Our Story
Walk with a Doc was started in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio. Frustrated with his inability to affect behavior change in the clinical setting, Dr. Sabgir invited his patients to go for a walk with him in a local park on a spring Saturday morning. To his surprise, many patients and community members showed up, energized and ready to move.
Since that first event in 2005, Walk with a Doc has grown as a grassroots effort with a model based on sustainability and simplicity. A healthcare provider gives a brief presentation on a health topic and then leads participants on a walk at their own pace. Healthy snacks, coffee, and blood pressure checks are an optional part of a Walk with a Doc event. In 2009, we became an official 501(c)(3) and added an Executive Director with a focus on building a program that could easily be implemented in other cities around the country. As a result of these efforts, the reach of Walk with a Doc now extends all around the globe with over 500 chapters worldwide, including Walk with a FUTURE Doc chapters led by medical students and Just Walk chapters led by other licensed healthcare providers.
Walking was recognized by the Surgeon General of the United States of America as one of the single most important things we can do for our health. Will you join us in making health and happiness accessible for all?
