With all the changes happening to the healthcare industry in 2014, Central Florida Health News magazine is a trusted resource for how these changes are affecting our local community. We’re starting this edition with a very relevant topic: obesity. The numbers don’t lie. In our region we have a significantly higher obesity rate than the state’s numbers, which is disconcerting. But fortunately, there are some very concerned local leaders and citizens who are working to change that!
The two ladies on our cover represent not only a great achievement in their personal weight-loss journey, but also two very important industries to our local economy. Ann Good works for Winter Haven Hospital as the surgical coordinator and Jerrilynn Bush is the assistant principal at Winter Haven High School. So, in one profession you have the medical industry and in the other you have our educational sector represented. These two ladies are not only a success story because of the healthy lifestyle changes they’ve made, but they have also successfully shown how to be living positive examples for the people they serve and teach every day at their jobs.
Regardless of where you work, live or play, however, each of us (including yours truly) has an opportunity to make healthier choices and be a promising influence on those around us. One of those encouraging stories (which we have included in this edition) is about John Rodda, a pancreatic cancer survivor and prominent businessman in Lakeland. His courageous fight against cancer is a story I am sure you will find inspirational for the present and encouraging for the New Year.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank our terrific staff, and contributing professionals for another successful year of bringing our region’s health news to you through this magazine, our various blogs, social media sites, and websites. I’d also like to thank the Polk County Medical Association for their active engagement with this and other Central Florida Media Group publications. And I’d like to give a special thank you to our readers and to our advertising, publicity and social media clients as well— without you this publication would not be possible.
Thank you, thank you, thank you and Happy New Year! We’re looking forward to another great year ahead.
Nelson Kirkland, Publisher
