MEHOP: Metagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program 2021

2021

FREE ISSUE

YOUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER BETTER HEALTH STARTS HERE

MEHOP

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Multiple ways to reach us!

Wharton:

979-245-2008 or 979-559-3550

Bay City:

979-245-2008

Patient Portal: Go to www.mehop.org to access Patient Portal. Access services and information in a secure and confidential manner. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to: Exchange messages with our practice Review and pay billing statements Request or schedule appointments Research health topics Review personal health information Complete and update medical forms Update your profile and contact information

Reach Us After Hours: If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 We have nursing staff on-call to assist our patients with medical questions or concerns that arise after hours Monday – Thursday beginning at 5 pm until 8 am the following day, Friday beginning at 4 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. Our after hours on-call personnel can be contacted at 979-318-9853.

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Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

Community Impact 2020

Your Communtiy Health Center WHO WE ARE

WHO WE SERVE

WHY WE SERVE

M E H O P i s a co m m u n i ty h e al t h ce n t e r p ro vi d i n g h i gh q u al i t y p r e v e n ti v e a n d p r im ar y car e se rv i c e s f o r Mat a g or da a n d W h a r to n C o u n t i es a l o n g w i th n e ig h b o r in g c o m m u n i ti e s .

MEHOP provides health s e r vi c es f o r e v e r yo n e . W e w el c o m e p a t i e n t s e n r o l l e d i n M e di c a i d , M e d i c a r e , o r pr i va t e /e m p l o y e r b a s e d insurance as well as patients w it h n o h e a l th c o v e r a g e a n d V et e ra n s .

M E H O P w a s c r e a te d t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f r u r a l a r ea r e s i d e n t s , i n c l ud i n g m e d i c a l l y v u l n e r a b l e p o p ul a t i o n s w h o h a v e l im i t e d a c c e s s t o h e a l t h ca r e s e r v i c e s .

Total Patients - 10,351

Medicaid

44% Children 0-17 11% Seniors 65+

45% Adults 18-65

Medicare Private Insurance Uninsured 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Supporting Community and Economic Development

Counties Served

Employed 116 people

Paid wages $5.0M Spent $9.16M

Total COVID-19 Tests - 1,943

Private Grants 5.3% State/Local/Private 7.7%

Other 8.7%

Total Revenue $9.74M

Collections 44.3%

Federal 34%

MEHOP is a Non-Profit 501c3, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Our services include Family Medicine, Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, and Family Dental. Enabling services are also provided such as health education, transportation to Bay City MEHOP appointments, prescription assistance and Case Management to assist with care coordination and advocacy to meet an individual’s and family’s health related needs through available resources.

Health Centers serve patients regardless of insurance status or ability to MEHOP 3 pay.

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Then & Now By: Liz Moreno

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news@journal-spectator.com

n 1998, 4 priests of the Episcopal Church saw a need for healthcare for the uninsured and the under-served citizens in Matagorda and Wharton counties and they decided to do something about it. The result? The organization that has become known as MEHOP-the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program.

MEHOP began after these priests submitted a grant request for a mobile health unit to St Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities and their request was granted.

“The original goal was to travel in Matagorda and then Wharton county providing healthcare for free,” said Celeste Harrison, CEO of MEHOP.“The original goal of free was soon changed to a small charge and then in 2008 MEHOP was awarded Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” Although the original intent was to provide healthcare to under-served populations, it has grown to accommodate incomes at all levels.

“MEHOP was always open [to all incomes] but in the early days, the ones that accessed services at MEHOP had limited financial means,” said Harrison.

“We offer high quality care and have gained the respect of the community.

Everyone has a choice for health care services no matter what your financial means.”

In 2018, MEHOP expanded their services to include all primary care services.

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“MEHOP has always had a strong outreach presence to help the community in any way that we can–either providing service/assistance or partnering with other agencies,” said Harrison.

MEHOP utilizes many resources to help educate the public. These resources include all student health advisory boards and they are a United Way partner. Other venues are used as well.

“We use social media and our website; we take fliers to area businesses about us and events,” said Harrison.

“We use our donated home to conduct various classes for health and nutrition for free; we work with local government and law enforcement and partner with all local agencies.”

The donated home came from the Margaret Furse family in 2018 and is located across the street from the Methodist Church in downtown Bay City. It is used year around to house the students from the various colleges and universities who are performing clinical rotations at MEHOP. The house is also used for meetings and trainings.

Back in the early days, MEHOP employed only 7 staff members. Now, over 20 years later, almost 125 people are on MEHOP’s payroll. In 2008, they only had 2 buildings and now they boast of 8. Their physicians approach healthcare with an integrated approach “We offer integrated health care between family medicine, pediatrics and behavioral health where patients are treated as you see on tv with ‘grand round,’ ” said Harrison. “Our electronic health records are shared across all of our service lines so providers can provide the most comprehensive care.

We also meet once a month to discuss status and improvements in quality and compliance.”

The organization has few administrative staff members in order to keep down costs and has a board of directors selected by a stringent process.

“The most significant criteria are 1–51% of MEHOP’s board must be patients; 2–the board should represent the population and 3–members who want to serve,” said Harrison. “All FQHCs

Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

(Federally Qualified Health Centers) are required to have 51% of their board members be patients.”

In spite of being a non-profit medical facility, MEHOP has been able to offer some of the newest innovations available in the medical field. They converted to electronic health records years ago, but now provide other methods of health care.

“We offer telemedicine by phone, video and have units so that the nurse can work with the patient in the office and the provider in another location,” said Harrison. “We also have units that are portable and can be taken into homes, etc.”

Because MEHOP is part of the local community, more jobs have come available. Their job descriptions include doctors, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, medical assistants, front office staff, managers, accountants, Human Resource professionals, nurse practioners, physicians’ assistants and more.

MEHOP partners with a wide assortment of educational facilities and trade schools in order to further skills in the medical field. These facilities include Texas Tech, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,Texas A&M, University of Texas, University of Texas Medical Branch, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Baylor,Texas Southern University, WCJC, Brazosport, Bay City ISD, Van Vleck ISD, Wharton ISD,Tidehaven ISD, Palacios ISD and others.

MEHOP is prepared for emergency events, especially after the disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey and Covid-19.

“MEHOP has an emergency response center in which to operate in the case of a major event,” said Harrison. “We have satellite phones and a network with our staff to provide communications. We also have located our electronic health records to the ‘cloud’ so that we do not need to worry about losing information.”

“We are always looking for opportunities to better serve the communities,” said Harrison. “Our dream is to have one building in Wharton and one in Bay City to offer all of our services.”

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LIVE THE DECADENT LIFE WITH DIABETES

DEVIN ALEXANDER SAYS YOU CAN HAVE IT!

By Patricia Danflous

Wow! That’s how most people respond when they first meet Devin Alexander. Her thick, glossy hair perfectly frames her glowing complexion. Her trim figure reflects strength and energy. It is her sparkling smile however, that you will always remember.

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ouble wow!

That’s what you will say when you get to know her.

Her professional credentials are exceptionally impressive. Alexander is NBC’s The Biggest Loser chef, a specialist in healthy comfort food, best-selling author, weight-loss coach, and her media appearances include The Today Show, Dr. Phil and CNN. Her personal life is equally inspiring. “I was bullied brutally as a kid because I was fat,” she says.

“I tried every diet under the sun from the time I was eight until the time I was fifteen, but I just kept gaining weight. I eventually realized that I am incapable of following a diet and didn’t have success until I started to cut calories in creative ways.

That’s what set me free.”

Alexander not only lost 70 pounds, she has kept it off for almost 30 years without sacrificing her love for cooking and food. “To be honest, I never planned to be a chef,” she recalls. “Other people figured out what I could do and encouraged me. That’s how my career came about.”

Living an awesome healthy life without cutting out a love for food has earned her a reputation as the go-to-expert for decadence without consequence.

“You don’t have to deprive yourself to be fit and healthy,” she frequently advises. It is that philosophy and a strong commitment to helping others that motivated her to approach the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for MEHOP

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It was not easy to develop recipes which comply with the ADA guidelines, but the effort resulted in great dishes that look good. volunteer work – at the same time they were reaching out to her.

“I was in a pretty serious car accident that shook me up and made me realize I needed to do something to give back,” Alexander said. “Knowing how serious the type 2 diabetes epidemic is and how diet is a control, I found the perfect match for me to make a difference.”

Now, as an Ambassador for the ADA, the celebrity chef ’s latest cookbook is helping diabetics experience decadent eating without jeopardizing insulin levels. "You Can Have It!" features 125 original diabetes-friendly, comforting and delicious recipes.

The book is a culinary road map for anybody who wants to be fit whether they are diabetic or not. Although it is diabetic focused and low in sugar content, Alexander’s recipes are also low in carbs and sodium. “I think the people who are going to first embrace the book are those who already eat healthy,” she said. “Then, they're going to very easily be able to bring over the people who think ‘diabetes food doesn't taste good’.”

Don’t ask Devin to select her favorite recipe or her favorite decadent food. “That’s like asking a mother to name her favorite child,” she laughed. “You Can Have It!" has a Thai Shrimp Pizza that is shockingly good, but there is also a Japanese London Broil, German Chocolate Overnight Oats, and a chocolate pudding. Try the whipped topping with only six calories per tablespoon for something really fantastic. It was not easy to develop recipes which comply with the ADA guidelines, but the effort resulted in great dishes that look good, taste great, easy to make, and are affordable.”

choose not to for a special occasion, like a party or going out to dinner.”

“I eat less vegetables in restaurants than I do at home, because restaurants often soak green beans in sugar, add bacon or use bacon fat for cooking without telling you. When people go out to dinner, they eat carbs Alexander no longer such as bread, potato or rice keeps her eye on calorie with the meal, usually a glass numbers although she is or two of wine and dessert,” conscious of high calorie foods. “I don't count calo- she said. “I count each one ries at all, honestly, but that of those as a serving and just said, I do have knowledge of pick one. You should not what is good for you, and I have chocolate cake instead actually enjoy reading labels. of a good carb on a regular basis, but when making selecFor me, it's about finding balance. I believe in having tions, that's how I choose.”

With a history of obesione serving of lean protein, ty, and an on-going love for one serving of a good-forfood, Alexander has beaten you-type carb, and then plenty of vegetables. That's the odds, successfully mainhow I construct every plate tained weight loss and found that I eat unless I purposely a way to have it all.

Farhana Ambreen, MD

Kayla Lezak, PA-C

Family Medicine - Wharton 10141 US HWY 59, STE A BACK SIDE OF OAKBEND HOSPITAL WHARTON TX

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Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

Dana Foster, PA

mehop.org | 979-245-2008

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Olubukola Ayeni

Making Lemonade From Life By: Liz Moreno

news@journal-spectator.com

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lubukola Ayeni is a woman who grew up in Nigeria and wasn’t afraid to go after her dream of becoming a medical doctor. Now, seven years after accomplishing her goal, Dr. Bukki Ayeni is a doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology as part of the MEHOP Family Medicine & Behavioral Health facilities in Wharton and Bay City. She joined the group in April, 2020, and can utilize labor and delivery service at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond,Texas, as well as well as Memorial Hermann Hospital in Sugarland Growing up was a little tough on Ayeni. She had a cousin who died from Sickle Cell disease. This gave her the incentive to become a doctor.

“We just didn’t have the appropriate infrastructure to take care of her and she died because of that," said Ayeni. “Having that, it just kind of hit close to home for me and I just decided I really needed to do something to be able to give back to the community.”

That was the incentive for her to become a medical doctor, but having a mentor in who was an Ob/Gyn doctor at Howard University Hospital gave her the vision of becoming one herself.

Bayfront Health Hospital in St. Peters-

burg, Florida is where she completed her residency.

“I would go to her clinic and shadow her,” said Ayeni. “I just got really interested in ob/gyn.”

She admits that a lot of women don’t even go to their primary care physician. Gynecology and obstetrics stirred up her interest on several levels.

“For me, it had surgery, it had women’s health, it had bringing somebody to life…not trying to play God,” said Ayeni.

“It was a really interesting field for me.”

Delivering babies is one of the highlights of her day.

“Being able to bring somebody to life that day is a very exciting thing for me,” said Ayeni. “When I got into my third year, I had more time on my OB/ Gyn rotation to shadow more doctors.

I found out that I loved it, especially delivering babies.”

As a female doctor, Ayeni has seen patients who prefer a female doctor rather than a male, but she has found some who would rather stay with the male doctors.

“The ones who prefer women believe that because they [women] can understand what they are going through,” said Ayeni.

When a patient tells her that they

have swollen feet, Ayeni can sympathize because she has had swollen feet too.

“It’s easy for me to explain for them and put them at ease,” said Ayeni, “if a person can understand where they (others) are coming from, it’s easier to relate to other and communicate better.”

Dr. Ayeni, who is now 36 years old, came to the United States as an 18-year-old, and she graduated from the University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She later graduated from Howard University College of medicine. She met a few obstacles along the way, with the biggest one being language. English was her first language, but that accent was a barrier.

She credits a great support system consisting of God, her family, friends and mentors to help her make it through.

“It was one of those things we all go through. It’s life,” said the doctor.

“When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.”

She got married after her graduation from grad school in 2013, and now she and her husband have two children–a 2-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy. Her husband works in the medical field too, but is in Graduate school. She and her family live in Katy, but that is a blessing because she goes against the traffic when leaving home and its just the reverse when she returns home.

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wellness dontist — an expert in treating periodontal disease.

Treatment will focus on controlling any infection and preserving the teeth and gums.

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS TO WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST PERIODONTAL DISEASE:

Preventing

PERIODONTAL DISEASE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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SMILE IS A GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO SOMEONE EVERY DAY. AND WE FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN READILY SMILING WHEN WE HAVE HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS. PERIODONTAL DISEASE CAN POSE A THREAT NOT ONLY TO OUR SMILE, BUT OUR OVERALL HEALTH. What is periodontal disease and just how serious is it? According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, periodontal or gum disease is “the most common cause of tooth loss among adults.”

Symptoms often include swollen gums, consistent bad breath, painful chewing, sensitivity in the teeth and receding gums. If the condition is left untreated,

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By Julie Maddock the disease can progress to The dentist will exambleeding gums, intense pain ine the gums looking for and eventually tooth loss. any signs of inflammation.

CAUSES, DIAGNOSIS They will measure pockets AND TREATMENT around each tooth (the Blame it on nasty bacaverage depth of these teria! Our mouths are full pockets ranges from 1 to 3 of bacteria which forms a millimeters). An X-ray may sticky plaque on our teeth. be taken to show any bone If the plaque is not removed, loss. it hardens and forms tartar.

If necessary, you may Simple brushing and flossing be referred to a periocannot remove tartar. That’s why the dental hygienist Periodontal or gum works so diligently cleaning disease is “the most and scraping your teeth to remove tartar. common ca

Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

• Brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.

• Do not skip flossing! This is the most effective way to remove plaque from between the teeth and along the gums.

• Visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning. Be sure to speak up about any changes you have noticed in your gums, including increased sensitivity or bleeding.

• Quit smoking. Among adults aged 20 to 64, there is a greater prevalence of periodontal disease among current smokers (14.75 percent) compared to those who have never smoked (5.94 percent).

• Snack on a healthy-gums diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods that contain vitamin C (fruit or a glass of orange juice to use of tooth start the day), omega-3 loss among adults.” fats (tuna and walnuts) and zinc (red meat, poultry and nuts).

• Add more fresh onions to your diet. They contain powerful compounds that fight harmful bacteria in your mouth that can cause gum disease.

we're a teaching faciltiy!

university partners UTMB | BAYLOR | TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON | WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE | ARIZONA SCHOOL

979-245-2008

OF DENTISTRY & ORAL HEALTH | BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN | TEXAS A&M | TEXAS TECH

mehop.org MEHOP

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healthy mind

Cortisol regulates blood sugar, metabolism, e inflammation, cognitiv function, hormone balance and immune function.

By Anja Springthorpe

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rounding, also called earthing, relates to direct skin contact with the Earth’s surface. Connecting bare feet or the palms to the ground exposes the body to subtle electrical currents emitted from the surface.

This practice has been associated with health benefits for centuries. In fact, research conducted by Polish neuroscientists found that grounding to the Earth’s electrical currents equalizes the electrical charge of the body.

This equalizing is proposed to yield the beneficial effects for our well-being.

The Journal of Inflammation Research published a review of contemporary studies on grounding in regards to inflammation, immune response, wound healing, pain as well as auto-immune diseases. Across all studies, grounding improved well-being, reduced pain and increased recovery time after illness or injury.

Receiving Earth’s electrical charge appears to increase white blood cells and cytokines, both essential for immune as well as inflamma-

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tory processes. A well-balanced immune system is better equipped to resolve inflammation, the main culprit for many diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancers, skin conditions, depression or heart disease for example. In fact, the authors of this review concluded that earthing is a “natural, and accessible health strategy against chronic inflammation.”

Another noteworthy finding is the effect of grounding on the diurnal rhythm, a complex hormonal cycle synchronized with day and night. Lifestyle, sleeping patterns or sustained stress can influence the diurnal cycle.

Specifically, the production of cortisol can be significantly impacted by these external factors. Cortisol is not just our main stress hormone, but it is also involved in a number of essential functions.

Cortisol regulates blood sugar, metabolism, inflammation, cognitive function, hormone balance and immune function. An imbalance in cortisol levels can impact our health considerably. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that

Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

grounding normalized diurnal rhythms as well as balanced cortisol levels within eight weeks. Participants of this study reported improved well-being, better sleep and reduced perceived stress.

Modern lifestyles provide little opportunity to connect to the Earth’s surface. Unless

at the beach, we are often reluctant to walk barefoot.

Considering the ever-growing body of research on grounding, we ought to rethink our habits. Kicking off those shoes and reconnecting with Earth on a daily basis can increase health, longevity, well-being and overall happiness.

CLINICS LOCATED IN BAY CITY AND WHARTON

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH mehop.org| 979-245-2008

Rakesh Desai, MD

Nilesh Patel, MD

Blake Benson, LPC

John Saglime, Jr. Psy-D

Sherri Fruge, M.A., LPC-S

Lillian Smith, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S

Tara Hayes, LCSW

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE 800-273-8255

Pediatrics - Wharton

2112 REGIONAL MEDICAL DRIVE STE.1313 & 1315 WHARTON TX

Henri-Ann Nortman, MD

Susan Winchell, MD

Tayab Pasha, DO

mehop.org | 979-245-2008

PEDIATRICS BAY CITY 111 Ave. F Bay City, TX

Chinyere Ugwuzor, MD

Alysha Diaz, PA-C

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Kaitlin Palermo, FNP-C

111 AVE. F | BAY CITY TX Priscilla Metcalf, MD

MEHOP.ORG

|

mehop.org | 979-245-2008

979-245-2008

MEHOP

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woman that inspires

Mother, Wife, Physician Dr. Ferguson is a

Woman That Inspires By: Liz Moreno

news@journal-spectator.com

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wenty-two years ago, Dr. Robin Ferguson became part of the medical community in Wharton, Texas, and has been a provider in this area since then. Dr. Ferguson has been a partner in MEHOP in Wharton and Bay City since November, 2019, and is an expert in the field of general digestive disorders.

She went through years of specialized training in order to accomplish her goal as an internist.

“I graduated from med school in '93. I completed training in Internal Medicine in '96. I finished Gastroenterology fellowship in '99,” said Ferguson. “I have been in practice for almost 22 years.”

She then attended Medical School at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in their 6-year combined BA/ MD program followed by continuing her training with UMKC in an Internal Medicine residency at St. Luke’s Hospital and Truman Medical Center. She completed a gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at Louisiana State University Medical Center and

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Overton Brooks VA in Shreveport, LA. She has been in active practice ever since.

“So many people should know what kind of doctor they should see for different problems,” said Ferguson.

“Usually, their private care doctor directs them my way but some see me just from having an immediate need for the type of problem they are having.”

“The most common reasons I see patients is constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heartburn/reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, abnormal liver tests, Hepatitis C, cirrhosis, fatty liver, colon cancer screening and causes of iron deficiency anemia or weight loss,” said Dr. Ferguson.

Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

Dr. Ferguson is versatile in the way that she works with her patients.

“I provide office consultations and continued management visits, telehealth virtual visits,” said the doctor.

“I also perform upper endoscopies (EGD) and colonoscopies to look inside the digestive system but also this can be done to stretch open a narrowed esophagus causing trouble swallowing, place a feeding tube in the stomach, remove abnormal growths and treat various types of bleeding lesions.”

She provides office consultations as well as ongoing follow-up visits for Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Cirrhosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Joining MEHOP after leaving Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Wharton made this a perfect fit for her to remain in the community and expand into the additional resources offered by MEHOP. Although Wharton has been the location of her primary office for the 22 years she’s been in practice, she performs procedures at Oak Bend Medical Center-Wharton, Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City, El Campo Memorial Hospital and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land at both the hospital and surgery center.

Dr. Ferguson credits her mom for inspiring her to become a medical doctor.

“My mom was head nurse at the local emergency room at the hospital not far from where we lived,” said Ferguson. “It was probably from hearing her talk about medicine through all of those years and when I got into junior high, I worked as a volunteer at the same hospital in different areas.

Science and math were my favorite subjects, so it was a natural progression.” She was 17 when she made the decision to be a medical doctor.

In addition to working full time as a physician, she has an active family life as well.

“I've been married to my husband, Bryce, for almost 26 years and have a 24-year-old son, Ryan, and 19-yearold daughter, Rachel,” said Dr. Ferguson. “I grew up in a small town just outside the suburbs of Kansas City, MO where I graduated as valedictorian. I met my husband when we worked together as I was putting myself through med school.”

Her husband Bryce does marketing in life insurance, while her son Ryan might be interested in a medical career.

He used to spend time with her while she was in training at the hospital while she covered for the primary care doctors.

When it was slow, her husband would bring him up and he stayed in the empty hospital room and played with the buttons on the bed or he would sit behind the nurse’s station to color. When he was asked, “What’s your mommy do?” he would reply that all she did was go to the hospital and sleep.

Needless to say, her son has thoughts of going to medical school. Rachel, her daughter, on the other hand, is more business minded and gets sick at the thought of someone being sick.

She has commuted from Sugar Land for all these years, but kept an active roll as parent to her children.

“We chose our home in Sugar Land where it would put us at similar distance to my work and his school then subsequent work,” said Ferguson. “Our kids were involved in band through junior high and high school and we spent many years volunteering with the Booster Club.”

Dr. Ferguson actively cares about her patients and strives to help them achieve wellness in their bodies.

“When I see patients, I don't just try to diagnose and treat them,” said Ferguson, “but also educate them about how their disease affects their body and how their actions or diet affect it and how their medicines work.”

Gastroenterology

CLINICS LOCATED IN BAY CITY AND WHARTON Robin Ferguson, MD

mehop.org | 979-245-2008 MEHOP

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205 Ida Avenue Bay City

FAMILY MEDICINE - BAY CITY 1700 GOLDEN AVE. | BAY CITY TX

Family Dental

mehop.org | 979-245-2008

Farhana Ambreen, MD

Adekunbi Obisesan, NP

John Ferguson, DDS

Tom Guu, DDS

Paula Orsak, RDH

Lexi Williams, RDH

Katie Gilbert, FNP-C

Mary Ann Shimek, FNP-C

Tho Nguyen, FNP-C

M E H O P . O R G | 9 7 9 - 2 4 5 - 2 0 0 8

OB/GYN Olubukola Ayeni, MD

Melissa Lister, WHNP-C

2112 Regional Medical Dr. Suite 1317 Wharton, TX AND

111 Ave. F Bay City, TX mehop.org| 979-245-2008

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Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program

INSPIRE HEALTH

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wellness

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YOUR IMMUNITY THE NATURAL WAY

By Sara Kirckland hat dreaded time of the year is almost here – cold and flu season.

This means sicknesses brought on by cooler temperatures, back to school Petri dishes and a general abundance of germs. You may be looking to enhance any immunizations or shots you receive with some good old fashioned natural immune system boosters. Follow these guidelines for you and your family to enjoy a more comfortable fall.

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Get plenty of sleep. Getting enough sleep

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each night is essential to keeping your immune system operating at peak efficiency. When you don't get enough sleep consistently, vital processes in your body begin to shut down. Adequate sleep is essential to regulating your immune system and keeping it able to fight off external infections and germs. Strive to stay well-rested with around eight hours of sleep each night.

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

It's no wonder that parents everywhere admonish their children to eat their fruits and vegetables. Plantbased foods are rich in nutrients and vitamins that are critical to proper immune function. Some foods that are believed to naturally boost your immune system are blueberries, foods with omega-3 fatty acids, broccoli and spinach. This can also help you maintain a healthy weight which keeps your immune system functioning properly. It‘s a win-win! If you don't like vegetables, a daily multivitamin added to your diet can make up for any vitamin deficiencies.

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Practice good hygiene. Keeping your hands washed during cold and flu season is one of the most sure-fire ways to avoid getting sick. People touch their eyes, nose and mouth a lot throughout the day, so washing your hands is essential to keeping germs away from those areas. This also includes oral hygiene - brushing teeth, flossing and mouth washing are important to keeping germs out of your mouth and out of your body.

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Exercise regularly. In addition

to helping you maintain a healthy weight, regular exercise keeps your body and immune system functioning properly.

Exercise helps improve blood circulation and allows white blood cells to travel rapidly to fight infections. Pursuing the healthiest lifestyle possible will help you avoid an uncomfortable cold season.

Simplicity is often best. These basic rules to live a healthy lifestyle through good eating, adequate sleep, proper hygiene and exercise will provide benefits to fighting off infections. Herbal supplements may help, but it's important to understand there isn’t scientific evidence supporting such claims. If you want to avoid the cold and flu season altogether, follow these tips to boost your immunity the natural way.

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YOUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

FAMILY MEDICINE

Farhana Ambreen, MD Bay City/Wharton

Katie Gilbert, FNP-C Bay City

PEDIATRICS

Tho Nguyen, FNP-C Bay City

Kayla Lezak, PA-C Wharton

Adekunbi Obisesan, NP Bay City

Mary Ann Shimek, FNP-C Bay City

Dana Foster, PA Wharton

Sherri Fruge, LPC Bay City

Nilesh Patel, MD Bay City/Wharton

Tara Hayes, LCSW Bay City

Alysha Diaz, PA Bay City

Kaitlin Palermo, FNP Bay City

Susan Winchell, MD Henri-Ann Nortman, MD Wharton Wharton

Tayab Pasha, DO Wharton

OB/GYN

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Rakesh Desai, MD Bay City

Chinyere Ugwuzor, MD Bay City

John Saglime, Jr., Psy-D Bay City

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