thrombi occur as an acute event. Tissues need oxygen immediately, and the loss of blood supply creates a situation in which symptoms begin immediately. There may be symptoms that precede the acute artery blockage, that may be warning signs of the potential future complete occlusion of the blood vessel.

• Patients with an acute heart attack (myocardial infarction) may experience angina in the days and weeks prior to the heart attack.

• Patients with peripheral artery disease may have pain with walking (claudication), and a TIA (transient ischemia attack, mini-stroke) may precede a stroke.

• Physical examination can assist in providing additional information that may increase the suspicion for a blood clot.

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• Venous thrombi may cause swelling of an extremity. It may be red, warm, and tender; sometimes the appearance is difficult to distinguish from cellulitis or an infection of the extremity. If there is concern about a pulmonary embolus, the clinician may examine the lungs, listening for abnormal sounds caused by an area of inflamed lung tissue.

• Arterial thrombus symptoms are much more dramatic. If a leg or arm is involved, the tissue may be white because of the lack of blood supply.

As well, it may be cool to touch and there may be loss of sensation and movement. The patient may be writhing in pain.

• Arterial thrombus is also the cause of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke (cerebrovascular accident) and their associated symptoms.

What tests are used to diagnose blood clots: Venous blood clots may be detected in a variety of ways, though ultrasound is most commonly used. Occasionally, the patient’s size and shape limit the ability for ultrasound to provide a definitive answer. Venography is an alternative test to look for a clot. In this test, a radiologist injects contrast dye into a small vein in the hand or foot and using fluoroscopy (video X-ray), watches the dye fill the veins in the extremity as it travels back to the heart. The area of clot or obstruction can thus be visualized.

Sometimes, a blood test is used to screen for blood clots. D-Dimer is a breakdown product of a blood clot, and its levels in the bloodstream may be measured. Blood clots are not stagnant; the body tries to dissolve them at the same time as new clot is being formed. D-Dimer is not specific for a blood clot in a given area and cannot distinguish a “good” or needed blood clot, one that forms after surgery or due to bruising from a fall, from one that is causing medical problems. It is used as a screening test in low risk patients with the expectation that a negative result will conclude that there is no need to look further for blood clots. The healthcare professional usually counsels the patient that a positive blood test will likely require additional tests being considered.

Should a blood clot embolize to the lung, this may be a medical emergency. There are a variety of tests to look for pulmonary emboli. A plain chest X-ray will not show blood clots, but it may be done to look for other conditions that can cause chest pain and shortness of breath, which are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolus. Anelectrocardiogram (EKG) may show abnormalities suggestive of a pulmonary embolus and also may reveal other causes of chest pain.

Computerized tomography (CT scan) is often the test of choice when suspicion of pulmonary embolus is high. Contrast material is injected intravenously, and the radiologist can determine whether a clot is present in the pulmonary vessels. The contrast material injected into the body can be irritating to the kidney(s) and should not be used in patients who have impaired kidney function.

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In older patients, screening blood tests (serum creatinine) to check kidney function may be required before a dye study is considered.

On occasion, a ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scan is performed to look for pulmonary emboli. This test uses labeled chemicals to identify inhaled air into the lungs and match it with blood flow in the arteries. If a mismatch occurs, meaning that there is lung tissue that has good air entry but no blood flow, it may be indicative of a pulmonary embolus. It is less accurate and more subjective than a CT scan, and requires the skill and experience of a radiologist to interpret. Two radiologist may interpret a VQ scan differently and come to different conclusions. The VQ scan is often performed when a CT scan is contraindicated, for example, with a major dye allergy or in a patient with kidney compromise.

Testing for arterial blood clots

Arterial thrombosis is an emergency, since tissue cannot survive long without blood supply before there is irreversible damage. When this occurs in an arm or leg, often a surgeon is consulted on an emergency basis. Arteriography may be considered, a test in which contrast material is injected into the artery in question to look for blockage on imaging studies. Sometimes, if there is a large artery that is occluded, this test is done in the operating room with the presumption that a surgical procedure will be needed to open the vessel and restore blood flow.

For a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction, MI), the EKG may establish the diagnosis, although blood tests may be used to look for enzymes (troponin) that leak into the bloodstream from irritated heart muscle. In an acute heart attack, the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of choice is a heart catheterization.

For an acute stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA), the test of choice is a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head to look for bleeding or tumor as the cause of stroke symptoms.

If the symptoms resolve, the diagnosis is a transient ischemic attack (TIA, mini-stroke), and further tests may include carotid ultrasound to look for blockages in the major arteries of the neck and echocardiography to look for blood clots in the heart that may embolize to the brain.

What are the treatments for blood clots:

Depending upon their location, blood clots may be aggressively treated or may need nothing more than symptomatic care. Blood clots in the veins, (venous blood clots) may develop in the superficial or deep veins of the leg. Treatment for a superficial blood clot is directed at managing pain and decreasing inflammation with medication (for example, acetaminophen [Tylenol and others] or ibuprofen [Advil, Motrin, etc.]). The risk of these clots lodging and obstructing (embolizing) in the vein is low because of the anatomy of the leg. Specialized veins

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(perforator veins) connect the superficial veins to the deep veins, and have valves that act like strainers to prevent clots from travelling to the lung.

Blood thinners

Clots located above the knee in the deep vein system may need to have the blood “thinned” with anticoagulation medications.Warfarin (Coumadin) is one type of anticoagulation medication that has been used for many years to treat blood clots. It blocks clotting factors II, VII, IX and X, those that depend upon Vitamin K, and is usually prescribed as soon as DVT (deep venous thrombosis) or blood clot is diagnosed. Because if take a few days to effectively thin the blood, low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) or regular heparin is used to immediately cause anticoagulation.

Heparin is injected subcutaneously under the skin and can be administered in an outpatient setting.

Regular heparin is given intravenously, and the patient will need to be admitted to the hospital to receive this drug. Once the warfarin effectively thins the blood, the heparin is discontinued. Warfarin effectiveness is measure by a blood test and the INR needs to have a value between 2.0 and 3.0.

Newer anticoagulation medications have been approved that inhibit blood factor X. These act almost immediately to thin the blood and include: • apixaban (Eliquis), • dabigatran (Pradaxa) and

• rivaroxaban (Xarelto), • edoxaban (Savaysa).

These drugs are taken orally and become effective in thinning the blood within a couple of hours. They also do not need blood tests to monitor dosage.

The decision to prescribe a type of anticoagulation medication (Vitamin K antagonist v. Factor X/thrombin inhibitor) depends upon the patient’s situation. All patients who take anticoagulation medications are at risk for bleeding. At present there is no antidote approved in the United States to reverse the effects of the Factor X inhibitors, should the need arise. There are reversal strategies available for warfarin and heparin.

Pulmonary emboli are treated similarly to deep venous thrombosis, but depending on the severity of the symptoms, amount of clot formation, and the underlying health of the patient, admission to the hospital for treatment and observation may be needed. This is especially the case if lung function is compromised and the patient is short of breath or is experiencing hypoxia, (low oxygen levels in the blood). Patients who are critically ill and display symptoms of heart strain or shock may be candidates for thrombolytic therapy using drugs known as tissue plasminogen activators (TPAs). TPAs may be injected into a peripheral vein in the arm to immediately thin the blood and act as a clot-busting drug.

Arterial blood clots

Arterial blood clots are often managed more aggressively. Surgery may be attempted to remove the clot, or medication may be administered directly into the clot to try to dissolve it. Alteplase (Activase, TPA) or tenecteplase (TNKase) are examples of tissue plasminogen activator (see above) medications that may be used in peripheral arteries to try to restore blood supply.This is the same approach that is used for heart attack. If possible, cardiac catheterization is performed to locate the NOVEMBER 2015

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blocked blood vessel and a balloon is used to open the occluded area, restore blood flow, and place a stent to keep it open. This is a time-sensitive procedure and if a hospital is not available to do the procedure emergently, TPA or TNK is used intravenously to try to dissolve the thrombus and minimize heart damage. Eventually, the patent, when stable, will be transferred for potential heart catheterization to evaluate the heart anatomy and decide whether stents may be needed to keep an artery open or whether bypass surgery might be needed to restore blood supply to the heart. Stroke is also treated with TPA if the patient is an appropriate candidate for this therapy.

Complications of clots?

Blood clots prevent proper circulation of blood. Deep vein thrombosis of the leg or arm may cause permanent damage to the veins themselves and cause persistent swelling of the extremity. The life-threatening issue that may arise from deep venous clots is a clot that breaks off and embolizes to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), causing problems with lung function and oxygenation of the blood. Arterial thrombus often is a life- or limb threatening event, since organs and cells do not get enough oxygen.

How can clots be prevented? Prevention is key in thrombosis or clot formation.

• For arterial thrombosis, the most likely precipitating event is a plaque rupture with clot formation in the artery.

• Minimizing the risk of vascular disease requires life-long attention to the risk factors that lead to plaque buildup and “hardening” of the arteries.

• Blood pressure and cholesterol control, diabetes management, and refraining from smoking all minimize the risk of arterial disease.

• Although family history is an important risk factor, one needs to be even more vigilant about the other risk factors if there is a family history of early heart attack or stroke.

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Deep vein thrombosis

The main risk factor for deep vein thrombosis risks is immobilization. It is important to move around routinely so that blood can circulate in the venous system. On long trips, it is recommended to get out of the car every couple of hours and in an airplane routinely get up and stretch. Physicians and nurses work hard at getting people moving after surgery or while in the hospital for medical conditions. The low molecular weight heparin known as enoxaparin (Lovenox) can also be used in low doses to prevent clot formation. Patients are often given tight stockings to promote blood return from the legs and prevent pooling of blood.

In patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib), warfarin (Coumadin) was traditionally used to prevent clot formation and minimize the risk of embolus and stroke. Newer medications have been developed that prevent blood clot formation similar to warfarin and have been approved for use in patients with atrial fibrillation. These medications include apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa), and edoxaban (Savaysa). These newer drugs have advantages of reduced susceptibility to diet and drug interactions and convenience (lack of need for routine blood testing of the international normalized ratio or INR, as is required for warfarin therapy). Unfortunately, there is no medication available in the United States to reverse the anticoagulation action of these medications, should that need arise.

The decision as to which medication to use for atrial fibrillation depends upon the clinical situation. Aspirin may also be an appropriate drug to use in low risk patients. That risk may be measured by the CHADS2 scoring system for atrial fibrillation that assigns a score for potential stroke based on age and history of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, diabetes and previous stroke or TIA history.

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A Winter Miracle T

here may not be any studies to prove it, but if you ask anyone who works in labor and delivery, they’ll agree: severe weather and barometric pressure changes areoften accompanied by lots of births – some of them premature. After braving two 300-mile trips in treacherous winter conditions and saving the lives of two premature babies, a transport team from St. Francis Medical Center’s NICU may agree.

On Saturday, February 2, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center, a rural affiliate of Centura Health, requested a transport for a pregnant woman in distress and going into labor about four weeks earlier than expected. Colorado Springs, just like Alamosa, was blanketed by nearly a foot of snow that had steadily accumulated as a statewide snowstorm raged on for days.

Roger Curry, a respiratory therapist with Penrose-St. Francis Health Services since the early 90’s, said he and the rest of the NICU transport team, which included a neonatal nurse practitioner and a registered nurse, knew the lives of a mother and a baby were at stake.

“The first thing that went through my mind that Saturday morning when we got the call from Alamosa was that the weather and the roads would be a challenge, but I was confident in our ambulance driver and the rest of the team,” Curry said. “This is what we do, this is who we are – every case is special and we adjust to every situation, but after years of doing this, we have no qualms about getting the job done.”

In Alamosa, Leeann and Chance Buxman, both 29, weren’t expecting Kolton, their third child together and the 10th in their family, until late March. Their first baby together had suffered a diaphragmatic hernia and their second had been diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, so even as they remained hopeful, both parents knew that there could be hurdles in Kolton’s birth.

Shortly after LeeannBuxman was admitted, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center requested the transport from St. Francis and the NICU team began their first five-hour journey through mountain passes and highways with more than a foot of snow in some spots and near-zero visibility.

“There were parts of the trip, especially through the mountain pass and as we got further southwest, where the snow was falling so hard and thick that you couldn’t even see a few feet in front of the ambulance,”

said Curry. “We counted about 50 cars stranded on the side of the road, stuck in ditches.”

When Curry, Janet Rae Wilson, NNP, and Karyn Lee, RN, arrived at San Luis Valley, the results of expertly coordinated treatment delivery and patient care were immediately obvious. Staff at both hospitals had been communicating periodically and the St. Francis team was up-to-date on the mother’s condition, lab work and other test results.

“When we collaborate with partner hospitals and render care for our patients, everything runs like clockwork and we work efficiently together because the foundation is already laid down,” Wilson said.

“Every single member of our team knows what their role is, how it relates to everybody else’s roles, and we all trust each other’s abilities.”

As the weather worsened into the early hours of Sunday morning, San Luis Valley got word that a second expectant mother was being rushed to their emergency department, roughly three months before her due date. Already caring for Leeann Buxman, the NICU team rolled up their sleeves and helped with the second woman’s birth about midnight. The premature baby had to be rushed back to St. Francis as soon as possible, but someone had to stay behind with Leeann Buxman and help out when her baby was born.

“Janet Rae was great at communicating with us and understanding what Roger and I felt we could handle, because we would have to travel back to Colorado Springs, with an extremely premature baby and no NNP,” said Karyn Lee. “There was no doubt that the younger baby had to be transported to our hospital and Janet Rae insisted on staying behind in Alamosa.”

Driving another five hours and more than 150 miles shrouded in snow and darkness, Curry and Lee arrived back at St. Francis early Sunday morning. At about the same time, Kolton Buxman was born at San Luis Valley with Wilson at his side every moment. Shortly after he was born, Kolton started having problems breathing and the diagnosis was familiar: another case of respiratory distress syndrome.

Doctors in Alamosa started Kolton on surfactant and Wilson watched over him, waiting for the second transport team from Colorado Springs to arrive. By early Monday morning, as snow continued to fall and temperatures plummeted below freezing, Kolton rested in St. Francis’ NICU and parents Leeann and Chance Buxman breathed a little easier knowing their baby was getting the best care available.

“We know lives are at stake and the members of our team have absolute trust in each other’s abilities,” Curry said. “We are stronger and better because we work together. We are all there to do our jobs and to back each other up. It’s all about the little ones, they’re our highest priority.”

For Lee, who has been in Wilson’s NICU team for about six years, making the hours-long journey through heavy snow and dangerous roads across mountain passes during the winter’s worst storm was just part of fulfilling Centura Health’s mission of delivering healing and care to everyone in the community.

“For those who work in health care, especially at St. Francis, it’s a calling – we are proud that we are able to be in the position to make sacrifices so we can save babies’ lives,” Lee said. “We are blessed to have the opportunity to provide services as far as Alamosa, and to everyone else who needs it.”

Coaching Americas Finest Interviewed by: Dirk R. Hobbs Written by: Kim Ronkin

“Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

Q.

Coach Calhoun, coaching college football today has got to be one of the toughest jobs in America - just intense, 24 /7. What kind of person goes into this business?

A.

Probably one that may not always be sane. It’s probably amped up and multiplied over when you talk about any service academy. A very difficult job. With all the things that are involved with recruiting, you monitor academics, you monitor conduct, development, and things involved with admissions. Here at the Air Force Academy, the curriculum to which you are going to be exposed; how somebody is doing in basic training; how they handle survival training; where are they going this summer are they going to Italy, are they going to North Dakota, are they going to Texas, do they get to enjoy the panhandle of Florida but either way they’re still working.

It literally is 24/7, 365 days a year. Not a lot of vacation time and even yet the times you are with your family inevitably there is not a day that goes by where you really aren’t immersed. Even mentally if you are riding a bike on a beach if you get to do that for one day.

Q.

There are numerous reasons why you would never want to become a head coach of a D1 football program.

How do you handle living that and seeing that every day?

A.

I think that’s why the fitness part of it is vital. You need at least five days a week where you can come in and carve out 40 or 45 minutes to run or lift or do something physically that’s really good for you to clear your mind.

We do make sure you have quality time with those with whom you are most close. You just need to know there is not going to be a whole lot of quantity. That’s why it’s vital the times that you do have to be pretty good at doing math with your eleven year-old daughter or make sure that your arm’s in good shape any time you’ve got to throw batting practice to your thirteen year-old son.

Q. A.

Some of the coaches are separated from their families for a while?

We are gone quite a bit. You look at the recruiting landscape that we have and there are 128 schools that play at the FBS level. We have the least number of players or recruits from our time zone just because of the academic requirements here at the Academy. There is also the requirement as far as the service obligation since you are going to serve on active duty for at least five years following graduation from the Academy. So we recruit, literally coast line to coast line and that means we are NOVEMBER 2015

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going to be gone a bunch and will absolutely lead the country when it comes to miles earned.

Q.

Your life journey started in Oregon. Now you are out here at the Academy. What are the big milestones in between?

A.

When I look back at some of the opportunities for which I am most grateful –it’s the opportunity to come to the Air Force Academy. I grew up in a home where service wasn’t required but you knew it was highly important. My dad was a high school teacher. My mother was an emergency room nurse. You knew community involvement, being able to help others was nearly law.

Both my sister and myself were fortunate enough to be able to earn an appointment to the Air Force Academy and knew the importance of education; a foundation. The values of hard work, honesty, taking care of your body.

Somehow help those around you too in an uplifting way and the kind of mutual respect that you develop of bonds, the quality relationships that you built. So many of those lessons are applied in other ways in life. Certainly the leadership part of it too. There is a backbone and a foundation when it comes to the character traits.You have a chance to be more effective as a leader.

Q. A.

Where did the love of the game start for you?

Probably in a diaper somewhere; at a very young age.

One of the pictures we have on our wall at home, Amanda has of each one of our family members – of Tyler when he was about one and a half, and ironically he’s holding a football.

When I was one and a half and it was really probably one of the first pictures mom ever had taken of me is holding a football. So maybe she knew something back then.

A.

No question and to play a good number of sports. In this day and age many times young people are guided when they are 13 years old that they can really only afford to pick one sport and that’s it. I don’t see it that way. I love recruiting a young man that may play two or three sports. Started at a very high level, a varsity level in high school as a quarterback as a point guard in basketball as a middle infielder in baseball, all the things you learn in terms of the body control the competitive spirit the different friendships you were able to make. Just so many different situations are great experiences.

Q. A.

Are we seeing injuries associated with one sport athletes that are really complicated?

I think they are. At some point there is an overburden or overtax that occurs. There is a balance you have to have physically. There are things that you do as a basketball player with your ankles and your knees that are great for your movement. There are things that you do as a baseball player that are great to throw a ball but you probably overdo it and so we see some of the residuals may be a shoulder or an elbow that come forth. Or a volleyball player doing too much downward motion. You do that twelve months out of the year – does it take a toll – realistically, absolutely.

Football players, if you are going to line up and block and tackle every single day, you’re going to be darn good at it but run into somebody 365 days out of the year at

When I grew up, my dad was still coaching high school basketball at age 73. So you were in a gym, you were at a baseball field you are always involved with a ball of some kind. Didn’t have a whole lot of money. I can remember the monthly budgets. The times we had this little blue book in a drawer that literally you had to keep every receipt every time you went and filled up your car. My mom was trying to go to school at the time during a two-year degree to be a registered nurse. My dad during the summer when he wasn’t teaching at the school was working at the mill. So you knew that it wasn’t about money. But we had a lot of good memories and sports were a huge part of it too.

Q. 26

Was that the bonding element in the Calhoun Family?

NOVEMBER 2015

“Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

Q. A.

Was coaching always the plan?

Far from it. You come to the Air Force Academy for the opportunity to grow as a young person. The character traits that you further want to strengthen - to be a leader, to be an officer, to serve your country. Pilot training was an attractive possibility, maybe fly a fast plane – that would be pretty neat.

At that time, they did a really thorough physical our sophomore or second year here, what we call our three degree year here at the Academy and the vision had to be absolutely dead on. There was no way for any kind of corrective lenses or PRK or Lasik’s or anything like that.

“Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

some point your skull’s going to tell you enough is enough.

You just want to be exposed to as many activities as possible at a younger age.

If you are fortunate enough to go play in college, NAIA, Division 2 a Division 1 whatever that may be. I think it’s rare to be able to say we’ve got a prodigy at age 11. Now golf might be a little different or maybe a distance runner or tennis. Bodies change so much.

You think someone will be a good basketball player and thenthey hit a ceiling at 6’3”. There aren’t too many 6’3” centers in college basketball. So you need to find out what it’s like to be a defensive end or a first baseman or a catcher in other sports.The muscle memory, body control, body coordination, the skill level and truthfully the passion and the interest you have in different activities change also.

Q.

What was your Air Force playing experience like when you got your appointment here to the Academy, playing quarterback for the Falcons as part of that twelve and one marquis team?

A.

That was very good. I learned the value of having tremendous teammates. Whenever you have programs that are well supported with a strong commitment then ultimately it makes for a better experience for a young person. Really that’s what you carry forward into active duty and beyond.

You feed people well, you make sure they are exceptionally well trained, highly skilled whatever role that may be. If they end up pursuing things that are outside being an Air Force Officer, hopefully we have them well equipped so there are other jobs and endeavors that they can pursue.

That was a little bit of an awakening - OK Iam going to have to pursue some other endeavors. I looked at some business things. I worked in a management information systems in the Air Force. There is just something about being around highly-energized combative arenas when done correctly. There arehealthy benefits of being physically tested not only for your body but your mind and your soul too.

Q. A.

Any aspirations to be a player?

Reality kicks in at some point at 21 or 22 years old, now when you are 17 there is no doubt you are every bit as good as John Elway. Maybe you aren’t wise enough to know you are only 5’11” or 6’; you have an average arm, not quite a rocket arm; and your feet don’t quite change like a deer might in terms of the amount of ground you cover. But it’s hard to convince a 17 year old of that and I was guilty.

That’s why it is so important to make sure that you are well prepared for when the playing part comes to a conclusion.

Many times you have that conversation with young people when you go into a home recruiting. There is a void there and that’s why you have to make sure it is filled in other ways – play pick-up basketball, go throw batting practice, shoot three-pointers and run, elliptical, lift; whatever that is that’s healthy for a person to do really for the rest of their lives.

Q.

Your journey goes from Coach here under Fisher DeBerryto OU and then ultimately Wake Forest; did you feel that you had found your calling and a place where you belonged?

A.

For some reason there was a natural path that occurred there. When I got out of the Air Force, I was a captain, which is a pretty good job. I had some pretty good OPRs at that time

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be a lot more to it than only the scoreboard. If you look at it only in terms of how many bowl games are you going to get to, I think that is very short sighted and probably pretty selfcentered too.

Q. A.

Is that a conversation that is actually happening in some of these programs?

“Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

had a chance to do some things as a career in the Air Force.

Took a pay cut and went to Ohio University.

They were worse than bad when we got there. They had only won 17 games in the previous ten years. They were 0-11 the year before we arrived. I can remember going and visiting with one of the alumni groups and somebody said, “Hey, instead of going 0-11 have you ever thought about only scheduling nine or ten?” That was a little bit of an opener.

But I still look back and all of the leadership principles, that I learned at the Academy and while on active duty in Air Force and there’s a way toapply it at the university level. You find young people that are bright, good students, that have competitive drive about them but want to channel that competitive spirit in a way where it truly benefits others in terms of team building. Then you still build good, healthy, quality, sustainable programs no matter how difficult the circumstances.

That probably depends on what program you’re in; program by program. I think one of the neat things whenever you are at a school that truly is committed to academics; is the young person’s growth in character and certainly some of the leadership skills that they are going to develop and are pertinent down the road well beyond playing an activity or sport.

Q. A.

Is this a comprehensive experience at the Air Force Academy unlike almost any in the country?

It is unlike any. There are times quite frankly when you pull on your hair, where you realize ‘wait a second here where is the level playing field,’ in terms of the docket or the schedule we have in front of us. There’s not, and I think you have to embrace the difficulties and challenges that are inherent while you work at the Air Force Academy, especially when you work in a team ball sport.

Q.

When you left OU and went to Wake Forest you started to create a winning philosophy that was apparent and a very strong team.

A.

When I look back I realize that the athletic point has to be taken in a proper perspective and context. The few hours that the student athlete works on a court or field it’s OK to have tremendous drive. To have that kind of fire to you. Yet at the same time, your next play may be your last one, if it’s an ACL in soccer, in football if something happens to a shoulder, in baseball something happens to an elbow. I think there is a responsibility as a coach.

It’s easy to get enamored with all the momentum or all the perimeter activities that are involved. Yet there is a disservice for young people when that occurs. There has to “Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

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We left there and went to work with the Houston Texans as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator.

Then we got the call. Initially asked if we were interested and said “no.” My wife was from Houston, her sister lived in San Antonio so the kids were able to be around all their relatives. I thought we were building something really strong in Houston with Coach Kubiak and wanted to stay in the NFL. I thought quality of life with family, when off-season was an off-season.

I woke up early the next morning and thought no maybe we better find out a little bit more about the Air Force Academy.

“Image used with permission from the Denver Broncos”

While you’re here there are probably some other activities where there is an offset that can occur. In a team ball sport its tough, really difficult. At the same time that’s what makes it even more gratifying. Whenever you have seasons where you see a good number of your seniorsare able to graduate, throw their hat in the air at Falcon Stadium and go on to commission to be an Air Force officer. And maybe over those four years they did have a chance to play in a postseason game or a bowl game – we aren’t opposed to them playing two bowl games.

Q. A.

Map your journey from Wake to here.

We were at Wake Forest and received a call, do we want to work for the Denver Broncos. Truthfully had to think about it, as crazy as that sounds. Wake Forest was a great school. I love recruiting, especially when you have a quality of degree to offer a young person. The great campus environment and the transformation that occurs for somebody who is 17,18 years old to 22, 23. To be a part of that process is one of the most rewarding parts of mentoring or coaching or teaching a young person.

Q. A.

How long did it take you to make that call?

I think I kind of knew in my gut. I don’t think you can ever be shy relying on instinct. We ended up back at the Academy. I remember the first team meeting, the first days of spring practice. Got a pretty big rock in my gut thinking why in the world did we ever do this. I just wondered how in the world we are going to be competitive looking at the difference in size, height and weight. Granted that’s coming from the NFLcoaching Andre Johnson, Mario Williams and pretty talented football players. Their movement, their change of direction and acceleration, their length and size and level of play is scary good.

Q. A.

Is it a culture shock to come back?

With your eyes it is. When you come here and the bodies aren’t real big, you don’t have guys that have massive

But it was a chance, especially for football education to go work in Denver, which was beyond fabulous all three years. We played in the playoffs. It was fun each of those three seasons. The Colts had a quarterback and we got knocked out of the first two years. The guy’s name was Peyton Manning.

Then the third year we won the AFC West and we went 133. I remember playing the playoff game at Mile High, just a phenomenally electric atmosphere and we beat the Patriots 23-10. Then the next week played for the AFC Championship against the Pittsburg Steelers. No better place to live than the Front Range certainly. Our second child was born when we lived there in Denver –Amelia.

“Image used with permission from the Huston Texans”

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backsides because so much of football is power - the back of your legs and in your rump area – those are good football players. We were here and had some guys that certainly didn’t have any trouble seeing their belt buckle or recognizing their shoelaces. So that was a change.

Q.

What was it like as the iconic Fisher is leaving, and you are being asked to fill his spot?

A.

I just never felt like that was possible to do. I look at the eight years that staff had here while they were in the Mountain West Conference, they did a phenomenal job. Not only on the field where they went to a couple of bowl games.

But the influence they had on the young people here, not just the football players but the cadets as a whole. Ultimately that’s why you’re here to have a positive impact. To help the people gain the necessary lessons, especially leadership experiences that they’re going to need.

It happens here – you’re drinking out of a fire hose often when you are 19, 20 years old. You feel this especially when you’re going through basic training – where we throw you right in the fire and then we pound up on you and what comes out is somebody who has a pretty sturdy metal about them.

There is something that we want of those who do graduate from the Academy. The filters and the strains that are applied not only during the admissions process but while you’re here are necessary. And it’s not for everybody.

Q.

What are some of the misperceptions about getting on grounds, becoming an avid football and athletics program fan here?

A.

The biggest thing we want is support for our cadets in general and our community. Athletics are a part of that. Any time you have basketball games, football games, parades or graduation, how much that does for our hotels and restaurants and rental car business.

So often we’re approached or at least I am as the head football coach, asked if we should move certain games to other areas. Should we play a service academy game in Texas or Georgia or elsewhere and there are parts that are appealing.

Yet at the same time there are things you want to keep a part of the fabric, the essence of Colorado Springs.

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“Image from United States Air Force Academy Archives”

Q.

Your government funding situation changed recently.

Does the Air Force Academy and the other two Academies have to do what other NCAA D1 programs do?

A.

It’s not just on the athletic part of it.Moving forward with progressive efforts to cultivate and build necessary bonds and relationships that are going to require some fiscal donations. It’s going to be necessary in order to run a world class institution in all ways – academically, the leadership experience and athletically - it’s going to be a necessary part.

The partnership that’s required doesn’t require great creativity.Upgrades to venues whether restrooms, concessions, necessary amenities, the egress, ease of parking to ten different areas for a graduation or a hockey event. Weneed the premium seating options required in the 21st century. If you don’t have club seats and better suite options then a lot of the corporate entities are going to go somewhere else when it comes to entertainment options.

We have a responsibility, not only the Academy but alumni community. Colorado Springs also to truly make this a world class city. Looking at many other cities across the country of similar size;we can get there too. It comes to entertainment options and sustainable buildings with economic options that help this region.

Ultimately that’s what we want to build and instill in a young person at the Air Force Academy.

Q.

How do you dealwith news that your boys have been in harm’s way and some didn’t come back?

A.

Q.

I know that they are going to be required to carry out some very dangerous missions and if anything it only heightens the admiration that I have for each and every cadet that comes to the Academy. At age 17 or 18, they clearly know what’s involved, not only when they come to the Academy but when it’s time to go serve on active duty for a commitment of at least five years.

Do the guys know entering this program that the big sponsorships, the TV stuff and even the thought of a section or national championship is going to be an even greater challenge?

A. Q. A.

Is this one of the best most intimate settings in football?

It’s unbelievable. For what’s involved when you really look at a ticket price, a parking price. I go to a concert someplace and pay a bit more than $5 or $10. To be that close to the game venue. More than anything else, what jumps in your soul to feel those chills on your neck and down your arm seeing the cadets when they march onto the field prior to kickoff. The parachute landings and the splendor to be able to see a jet go over the top. It’s unlike any other activity of which you will ever be a part. Let alone a sport, it’s just absolutely awesome that way. And on our part too, to share how grateful we are for those that do come out and support our Academy teams and our Academy as a whole.

Q.

You get to know these boys for quite a few years. What is it like letting those boys go as you know where they are going?

A.

Well I do. Or probably even more so is where I may not know where they are going. The level of courage involved to make that kind of commitment. The lessons that we’ve taught them about real loyalty and integrity, to be trustworthy and able to stand knee to knee and hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder along with somebody else; that’s real team work.

Our mission is very clear cut. We want to produce leaders of character that are well equipped with the internal fiber, the level leadership skill and pertinent job talents that make them outstanding second lieutenants in our Air Force and in the other things when they are done serving as officers too.

Q.

As you are looking at your legacy, what is it you want to leave behind?

A.

The biggest thing is you are part of a team. I think you can have great enthusiasm and tremendous drive–and do it with class, dignity and grace.You don’t have to be any less bold or aggressive or any less competitive. We run a very demanding program, a disciplined one so there are going to be some that aren’t able to adhere to our culture. Yet those that do, how fired up you get to think of what they’re doing when they’re captains or when they are colonels or generals.

We have a spur, we have a drive and a passion about us that we want to share but we want to do it in a way that truly helps them as a man or as a woman. That’s not just the mission of the Academy because that’s our job, it’s truly what we love.

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12 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Avoid

While it’s still debatable whether emotional intelligence can be learned or if it’s an inborn characteristic, people with high emotional awareness generally avoid the following actions and behaviors:

1. They don’t let their feelings go unchecked.

According to psychologist and author Daniel Goleman, one of the pioneers of emotional intelligence, selfawareness is one of the five main attributes of those with a high EQ. Essentially, emotionally intelligent people have a high level of mindfulness about their emotions and feelings, and possess a deep understanding of how these feelings affect them and the people around them.

They don’t allow their emotions to get out of hand, and they don’t ever ignore how they feel. They might think more with their heart rather than their head, but this makes them more sensitive to the feelings of themselves and others.

2. They don’t dismiss other people’s feelings.

Empathy, another major characteristic of highly emotionally intelligent people, means that you deeply understand how someone else feels, and try to put yourself in their shoes. People with a high EQ don’t disregard how others feel; on the contrary, they actually want to decode the feelings of others because they have such compassion for them. They can even read people’s emotions on their face and gather information about their emotions based on body language. They can anticipate other people’s needs and are highly perceptive.

3. They don’t allow others to control their emotions.

People with a high EQ, while very sensitive, aim to maintain control of their feelings at all times, no matter what

other people may say to them. They don’t let other people rain on their parade; they celebrate life and keep a positive attitude, even if they’re celebrating alone. Emotionally strong individuals have a resiliency about them, and bounce back quickly from rejection, betrayal, and other forms of negativity.

4. They avoid the victim mentality.

Because they have such a high awareness of their emotions, they realize that only they can control how they feel. They don’t blame others if they have a bad day, and they constantly regulate their emotions in order to cope best with what’s going on around them. They redirect negative emotions into a more productive activity or thought, and take full responsibility for how they feel.

They avoid complaining to their friends constantly about situations in their life. They don’t like to spend too much time in self-pity, and they motivate themselves to get out of unfavorable situations.

5. They don’t become complacent.

Emotionally intelligent people work hard to achieve their goals, and don’t allow themselves to stay in a slump.

They believe in themselves, work through any fears they may have, and stay motivated to reach the finish line, whatever that looks like to them. They don’t avoid change; they seek ways out of their comfort zone because they know it will facilitate their growth and lead to a better future.

6. They don’t ruminate on their feelings.

Even though emotionally intelligent people stay in tune with their emotions, they don’t keep their focus entirely on their inward world. They know when to shift their attention outward and acknowledge the world around them –

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they know that living inside their head too much can create problems that were never there to begin with. They remain aware of their feelings, but they don’t let them overtake their entire life.

They simply don’t have the energy for mindless conversation and superficial connections with people.

7. They can quickly identify the cause of their emotions.

They realize that people have limits, including them, and they can’t possibly say yes to everyone all the time. They know their boundaries, and honor themselves by sticking to them and only agreeing to activities and tasks that they can reasonably accomplish.

They are not only adept at recognizing their emotions, but they can also deduce why they feel a certain way. They always dig a little deeper to uncover the source of their emotions so that they can fully understand why the feelings have come up, and form the best plan of action to take care of them.

8. They don’t engage in unnecessary conflict.

Emotionally intelligent people know that emotions are energy, and realize that they must pick and choose their battles. They only get into heated discussions when they feel that the other person deserves an explanation, or when they have no other choice but to confront the person. They avoid most conflicts, though, because they like to conserve their energy for more positive interactions.

9. Emotionally strong people don’t gossip.

They understand how harmful gossip can be, and know that nothing good can come out of it. They seek out more uplifting, deeper conversations with people, and avoid those that only seem to discuss destructive or petty matters.

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10. They don’t feel ashamed to say no when they have to.

11. They don’t give in to peer pressure.

Just because everyone else does something, they don’t feel compelled to follow suit if they don’t want to.

They think independently, and never conform just to please other people. They have a headstrong attitude, and often go against the grain. They rarely agree with what the majority of society does, so they tend to go off on their own and carve their own path.

12. They don’t seek approval from others.

If they want something, they go after it without feeling the need to consult others. They validate themselves, so they don’t require others to do it for them. While they respectfully listen to other people’s opinions, they don’t let other’s views form the basis for their decisions in life. They know that as long as they approve of themselves, they can achieve whatever they desire.

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BRAD RILEY

- iEMPATHIZE FOUNDER & PRESIDENT iEMPATHIZE

BIO

Brad Riley wants to live in a world where people are filled with empathy for others and are no longer exploited for someone else’s personal gain.

Brad is the Founder and President of iEmpathize (iE), an international human rights non-profit combating crimes against children. He has been a non-profit innovator for over 20 years and leads with a culture of creativity and collaboration resulting in effective strategies.

Brad’s years spent traveling and living among diverse cultures and people has shaped his perspective and continually guides his methodology.

In 2006, Brad visited SE Asia to explore potential partnerships with anti-trafficking efforts. His encounters with child victims and survivors of sexual exploitation, in addition to many years of empowering inner city youth, had a profound impact. His passion for empathy and action was ignited, leading him and a small group of friends to start iEmpathize in 2009. He believes that a multisector approach is key to social transformation.

He is a sought-after speaker and inspires people to empathize and engageissues of injustice.

When Brad isn’t serving as the executive producer of an iEmpathize documentary, curricula, campaign or exhibit, you can find him enjoying family in Boulder, Colorado. Brad also leads i.e. media (www.iemedia. com), a for-profit media group helping clients with cause based media production and strategies.

Press:

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CNN

Al Jazeera

Newsweek

Discovery

iEmpathize (www.iEmpathize.org) exists to evoke empathy and empower people to eradicate child exploitation. We work with youth and adults who share the spaces where exploitation occurs. Our methodology is guided by survivors and our strategies prioritize prevention. We specialize in the production of original multimedia that serves to educate and empower specific audiences as well as the general public. iEmpathize’s projects and partnerships have garnered international attention.

Notable work includes:

•

Empower Youth Program (EYP) - Brad co-lead the design and development of EYP, which is emerging as one of the leading antiexploitation prevention programs in the U.S.. A partnership was formed with expert advisors and several teens to produce a media curriculum where the teens share their stories of overcoming difficult challenges in their lives. They express their message through artistry and thoughtful advice. EYP is used by schools, juvenile justice programs, social services, foster care, group homes, and more to empower vulnerable youth and the adults in their lives.

•

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) - Brad serves TAT as a founding board member, strategist, and media producer. This partnership and collaborative outreach empowers the trucking industry to recognize and respond to human trafficking along our nation’s roadways. Over 150,000 drivers have been trained and are now the fastest growing demographic reporting tips. TAT is named one of the United Nation’s “Top 100 best practices fighting human trafficking internationally” and also received the Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness at the 2015 Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Awards.

•

BOOM - Brad traveled to Williston, North Dakota where he authenticated reports from truck drivers of possible exploitation and trafficking in the oil patch. Brad then launched the BOOM Project to communicate the problem that was going unnoticed and explore pathways to engage it. Being one of the first on the scene when the boomtown began to encounter a human trafficking problem, iEmpathize was a catalyst in the process of forming a state-wide response. Brad continues working with boom communities in other states as well as educating the oil and gas industry. iEmpathize’s BOOM program and approach were showcased at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

•

Be Relentless - Be Relentless is our binational anti-trafficking campaign between the U.S. and Mexico. In partnership with the UNODC, the project focuses on prevention, identification and aftercare. Be Relentless will soon be a bilingual, feature-length documentary that follows single mom, survivor and ultra athlete, Norma Bastidas, as she shatters the Guinness Record for the world’s longest triathlon of more than 3,500 miles from Cancún, Mexico to Washington D.C., to empower survivors everywhere.

Norma completed the triathlon in May 2014. Brad’s creativity and leadership were key in developing the concept of the triathlon project and getting Norma across the finish line. He is the Executive Producer and Director of the Be Relentless documentary, currently in post production.

Outside

NOVEMBER 2015

Magazine

TV Azteca

Washington Post

Self Magazine

University of Colorado School of Medicine Colorado Springs Branch

“Image Provided By John Mortland Photography�

Colorado Springs is starting a new chapter in its evolution as a growing population center with the addition of a branch of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The program will be based out of the UCCS Campus and focused on training third and fourth year medical students.

The school’s presence is directed at several of the Springs area’s challenges including expansion of the physician population to match the general growth; an emphasis on primary care physician development; the monetary and societal benefits to medical research; and the economic engine that accompanies not only individual physician practices but increased medical presence in general.

As the 41st largest city in the country with a population of approximately 435,000 people centered in the heart of El Paso County, which counts an approximate total population of 600,000, Colorado Springs has had very few resources in terms of medical education. While both Memorial Hospital and Penrose St. Francis are well established with multiple locations, this lack of direct medical educational option affects the ability to produce new health care providers, especially physicians.

“For the most part,Colorado Springs does not produce new clinicians in one of the largest cities in the country, which is not acceptable,” said Dr. Erik Wallace, Associate Dean for Colorado Springs Branch of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “There is a huge cost involved with recruiting and retaining physicians in Colorado Springs because most physicians

end up practicing where they did their training.”

Both the community and the University see this gap and plan to begin the process of filling this growing void by building a connection with those students and Colorado Springs with the aim of physician retention in future years. “Of the first two cohorts of students for the Colorado Springs branch, more than half of them have direct connections to this community so they are already familiar with it and hopefully they have a desire to come back and practice here,” said Wallace.

With regard to the nation-wide challenges in the area of future primary care physicians, “Colorado is emblematic of what I would say is a national situation, yet with its own flavor,” said Dr. John Reilly, Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He explains his opinion that two major issuesregarding this challenge center on the concepts of mal-distribution.

In particular, from a health policy and public health perspective a lack of balance to the types of physicians trained here in the U.S.

“We train more specialists than generalists. Most people think the ratio should be reversed,” Reilly explains.

He believes the other mal-distributionis geographic. “The people we do train want to stay in larger urban areas, and even within those areas, certain communities are underserved and rural areas are underserved with respect to primary care physicians.”

Yet these challenges form part of the strategies being implemented at the University: making the job of the primary care physician more attractive and changing the composition of the medical home team to allow the primary physician to provide care to more people.

From his perspective while primary care salaries are part of the solution, the quality of professional life may play a larger role. “I think that the patient centered medical home model has the potential to make the physician’s job more closely resemble what people thought they were getting into when they first went into medicine,” he explains. In the medical home model, other team members step in to provide direction, support and administrative tasks, freeing the physician to interact with patients. The advent of telemedicine and other services can support physicians in rural settings andhelp with geographic challenges.

“We do a lot of rural health initiatives at CU,” said Reilly. “We populate a lot of the communities in Colorado with physicians, but we populate them out of our residency programs and that is really where the focus needs to be to have the physicians stay in the area.” And

“Image Provided By John Mortland Photography”

while Dr. Wallace and most others agree, they also see the potential that the ties with medical school locations and programs can have on those students as well.

“I would like to develop a robust scholarship fund to attract those students who are off the chart in terms of their credentials for becoming an amazing future physician leader,” explains Wallace. “But they get recruited to go to another school that gives them half or full tuition. Right now, CU can’t compete with that.”

Financial considerations are a major factor for beginning medical students when selecting a program, when the average student debt coming out of CU is over $189,000 .

However, in the Colorado Springs branch a new teaching model is being implemented to offer an attractive pull that may counteract some of the financial allure. In traditional medical education, doctors were trained to essentially function in silos with extensive knowledge delivery and a top down leadership approach. Reilly expresses, “Clearly the world has changed and as health care delivery systems are changing, it’s critically important that our doctors of the future understand how to work effectively in teams and be leaders.” This sentiment supports the addition of an inter-professional education piece critical for future physicians to be successful in an ever-changing health care environment.

“In establishing the Colorado Springs Branch, we have to ensure that our students have a comparable experience, but it doesn’t mean that we have to put into place the exact same educational experience that students on the main campus get,” remarks Wallace. The new branch will implement a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) modelbegun last year withDenver Health as a pilot. Most Denver Anschutz Medical Campus students experience the traditional block clinical model, which is specialty-focused for between two to eightweeks depending on the specialty before moving to the next. In contrast, Colorado Springs Branch students will experience most of the core specialties at the same time throughout the year, with the ability to follow patients over time to see the fuller spectrum of an illness and the patient experience as they navigate the health care system during that particular illness.

It was the realization that there are barriers to getting the community to accept medical students that helped to prompt this decision. The changing health care environment and the productivity expectations of clinical providers, the electronic health record and the burdens that has placed on a practices’ productivity were assessed. “So bringing in the medical student in the classic education in our traditional educational models was not a good sell for this community because doctors felt uneasy about taking in a student and the expectations of teaching

when they have pressures to be productive and meet those expectations,” said Wallace. “It became clear early on that we needed to pursue an alternative educational model that our providers, our practices and our community would buy into, which led us to the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship model.”

The commitment of an outpatient provider to work with a student is half a day per week, a dramatically reduced commitment to the traditional model, yet they work with the same student for a longer period of time.

Rather than a revolving door of students coming through a practice every four weeks, a student is dedicated to a particular practice for ten months. This approach is shown to change the feedback from the physician to the student, who is going to see some of the same patients from beginning to end and will get to know those patients.

As practices and health care systems work to change their health care delivery system, this is an opportunity to integrate students into practices so rather than a transactional relationship between faculty physician, medical student and school, a student hopefully adds value to a practice to improve patient care. “Students develop that relationship with a patient, get to know them, follow them across the health care system and learn to be their advocate,” explains Dr. Wallace. This is an opportunity for students to take an active role in patient care rather than just learning diagnosis and treatment of an illness

from an interaction with a physician. “Our hope is that by providing that transformational relationship and value to the system, students are integrated into this health care delivery system.”

The traditional system of medical education is siloed; four years of medical school, three or more years of residency training depending on the clinical focus, plus continuing medical education throughout a career. Existing medical education is challenging because of the amount of current information and additional developments that come along every day. Students are time-stretched to learn all the new information from a medical standpoint plus patient safety, quality improvement, health care systems, business leadership, which were traditionally not part of medical education. “So we are supposed to add all this stuff in to these very rigidly defined structures of medical education,” said Dr. Wallace. “We are rethinking that.Instead of teaching them what they need to know in those silos, we are teaching them what they need to know across that continuum gives us more time and flexibility to be successful.”

According to Dr. Wallace,funding was unavailable to support the traditional transactional relationship.

“Since we don’t have those funds, we had to create a model that we could sell to the doctors and the system and the community. When you talk to the community at large -- those who are its health care providers and those who are receiving health care services -- there is certainly something attractive about having a medical student with you who can help you navigate the system, who can be that advocate for you facilitating communication across cross systems that don’t communicate well with one another.”

He explains: “Memorial Hospital and University of Colorado Health are a

big part of what we are doing. They are essentially funding the Colorado Springs Branch and the expansion of the class size of CU School of Medicine. The lease agreement between UC Health and Memorial provides$3 million per year for 40 years to help fund the branch campus. That’s important because we are not getting any money from the state to do this so they deserve to be recognized and appreciated for that contribution.”

Traditionally, there is a three-pronged role of a school of medicine: patient care, research and education.

Most people understand the patient clinical care and the additional responsibilities of the medicalschool physicianworkforce. Namely, that many of them have developed specialized expertise unique to academic medical centers and not always available in the standard community center. The fact that a medical school such as the University also has the teaching and research missions attracts those types of physicians.

The University trains a whole spectrum of healthcare professionals, not just physicians, but also nurses, dentists, physical therapists, physician assistants, occupational therapists, public health professionals, nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists, anesthesia assistants, as well as physicians. Dean Reilly explains “University of Colorado has been a leader in interprofessional education where we focus certain parts of the educational curriculum on all of the learners together rather than differentiating them out by school.”

According to the Dean, the least understood and yet most essential part of the mission is research. “This is where the treatments for the future are developed so that, hopefully when someone comes here 20 years from now, we have more to offer them than we do now,” he said. “At the same time it attracts the talent, the recruitment of faculty that provide great clinical care and are great teachers, but also support other jobs in the community.”

It is well known that a school of medicine is a big economic engine as most of the research is extramurally supported. “We have about $250 million in extramural funding that comes onto this campus primarily from governmental agencies and foundations that is a revenue stream into the communities,” said Reilly.

Regional medical campuses have a tremendous economic and social impact on their communities.For example, the University of Minnesota reports in their economic impact study that at their regional medical campus in Duluth, Minnesota, one rural doctor generates 24.2 jobs and $1.3 million in wages, salaries and benefits.

“There is a significant economic universe surrounding each doctor,”explains Wallace.

With new regional medical campuses, the initial

focus is on the educational piece for the students or residents put into place and working within those clinical systems. The research piece typically follows later as that campus establishes its presence in the community. “When you look at the potential economic impact for a community, that research piece is a big component, but it’s something that takes a little bit more time to develop,” said Wallace. “I would imagine once the Colorado Springs Branch has a firm foothold on its clinical experiences for medical students then we can start talking about what is the evolution,what will it look like ten years down the road. But when you talk to the business leaders of the community, having a strong research component is vitally important to the future economic success of this community.”

Both Wallace and Reilly agree that becausethis area is one of the top ten retirement locations based on quality of life,there is a dramatic need to supply the area with the physicians and other health care providers. They both see the Colorado Springs Branch as a major asset in achieving that goal.

It is common knowledge that the US health care market is in transition. Industry writers and economists often point to the medical reimbursement system as explanation of the current model, specifically a common criticism of the fee-for-service medical system, which has historically been the dominant reimbursement system in the US with its premium on volume. The more patients seen, the more revenue generated; the more tests, the more revenue generated.

Compounding some of the community anxiety is a fear that doctors are leaving the industry in droves.

Wallace addresses those concerns, “But the fact is most aren’t. They are frustrated with the changes but most of those leaving the profession are actually retiring because we have an aging population of physicians, making it all the more important to recruit and train young doctors.”

“The health care system is in revolution, so you have people talking about shared risk and bundled payments.

At the far end, talking about capitation:You get so much per year to take care of a certain population of patients,” explained Dr. Reilly. “Each of those iterations of the payment reimbursement provide some constraints, but also provide some options for the way you organize your care. And the limit that all of us have now on the clinical end of health care is coming up with delivery systems that can function under several different reimbursement systems.” Dean Reilly sees the organization around patient centered medical homes playing a major role in addressing this challenge.

“By working as a team you can have primary care physicians better meet the demand by reallocating some tasks that have traditionally been done by doctors to other members of the team. That means from the patient perspective instead of only interacting with their primary care physician they are interacting with their primary care team. Sometimes that may be the doctor or somebody else in the office, a nurse, a case manager, a social worker, depending on their specific needs.”

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Computer/Mobile Addiction on the Rise Some Creative and Useful Tips to Curb Dependency

- Does your kid like the computer or their mobile device a little too much?

- Learn how to set limits and spot the signs of addiction.

Is your child addicted?

What is computer/mobile device addiction?

• 77% of 8- to 15-year-olds said they’d rather give up TV than give up the Internet

All kids have trouble turning off the computer.

Instant Messaging with friends seems so important, and games like World of Warcraft capture players’ attention and time -- a lot of it. Virtual worlds like Teen Second Life can be equally engrossing.

• Most parents in the United States estimate that their children spend about two hours a month on the Internet, but in reality, kids and teens are spending upwards of 20 hours a month surfing the Web (Center for Media Research, 2009).

• About 41 percent of U.S. teens claim their parents have no idea what they are looking at online • 76% of parents think the Internet helps their kids learn about other cultures and ideas

How much is too much time online?

If your children spend a large amount of time at the computer, you may wonder, are they addicted or do they simply enjoy being online? Perhaps it’s easier to frame it like this: Can your child enjoy himself – and all those things that aren’t online – when he’s away from the computer? If you’re not sure, start observing his computer habits and moods.

But some kids go beyond procrastinating – they just can’t turn off the computer. Pay attention to how your child acts when the computer is taken away. If he becomes withdrawn, moody, and uncommunicative – and the mood goes away when he’s back online – it might be time to enforce some time limits.

Why it matters

The “off switches” in kids’ brains aren’t fully developed until kids reach their early 20s.That means they need rules and structure to help them turn off the computer. Developing children need to be able to have real lives independent of their cyber ones to develop socially, emotionally, and even physically. While some kids may blossom in the freedom and anonymity of online lives, they also need the interpersonal skills that online life can’t provide.

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Computer dependency can also mask problems kids are having in the real world. Dr. Maressa Hecht Orzack, director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at Boston’s McLean Hospital, says she sees concerned parents – and their kids, mostly boys ages 11 to 19 – who think their kids are addicted to computers. She finds that many of these kids aren’t developing the coping mechanisms they will need to live life happily and successfully.

Tips for parents of all kids • Establish good habits early. Kids need guidelines and rules about what is a good amount of time to spend on the computer. A good rule of thumb for elementary kids is no more than an hour a day during the week. Allotting computer time in 15- or 30-minute increments gives you a chance to check in and suggest that it’s time for a break.

Stress homework before computer work. Make sure your kids know that homework must be finished before they look at YouTube videos or instant message the latest gossip.

• Limit multitasking. Media multitasking is when kids are chatting online, watching TV, playing a game, checking out Facebook, or listening to music – and

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trying to do homework at the same time. It’s not really known what affect this has on how kids learn, but experts do know that it takes longer to do tasks like homework when other activities are going on at the same time. And that increases daily screen time.

• Determine if your child has an addiction or if he or she is simply spending too much time online. What happens when your children are away from the computer? Are they argumentative, depressed? Is there a marked change when they are online?

• If you suspect a dependency, have a heart-to-heart. Have a real discussion with your kids about your concerns. This, plus some serious guidelines, may normalize the behavior.

If the problem continues, or you think the computer time is masking depression or anxiety, see your child’s doctor for advice. Also, check in with the school counselor and see if there is something going on at school.

• Don’t take away the computer. This may seem like the best solution, but it can be very damaging to addicted players, who may feel that playing online games is the only thing that brings them any enjoyment. Removing the computer can make them depressed, and possibly even violent. It can also affect the level of your child’s trust in you.

• Don’t hesitate to get professional help. Addictions are hard to break, and dependencies can often be a child’s only coping skill. You may need someone else to help you solve this problem.

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Too Much of a Good Thing?

Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports

By Kathy Vidlock M.D. Colorado Orthopaedics

A 9 year old boy came into my office complaining of knee pain for over a year. At first it was only after he played basketball, but it had progressed to being painful all of the time. He had tried ice and rest for a few days at a time, but there was no improvement. He had an overuse condition called Osgood Schlatters disease (apophysitis of the tibia). With rest over months, he saw enough improvement to play again. However he kept having reoccurrences of the pain. At one visit he confided that the pain was gone but he didn’t want to play basketball anymore because he hated it and was afraid to tell his Dad.

Overuse injuries and burnout in children are becoming more prevalent. The National Council of Youth Sportsfoundthat about 60 million youth between the ages of 6-18 participate in some form of organized athletics. The intensity level of sports has gone up, including camps, private lessons and personal trainers. With increased intensity, the overuse and burnout rates have increased.

Collision injuries and concussions are traumatic and get a lot of press, but overuse injuries account for half of injuries in youth sports. Parents and coaches need an increased awareness of the risk factors of overuse injuries, proper treatment, the warning signs and symptoms and prevention strategies.

There are many risk factors thought to play a part in overuse injuries in youth sports. A history of prior injury may increase chance for repeat injury. Growth plates may be more prone to injury during growth spurts, and during times prior to rapid growth when bone density is decreased. Anatomic, biomechanic factors and flexibility may play a role. Athletes entering a season without being properly conditioned to start may risk injury. Poorly fitting equipment and shoes may also contribute. In teenage girls, menstrual dysfunction is linked to increased risk of stress fractures. Practicing proper sports technique is important in decreasing risk. Rapid progression of training volume or intensity increases risk of injury. Finally, pressure from parents, coaches or other adults can lead to psychological factors increasing risk.

Overuse injuries happen when there is repetitive stress placed on a muscle, tendon, ligament or bone, without sufficient rest between workloads. Overuse injuries can affect almost any area in the musculoskeletal system. The shoulder is a common area to see overuse injuries. Little leaguer’s shoulder is an overuse injury of the proximal humeral physis (growth plate) causing widening of the physis. Other overuse injuries in the shoulder results from imbalances in the rotator cuff muscles and upper back muscles. These can be commonly seen in swimming, tennis, baseball and volleyball, essentially any sport with an overhead motion.

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Little leaguer’s elbow is an injury to the apophysis of the medial epicondyle (inner elbow) commonly overloading the medial area of the elbow. An apophysis is an area of the growth plate where tendons attach, and apophysitis is inflammation of the area, including bony overgrowth. Both pitching too many pitches and attempting to throw inappropriate pitches for an athlete’s stage of development can lead to little leaguers elbow. It is important to use only a fastball and change-up when young. A generalization is that a breaking pitch can be added when a player is shaving as their stage of development will be more appropriate.

Injuring the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) is another overuse injury of the elbow, occurring in both baseball and tennis. The UCL is a ligament connecting the ulna in the forearm to the humerus in the upper arm. If not treated well, this injury can progress to rupture of the UCL and necessitate the Tommy John surgery, a graft in the place of the UCL.

Tennis players may experience “tennis elbow” which is pain in the extensor tendons on the outside (lateral) aspect of the elbow. Too large of a grip can contribute. Pain may be most noticeable while serving. Muscle strength and flexibility may be affected as it progresses. Although most overuse injuries in the upper extremity occur in the shoulder and elbow, a common injury to the wrist is a physeal (growth plate) stress injury found in gymnasts. The repeated stress to the wrist can cause premature closure of the growth plate of the radius, leaving it shorter than the other forearm bone, the ulna.

Overuse injuries occur in the lower limbs, and there are several conditions in the knee. The patellar tendon is a common site for tendonitis especially in jumping sports. The tendon provides strength and stabilization as the knee is straightened out during jumping.

Osgood Schlatter disease is an apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, which is where the patellar tendon joins the tibia. Swimmers who do breastroke repeatedly may have an overuse sprain of the medial collateral ligament or “breastroker’s knee.”

In the lower leg, shin splints are usually manifest as pain along shins and caused by repetitive running and jumping. Achilles tendinitis is caused by repeated microtearing of the tendon. The calf and Achilles will feel stiff at first and progress to pain. Imbalances in flexibility and strength along with repetitive motion are often the cause. Sever’s disease is an apophysitis of the calcaneous (heel bone) and is common in running sports.

Stress fractures can occur in many areas of the body. Some are considered higher risk than others, because if untreated, they can lead to chronic pain, non-union of bone and degenerative disease. High risk stress fracture sites include: femoral neck (hip), lumbar spine, distal radial, and several sites in the ankle and foot. One risk factor for stress fractures in teenage girls is amenorrhea (lack of menstrual cycles). The estrogen provided to bone by healthy hormonal cycles is necessary for bone growth and metabolism. Excessive dieting and eating disorders lead to low body weight, low BMI and may lead to low energy and amenorrhea and increased risk for stress fractures.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an injury to the cartilage and subchondral bone (bone beneath the cartilage) most often affecting the knee, elbow and ankle. The true cause is unknown but may be due to repetitive microtrauma and vascular insufficiency.

OCD lesions can cause joint swelling and limited motion. Stable lesions can be treated with rest but unstable lesions or those left untreated may need surgery.

Burnout is commonplace in youth sports. Burnout happens when psychological and physical demands of a sport are more than a child can meet. Psychologically, a child who has anxiety will perceive their sport as less enjoyable. Anxiety can be self-provoked, or brought on by elevated expectations of a coach or parent. Athletes may overtrain in an attempt to meet demands, but overtraining leads to periods of decreased performance.

Eventually a child feels apathy and withdraws from their sport. Certainly not every child

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who leaves a sport is burned out, but since children are increasingly specializing in a sport year round, burnout is more common.

The mainstay of treatment for overuse injuries is rest. Many athletes believe they have tried resting but have not done so for an adequate amount of time. Based on the severity of the injury, rest may have to take place over several weeks to months. Many times modified activity can be done, for example many runners with stress fractures swim and bike while rehabbing. Long rehabilitation and permanent damage may be avoided by being attentive to warning signs.

Overuse injuries may start as pain or discomfort after practice or games and may manifest as snapping, popping or tight feelings. As the injury worsens there will be pain during activity but the athlete will still be able to perform. If not treated, pain will eventually persist at all times and worsen to the point that daily activities such as walking are painful. Early signs may include decreased accuracy and speed even while the pain is at a mild level.

Early signs of burnout are more difficult to identify. Symptoms can include fatigue, depression, insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss anxiety, stiff muscles, irritability and frequent illness. Many of these symptoms can also be associated with other issues, thus good communication with the athlete and full evaluation of symptoms is essential.

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings true with overuse injuries. There are very few studies of prevention strategies, so the effectiveness of the current strategies is relatively unknown. Overuse injuries are associated with higher volume and intensity of workouts. Limiting intensity and volume is recommended depending on the athlete’s growth, development, level of conditioning and readiness. Any athlete with prior injury needs to individualize their conditioning to take into account any special needs.

Taking part in offseason conditioning helps athlete’s readiness during their season.

Coaches and parents should make sure an athlete’s equipment fits properly and is appropriate for their sport and stage of development.

During growth spurts parents should be extra vigilant about watching for warning signs. Parents should bring up any specific concerns at a sports pre-participation physical so the physician can help treat any problems early.Parents and coaches should watch for signs of fatigue in pitchers: elevating pitches, changing arm angle, decreased accuracy or velocity, and less use of the legs during the pitch.Little League rules limiting pitch counts are outlined in table 1.

Sports specialization gets a lot of attention. Specialization may play a role in both overuse injuries and burnout. Parents want the best for their children which can fuel the desire for additional coaching and training, personal trainers and higher intensity and volume. Some parents count on an athletic scholarship for their child’s college tuition, which places undue pressure on a child. Children are specializing in a sport earlier and earlier.

There are many different factors leading to overuse injuries and burnout. Parents and coaches are the main support systems for the youth athletes. Becoming informed and utilizing the guidelines of sports modifications when overuse is suspected, these adults can aid athletes in safely enjoying their youth sport experiences.

Kathy Vidlock M.D. NOVEMBER 2015

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速

S N O I P M A H C F O T S A F d e K t A i E v R n I B y l l a i d r o C e r You A Thursday, November 12, 2015 The Broadmoor International Center

7:00 - 7:30am Registration

7:30 - 9:00am

Breakfast, Program and Keynote Presentation Complimentary parking in The Broadmoor Garage

Corporate and individual seating available Visit us online at peakvistafoundation.org or call (719) 344-6605 for information about sponsorships, tickets or making a donation Peak Vista Community Health Centers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Keynote Speaker:

Gary Hall, Jr.

5 Time Olympic Gold Medalist - Swimming 1996 Atlanta - 2000 Sydney - 2004 Athens

Presenting Sponsor El Pomar Foundation Gold Medal Sponsor Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Advisors Silver Medal Sponsor Kirkpatrick Bank Bronze Medal Sponsor KeyBank Decathlon Sponsor Kathy and Bill Hybl LabCorp Olympic Torch Sponsor GE Johnson Construction Company Olympic Spirit Sponsor USA Swimming USA Swimming Foundation Media Partners KKTV 11 News Sunny106.3 The Gazette Healthy Coloradan Media Group

Breakfast of Champions速 is a registered trademark of General Mills, Inc. and is used with permission.

October is

Arts Month…Engage!

Each October, the Pikes Peak region celebrates Arts Month as a way to elevate the visibility and value of arts & culture in our community. Orchestrated annually by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR), this local Arts Month initiative coincides with National Arts & Humanities Month, which was established in 1993 and is observed every October throughout the United States.

2015 will mark the second year that the Pikes Peak region has joined this important national movement. According to COPPeR executive director, Andy Vick, “The official call to action during Arts Month is for everyone in our community to have at least one new cultural experience with family or friends in October!”

The official “home base” for Arts Month 2015 is www.PeakRadar. com/ArtsMonth. From here, you can learn more about the Arts Month initiative, link to the various resources in the Arts Month Toolkit, and find more detailed information about all of the exciting arts & cultural events and activities that are taking place throughout the month of October.

In addition to coordinating the calendar of events and the communitywide marketing campaign for Arts Month (across print, radio, television, billboards, email, social media, etc.), COPPeR will also be working with local municipalities in both El Paso and Teller Counties to obtain official Arts Month proclamations. “These proclamations create more awareness for Arts Month,” says Vick, “and help to ensure that our region’s political leaders are reminded every year about the important role that arts & culture plays in economic development and community vitality.”

To help celebrate Arts Month, individuals and organizations throughout the region are planning special initiatives during October. For example, COPPeR and the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance are partnering once again to host the 8th Annual Business & Arts Lunch at the Antlers Hilton on Friday October 9th. On October 21st, the Pikes Peak Arts Council will host its 15th Annual Artist Awards. And organizations like the Young Champion Ambassadors (a select group of high school students from across the region who are part of the Sister-Cities program with Olympia, Greece) are involved in a marketing contest to help promote Arts Month to younger audiences throughout our community!

In addition to getting involved in Arts Month by having at least one new cultural experience with family or friends during October, community members are also encouraged to stay engaged by visiting www.PeakRadar.com regularly throughout the year, and by signing-up to receive COPPeR’s monthly e-newsletter and weekly Peak Radar Picks e-blast. For questions about Arts Month, COPPeR, or PeakRadar.com, please email info@coppercolo.org or call 719-634-2204.

The Millibo Art Theatre: Innovation and the Conversation of Performance

The award-winning Millibo Art Theatre, a dynamic and intimate performing arts center,is newly rooted in the heart of theIvywild neighborhood in downtown Colorado Springs. The building is emblazoned with a red exclamation point, fanciful mosaics, and an important snippet of the theatre’s mission statement, “Creating new theatre for the Pikes Peak Region.” This is only one aspectof the organization that has been changing the performing arts scene in Colorado for fourteen years.Their imaginative productions and bright ideas have inspired children and adults through unique programming, exciting classes, and consistent community outreach.

The art directors at The MAT, Jim Jackson and BirgittaDePree, have always believed that theatre is a conversation. Because theatre is performed “live”, the relationship of the performer to the audience is more immediate, more personal and demands more engagement. This engagement in a deeper dialogue builds healthy communities. When they started The MAT they knew there was a need in the region for this kind of conversation.

This dream was first brought to life in a small space inside the former Business of Art Center. Since then, the theatre that has grown from that seed has exceededtheir plans, expectations, and wildest dreams. Their current venue seats 109 in an intimate, warm setting. Speckled with mosaics and artwork, the space is inviting and inspiring.

The venue is not the only thing that has expanded.Though The MAT began as a children’s theatre, they discovered when they created their “Premiere” series that adults in the Pikes Peak region had been hungry for the same kind of innovation. Adding an adult series and monthly improvised comedy has increased their reputation for fresh new theatre in the area.

The greatest challenge for the MAT, as with most theatre companies, is remaining relevant and compelling to modern audiences with their ever increasing demands on time and resources, and their instant access to downloadable entertainment. To meet this challenge, The MAT has pushed theatrical boundaries and compiled exciting cabarets and circuses. People return to The MATbecause they create theatre that celebrates uniquely human experiences, theatre thatchallenges, inspires and entertains the audience. More than a show, it is an experience.

This experience begins on stage. The audiences that visit the MAT come because they want something new.Any plays and performances that are not created by Jackson and DePreeare submitted by friends of the theatre who share a similar vision. When they do bring in outside work, the MAT makes it fresh. Between heart-wrenching productions like 2015’s “K2” and hilarious clown performances such as Jackson’s everpopular “Big Bubble Circus” audience members of all ages come away with something profound. “Everyone involved is also warm, friendly and kind,” says Pam Hauptly, a patron of the theatre. “I laugh my cheeks off, lose my breath, and at times, even my heart aches.”

For everything that happens on stage, there is something just as inspiring behind the scenes. The MAT’s camps and classes focus on learning by doing—being interactive. Children create, grow, learn and perform under thoughtful guidance. Classes range from “Messy Fun” to “Shakespeare on the Street,” including a well-loved circus camp that Jackson teaches throughout the year.After learning to juggle, walk on stilts, tumble, and clown around, these students become performers in the annual “Circus Millibo,” giving them a chance to take the stage alongside professionals.

The fun isn’t just for kids, either. During the run of certain shows, the actors teach a weekend master class for adults. This gives people in our own community access to high-quality theatrical training, as well as a chance to meet people who have worked on Broadway or in Cirque du Solei.

Not every theatre can boast the same personal touch, but the directors and staff of The MAT are passionate about people. As a nonprofit, the MAT has often relied on the support of the community, and they are determined to return that support wherever they can. The philosophy is that everyone should have access to wonderful theatre, education and fun. To that end, The MAT has kept ticket prices low, including offering discount Thursdays and special prices for students. In addition, scholarships to classes are offered for children whose families need financial assistance. Anyone can become part of the MAT family, and the MAT loves its family.

Far from being simply a place for plays, the Millibo Art Theatre is a place to play. “Creating new theatre for the Pikes Peak Region” only goes so far in describing what the MAT does, and what the MAT is to the community. The MAT embodies this “conversation” of theatre, and they invite everyone to contribute.

1

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Helicopter Parenting Not letting your kids fail early could be a mistake

By Charles Faye, PhD

If you’ve ever resorted to nagging, begging, or threatening your kids off to daycare or school, you are not alone!

Sadly, when this happens, frequently our relationships suffer and our kids fail to learn important lessons about responsibility and self-sufficiency. Provided below are some quick tips for placing the lion’s share of responsibility on your kids: • Remember that even children as young as three or four can learn this skill. Small children can follow a visual list of tasks they have to complete each morning. Some parents print pictures representing getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating, etc.

• Practice when you’re not stressed. Wise parents teach their kids how to get ready and practice on a weekend morning.

Older children with special needs can also benefit from this practice, as well as having a list like the one mentioned above.

• Rise a bit early and get yourself ready first. Children learn almost all important skills by watching the “big” people around them. Experiment with saying, “We will help you get ready when we are completely ready ourselves.” Help them only when you are completely ready to go. In addition to providing a good example, this allows us to be far more relaxed as we are assisting our kids.

Set a small number of limits and resist the urge to nag or remind. For example: • Breakfast is served until the timer goes “ding.”

• My car is leaving at seven o’clock. Will you be going to school with your clothes on your body or in a bag?

• I charge ten dollars to drive kids when they’ve missed the bus.

• The key is resisting the urge to remind. The more we remind, the more we have to remind.

Allow your kids to blow it.

Too often we nag and remind so that our kids will eat breakfast…or do their hair…or brush their teeth… or remember their homework. Wise parents understand that children will never take responsibility for doing such things when they aren’t allowed to make mistakes and experience the logical and natural consequences…blanketed in SINCERE EMPATHY.

Kids who learn to take responsibility for their exit each morning are far more likely to enter their workplace on time each morning as adults. For more practical strategies designed to raise responsible, self-sufficient kids, read my book, Parenting for Success.

JUNE/JULY2015

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Calcium

Everyone thinks they need extra calcium. We have extra calcium added to our milk, juices, antacids (which is another topic in and of itself), supplements…you name it.

It seems that the thought with calcium is “more is better”. But is that really the case? Have we seen a decrease in osteopenia or osteoporosis in recent years since adding calcium to everything? Well, the answer to the second question is no. So maybe the “more is better” concept is not accurate as well.

This is an extremely complicated and controversial topic. My intent here is not to get too “sciency” but to motivate thoughtfulness on a topic that not only effects your bones, but heart health, digestive health, well lets’ face it - most functions of the body. In order for a human to function, it relies on all systems to work together. If one system doesn’t work, then we fail to operate. This holds true for how nutrients work in the body. They do not function alone but must have “co-factors” or other nutrients involved in order for it to do its job properly. Assuming we can just take calcium by itself is not only simplistic, it’s potentially dangerous.

In order for calcium to do the job of building bones, it must have its partners or “co-factors” in place. These cofactors include, but are not limited to: • Magnesium

• Boron

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin K

• Copper

• Zinc

• Manganese

• Potassium

Without these co-factors, calcium get lost and goes wandering to places it doesn’t belong. This can include the heart and vasculature. Calcium, along with platelets, fibrin, collagen are natural band aids when there is damage to the arterial wall, but calcium in excess, along with stress, comorbidities, and environmental factors can lead to increased buildup creating plaques inside the arterial wall. According to a meta-analysis published in Nutrients entitled, “Cardiovascular Effects of Calcium Supplements”, the conclusion showed calcium supplements “increase the risk of heart attack by 27%-31% and the risk of stroke by 12%-20%.” The study also noted that, “There are several possible pathophysiological mechanisms for these effects, including effects on vascular calcification, capsular cells, blood coagulation, and calcium-sensing receptors”. They concluded, “The non-skeletal risks of calcium supplements appear to outweigh any skeletal benefits.” To view the study on PubMed Central, go to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738985/.

Interestingly, the top 10 causes of death is not complications associated with bone fracture. The number one cause of death for women is cardiovascular disease. Doesn’t it make sense to avoid those factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including calcium supplementation? Instead of taking calcium, why don’t we take it back to basics and eat the foods that nourish our bodies and our bones. Leafy greens, beans, bone broth, nuts, seeds, and fruit contain high, bioavailable forms of calcium with its cofactors. Processed, packaged foods are stripped of its nutrients. When supplements are added and listed on the label, this doesn’t make a healthy food. These are cheap, often times synthetic forms of a nutrient that the body doesn’t recognize, or can create problems, as with the case of calcium.

Healthy, whole foods are the key to a healthy, full life. It’s time we stop battling food and begin battling the misinformation about food. Food gives us life – Taste Life!

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NOVEMBER 2015

Colorado High Markesh Woodson ( Former School Track & Field Star )

Credits Adoptive Parents for His Achievements on and off the Track

Markesh

Woodson is not your prototypical young athlete. In fact, within the first few minutes of conversation, you’ll know without a doubt, the two most important people in his life are his adoptive parents, Ron and Stacy Woodson of Colorado Springs. The Woodsons recently joined Dirk Hobbs on Healthy Coloradan’s popular radio talk show, The Edge; to share their family story from being foster/adopt parents to watching one son realize his dreams on a national stage.

N

ow a junior at the University of Missouri, Markesh is enjoying a meteoric rise in the ranks of collegiate and world-class track and field competition, yet his perspective and humility about life remains very balanced. One comes away knowing of his faith in Christ, and an enjoyment and deeply held respect for the simple things in life that most other, more privileged–background athletes can sometimes take for granted. There’s no pretentiousness about this kid.

H

e’s under no illusion that he is more or less than what he is.

He’s eager to credit and demonstrate love and respect for his mother and father, as well as, his coaches (past and present), friends and siblings.

He’s one of those athletes you just sit back, watch and genuinely cheer for because of his authenticity – it disarms you right from the start.

W

hen pressed about his rising status on the NCAA Division I track and field scene, Woodson is all too aware of the depth in talent, genuinely validating his fellow athlete’s capabilities and states, “There are a lot of tremendous, impressive athletes out there. In any given race, it’s anyone’s day to win at this level. My job is to concentrate on giving my very best performance in every race and to represent the Tigers well.”

A

s a prep student-athlete, Markesh joined the Fountain-Ft. Carson High School track and field team, in Fountain, Colorado, a suburb of Colorado Springs, where he set records and impressed coaches. His work-ethic and passion for running were apparent from the beginning as he worked through injuries without complaint, and simply set out to be the best runner he could possibly be. Upon graduation from high school, Markesh had a good number of top colleges present scholarship opportunities including CU-Boulder.

W

oodson selected the University of Missouri where he is

Markesh Woodson other collegiate highlights to date: • • • • • • •

U. of Missouri School Record Holder in the 60m dash (6.58) U. of Missouri School Record Holder in the indoor 200m dash (21.13) 2014 NCAA West Preliminary Round qualifier (100m dash) 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships qualifier (60m dash) 2013 Outdoor All-American (100m dash) 2013 Indoor All-American (100m dash) 2013 SEC Freshman Runner of the Year NOVEMBER 2015

55

career in Oklahoma. The connection was immediate and the bond between these two loving parents and their adoptive children was like that of their own children.

W

a three-time All-American and is presently ranked 5th in the nation in his event. He will represent the Tigers in June’s 2015 NCAA Tournament in Eugene, Oregon. He is currently Mizzou’s record holder for the 60-meter dash. Markesh will then head to Seoul, South Korea in July 2015 with the U.S. Team and who knows what’ll happen next.

T

he other wonderful strand of this story is that of the matriarch and patriarch of the Woodson clan.

Without question, the very soft-spoken Ron and Stacy Woodson are jewels in the foster-adopt community, as they have taken on multiple foster and adoption placements, and maintain a very strong passion for that service to others, at which Stacy is very quick to credit her mother. The Woodsons met Markesh and his biological sister who is married and now lives in Germany, while Stacy and Ron, a recently retired 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army, was serving a portion of his stellar military

“ hen Markesh was in seventh grade, he and I raced and he beat me soundly. It was then I had a pretty good idea there was something very unique about this boy,” Ron stated, reflecting on what is clearly the joy of raising his son. Immediately after the praise from his father, Markesh was quick to endorse his dad’s own physical prowess on the air stating, “and as you can see, my dad is a very in shape man,” which he is indeed.

W

hen asked about her philosophy in helping adoptive children assimilate into in an already wellestablished family, Stacy Woodson said, “I told all my kids, and especially my two adoptive children, that they are normal – that there’s nothing about their past they need to be concerned about – just accept that you are normal like any other kid.”

And that is exactly what all the Woodson kids did.

A

s recent empty nesters to a total of six children (four biological, and two adoptive), the couple recently took in five more foster children ranging in age from 16 down to age seven – and, as the

fifty-something Ron put it, “I thought it was just going to be one, but here we are with five, and well, we love it! The mission is to create a safe place for the kids until their parents can get back on their feet. Not everyone has the same opportunities and sometimes people get lost. We just want to give the kids a place to be while their parents work out whatever their situation is.”

I

n an age of self-love and self-aggrandizement throughout the world of sport, even at the collegiate level, it is refreshing to meet and speak with an athlete like Markesh Woodson.

Keep an eye out for this young man and what will likely be a strong effort to join a future U.S. Olympic team.

Without a doubt the opportunity to compete for Team USA in an Olympic games is on his to-do list. But even if life’s plan for Markesh diverts away from that course, he has his sites set on completing his health-sciences undergraduate degree and will be pursuing a post-graduate degree immediately following his senior year at Mizzou.

A

nd as for his parents, this is the kind of family that just makes a community better. They are eager to serve, slow to take credit, and are very content to enjoy the progress and success of each of the Woodson children.

The Edge on iHeartRadio: Search AM1300 The Animal - Not your typical sports show – These are the best Colorado athletes, coaches, events, and the most interesting interviews!Got a story like this you want to share?

Call 720.440.2209 or email Dirk.Hobbs@HealthyColoradan.com

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NOVEMBER 2015

Ch ildren's Hospital Colorado

Announces Plans to Open New Hospital in Colorado Springs Top ranking children's hospital to continue long standing commitment to southern Colorado community

Aurora, Colo. (Sept. 22, 2015) – As part of its long-term commitment to providing pediatric care to the Colorado Springs community, Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) is announcing plans for a new hospital in north Colorado Springs, honoring their partnership with UCHealth and Memorial Hospital. The facility, which will be located on the Memorial North campus at the intersection of N. Union Blvd. and Briargate Parkway, is expected to break ground in the winter of 2015-16 and open in 2018.

The 170,000 square-foot facility, which will include an emergency department, up to 100 inpatient pediatric beds, NICU, pediatric intensive care unit and operating rooms, will incorporate pediatric-specific design elements to create a healing environment, provide the newest in telehealthtechnologies to more effectively deliver health-related services and information and be served by more than 500 team members, including our almost 40 physician/provider specialists who live and work in the community.

“On behalf of our faculty, team members and board of directors, Children’s Colorado is delighted to announce plans for a new children’s hospital to serve the southern Colorado community,” said Jena Hausmann, President and CEO of Children’s Colorado. “As important as the new healing environment that pulls all these services together for kids and only kids, I can’t emphasize more highly the value of the exceptional people who make up our team of dedicated pediatric experts.

Their passion and purpose equals or exceeds their professional training and expertise. The ability Children’s Hospital Colorado has to create a dedicated culture that puts the child and family at the center of all care is priceless. “

Contemplated as part of the 2012 unique partnership with the City of Colorado Springs and UCHealth, the new children’s hospital will be adjacent to Memorial Hospital North, but operate independently under its own license, with a dedicated entrance and team members who have trained exclusively to care for kids and adolescents.By expanding on its current capabilities in southern Colorado, including the comprehensive pediatric specialty outpatient clinic at Briargate, as well as Printers Park Therapy Care and Pueblo Therapy Care – all of which will remain unchanged,Children’s Colorado will greatly enhance its ability to partner with primary care and other community providers to deliver high-quality care to children and adolescents throughout the community.

“We’re excited to strengthen our partnership with Children’s Colorado and to ensure that pediatric patients in Colorado Springs receive the very best care, close to home,” said George Hayes, President and CEO of Memorial.

“Children’s Colorado is proud of the commitment we have made to raise the level of pediatric care in southern Colorado through expanded facilities and services and the recruitment of top pediatric specialists, nurses and other caregivers,”said Greg Raymond, Regional Vice President, Southern Colorado at Children’s Colorado. “The new hospital significantly expands our commitment to this growing community.”

“My wife and I are truly excited about the news of a new Children’s Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs,” said Trent Stafford, Colorado Market President, Kirkpatrick Bank. “We understand first hand the importance of the new location for not only Colorado Springs but all of southern Colorado. We are the parents of two young children who have been patients of Children’s Colorado and the tremendous team of doctors who have provided care. We believe that this asset will not only make the level of care provided by Children’s Colorado more accessible for Colorado Springs and southern Colorado, but will result in a collective benefit to our overall impact to kids health in the region.”

About Children's Hospital Colorado Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) has defined and delivered pediatric health care excellence for more than 100 years. Founded in 1908, Children’s Colorado is a leading pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and well-being of children. Continually acknowledged as one of the nation’s outstanding pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and ranked 5th on its Best Children’s Hospitals 2015-16 Honor Roll, Children’s Colorado is known for both its nationally and internationally recognized medical, research, education and advocacy programs, as well as comprehensive everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. Children’s Colorado is the winner of the 2015 American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize, and is a 2015 Most Wired hospital according to Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Children’s Colorado also is recognized for excellencein nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Centers and has been designated a Magnet® hospital since 2005. The hospital’s family-centered, collaborative approach combines the nation’s top pediatric doctors, nurses and researchers to pioneer new approaches to pediatric medicine. With urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Metro Denver and Southern Colorado, including its campus on the Anschutz Medical Campus, Children’s Colorado provides a full spectrum of pediatric specialties. For more information, visit www. childrenscolorado.org and connect with Children’s Colorado on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

How to Keep Hands Soft

Every single day we use our hands to handle so many things. This may range from papers, potholders, sponges, steering wheels and so much more. Just like our feet these extremities also need some time to rest especially if we work in the office and typing is essential. Nobody wants carpal tunnel syndrome (numbing fingers) and most especially rough and manly palms. Just imagine shaking hands when meeting new people, wouldn’t it be nice to accompany your elegance with soft hands as well? This article will give you tips on how to get soft, supple palms and forearms without having to resort to spas and such.

Wash your hands

After a stressful day, your hands are stressed too. So, during your night-time routine make sure you wash them with warm water and a trusted moisturizing soap, this is to remove dirt, dust and what-not on the surface of your tips, palms and everything in between. This is also important for hygienic purposes, not only do you achieve more relaxed hands you’re also getting rid of any disease-causing microorganisms you might have contracted during the day.

Hand Spa

Hand Spas are expensive, so why not do it at home? All you need is a bowl of warm water. You can add your favorite aroma scent to get a spa like ambience. Next, you need to soak your hands for about ten minutes. Also, if you have spare honey lying around you can put an ample amount on your palms and rub them gently together. Soak again. This will soften any hard areas and leave you hands feeling supple.

Hand Cleansing/Exfoliating

After your spa experience get moisturizing soap (bar or liquid) and put some on a wash-cloth or a soft bath stone. You can choose any moisturizing soap that you like; recommended soaps are apricot and Aloe Vera. Using your wash cloth or bath stone gently massage your palms, the back of the palms and between fingers to relieve stress and tension. Then, rinse your hands and pat dry with a soft towel.

Moisturize

The final step to achieve soft, smooth and supple hands is to moisturize. You can use a regular moisturizing lotion, body butter or you could opt to use a hand cream filled with minerals that help calloused and rough hands become smoother and suppler. Apply an ample amount on your palms and rub your hands together while massaging until the skin absorbs the moisturizer.

Always remember that your hands, like your feet need spas and massages too, especially because you always use your hands to handle so many things and it is also easily noticed. So take care of your hands with these easy steps you can definitely keep your hands soft, smooth and supple without breaking the bank.

Sexting: What you Need to Know This teen phenomenon on the rise and one in four teens have sexted. Has Yours?

By SASHA BROWN-WORSHAM

It’s hard to imagine the idyllicsuburb of Basking Ridge, NJ as the epicenter of a teen sex scandal, but in May 2014, a sexting incident at William Annin Middle School had parents and educators up in arms over the distribution of nude photos among 13-year-olds. And it wasn’t an isolated incident.

One month earlier, a 16-year-old West Orange boy and a 16-year-old Little Falls girl were each charged with distributing child pornography after their explicit conversations surfaced.

According to the authorities, the boy sent nude pictures and sexually explicit videos of his ex-girlfriend to the girl. Around that same time at Jersey City’s Dickinson High School, a 15-year-old boy allegedly recorded himself and a 13-year-old girl engaging in a sexual act and uploaded it to Facebook.

Schools all over the country have been dealing with the legal and psychological consequences of sexting, defined by the State of New Jersey as “sexually suggestive or explicit pictures transmitted via cell phones”—and educators and parents are now realizing these incidents are not rare. Twenty percent of 16 year olds and 30 percent of 17 year olds have received a sext (a sexually implicit text), according to a Pew Internet Study, and 17 percent of sexters share the explicit messages they receive, says the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. According to an Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine study, one out of every four teens has sent a sext, and 68.4 percent of teen girls have been asked to send a sext, as compared to 42.1 percent of boys.

Most states do not have specific sexting laws and instead criminally prosecute kids caught sending nude photos of themselves or other kids under harsh child pornography laws.

New Jersey has added an extra provision to the pornography law that kicks in when the perpetrator is also a minor (and a first-time, child pornography offender). Rather than being prosecuted, the juvenile (who may have been unaware their actions were criminal) is required to participate in a statefunded educational program designed to teach minors about the dangers of sending sexual images.

What can you do to protect your kids?Make Sure You’re Monitoring their Technology From the Start

Many kids start sexting younger than parents think. In 2010, a 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy in Chicago were each charged with child pornography after they exchanged nude photos. Avoid this by limiting the technology on teens’ phones from their very first device, says Dr. Susan Brill, director of adolescent medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. “Preteens can have a flip phone, but no smartphones until they’re at least 13,” she suggests. This allows parents to block any texting functionality on the phone, and few flips have photo-sending or social media

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capabilities, making them perfect for getting in touch with kids and limiting any other usage.

Next, Set boundaries

Create tech use limitations, says Dr. Sherry BarronSeabrook, a Livingston-based American Academy of Pediatrics psychiatrist specializing in adolescents. These may include time limits, phone and text checks, installing parental control software and following kids’ actual posts on social media (including insisting they be “friends” with you on all platforms).

Require your kids to share the passwords to all of their accounts and devices with you—and then periodically check to make sure they’re accurate—the Facebook profile and iPhone may be hers, but she’s a minor, and as her parent, you’re entitled to know who she’s sharing what with.

Additionally, regularly check with them (and do your own research) to see if there are new websites or apps you’ll want on your radar. If there are new ways to sext, or receive illicit messages, you need to stay up on them.

Making teens put their phones away after a certain point at night can also help, says Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, head of adolescent medicine at Cooper University in Camden.

Have your kid leave their phone in the kitchen after 8 pm or so, so they can read and do things that have nothing to do with texting, Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram before they sleep.

If your kid doesn’t like the restrictions—too bad.Parents have to be parents, not best friends, says Barron-Seabrook.

This is especially true of teenagers, who are kids with brains still under development. “I worry about teens not realizing the ramifications of sending out pictures that can possibly live on the web forever,” Brill says. “I also worry the sexting may predict or predate actual sexual activity the teen might not be ready for.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health’s study “The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction,” each part of an adolescent’s brain develops at a different rate, with the most basic (like information processing) maturing first and the most advanced (like impulse control and planning ahead) maturing last. Combine that developmental timeline with a teen’s already raging hormones and intellect (believe it or not, your teen’s intellectual power is comparable to that of an adult), and you’ve got the perfect storm for impulsive behavior.

Start Talking Early

The most important thing parents can do to avoid issues down the road is to address them before they begin, says Feldman-Winter. Talk to them about sexting scandals like the 2013 incident in California, when a dozen teenage girls sent their boyfriends explicit photos of themselves, all of which ended up being distributed to a network of strangers at seven different schools.

Feldman-Winter advises parents to use the dinner table to bring things up. “Ask them questions like: ‘How do you determine who your friends are on Facebook? Have any of your friends been caught sending nude photos? Have you heard of people sending photos to their boyfriends or girlfriends?’” The

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goal is to open a two-way dialogue about sexting and to make your teen open up and have a conversation with you. The more you talk about it, the more comfortable they’ll be.

Parental Controls Watch your kids even when you’re not actually there with these social monitoring programs.

• MamaBear: Install the parent app on your phone, the child app on your teen’s and get custom alerts every time he posts on social media and every time the app recognizes risky language or signs of bullying. Free–$24.99/six months, depending on plan • TextGuard: The family edition allows parents access to their child’s text messages without their knowledge. $9.75/ month–$89.75/12 months, depending on plan • My Mobile Watchdog: This app offers 20 parental controls for your teen’s smartphone that allow you to see text messages and contact history, block websites, turn off apps and more. $4.95/month • TeenSafe: Allows parents to monitor texts, phone calls, social media activity, Internet browsing history, Whatsapp messages, Kik Messenger texts and more. $14.95/month

A PLACE FOR KIDS. A PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! When your child is feeling sick, needs a routine exam, or has special needs, call on the pediatricians at Centura Health Physician Group Pediatrics NorthCare. We’re dedicated to taking care of your needs as a parent and partnering with you to keep your child healthy and fit as she grows. And, with access to St. Francis Medical Center and other pediatric specialties on our campus, you have the added comfort knowing that if your child needs treatment, she can be cared for right here, close to home.

To make an appointment, please call 719-571-7130.

NorthCare Building 6071 E. Woodmen Rd, Suite 225 Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. penrosestfrancis.org/CHPGPeds Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at (303) 804-8166.

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