Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/60305
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + W +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FROM THE PUBLISHER +++ +++ physicians and those within the health care industry (and beyond) who pick up our publication and read it on a bimonthly basis. Remember that MD News Greater Kansas is not only distributed directly to physicians and health care executives in print, but any and every issue is also available online through our state-of-the-art digital editions. Go to www.mdnews.com, click on "Magazine," then choose "Greater Kansas" from the "Digital Editions" drop-down menu! Thanks again for reading and joining us. Here are a couple excerpts from our cover story on the Via Christi Weight Management W program, where education and a team approach are playing vital roles in improving the lives of bariatric patients: • More than one-third of Americans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kansas — with an obese population of 29.4% — just narrowly misses being one of the 12 states in the country where 30% of the population is obese. • In 1993, James Early, M.D., founded the Prevention and Health Center — now known as Via Christi Weight Management — out of his belief that weight mattered when it came to one's health, including his own. With his position that a person's body mass index, or BMI, was just as important to know as one's blood pressure or cholesterol level, Dr. Early helped develop what became a premier weight-loss program through the use of behavioral modification and medical supervision In about 2002, general surgeon Brent Lancaster, M.D., approached Dr. Early about the feasibil- ity of adding a surgical weight-loss option to the already successful program. Dr. Lancaster, a board-certified surgeon since 1997, saw a need for bringing such an option to America's heartland. As you flip through the pages of this publication, you'll also find pertinent information about medical research and trending topics, in addition to news from the local health care community. My goal is to spark an open dialogue among health care providers through the pages of MD News. Feel free to further the conversation by contacting me, or by visiting our publication online at MDNews.com. Thanks so much for reading, and thank you to all of our contributing partners. ELCOME TO THE April/May 2012 issue of MD News Greater Kansas. As always, special thanks to all Greater Kansas Publisher: Jerod Norris Editor-In-Chief: Shannon Bova Managing Editor: Ed Lammon Contributing Writers: Cody Barnett, P.T.; Amy Geiszler-Jones; Ryan Hellmer ________________________________________ Jerod Norris P U BL I SHE R Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor: David McDonald Chief Operating Officer: Tony Young Chief Sales Officer: Jason Provonsha Chief Creative Officer: J. Kevin Tugman Chief Marketing Officer: Jason Skinner In Memoriam: Robert J. Brennan, Founder ________________________________________ Market Development Manager: Ashley Barnett Designer: Travis Knight Creative Services: Maggie Behringer, Maggie Neff, Kimmi Patterson, Michael Simmons, David Smith, Emily Young Financial Services: Doug Condra, Lori Elliott ________________________________________ MD News is published by True North Custom Media 735 Broad Street, Suite 708 Chattanooga, TN 37402 (423) 266-3234 | truenorthcustom.com (620) 249-7462 T jnorris@mdnews.com 614 N. 5th Saint Paul, KS 66771 Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, MD News cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Copyright 2012, True North Custom Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Please send notices on Form 3579 to 735 Broad Street, Suite 708, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Are you a physician or other health care professional with a special interest in health care IT? Check out HIT Exchange. A sister publication of MD News, HIT Exchange is the leading source for the latest in health care information technology. Register for print, Web, digital or our new iPad version at www.hitexchangemedia.com. 4 | Greater Kansas MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM Advertise in MD News For more information on advertising in the MD News Greater Kansas edition, call Publisher Jerod Norris at (620) 249-7462 or e-mail jnorris@mdnews.com. Contact Information Send press releases and all other information related to this local edition of MD News to jnorris@mdnews.com. 05-849