Walk With a Doc program begins Saturday with Dr. Gebre Nida

The groups and events that make up the running community in the Triad are certainly welcoming of walkers.

Boston Marathon veteran Dr. Gebreselassie Nida is foremost among them.

Nida, a Cone Health endocrinologist, is bringing the Walk With a Doc program to Greensboro, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Spencer Love Tennis Center, 3802 Jaycee Park Dr.

"It's a great program," Nida said. "Ninety percent of walkers feel educated, about 71 percent get more exercise than they would otherwise. And 93 percent of walkers feel more inspired to lead a healthier lifestyle."

Nida will lead the first of the free, monthly walks, and they'll continue with leadership provided by Cone Health physicians, nurse practitioners or physician associates.

"Walking is one of the most important things we can do for our health," he said. "It's good for our heart, our brain, our bones, lungs, muscles, joints, and even helps prevent some cancers. So the most important thing is that our patients and participants will take charge of their own health instead of providers promising to give it all to them."

Nida is starting a chapter in the program founded by Dr. David Sabgir in Columbus, Ohio, in 2005.

Walk With a Doc will take place on the second Saturdays of each month. At each walk, the Cone Health leader will deliver a short talk before the group heads off into Country Park.

“I prescribe a lot of insulin to treat diabetes,” Nida said. “But I teach my patients about the importance of exercise. The ones who take that advice take less insulin. In fact, some of them listen more than I tell them, and they were able to come off insulin. That's very, very encouraging.

“That tells me that I cannot be just sitting here and waiting for patients to come for prescriptions. Maybe go out and work with them. That way we will prescribe less, and it will be a good thing for the society in general, for the health economics in general, because the status quo of health-care delivery in the U.S. is not sustainable. So we need to empower our patients to do their part so that they take an active part in their health.”

Besides the social connections walkers will build, four-legged friends are welcome, too.

"This is a completely free community event, open to everyone. Even dogs," he says, with a chuckle. "So everyone will benefit from these walks."

Click to learn more about the Greensboro chapter of Walk With a Doc.

Questions? Reach out to Nida via email: gebreselassien@yahoo.com