Health News

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Lending a Helping Paw

Service Dogs Offer More Than You Might Think by MATT NORMAN When you think service dogs, what comes to mind? You probably think of a beautiful lab in a vest and helping the visually impaired. While many service dogs are used for guiding those who are blind, there are a lot more ways service…
Caring Canine

Meet Victory Ridge Academy’s Superstar, Dub the Service Dog by TERESA SCHIFFER If there’s one face familiar to all at Victory Ridge Academy, it’s Dub, the dog. Dub, short for Dublin, has been working at the school for children with special needs for the last 10 years. Dub is a Labrador retriever who has been…
Riding for Therapy

Equine-Assisted Activities Offer Heartfelt Help for Vets, Children with Special Needs by Mary Toothman At TiAnViCa Riding Academy, more than a dozen horses are on hand to allow people to ride — and heal. Sara Meadows, executive director and co-founder of TiAnViCa Riding Academy, says horseback riding for people with special needs has been offered…

PCMA Letter: Part of the responsibility of being a father

As doctors and parents, this edition of Central Florida Health News hits very close to home for many of us at the Polk County Medical Association (PCMA). One of the features in this edition talks about how regular health screenings for men are an essential part of living a longer, healthier life. I was honored…
Publisher’s Note: A look at House Bill 9: Involuntary examinations under the Baker Act

As I’m writing this, the 2013 Legislative Session at our state’s capitol is still underway, but will soon be coming to a close. During this process, several notable bills to our healthcare system will potentially be passed. One of the simple, but notable bills is one that will allow physician assistants (PAs) & advanced registered…
Editor’s Dose: Adventures with kids and vegetables

My twins are turning five this year, and they have officially reached the “vegetables are gross” stage. Fortunately, I can exclude my three-year-old girl and two-year-old boy from this dilemma . . . at least two out of four of my kids will eat their greens (and actually enjoy it!). The twins, however, are another…