“I am so happy I found DSC, after not being able to play with my granddaughter on the floor and do dance parties with her... Also, having bad knees, feet, back, etc. It had become exceedingly difficult being tired all the time. I have tried every fad diet and spent tons of money not getting anywhere.
Thank goodness I was looking through a local magazine and saw the ad for DSC, not letting any of my family know, I decided to call and make, and appointment and it was the best decision of my life. Diet Solution Center has helped me get where I am today and get on a new way of life of eating healthy. Thanks to Mika and all the staff who has helped me from the beginning of my journey. I love the new me and Diet Solutions.
15 years and over 49,000 cardiac care patients, like Chuck.
Chuck Roe had never stayed in a hospital before. But when a heart attack struck out of the blue, he trusted his neighbors at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center to take care of him. After being transferred to the cardiac catheterization lab, he learned that one artery was 100 percent blocked. But a minimally invasive stint procedure got his blood pumping again. Today, Chuck is standing in front of a mural in downtown Mansfield, commissioned by the same cardiac care team that brought him back to health.
Scan to watch the cardiac mural being created at Main and Broad streets in Mansfield, Texas.
Find out more about how our Cardiac Care team is saving lives at MethodistHealthSystem.org/Mansfield
• L EG/A N KLE SW ELL IN G
• PAI N /CRAMPS I N L EG S
• SKI N DARKEN IN G
• L EG THR O BB IN G / ACHI N G
• VARICO S E VEI N S
• R ESTL ES S L EG S
Care you will love, right where you love living.
Texas Health Medical Associates manages the practices of over 30 primary care and specialty physicians with offices spread throughout the North Texas area. Providing compassionate, high-quality care is our thing. Whether you’re looking for a family doctor or specialized care, our extensive network of providers has you covered.
MEET OUR DOCTORS
ABDULLAH ABDUSSALAM, MD Gastroenterology
Dr. Abdussalam is passionate about preventative care and improving his patient’s quality of life. He performs surgeries including colonoscopies, PEG tube replacements and esophageal manometries.
Phone: 682.341.7210
2302 Lone Star Road, Suite 200, Mansfield, TX 76063
BOBBY BRITE, FNP-C Practitioner
As a board-certified nurse practitioner, Bobby provides care for all family members, ages 3 and up. His care includes chronic disease management, immunizations, annual checkups and sports physicals.
Phone: 469.672.2100
151 Walton Way, Suite 107, Midlothian, TX 76065
OPEOLUWA DANIYAN, MD ENT
As an Otolaryngologist, Dr. Daniyan diagnoses and treats both children and adults with disorders of the head and neck. She offers treatment for conditions including sinusitis, hearing loss, sleep apnea and more.
Phone: 682.341.7220
2302 Lone Star Road, Suite 220, Mansfield, TX 76063
CHRISTIAAN WEBB, MD OB-GYN
Dr. Webb has performed thousands of deliveries and hundreds of gynecological surgeries. He offers personalized, expert care for women including well-woman checkups, birth control and family planning.
Phone: 682.341.7330
2302 Lone Star Road, Suite 260, Mansfield, TX 76063
30 | MANSFIELD FAMILY DENTISTRY-JOHN BAUER, DDS
31 | MANSFIELD FAMILY DENTISTRY-CODY BAUER, DDS
32 | KOS/DANCHAK AUDIOLOGY & HEARING AIDS
33 | SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF MANSFIELD
34 | ACCENT PODIATRY ASSOCIATES
35 | DARIEN W. BRADFORD, MD
36 | ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDICS ASSOCIATES
37 | ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDICS ASSOCIATES
38 | ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDICS ASSOCIATES
39 | ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDICS ASSOCIATES
40 | UNITED DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES
41 | METHODIST ORTHOPAEDIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATES
42 | BACK 2 WELLNESS CHIROPRACTIC
43 | ACCENT ON YOU COSMETIC SURGERY AND MED SPA
44 | INSTITUTE FOR HORMONAL BALANCE AND BIOTE
45 | WATER OAK FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY
46 | TEXAS CENTER FOR UROLOGY
47 | HAVARD HEART OF MANSFIELD
48 | MANSFIELD COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER
49 | SKANDII MEDSPA AND MEDGYM
50 | AMY SCHOENING, DDS
51 | CITYVIEW AUDIOLOGY & HEARING AIDS, INC.
52 | REGENCY PAIN & THERAPY INSTITUTE
53 | STEPHEN THOMAS, DDS
56 EASY BREEZY
Effortless dresses for spring 76 FRESH AIR
Aromas to liven up your space
78 WEATHERING THE STORM
Don’t get caught unprepared this spring
80 SUCCESSFUL SUMMER
Picking the right camp for your child
82 GET A MOVE ON
Packing tips and how to find a mover
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
– Ezekiel 36: 26
When we Arlington/Mansfield residents count our blessings, we mustn’t forget the blessing of living among so many world-class medical professionals. No matter the specialty, people travel from all over the country—and all over the world—to seek the medical expertise we have right in right here in Tarrant County. This month in our annual Top Doc section, we’ll introduce you to some of them.
This month is also a great time to begin preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of Easter coming next month, thinking and praying about what Christ’s sacrifice means for each of us and for the world. His sacrifice and unfathomable love—then and now—deserves our reflection, thanksgiving, and praise. No matter how busy you are this month, I hope you’ll take some time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for our sin, that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. Slow down and turn off the noise of the world for a while to remember, as Billy Graham wrote. “God undertook the most dramatic rescue operation in cosmic history. He determined to save the human race from self-destruction, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to salvage and redeem them. The work of man’s redemption was accomplished at the cross.”
Spring is in the air in Mansfield, and we are preparing for a host of remarkable experiences. We begin by acknowledging and honoring Women’s History Month. Mansfield would not be one of the premier locales to live, work and play without the contributions, innovations and hard work rendered by the women who have served our city in the past and who serve our city in the present. Take time to study and explore the contributions of the women who have paved a path to excellence in your family and every walk of life in our great country.
March is also the month we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and our city’s one-of-a-kind St. Paddy’s Day Pickle Parade & Palooza. Join the thousands of people who will converge on our Historic Downtown the weekend of March 18-19 to enjoy food, music and… Did I say food? We look forward to your families joining us at this grand gathering.
One weekend prior to the Pickle Parade is the celebration of Arts Week, four days of artistic events at locations throughout the beautiful and ever-growing city we call “Tree City USA.” Check out visitmansfieldtexas.com for a full schedule of events.
The time is also drawing near for Mansfield residents to vote on five bond propositions. Our City Council is asking residents to consider the following proposed projects: a veterans memorial; a joint recreation center and library; renovations and additions to Mansfield’s community parks and athletic facilities; an expansion of Mansfield’s trail network; and a Miracle League field. Visit mansfieldtexas.gov/1839/Bond-Program-2022 to learn more about these proposed projects.
On March 3, 2022, I gave my annual State of the City address. A video of the presentation is available on the city’s website at www.gptx.org. Our annual report is also available on the website. We see some big things happening in Grand Prairie in the near future. A glimpse of our top goals for 2022 includes:
• Open six restaurants and water/light show in EpicCentral
• Launch a newly re-designed city website
• Begin widening of Wildlife Parkway from Belt Line to SH 161, complete 2024
•Celebrate Sprouts opening at Pioneer and Carrier
• Work with the cities of Mansfield and Midlothian to ensure consistent upscale development in SouthGate, our southern-most point near SH360
and SH287
• Welcome Hobby Lobby to our SH 161 business family
• Launch Via Grand Prairie on-demand rideshare public transit
• Complete widening of Camp Wisdom
•Seek an increase in homestead exemption in 2023 budget
Thank you for all you do as we continue to work together to make Grand Prairie the best it can be.
We couldn’t be prouder as we watch one of our own go for gold at this year’s Winter Olympics in China. Sylvia Hoffman, who played on Bowie High School’s state basketball championship team in 2005 and graduated in 2007, is competing on the U.S. bobsled team in Beijing. Hoffman, who went from basketball player to weightlifter to Olympian, will be competing as part of a two-woman bobsled team. Good luck, Sylvia. We know you’ll make Arlington proud.
Another reason for us to crow this month is news of the UT Arlington chemists who discovered a potent anti-cancer agent. A multi-institutional team of researchers led by chemists from The University of Texas at Arlington has published a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society that describes its discovery of a potent anti-cancer agent
that works exceptionally well amid low oxygen concentrations. The findings reported in the paper represent a major advancement in the battle to develop drugs that can destroy cancer cells in the most toxic tumor environments. Congratulations to Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Sherri McFarland and her team.
Those are just two of the many reasons we’re so proud to call The America Dream City “home”.
MARCH 5
TOTALLY EXCELLENT
CELEBRATION & POP-UP MARKET
Arlington Parks and Recreation
Celebrate Texas Independence Day with music, food trucks, friendly competition and a local vendor market. Free. 10am-2pm. Cliff Nelson Rec Center, 4600 W. Bardin Rd.
MARCH 5
TRAIL SALE
Arlington Parks and Recreation
Spring is around the corner and what better way to start spring cleaning by having a yard sale. We will have spaces for you and all your items you would like to sell. Reserve your spot! $15 vendor cost. 8am-1pm. Visit our website to register. Bob Cooke Park, 2025 Craig Hanking Dr. NATURALLYFUN.ORG
MARCH 12 AND 26
MOBILE PET ADOPTION EVENT
Arlington
Adorable adoptable pets looking for new homes will be available at the mobile adoption unit for immediate adoption! Visit with adoptable cats available inside PetSmart! Adoptions will be at the Petsmart® in South Arlington, 203 E. I-20
march 26
DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE
Arlington Parks and Recreation
Fasten on the pearls and polish your oxfords to Charleston your way through the glamorous night at our 20th Annual Daddy Daughter Roaring Twenties Gala. The Bob Duncan Center will be transformed into a world class grand ballroom perfect for making lasting memories. Individual tickets include a corsage, light refreshments, dessert, professional photographer to capture the experience, keepsake souvenir tickets on-site, and parting gift for daughters. Due to rescheduling of the dance individuals already registered will be automatically be registered for the same dance (5pm or 7pm). Please contact us at 817-4595474 if this needs to be changed. We request all changes be made before March 11. Registration now - March 6 is $27 per person. Late registration from March 7 - 20 is $37 per person. To register visit our link.
BIT.LY/DDD2022
(Arlington Highlands) 10:00am-3:30pm. Scheduled events are subject to cancellation without notice due to weather conditions (heat, cold, storms, etc.) for the safety and protection of adoptable pets, volunteers, and staff.
MARCH 18-19
ST. PADDY’S PICKLE
PARADE & PALOOZA
Mansfield
The Pickle Parade is back! Head to historic downtown Mansfield for the biggest party in town!
beer keg races, pet parade, food & retail vendors, Pickle Playground, Baby Parade, live music, 5k and 10k runs, pickle eating contests, live-action shows, community stage, pie-eating contest, Pickle Queens, cornhole tournament, petting zoo and the biggest parade in town! Meet special guests the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! Admission and parking are free! Free shuttle from Legacy High School. Visit our website.
PICKLEPARADE.ORG
MARCH 25-26
TENTS & TALES
River Legacy Park
Join us for a night under the stars as we
camp out at River Legacy Park. Pack your tents and sleeping bags as we set out for wilderness right here in the city. Includes dinner, a movie under the stars, sleeping bag story time and a good old fashion camping sing along. The move being shown this year is “The Croods: A New Age” rated PG. Cost $12. 4pm-8am. All ages. 701 NW Green Oaks. Visit our website to register NATURALLYFUN.ORG
APRIL 22-24
MAIN STREET FEST
Grand Prairie
It’s back! Come and enjoy the biggest downtown event. Live entertainment, carnival rides, food and beverages gardens, arts and crafts, kidzone, novelty entertainment and much more. Visit our website for details.
MAINSTREETFEST.COM
see more events in your area on LIVINGMAGAZINE.NET
MARCH 11 // THE
A time-traveling pilot (Ryan Reynolds) teams up with his younger self (Walker Scobell) to come to terms with his past while saving the future. The Adam Project also stars Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo (who are reuniting 18 years after they starred together in 13 Going on 30), and Zoe Saldana.
MARCH 4 //
MARCH 25 //
MARCH 25 // MICHAEL BUBLÉ HIGHER
MARCH 12, 2003 // BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
PARMINDER NAGRA, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS DIR. GURINDER CHADHA ( BLINDED BY THE LIGHT)
Unlike her sister, who is preparing for the perfect Indian wedding, Jess dreams of playing soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess’ unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to choose between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide if they should let her chase her dream.
MARCH 1 // ONE ITALIAN SUMMER BY REBECCA SERLE
When Katy’s mother Carol dies, she is left reeling. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime to the magical town of Positano looms.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appears — in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how — all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother but as the young woman before her. However, she is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
Imagery from The Adam Project (2022), Netflix. Movie image from Bend It Like Beckham Fox Searchlight Pictures, (2003). Book cover from One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle (2022), Simon & Schuster, with
THIS MONTH’S MUSIC
ADAM PROJECT NETFLIX
A Revolution in
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Orthodontic Care
f you’re over a certain age, you remember the horrors of braces, “back in the day”. They were ugly. They were painful. And you wore them for YEARS. If your inner child can still hear the taunts of Brace Face, Metal Mouth, and Tin Grin—if you were one of those unfortunate kids who had to sleep in head gear or even (gasp) wear it to school—if you remember all too well the agony of visiting your ortho, every few weeks, to have your stainless-steel brackets and wires screwed tighter and tighter until you begged for mercy, the embarrassment of removing your rubber bands in the high school cafeteria, before you could eat, your reluctance to tell your mom you broke ANOTHER bracket, the impossibility of keeping your teeth clean, when you had so much else going on, and the anguish of having teeth extracted to make room in your mouth—Dr. Jed Hildebrand has awesome news for you!
Orthodontics has come a long way, since you were a teen. And there’s no need for your child to relive your orthodontic nightmare. Just as your daughter doesn’t have to recommit your fashion atrocities, (Jean jacket and jelly shoes, anyone?) your kids don’t have to endure the torture you did, just to have gorgeous, fullyfunctioning teeth. “Many parents today are rethinking their child’s orthodontic experience,” Dr. Hildebrand said. “By starting earlier, we can place braces on their teeth, for nine months, to develop space for permanent teeth to come in. Then, we can follow up with Invisalign tooth aligners for a year, in their teens to give them that beautiful smile you want for them.”
There are myriad advantages to this two-step process, known as interceptive orthodontics. “By starting young and making room for permanent teeth, we don’t have to put your child through the trauma of tooth extraction,” Dr. Hildebrand said. “Their teeth are able to slip into their natural position because we’ve given them room to do so. By doing a little bit now and a little bit later, we can also avoid palate expanders and jaw surgeries that were a common part of orthodontic treatment, in the past. Parents are thrilled to be able to straighten their child’s teeth this ‘kinder, gentler’ way. They’re also happy not to
have to fight their teenagers to keep their teeth clean and trying to fit so many orthodontic appointments into their already packed schedule.”
Teenagers love it too because, with Invisalign aligners nobody has to know they’re straightening their teeth. They simple advance from tray to tray, as their teeth move into proper alignment. They can remove their aligners to brush and floss and for special occasions. Invisalign clear aligners are made from SmartTrack material, so they’re more comfortable and easier to pop in and out. Since Dr. Hildebrand is a certified Invisalign Orthodontic, he’s able to customize your child’s treatment and precisely predict what their outcome will be, just like he’s done for hundreds of children and adults. It’s a whole new way of thinking about orthodontics and it’s a winner!
MEET DR. HILDEBRAND
Dr. Jed Hildebrand grew up in the Dallas area and graduated from Plano Senior High School, where he played football and soccer and won state championships in both during his senior year. Dr. Hildebrand then attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. He played soccer on the university’s team and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He is also a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church, where he is a guest speaker.
Dr. Hildebrand enjoys participating in Christian dental missionary work in Mexico and has traveled overseas to dental clinics in refugee camps in Cambodia, India, and Thailand. Dr. Hildebrand was a contestant on the hit CBS reality TV show Survivor V: Thailand in the fall of 2002. He has appeared on numerous TV shows, including MTV’s TRL, The Caroline Rhea Show, CBS’s The Early Show, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, E!, Inside Edition, and The Ticket talk radio show.
After receiving his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Dr. Hildebrand continued his dental training at Case Western Reserve University. He completed a two-and-ahalf-year orthodontic residency program to become a board-eligible specialist in orthodontics, and received his Master of
Science in dentistry while also publishing his master thesis.
Dr. Jed continues to study and train with the latest and best techniques in order to provide the best orthodontic treatment possible. His two brothers, Dr. Brody and Dr. Sloan, and his father, Dr. David, are also dentists with specialty practices in Dallas.
Jed’s wife, Dr. Kim Hildebrand, is also a dentist and has retired temporarily to spend time with their son Kai and daughter Liv. Dr. Kim Hildebrand graduated from SMU and Baylor College of Dentistry. She has also been a patient at Hildebrand Orthodontics. Outside of the office, Dr. Hildebrand enjoys motorcycling, wakeboarding, surfing, and staying fit by playing in a men’s premier soccer league in Dallas. He also active in the dental and orthodontic community. He has served as the treasurer and president of the Arlington Dental Study Club.
Year after year, Dr. Jed Hildebrand has been voted the best orthodontist in multiple magazines and by his peers. His recognition includes:
Texas Monthly – Super Dentist 2008-2022
Top Dentist Award – 2008-2022
Voted Mansfield Living Magazine BEST Orthodontist
Voted D Magazine Best Orthodontist
Invisalign Orthodontic office for Adults and Children
Past President of Arlington Dental Study Club
If you’re ready to rethink your child’s orthodontic experience, Dr. Jed Hildebrand and the team at Hildebrand Orthodontics are ready to partner with you to help your child achieve that gorgeous, fully functioning smile they deserve. Visit HildebrandOrtho.com to find out more.
CONTACT
2200 Interstate 20 West, Suite 100 Arlington, Texas 76017
(682) 622-8936 | HildebrandOrtho.com
THE MOST POPULAR commandment
BY LANCE SHUMAKE
ommandments are popular in the Bible. There are a lot of dos and don’ts throughout Scripture, or thou shalt and thou shalt not for those who prefer to read like royalty.
As we consider Scripture’s commandments, it’s important to let the following truth guide us. We don’t obey God in order to earn His love, His favor, or our salvation. Instead, the Bible teaches we obey God in response to His love for us. We follow Jesus because He loved and rescued us. So which commandment of all the commandments is the most popular? Perhaps it’s one of the Top Ten? Given to Moses after God delivered all His people, they are designed to teach us how to honor God and how to treat others. God wrote them in stone and gave them to Moses, and they’ve proven to be pretty popular.
Another good choice is the “Greatest Commandment.” There were so many laws (God-given and man-made) by the time Jesus showed up, people were overwhelmed and confused. They wanted to know what the greatest commandment
was, so they asked Jesus. His answer, as you would expect, was perfect. Love God and love others. Putting it that way surely made that popular.
As great as those commandments are, they aren’t the most popular. It is not one of the Top Ten. It isn’t the commandment to make disciples, give to the needy, or to not boil a baby goat in its mother’s milk (yep, that’s really in there).
The most popular commandment – meaning the commandment most often found in the Bible is this — don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.
God knew we would struggle with fear. He knew we would experience fear of angels, spiders, enemies, heights, public speaking, dying, and the dark.
What fear is trying to entrap you right now? Fear of sickness? Fear of the future? Fear of conflict? Fear of change? Fear Of Missing Out?
In a world full of fear, God says don’t be afraid. Don’t let fear control you. Don’t let fear keep you from doing what is best, what is right, what is necessary, what is essential, and what is commanded.
I know. Easier said than done, right? Fear is a real problem, and it doesn’t let go of us without a fight. So, how can we embrace the most popular commandment? Let me offer two thoughts.
First, we need to remember that God is with us. In one of the most famous passages related to this, God challenges Joshua to not be afraid. He commands him to be strong and courageous. And he does so based on one simple truth –He will be with Joshua.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
God always goes with us. He doesn’t call us to follow and obey on our own. He will be with you. Always. He is with you right now in the middle of whatever is causing you to fear. He will never leave you. Ever.
Second, we need to remember that God is for us. The gospel makes this ultra-clear. If God was willing to give us His only Son to die on a cross in our place, then we know He is truly for us. We can trust Him.
In Romans 8, Paul asks the question, “If God is for us, then who can be against us?”
The answer is no one. Not successfully. Anything that happens to us is in His control. In fact, He promises to work all things for good in the end. We have nothing to fear.
This is such good news for all of us. Fear doesn’t have to control us.
Are you ready? Let’s go! Start that conversation with a lost friend. Invite someone to church. Tell someone you are sorry. Confess that sin. Ask someone for help. Sign up to serve. Engage your church. Send that text. Make that phone call. Love your enemies.
God is with us, and God is for us. Don’t be afraid.
Preach this truth to yourself today and every day. Then follow Jesus. Without fear.
Lance Shumake serves as the PresidentandFounderofiGoGlobal, a student missions organization based in Texas. He also is a pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Rockwall, Texas.
THE SANFORD HOUSE TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY BY SPENDING THE YEAR PERFORMING 25 ACTS OF KINDNESS
AS THE SANFORD HOUSE ROUNDS THE QUARTER-CENTURY MARK IN 2022 , its owners, management, and staff plan to celebrate by performing 25 acts of kindness in the community throughout the year. “This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community, because without this community, we wouldn’t be here,” says Valerie Landry, General Manager.
Together, the team has come up with an incredible list of events and non-profits to support. Plans so far include:
• Providing snacks for blood donors at an upcoming blood drive organized by The Rotary Club of Arlington;
• Gathering books and board games for an upcoming Arlington Public Library Foundation donation drive;
• Organizing a “Cones for Cops” event in summer to provide a Kona Ice treat for police officers;
• Creating hygiene packs for Arlington Life Shelter residents;
• Providing coloring books and dental care packs for local kindergarten students at nearby AISD campuses; and so much more...
The Sanford House Inn & Spa and Restaurant506 provide a beautiful escape for all who enter. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy fabulous food, luxurious accommodations, and pampering with world-class spa and salon services. The Downtown Arlington location is perfectly centered for visitors wanting to settle into the heart of the Metroplex and experience all Arlington has to offer, as well as for locals seeking a change of scenery for a relaxing staycation or a special outing.
The family-owned- and-operated inn has now been a staple in the Arlington community for 25 years.
www.thesanfordhouse.com | 817-861-2129
TEXAS HEALTH HOSPITAL MANSFIELD LAUNCHES ORTHOPEDIC ALLIANCE
Mansfield, TX – February 8, 2022
TEXAS HEALTH HOSPITAL MANSFIELD IS OFFICIALLY ABLE TO CARE FOR EVEN MORE MEMBERS OF ITS GROWING COMMUNITY THANKS TO THE LAUNCH OF THE ORTHOPEDIC ALLIANCE.
After seeing a need, we made the decision to build a one-stopshop program that offers comprehensive orthopedic services that are both easily accessible and consumer-friendly for Mansfield and surrounding communities. The Orthopedic Alliance ensures residents can receive the high-quality, worldclass care they deserve, close to home. This new service line is a crucial growth strategy for our hospital to not only grow surgical volume, but to support our outpatient services but creating a navigation process that keeps all orthopedic referrals within our network.
In addition, partnering with three independent practices in the local area, patients will have easy access to multiple physician offices for orthopedic care.
• Water Oak Foot and Ankle Surgery
1900 Matlock Rd Ste 304, Mansfield, TX 76063
• Lone Star Orthopaedic and Spine Specialists
215 Old Hwy 1187, Burleson, TX 76028
• Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute
305 Regency Pkwy Ste 405, Mansfield, TX 76063
The name of the program symbolizes the alliance between Texas Health Mansfield and the three independent physician practices who together have committed to delivering Mansfield and the surrounding communities exceptional orthopedic care, close to home.
ABOUT TEXAS HEALTH HOSPITAL MANSFIELD:
Operated as a joint venture between Texas Health Resources and AdventHealth, Texas Health Mansfield believes that total health is achieved through a balance of physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. Texas Health Mansfield includes a licensed 59-bed acute care hospital and an 80,000-square-foor medical staff office building that houses primary care and specialty practices, as well as an outpatient center that offers lab, therapy, and imaging services. Hospital services include Cardiovascular, Orthopedics, General Surgery and Women’s services.
For more information visit MansfieldTexasHealth.org, call 682.341.5000 or find Texas Health Mansfield on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
PET CLUB
PET CLUB MEMBERS
To join the club, visit LivingMagazine.net/pet-club Send your pet’s name, your name, your address, and a clear photo of your pet. They might just turn up in a future issue of Living!
Bruno // Lina P.
Billy // Sandra K.
Cosima // Yvonne T.
Camilo // Jessica R.
Briar // Katie G.
Rodney & Whiskey // Angel W.
Monty // Kerri T.
MANSFIELD FAMILY DENTISTRY
John Bauer, DDS
PHOTO BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Mansfield Family Dentistry is built on relationships. And Family Dentist John Bauer understands those relationships are built on trust; the trust he’s spent more than four decades building. “I love when a family thinks of me as their dentist,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to be a part of so many families, over the past 40 years. When a young parent lifts their child into my dental chair and I can remember that same parent sitting there, when they were a child, I can’t believe what a charmed life I’ve led.”
Dr. John (as he’s affectionately known) shares his own family with his patients, as well. With his wife, Terri, running the office and his son, Dr. Cody Bauer, joining him as his dental partner, this truly is a family dental practice, in every sense of the word. “Terri and I can remember treating our own kids, when they were young,” Dr. John said. “Now we’re having the honor of treating our amazing grandkids, plus our neighbors, extended family, and so many Mansfield friends. We have the honor or treating two, three—even four generations of some families.”
In fact, when many of those friends, neighbors, and family members relocate out of the Mansfield area, they still make the trip back to Mansfield Family Dentistry, twice a year for annual cleanings and check-ups and still trust the Bauer family with all their dental needs. Since Dr. Cody has come onboard to handle much of the general preventative and restorative dentistry, Dr. John has been able to concentrate on the cosmetic and implant dentistry he really enjoys. “These two fields have come so far, over the time I’ve been practicing dentistry,” he said. “I can do things now I could only dream of before.”
Whether you’re repairing damage to your teeth or want to make a dramatic change, Dr. John will sit with you, listen
to your wishes and desires, and compile a tailored cosmetic treatment plan, to give you that fully-functioning, gorgeous smile of your dreams. They’ve invested in the latest dental advancements, including laser dentistry, 3D CT scanner, pain-free injections, digital impression technology, and gum disease laser therapy. Then why not finish off your beautiful, healthy smile with in-office laser tooth whitening?
When your natural tooth is beyond help, Dr. John can provide you with a dental implant that’s undistinguishable from your natural tooth, a permanent, natural-looking tooth that’s anchored to your jaw with a titanium post giving you the same function and biting strength as your natural tooth and preserving your facial structure.
From routine maintenance to conservative restorative dentistry — all the way to dramatic smile makeovers,
the Bauers are Mansfield’s one-stop dental shop. Drs. John and Cody Bauer also offer dentures, crowns, and bridges extractions, dental implants, Invisalign Clear Tooth Aligners for straightening teeth, and beautiful porcelain veneers to correct chips and gaps.
Visit MansfieldDentistry.com for more information or call (817)-473-0291 to schedule an appointment.
CONTACT
100 Carlin Road
Mansfield, Texas 76063 (817) 473-0291
MansfieldDentistry.com
MANSFIELD FAMILY DENTISTRY
Cody Bauer, DDS
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Dr. Cody Bauer didn’t have to look far for a role model. Growing up in Mansfield, he spent time watching his dad, Family Dentist John Bauer, forge relationships with generations of patients, many of whom became personal friends. Mansfield Family Dentist was a home away from home for Cody and his siblings, especially since the office manager was their mom, Terri. When it was time to choose a career, Cody knew he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
In 2009, Dr. Cody Bauer joined the practice, continuing the family legacy and carrying on the vision his mom and dad started more than 40 years ago. Cody not only brought a breath of fresh air into the practice but his own skillset and expertise. Dr. Cody quickly became known as for his fun and compassionate chairside manner and his special connection with younger patients.
Kids appreciate how stress-free he makes their time in his chair. Parents appreciate his uncompromising attention to detail. “Parents tell me all the time they can’t believe how their kids look forward to coming to see Dr. Cody,” said proud mom, Terri. “He’s very passionate about raising up a generation of kids who love going to the dentist and who have even better oral health than their parents or grandparents.”
Together with his dad, Dr. Cody offers his family of patients at Mansfield Family Dentistry a full array of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry including:
• Dental Implants
• Root Canals
• Sedation Dentistry
• Tooth Extractions
• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Crowns
• Dentures
• Dental Bridges
• Nitrous Oxide
• Tooth Whitening
• Inlays & Onlays
• Dental Bonding
• Tooth-Colored Fillings
• Dental Sealants
• Invisalign Tooth Aligners
• Silent-Sleep Oral Appliance
For children as young as three, the Mansfield Family Dentistry team takes it slow, talking to kids, explaining each thing they do before they do it, and taking extra time to educate parent and child about caring for their teeth for a lifetime of optimum oral health. “We follow the child’s lead, never proceeding with treatment until they’re ready,” Dr. Cody said. “When they know what to expect, it takes the scary out of dentistry. Parents are invited to accompany young child into the operatory, but for older kids, we let them decide if they want Mom and Dad there or would rather have them wait in the waiting room.”
For more than four decades, the Mansfield community has counted on the Bauer family for know-you-byname dentistry that’s also at the leading edge of dental technology. “I’m a bit of a techno nerd, so I love learning about the latest dental breakthroughs and incorporating the ones with a proven track record into the practice,” Dr. Cody said. Both of the Drs. Bauer go over and above in continuing education, so they’ve got your family covered with everything from routine maintenance to conservative restorative dentistry — all the way to dramatic smile makeovers. They are Mansfield’s one-stop dental shop.
Visit MansfieldDentistry.com to find out more or call (817)-473-0291 to schedule an appointment.
CONTACT
100 Carlin Road
Mansfield, Texas 76063
(817) 473-0291
MansfieldDentistry.com
KOS/DANCHAK AUDIOLOGY & HEARING AIDS
Melissa Danchak, Au.D., CCC-A
Dr. Melissa Danchak, Owner/Audiologist at Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids, and her staff, have been helping North Texans hear better for over 35 years.
“We want to help people hear the best they can, and we want to exceed the level of service they expect,” Dr. Danchak said. “Because your hearing health directly contributes to your overall well-being and quality-of-life, it makes sense to care for your hearing health the same way you do the rest of your health. We believe that better hearing health is an investment, not a transaction. The patient-first approach we take and services we provide reflect that belief.”
Millions of people experience limitations in their daily lives due to hearing loss. Unfortunately, many people wait upwards of 10 years to do something about their hearing needs. "The good news is that hearing loss can be treated. And, today’s technology, which is supported by decades of research and clinical trials, provides an incredibly natural listening experience in all types of settings - especially when background noise is present and, on the telephone, which are the two most common areas our patients’ have the most challenges,” says Dr. Emily Bodish.
The staff at Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids help a grandmother hear her grandchildren more clearly on the phone. They help a working professional hear better in their place of employment. They help people hear better in social settings and at their place of worship. "There are not many audiology practices in the North Texas area that have been helping people hear better as long as we have,” Dr. Danchak says. "We believe that how we meet with people and the delivery of the services we provide is about giving an experience that makes people feel confi dent in their decision to address their hearing health care needs with us!”
Dr. Danchak and her staff are humbled by the positive feedback and reviews
they have earned from satisfied patients. “They are sharing their experiences with our offi ce – that helps others that are searching for an audiologist feel confident in making a decision to address their hearing health care needs!”
The fi rst step to hearing better begins with a discussion about the challenges you are having when it comes to hearing and understanding clearly. After a diagnostic hearing evaluation, a live listening demonstration with hearing devices is next. “One of the best ways to help someone realize how much better they can hear with hearing devices, is to provide them with that experience. Watching the almost immediate range of positive emotions when a patient realizes how much better, and more clearly, they can hear is really special,” Dr. Danchak says.
Your appointment will be informative and the best first step to hearing the best you can! “Our goal is to ensure that you have a positive experience and that you understand your hearing health care needs and solutions we can provide.”
"We believe that how we meet with people and the delivery of the services we provide is about giving an experience that makes people feel confident in their decision to address their hearing health care needs with us!”
SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF MANSFIELD
Gary K Alexander, MD, FACS, CPE
Joshua Trussell, MD, FACS, CPE
Jeremy Parcells, MD, FACS
Andrew Standerwick, MD, FACS
Ivan Cruz, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT | PHOTO BY LANDON DAY
The mission of Drs. Alexander, Trussell, Parcells, Standerwick, and Cruz of Surgical Associates of Mansfield has always been to improve the lives of those they serve. They’ve done just that for thousands of their DFW neighbors restoring their health and quality of life through surgery. Excellence is their standard in everything they do.
HONORS AND DESIGNATIONS
2021 saw this multi-specialty surgery practice redesignated to level-three trauma, the five board-certified surgeons named Best General Surgeons and Best Bariatric Surgeons by Living Magazine, Top Doctors by D Magazine, and a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery. Their practice was also the busiest robotic surgery practice in North Texas—again last year—and the doctors even found time to serve as TCU medical school professors.
CONSERVATIVE CARE
While each doctor is a highly trained and experienced surgeons, they’re committed to exploring all non-invasive treatment options before recommending surgery to any patient. It’s no wonder patients travel from Arlington, Grand Prairie, Midlothian, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth, and farther to be treated by them.
MULTI-SPECIALTY PRACTICE
Patients find their way to Surgical Associates of Mansfield—often on the recommendation of their primary-care doctor—with issues such as hernias, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), reflux, diverticulitis, hernias, gallbladder disease, or in search of bariatric surgery options. Once there, they find a compassionate ear within a warm, welcoming environment.
ADVANCED ROBOTIC SURGERY
Each of the surgeons at Surgical
Associates of Mansfield is trained and experienced in the da Vinci surgical system which offers their patients a less-invasive, more-accurate surgery. This robotic system offers patients:
• Reduced pain
• Lower risk of infection or complications
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring due to smaller incisions
• Shorter hospital stays
• Quicker return to normal activities
The da Vinci surgical system is one of the first and most advanced forms of robotic-assisted surgery and the boardcertified surgeons at Surgical Associates of Mansfield are using it more than any other local practice. The system assists them in performing complex and delicate procedures with greater accuracy and precision allowing Surgical Associates of Mansfield surgeons to perform even the most complex surgery less invasively with confidence and accuracy.
Surgical Associates of Mansfield offers excellence in minimally invasive surgery for:
• Hernia Repair
• Reflux/Heartburn
• Appendicitis
• Bariatric/Weight Loss
• Colon Cancer
• Gallbladder Disease
• Surgery for Skin & Soft Tissue Disease
• Vascular Access Surgery
PATIENT ENDORSED
Patient reviews describe Drs. Alexander, Trussell, Parcells, Standerwick, and Cruz as “patient, caring, and knowledgeable making sure all patient questions and concerns were addressed” and “professional, attentive, empathetic, and kind explaining what to expect before, during and after surgery in plain words patients can understand”. Their goal is to provide evidence-based medicine and advances in medical technology to provide high-quality care for their patients and to do so with a personal touch and compassion ear. Find out more at MansfieldSurgery.com.
CONTACT
2975 East Broad Street, Suite 200 Mansfield, Texas 76063 (682) 518-8619
MansfieldSurgery.com
ACCENT PODIATRY ASSOCIATES
Dharmesh Bhakta, DPM, FACFAS
Shae Paschal, DPM, FACFAS
Jacob Jasper, DPM, AACFAS
Parth Bhakta, DPM, AACFAS
Steve Silvey, LPT, CWC
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Chances are you don’t think about your feet and ankles until they start bothering you. Yet day after day, year after year, they walk, run, dance, jump, and just generally get you where you need to go without a problem. When they do begin to hurt—whether from an injury, repetitive use, or a degenerative issue—it’s good to know the doctors at Accent Podiatry have got you covered with foot and ankle care for the whole family including:
• Foot and Ankle Pain
• Bunions
• Heel Pain
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Diabetic Wound Care
• Flat Feet
• Neuromas
• Children’s Foot Care
• Hammertoes
• Achilles Tendonitis
FINDING THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Drs. Dharmesh Bhakta, Shae Paschal, Jacob Jasper, Parth Bhakta, and Steve Silvey spend their days looking for and treating the root cause of these and other foot or ankle problems—not merely masking symptom but finding and addressing the source of your pain or dysfunction. They’ve dedicated their careers to understanding the intricate working of the human foot and ankle complex. Patients report they “make you a number-one priority and ensure you’re 100% satisfied”. One very satisfied patient even wrote, “I wish my foot wasn't getting better so I’d have an excuse to keep seeing them.”
ONE-STOP-SHOP
The doctors at Accent Podiatry Associates want you to know daily pain isn’t just a symptom of aging. That’s why they provide diagnosis and care for everything from
simple fungal nails to complex foot surgery—all under one roof. They place an emphasis on patient education, outlining all treatment options to their patients then partnering with them to pursue the least invasive options first—only recommending surgery, when all conservative treatments have been explored.
CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE
The doctors and staff of Accent Podiatry Associates understand your life is hectic. That’s why they’re committed to making their practice and care as convenient and accessible as possible, always respecting appointment times, and making themselves available, when their patients need them. Their website at AccentPodiatry.com offers educational information on common issues such as diabetic foot problems, heel spurs, ingrown toenails, Plantar Fasciitis, and more.
KNOW-YOU-BY-NAME CARE
One things patients praise about the Accent Podiatry team is how warm and friendly they are. The Accent Podiatry offices are fun places to visit, with doctors and staff who joke and laugh
and remember your name. It’s easy to have that attitude, when you love what you do. It’s no wonder so many of their patients were referred by other patients and doctors.
Foot and ankle pain isn’t just a sign of aging. Let the professionals at Accent Podiatry Associates help you find the root cause of your foot/ankle problems and regain your active, pain-free live again. They accept most insurance plans and always welcome new patients.
DARIEN W. BRADFORD, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
We’ve probably all toss out the line, “Thanks, you’re a lifesaver”, when someone came to our rescue in one way or another. When folks say the same to Dr. Darien Bradford, they actually mean it. Saving lives through minimally invasive thoracic surgery is all in a day’s work for this boardcertified specialist. Garnering the undying gratitude and admiration of thousands of patients and their families is just the byproduct.
Here’s what one of those family members had to say. “Dr. Bradford saved my father’s life! My dad needed emergency heart surgery and my entire family was terrified. Dr. Bradford came in and introduced himself. He was very pleasant and didn't speak over our heads like most doctors do. He was patient and answered all our questions. He even allowed my dad to pray over his hands. He came to see him multiple times after the surgery just to check on him and followed up with him twice, after he was discharged from the hospital. Without God and Mr. Bradford, I don't know if he’d be alive today.”
Another patient put it succinctly, simply writing, “Dr. Bradford saved my life when I had a bad heart attack. God Bless you, Dr. Bradford.”
Dual-board certifi ed by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Bradford is a cardiothoracic surgeon trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the chest, esophagus, diaphragm, heart, lungs, and trachea. With 30 years of experience and a bedside manner and demeanor that puts his patients immediately at ease, Dr. Bradford is a leader in his field, pioneering minimally invasive thoracic surgery technique and technology such as video and robotic-assisted surgery of the chest, heart, lungs, esophagus, diaphragm, and trachea.
These less invasive procedures mean more surgical precision, shorter recovery time,
less risk of infection, negligible scarring, reduced hospital stays, less blood loss, less pain, fewer complications, and far greater success. He’s also responsible for introducing a new mechanical heart valve requiring less anticoagulation. Because each patient is unique, Dr. Bradford works closely with them and their physicians to tailor a treatment program designed specifically for each individual.
Dr. Bradford uses minimally invasive electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) to access difficult-to-reach areas of the lung, aiding in the diagnosis of lung disease and leading to earlier, personalized treatment, potentially saving lives. LungGPS technology, used in the Medtronic superDimension navigation system, is a remarkable way to maximize the ENB procedures, a method of obtaining lung tissue biopsies from peripheral regions. In fact, this superDimension navigation system was nominated as “Best Medical Technology” by the Galien Foundation.
Dr. Bradford continues to lead the way with life-saving techniques, such as minimally invasive surgery for coronary artery disease, cancers of the lung, esophagus and chest wall, abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves, as well as birth defects of the chest and heart. He’s now seeing patients at Mansfi eld Methodist Medical Center.
CONTACT
2800 E. Broad Street, Suite 514 Mansfield, Texas, 76063 (817) 465-5311 BradfordMD.com
ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDICS ASSOCIATES
Frank Rodriguez, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Dr. Frank Rodriguez always knew helping people was in his future. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to be a doctor, but he does remember having a rival ambition as a boy. “When I was a kid, I lived for all things sports,” he said. “I played every game that would have me and harbored dreams of becoming a professional athlete.”
Lucky for Dr. Rodriguez—and his patients— he found a way to combine his love of sports with his dream of fi xing people through orthopedics. As an orthopedic surgeon with over twenty-six years’ experience, Dr. Rodriguez gets to help people of all walks of life reduce their pain and restore their bodies’ functionality and mobility. He takes joy in seeing patients who came to him riddled with pain and limitations get back to what they love, whether that’s scoring a touchdown, running a marathon, or just enjoying their everyday life pain-free.
Dr. Rodriguez specializes in reconstruction, replacement, and arthroscopy of the shoulder, hip, and knee. He stays at the forefront of medical advances and breakthroughs, yet he’s never too busy to sit down with his patients to explain every option, answer any question, and put each patient at ease. Dr. Rodriguez wants patients to feel like family, and he has seen some of his patients for over twenty years. Some have trusted him with a few different joint replacements, and others have encouraged family members to come in for care, so Dr. Rodriguez is able to meet and improve the lives of several members of the same family.
Dr. Rodriguez lives with his wife Kimberly, the love of his life, his best friend, and his partner of over thirty-eight years. He and Kimberly both agree that Texas is the best state to live in, and they’re proud to call it home. Together they raised three kids and are keeping their fingers crossed for grandchildren. They love the Dallas
Fort Worth area because it has the best combination of professional opportunities and, you guessed it—sports!
In his free time, Dr. Rodriguez indulges his love of sports by cycling, going to college football games, and collecting sports memorabilia, especially sports cards from the ‘60s and ‘70s. In fact, some of his basketball card sets are the top in the world. The family dog, Duncan, the ninth Golden Retriever the Rodríguezes’ have had over the years, even gets his name from former Spurs star, Tim Duncan. Dr. Rodriguez’s home-away-from-home is Christ Chapel Church in Fort Worth. He and his wife both enjoy Bible study and put God first in everything they do. Dr. Rodriguez always appreciates the
opportunity to share the gospel with his patients and often prays with them before their surgeries, grateful for another way to connect with his patients and set their minds at ease.
BY PERSON | PHOTO BY PERSON
ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES
Thad J. Dean, DO
Jason Lowry, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
THAD DEAN
Growing up as a multisport athlete, Thad Dean always knew he wanted to work to help people overcome injuries. Initially, he thought that might look like a career as an athletic trainer for a college or professional sports team. Instead, he found his calling in joint replacement and orthopedic oncology. Known to patients for his compassionate bedside manner, Dr. Dean has put in the extra time and training to become experienced with minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery and limb salvage surgery.
Raised in the Midwest, Dr. Dean completed his medical school and residency training in Missouri, Ohio, and Florida and completed fellowship training at Emory in Atlanta before moving to Texas. “My first five years of practice were under an academic appointment with University of North Texas and John Peter Smith Hospital,” he said.
“I was honored to join Arlington Orthopedic to build a private practice involving the communities where I live and work.”
He performs hip and knee surgery of multiple levels of complexity including knee and shoulder arthroscopy, robotic primary joint replacement, revision hip and knee replacement, and limb salvage surgery for musculoskeletal cancers and particularly enjoys applying robotic joint replacement techniques to assist making complex joint replacement more precise and reproducible.
Dr. Dean spends his free time watching and coaching his children’s sports teams, traveling, snorkeling, diving, and mastering his skills on the smoker. He and his family attend St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.
JASON LOWRY
Dr. Jason Lowry, a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon, says his orthopedic surgery practice has a small-town approach in the big city. “I treat my patients like family,” he says. “Getting folks back on their feet and enjoying life again is quite rewarding.”
Dr. Lowry serves as Director of the Total Joint Program at Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic & Spine Hospital of Arlington ("BOSHA"), which consistently receives national accolades for excellence in joint replacement care.
"We have a distinguished center of excellence that provides worldclass, evidence-based care for our patients. Our team of physicians, nurses, and therapists are second to none. I’m extremely proud of the work we do at BOSHA."
Dr. Lowry is locally known for his anterior hip replacements and has a special interest in robotic joint replacements. “At BOSHA, we performed the first robotic total-knee replacement in the area. We’re truly just scratching the surface on how
robotics can improve joint replacement outcomes for our hip and knee patients. I’m thrilled we’re able to offer this cuttingedge technology to our patients.”
Dr. Lowry served eight years in the US Air Force, including Operation Iraqi/ Enduring Freedom. He’s been consistently recognized by his orthopedic peers as a Top Doc and Super Doc in North Texas. In his free time, he and his wife are involved in their children’s activities at Pantego Christian Academy and youth sports leagues in Mansfield. They enjoy the outdoors, traveling, and fly fishing.
800 Orthopedic Way Arlington, Texas 76015
2801 East Broad Street Mansfield, Texas 76063
(817) 375-5200
ArlingtonOrtho.com
Jason Lowry, MD
Thad J. Dean, DO
ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES
Cameron T. Atkinson, MD
Jay Pond, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
JAY POND, MD
Whether he’s seeing patients at Arlington Orthopedic Associates or doing his part to help underserved populations in Guatemala or through Mission Arlington, Project Access, and Open Arms, General Orthopedic Surgeon Jay Pond is all about relationship. “It’s important to take the time to develop relationships with those I serve,” he said. “I want to educate them about their treatment options then include them, from start to finish, in making decisions about their own treatment.”
As one of the original founding members of Arlington Orthopedic Associates, Dr. Jay Pond has been practicing general orthopedics for over 25 years with a special interest in adult reconstruction including minimally invasive robotic surgery, injuries and surgery of the shoulder, hand, and upper extremity, and arthroscopy, a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems. He takes seriously his pledge to, “First do no harm”.
“I always wanted to be a physician, as long as I can remember. Now that I am, I try my hardest every day to provide my patients with complete and compassionate orthopedic care. If I can’t find a solution to their problem, I’ll do my best to find someone who can.”
When not on the job, Dr. Pond can be found doing something fitness-related. “I also love to putter around the house,” he said. “I love to cook, cycle, and keeping up with my three adult children.”
CAMERON T. ATKINSON, MD Orthopedic Hand Surgeon Cameron
Atkinson prefers his patients call him “Cam” not Dr. Atkinson. “I learned early that, given the opportunity, every patient will simply tell you what their problem is,” he said. “It’s my job to slow down and listen. I’m just a normal guy who does hand surgery for a living. Taking time to get to know each patient allows me to put together every piece their story including their symptoms, occupation, living situation, and favorite activities to tailor a treatment plan that’s perfect for them.”
Dr. Atkinson is known for his attention to detail. “Whether it’s one problem in a visit or five, it takes time to put each patient’s story together with the examination and imaging, to formulate a plan and try to solve each issue,” he said. “My passion is making people better and I firmly believe excellence isn’t an act but a habit.”
Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Atkinson’s time as s a running back for Princeton University led him to orthopedics at Vanderbilt. He was naturally drawn to
hand surgery given the breadth of the problems and depth of treatments. Dr. Atkinson’s days off are spent with his beautiful wife and four children. His love of sports transitions into a lifelong passion for strength and weight-training. One of the great blessings of his life was donating a kidney to his uncle in 2005.
123456 East Washington Parkway
The Woodlands, Texas 77065
214-555-5555
Cameron T. Atkinson, MD
Jay Pond, MD
ARLINGTON ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES
M. Todd Daniels, MD
Eric Wieser, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
M. TODD DANIELS, MD
It would be a crazy world, if we all became what we dreamed of being as kids. Imagine a population of nothing but firefighters, ballerinas, veterinarians, and football stars. A young Todd Daniels dreamed of becoming a hard-nosed FBI agent. His patients at Arlington Orthopedic Association are glad that’s one dream that didn’t come true. Instead, he put in the time and hard work to become a board-certifi ed physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, specializing in musculoskeletal medicine and electrodiagnostics.
Known for his patient bedside manner and passion for connecting with his patients, this Keller boy who spent his life pushing himself physically finds fulfillment in helping his patients maintain their functional status at the level they’d each like it to be. Dr. Daniels received his Doctor of Medicine and internship in internal medicine at the University of Texas at Houston and completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
Although that early dream of becoming an FBI agent wasn’t to be, Dr. Daniels thoroughly enjoys what he does for a living now and takes pride in the care he provides to his patients suffering with conditions of the ankle, elbow, hand, hip, knee, shoulder, spine, and wrist. When not on the job, he enjoys time with his two kids and maintaining an active lifestyle through running, hunting, and fishing.
ERIC WIESER, MD
Eric Wieser always wanted to be a surgeon, and this lifelong Texan never wavered from that course. Now, as a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, he’s thrilled to be a part of the team at Arlington Orthopedic Associates. Throughout his life, Dr. Weiser has pursued excellence in everything he’s undertaken, from sports,
to his schooling, to his professional life. Although he’s a highly trained surgeon with 15 years’ experience, Dr. Wieser always explores all conservative treatment options before recommending surgery to his patients and even then, proceeds with the least-invasive viable option.
“I’m passionate about caring for patients and achieving the best possible outcomes for them,” he said. “
Dr. Wieser completed medical school with honors from the Baylor College of Medicine and residency at Vanderbilt University followed by a fellowship in spine medicine at the prestigious UCLA School of Medicine. He is a co-founder of the Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital in Arlington and the founder and medical director of the Texas Comprehensive Spine Center, where he specializes in minimally-invasive spinal surgery as well as complex cervical and lumbar spinal reconstruction.
Dr. Wieser has been consistently recognized by his peers as a “Top Doc” in Fort Worth Magazine, Big D Magazine, Living Magazine, Texas Monthly, and featured in several Texas periodicals. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoys snow skiing, hunting, fishing with his daughters, and cheering on his favorite sports team, the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m passionate about caring for patients and achieving the best possible outcomes for them.”
800 Orthopedic Way Arlington, Texas 76015
2801 East Broad Street Mansfield, Texas 76063 (817) 375-5200 ArlingtonOrtho.com
Eric Wieser, MD
Todd Daniels, MD
UNITED DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES
Jeannine Hoang, MD
Ashish Arshanapalli, MD
PHOTO BY LAUREN MEDEAN
“When your body is healthy and balanced, it shows through healthy, radiant skin,” says Dr. Jeannine Hoang, one of Arlington’s most successful dermatologists. “My life’s work is devoted to preventive, proactive medicine, empowering my patients to care for their skin to prevent disease, cancer and aging.”
Dr. Hoang’s approach to personalized care grew out of her quest to find longterm solutions to skin problems. That led to other aspects of healthcare, fitness and nutrition. “I’m passionate about preventive medicine, anti-aging and maintaining health and function.”
To stop aging’s visible effects, Dr. Hoang specializes in subtle, noninvasive cosmetic treatments and minimally invasive cosmetic enhancements that provide the most natural looking results possible.
SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
• HydraFacial, which cleanses, gently exfoliates, extracts, hydrates, protects and nourishes the skin for instant, long-lasting, visible results. It creates an instantly gratifying glow, restoring vibrant tone and texture.
• SplendorX, a new laser treatment offering powerful, fast and permanent hair removal.
• The Vampire Facelift, a non-surgical restoration of face shape, improving tone and texture, and rejuvenating new and younger tissue. It can also treat hair regrowth, erectile disfunction, sexual function and incontinence.
• NovaThreads, a new FDA-approved injectable treatment that can be performed over a lunch hour to lift, tighten, and define facial contours.
• Emsculpt®, the world’s only
non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that simultaneously sculpts muscle and burns fat for both men and women, strengthening and toning abdominal muscles and arms, and toning the buttocks, thighs and calves.
• Visit unitedderm.com to learn more about these remarkable treatments.
MOHS SURGERY
In 2020, Dr. Ashish Arshanapalli joined the team, bringing remarkable expertise. Dr. Arshanapalli graduated at the top of his class at the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Dermatology at Loyola University Medical Center, where he served as the chief resident.
He completed a Mohs micrographic surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin – the birthplace of Mohs surgery, considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common skin cancers.
While Dr. Arshanapalli’s primary focus is skin cancer surgery and reconstruction, he also enjoys general dermatology and cosmetics. He has been published in multiple medical journals regarding laser therapies for scar reduction.
ABOUT DR. HOANG
Jeannine Hoang graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her MD at Baylor College of Medicine. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and a residency in dermatology at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. She opened her first office in Mansfield, she soon opened additional locations across DFW to meet growing demand. Dr. Hoang and her talented staff offer a full menu of medical and cosmetic services.
CONTACT
130 Regency Parkway
Mansfield, Texas 76063 (817) 539-0959
723 North Fielder Road, Suite C Arlington, Texas 76012 (817) 539-0959
3132 Matlock Road, Suite 307 Arlington, Texas 76015 (817) 468-3131
780 NE Alsbury, Suite B Burleson, Texas 76028 (817) 529-1753
The hardest thing for Josefina Ortiz was not being able to play with her granddaughter. She had such pain in her shoulder she couldn’t raise or move it, couldn’t drive, couldn’t dress herself, and couldn’t sleep at night. She felt completely defeated and physical therapy gave her little relief. Then her PT referred her to Methodist Orthopaedic Surgical Associates. She underwent shoulder surgery and, a month later, was independent again, feeling great, sleeping nights, and enjoying time with her grandbaby again.
Drs. John Harris and Edward Mairura are lovingly referred to as” the Bone Docs”. They spend their days helping patients like Josefina return to living the full life they love—as soon and safely as possible. Their patients can’t thank them enough.
MEET THE BONE DOCS
The two men found their calling to orthopaedic medicine differently. Edward Mairura first experienced orthopaedics while accompanying his uncle to Mayo Clinic for treatment for osteosarcoma of the pelvis. “I met his treating orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Yaszemski, and was intrigued by his level of compassion for my family, knowledge, bedside manner, and communication skills,” Dr. Mairura said “Dr. Yaszemski offered me the opportunity to work in his lab performing research. I knew I wanted to one day help people the way Dr. Yaszemski helped my uncle.”
As for John Harris, he knew he wanted to practice medicine, to “help change people’s lives with new and exciting medical technology”. But it actually was an interest in woodworking, during his med school years, that sparks his interest in orthopaedics. “I fell in love with
orthopaedics from the fi rst case I saw that involved drills, screwdrivers, and tools just like the ones in my garage. It was fascinating, and I was hooked,” he said.
While he’s fellowship trained in sports and arthroscopy, Dr. Harris enjoys performing shoulder and knee replacements, fractures “from top to bottom” and especially knee and shoulder arthroscopy, and treating injuries such as ACL and meniscus tears, rotator cuff injuries, and shoulder dislocations.
Dr. Mairura performs general orthopaedic surgery with a special interest in trauma, total knee replacements, anterior hip replacements, arthroscopic treatment of the knee, carpal tunnel, and trigger fi ngers. “I love listening to my patients’ needs and providing them with the best evidence-based options that maximize non-surgical treatment, considering surgery only after exploring all other options,” he said.
The Bone Docs provide their patients with excellence in:
• Adult Joint Reconstruction
• Sports Medicine and Athletic Injuries
• Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopic Surgery
• Trauma
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Surgery of the Shoulder and Upper Extremity
• Fracture and Soft Tissue Injury Treatment
“We aim to show Christ’s love in all we do, and hopefully, help point patients back to God, to show His love and mercy in the tough times and give Him all the glory for the good outcomes,” Dr. Harris said.
Methodist Orthopaedic Surgical Associates is owned and operated by MedHealth Methodist Medical Group and is staffed by vindependently practicing physicians who are employees of MedHealth/Methodist Medical Group. The physicians and staff who provide services at these sites are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System or any of its affiliated hospitals.
CONTACT
2975 East Broad Street, Suite 200 Mansfield, Texas 76063
(817) 453-3500
MethodistBoneDocs.com
BACK 2 WELLNESS
CHIROPRACTIC
Michael C Bank, DC
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Dr. Michael Bank believes an informed patient is a healthier patient. He loves nothing more than partnering with men and women of all ages on their complete wellness journey. And those patients couldn’t be more grateful. Here’s what some of them had to say.
“Dr. Banks is one of the very best chiropractors that I have seen over the years. He takes detailed notes, spends the time to explain his adjustments, treatment plan, whatever you may need. No other chiropractor can adjust my back as expertly as Dr. Bank.” Patrick S.
“Outside of Dr. Bank being the best chiropractor I've ever had, the rest of the staff compliments everything this office is about. Definitely understand why they were voted top chiropractor in the area for three years straight.”
Steven N.
"Dr Bank has saved my quality of life! I was involved in two car accidents and go back for regular maintenance. When I waited too long between visits, I was unable to walk, and he
worked me in. Within two visits I was back to normal." Dominique G
In this day of big-box corporate medical practices, family-owned and operated Back 2 Wellness Chiropractic has become knows for know-you-by-name care and leading-edge chiropractic science. With a special interest in sports medicine, Dr. Bank places an emphasis on patient empowerment and education. “I have an extensive medical background based in sports medicine earning a bachelors and master’s degree, as well as my doctorate in chiropractic,” he said. “I also earned a post graduate certification in brain traumatology and whiplash injuries from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego.”
Dr. Bank feels blessed to work with his wife, two sisters-in-law, and a staff that’s become like family to him. “They make the office warm and welcoming and take the same obsessive approach I do to making sure our patients get well and enjoy an amazing chiropractic experience,” he said.
Michael first became interested in chiropractic when he worked as a school athletic trainer alongside the team doctor
who was a chiropractor. “He invited me to work with him over the summer,” Dr. Bank said. “I saw people come in hurt and leave happy. But it wasn’t until I got injured myself, separating a rib from my spine causing excruciating pain, that I had my first adjustment. With the relief it gave me, I knew chiropractic is what I wanted to do for a living. I just want to do everything humanly possible to make my patients feel better and live life to the fullest. I’m blessed with a team who shares that vision.”
When not on the job, Dr. Bank enjoys working out, spending time with his family, and volunteering as a YMCA coach. If you’re new to chiropractic and want to learn more, call Back 2 Wellness at (817) 453-9339 to receive personalized answers to your questions from their friendly team.
CONTACT
8011 South Cooper Street Suite 101 Arlington, Texas 76001 (817) 453-9339
ACCENT ON YOU COSMETIC SURGERY AND MED SPA
Y. Anthony Nakamura, MD, FACS, PA
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Caroline absolutely loves being a mom. What she didn’t love was the toll two pregnancies had taken on her body. A friend recommended she see boardcertified plastic surgeon, Anthony Nakamura. Now, she has the best of both worlds—the mommy life she’s always wanted and a body she can feel proud of. “I had a tummy tuck and lipo to the waist,” she said. “I had no fear at all. Dr. Nakamura put me at ease with his bedside manner. I look amazing now and love my results!” Caroline complimented her body procedures with some facial aesthetic services at Accent on You Med Spa, including injections and skin pen treatments.
In dozens of fi ve-star reviews, patients describe Dr. Nakamura as kind, patient, empathetic, gracious, calm in demeanor, and a gentleman. One patient added, “Just to see his face makes you feel happy, warm, and welcome.”
Another patient said, “The whole experience was excellent, from the moment I walked in the door the first time to my last postoperative appointment. (Dr. Nakamura) has this contagious smile, listens but at the same time will tell you what is realistic as well answer any and all questions and concerns.”
Over the past 30-plus years, Dr. Nakamura has concentrated his practice on procedures of the breast and body specializing in breast enlargement, breast lift, tummy tuck, liposuction, breast reduction, waist tuck, and mommy makeovers. Patient safety, comfort, and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to him as well as getting to know each patient, taking time to listen and answering questions and concerns. It’s no wonder most of his business now comes through referral.
Dr. Nakamura understands that each patient’s cosmetic and health goals are as unique as they are. His expertise
and compassionate bedside manner have patients traveling from around the state of Texas—and beyond—to visit him at Accent on You. To compliment his plastic surgery offerings, Dr. Nakamura oversees Accent on You Med Spa where his patients can access aesthetic services such as injectable fillers, chemical peels, medical-grade facials, lash extensions, microblading, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and skin care products.
MEET DR. NAKAMURA
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Y. Anthony Nakamura is a recognized expert in plastic surgery and body contouring, providing excellent care while taking a personal approach with each and every patient. Dr. Nakamura is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and affiliated with the American Medical
Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and Texas Medical Association. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Call to schedule a new patient visit. Browse Dr. Nakamura’s gallery of amazing before/after photos at AccentOnYou.com
INSTITUTE FOR HORMONAL BALANCE AND BIOTE
Mandy Cotten APRN, DNP, FNP-C, Kylie Bunner APRN, DNP, FNP-C and Kara Kramer APRN, MSN, FNP-C
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Mandy Cotten, Kylie Bunner, & Kara Kramer are on a mission to help men and women feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Whether you're looking for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, aesthetic services, sexual wellness, weight management, IV therapy, or men's or women’s wellness services, this dynamic team would like to be allies in your journey to complete wellness. In one of many five-star reviews, one patient, Kelly A, described them as “compassionate, kind, smart, and knowledgeable.”
Patrick O travels all the way from Australia to be treated at The Institute for Hormonal Balance. He had this to say, “Bioidentical Testosterone therapy is not available in Australia, and the treatment offered by BioTE has given me back a quality of life I didn’t think was possible. I love the staff and the service is professional and world class. I will keep making the trip from Australia as I can’t imagine life without this medical support.”
Patient Jennifer P added, “I’ve been a patient here since 1996. Dr. Donovitz and now his daughter, Mandy, are amazing and very caring. They’ve listened to any concerns I have ever had.”
HORMONAL IMBALANCE
The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can include:
• Reduced mental focus and memory
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability, anxiety, or depression
• Decreased muscle strength
• Joint pain
• Reduced sexual desire and performance
With the motto “Find Yourself Again”, Mandy, Kylie, Kara, and their team offer
services to diagnosis and treat your hormone imbalance. “Aging is privilege, aging with vitality and grace is a Right” Mandy said. “Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) pellets are made to replace the hormones men and women lose as they age. BHRT lessens the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, so you can age healthier and live happier. Using our subcutaneous pellet approach to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, some patients report symptom relief in as little as four weeks, although complete symptom relief may take up to six months. We listen to our patients so we can customize each dose of pellet therapy to the individual patient’s needs.” DoctorSupervised Weight Loss (DSWL TM)
If weight loss is one of your goals for 2022, the Institute for Hormonal Balance team would love to partner with you to fi nd a solution that best fits your needs and lifestyle. “If you’ve tried to go it alone with a one-size-fi ts-all weight loss scheme, we’d love to sit down and talk to you about a weight-loss plan that’s all about you,” Kylie said.
The Institute for Hormonal Balance is now accepting new patients. Visit www. Donovitz.com for more information about the practice or call 817-467-7474 to schedule today.
INSTITUTE FOR HORMONAL IMBALANCE ALSO OFFERS THEIR PATIENTS:
• Holistic healthcare
• Thyroid management
• Doctor Supervised Weight Loss (DSWL TM)
• Aesthetic services
• Vaginal rejuvenation
• Treatment for urinary incontinence
• Orgasm & Priapus shots to combat sexual dysfunction
• IV therapy
• Laser hair removal
• PRP injections for hair loss
CONTACT
4224 Park Springs Boulevard, Suite 100 Arlington, Texas 76016 (817) 467-7474
Donovitz.com
PHOTO BY LAUREN MEDEAN
WATER OAK FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY
Matthew McCabe, MS, DPM
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Bunions! They’re not a topic often discussed in polite conversation. But if you’ve ever suffered with this hereditary deformity of the foot, you know it can play havoc with your quality of life. At his Mansfield podiatry practice, Dr. Matthew McCabe helps patients find relief from this and an array of foot and ankle problems.
“A bunion is a deformity of the forefoot where a bump occurs next to the big toe,” he said. “The problem with traditional bunion procedures is they leave patients with a 70% chance their bunions returning.” Fortunately for Dr. McCabe’s patients, a new corrective procedure called Lapiplasty, offers a significant reduction in the number of bunions that “fall out of correction”. During his Fellowship training, Dr McCabe had the opportunity to train directly with one of the creators of this revolutionary bunion correction procedure.
“The new procedure treats bunions by correcting the cause of the deformity, not simply trimming the bump off of the protruding bone,” he said. “Another advantage is that a patient can walk the day of surgery.” Dr. McCabe sees patients who’ve already undergone traditional bunion surgery only to have their bunion deformity return. “Older procedures weren’t aimed at addressing the underlying cause of the bunion,” Dr. McCabe said. “The Lapiplasty procedure successfully repairs the bunion deformity that has resurfaced, even after a previous surgery.”
Although, Dr. McCabe is specially trained in wound care, reconstruction, and is, in fact, the only doctor in the area that’s fellowship trained in limb salvage and reconstruction, he believes in exhausting every viable conservative treatment before considering surgery. Dr. McCabe and his team place an
emphasis on personalized care. “The feedback I receive most is about the time I take to really listen to my patients,” he said. “Medicine is about balancing what the patient wants with what the patient needs. If I really listen, they’ll tell me what they want. Years ago, physicians were people the community could lean on and look up to as leaders.
Dr. McCabe enjoys the varying nature of his specialty. ““Although I’m focused on the foot and ankle, I see diabetic patients, patients with deformities, patients with arthritis, fractures, and more,” he said. “Between clinic days and surgery days, no two days are ever the same for me.”
When not on the job. Dr. McCabe enjoys time outdoors with his family. “I love to hunt and fish with my boys,” he said. “I joke that, during duck season, work is what I do between duck hunts. I do want to give a big ‘thanks’ to my wife, Brooke. Without her, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
“Dr.
PHOTO BY LAUREN MEDEAN
TEXAS CENTER FOR UROLOGY
James Kelley, DO
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
I guess we never know the experiences that will shape our lives when they’re happening to us. For Jimmy Kelley, a hip disorder in his teen years certainly didn’t feel like an “opportunity”. But after two years in a wheelchair and a hip replacement at the age of 21, he says he was able to know firsthand what it feels like to be a patient and the difference a compassionate and caring doctor can make. He carries that knowledge with him into his medical practice, every day. “I genuinely enjoy getting to know and care for my patients,” he said. “I'm always excited when someone considers me to be ‘their doctor.’ My goal is to provide my patients with a well-rounded and patient-centered approach to their urologic care, treating them as a whole person rather than just a disorder, diagnosis, or problem. Patients often mention I’m easy to talk to, and they feel things were explained well and discussed in ways that were easy to understand. I feel like that all began with me being a patient first and a doctor second.”
Dr. Kelley places an emphasis on serving as his patients’ advocate and taking the time to help guide them toward the best options for their treatment. “No two patients are exactly the same,” he said. “I like to spend as much time as it takes with each patient so they can feel comfortable with treatment plans going forward, and always want them to feel like they have a voice in making decisions about their care.”
For him, urology has been the perfect specialty. “It gives me a chance to be in a cutting-edge field where I get to follow my patients for years,” he said. “And I have the opportunity to treat problems that can greatly improve my patients' quality of life. I try to treat every individual who comes to see me like they’re a member of my family. They can rest assured any treatment options
we discuss I would recommend the same for my family and friends.”
At Texas Center for Urology, Dr. Kelley treats and manages a wide variety of urologic issues including:
• Male and Female Bladder Complaints
• Kidney Stones
• Urologic Cancers
• Hormone Deficiencies
• Vasectomy
• Men’s Health
• Urinary Incontinence
• Prostate Problems
• Erectile Disfunction
• Urinary Tract Infections
• and more
Dr. Kelley is trained in the DaVinci robotic surgery system, which allows him to provide a minimally invasive surgical approach for multiple urologic diseases.
But he always exhausts all non-surgical options before recommending surgery. In his free time, he’s a member of the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce where he participates in patient education events to help spread awareness regarding men's health issues. There’s no doubt where his inspiration comes from though. “I’m most passionate about my family,” he said. “My beautiful wife, two daughters, and family are the most important things in the world to me. They’re the reason for everything I do.”
2302 Lone Star Road, Suite 160
Mansfield, Texas 76063
(817) 769-3370 TexasCenterforUrology.com
HAVARD HEART OF MANSFIELD
Steven P. Havard, MD
Over the 16 years Steven Havard has practiced cardiovascular medicine, the fi eld of medicine has taken a dramatic shift away from treating patients only after they are sick and toward promoting peak health and wellness— before problems occur. Dr. Havard has led that movement. With an emphasis on patient education and empowerment, he partners with each patient to work proactively toward optimum quality of life.
He calls it The Havard Heart Difference. “We strive to go above and beyond just the practice of medicine, to provide an experience for the patient they won’t find with other cardiologists.” That difference means seeking solutions for those who are suffering with heart and vascular disease and placing an emphasis on quality of life for everyone.
One patient attested in a five-star online review that The Havard Heart Difference saved his life. “Dr Havard is exceptionally knowledgeable as well as compassionate. He spends time with patients, explaining in great detail everything about one’s malady and what one can do and expect in treatment. He saved my life!”
Others attest that he’s interested in his patients, genuinely concerned, never rushed, and that it only takes one visit to feel confident in him as their cardiologist. One patient who admits to feeling high anxiety, any time he visits a doctor’s office reported, “He LISTENED to my health complaints and concerns and took the time to explain, educate me, and put me on the path to better health. I would and have recommended Dr. Havard to close friends and family members.”
Perhaps another patient said it best, “Heart disease is scary. (Dr. Havard) takes the fear away. He has an excellent demeanor and bedside manner, takes time to answer all my questions with great detail. I will never, ever consider another cardiologist.”
Dr. Havard received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, completed his residency through Yale at Hospital of Saint Raphael, and a fellowship through Tufts University at Baystate Medical Center. Even in elementary school, he knew he wanted to be a doctor. “I spent my life working toward that goal,” he said. “Now I get to live out my dream every day.” A firm believer in giving back to his community, Dr. Havard volunteers his time to Linda Nix Center, a faith-based nonprofi t clinic that provides medical services to uninsured adults.
Vitals is the largest online database of patient reviews for doctors and facilities. They awarded Dr. Steven Havard:
• Compassionate Doctor certification for treating patients with the utmost kindness in overall and bedside manner scores
• On-Time Promptness award for consistent high ratings for timeliness of appointments
• Patients’ Choice recognition for making a difference in the lives of his patients and receiving near perfect scores, as voted by patients
He is now accepting new patients. El habla español.
MANSFIELD COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER
Michael L. Thornton, DO, FACOS
Most of us have a few things we’d like to change about our appearance. Whether it’s improving on what nature gave us or simply turning back the hands of time, it’s important to partner with a cosmetic surgeon who’s highly trained, boardcertified, and experienced in the type of procedure we’re considering.
Since 2008, Dr. Michael L. Thornton at Mansfi eld Cosmetic Surgery Center has provided his clients with a vast array of cosmetic surgery procedures and aesthetic services, including:
• Warm Sculpting with SculpSure® Non-invasive Laser Body Contouring
Fellowship-trained and double boardcertified Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr. Michael L. Thornton is a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and for over a decade, his patients have traveled from around Texas and even out of state to seek his expertise. Soft spoken,
passionate about his work, and devoted to his patients, Dr. Thornton’s appreciation for surgical artistry is central for his approach to cosmetic surgery. A hallmark of his practice is taking time, getting to know his patients, and tailoring care to each patient’s desires and expectations. Since 2008, Dr. Thornton has performed numerous successful facial plastic surgeries, breast augmentations, breast lifts and reductions, VASER liposuction, mommy makeover abdominoplasty, gynecomastia surgery for men, buttock contouring, and non-surgical aesthetic skin rejuvenation procedures in his medical spa. Dr. Thornton has also had great success performing revision cosmetic surgery on patients who have experienced unsatisfactory results elsewhere.
Dr. Thornton grew up in Frisco and received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his medical degree from UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. He completed a comprehensive fi ve-year residency in general surgery and fellowship training in surgical critical care and trauma surgery from the internationally recognized R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Following his artistic and creative passion, Dr. Thornton completed a dedicated 12-month fellowship in cosmetic surgery
accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery focusing on all aspects of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Michael L. Thornton is a double board-certifi ed cosmetic surgeon and Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. He routinely attends national surgical meetings and participates in advanced cosmetic surgery anatomy courses to offer his patients the latest techniques. With close to 15 years of combined surgical training and operative experience, Dr. Thornton is consistently recognized as a Living Magazine “Top Doc” in the specialty of Cosmetic Surgery and, since 2016, has been voted “Best Cosmetic Surgeon” in Living Magazine in Arlington & Mansfield. Visit Dr. Thornton’s website to browse his gallery of stunning before and after photos or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
550 North Walnut Creek Drive Suite 120 Mansfield, Texas 76063
(817) 477-9000
MansfieldCosmeticSurgery.com
SKANDII MEDSPA AND MEDGYM
Anna
Toker, MD
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
If I had to sum up Anna Toker’s goal for her patients in two words, those words would be “overall wellness”. Whether she’s offering minimally invasive colorectal surgery at her Mansfield medical practice or aesthetic treatments to improve weight, appearance, skin tone, nutrition, and hydration at her Skandii MedSpa and MedGym, overall wellness is always her objective.
An extensively trained and experienced surgeon, Dr. Toker has put in the extra time to become certified in robotics, providing her patients with surgery that’s far more precise while at the same time offering them less scarring, less bleeding, less trauma to surrounding tissue, and less risk of infection.
At her Skandii MedSpa and MedGym she provides guests with a holistic approach to dietary and nutritional advice, as well as aesthetic treatments focusing on increased energy, beauty, and wellness. Her Clean Start Weight Loss Academy offers a physician-supervised, medically based approach to healthy weight loss with comprehensive support and proven success. She also oversees:
• Body Sculpting
• Injectibles
• Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation
• IPL Photofacials
• Hair Removal
• Acne Treatment
• Chemical Peel
• Custom Facials
At her Mansfi eld medical practice, Dr. Toker provides patients with minimally invasive colorectal surgery. While operating with the assistance of the robotic suite, Dr. Toker remains 100% in control while at the same time offering
her patients surgical advancements with lessen painful reactions and complications, shorten hospital stays, and speed recovery after procedures such as: Robotic Resection
• Diverticulitis
• Colovesicle/Colovaginal Fistula
• Colon Polyp/Colon Cancer
• Rectal Prolapse
Colonoscopy
• Screening
• Diagnostic
• Positive Cologuard Anorectal Surgery
• Hemorrhoids
• Fistula
• Fissure
• Pilonidal Cyst
• Pruritis
• Incontinence
She also offers pelvic-floor physical therapy and sacral-nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence. “I’m now offering a Master Mind Seminar Series for working moms,” Dr. Toker said. “I want you to regain your hotness, re-claim your sanity, and re-connect with your family. You already mom like a boss. I’ll help you Mom Like a Bomb!
The internet is filled with positive reviews of both Skandii MedSpa and MedGym
and Dr. Toker’s medical practice from patients who’ve trusted her with their overall wellness. Here’s what some of them had to say.
“Dr. Toker is caring, thorough, and really loves her patients. I cannot say enough about this wonderful doctor.”
“My experiences with Skandii have exceeded my expectations. I’ve had lip filler and Xeomin to help correct wrinkles. I’m more than satisfied with my results.”
“Dr. Anna Toker isn’t like any other physician with whom you could come into contact. You won’t find a more approachable doctor who really has a passion for people.”
“After seeing so many of my friends losing weight with Skandii, I decided to join in. After my first visit, I knew this was the place for me. It’s not a quick-fix weight-loss plan but a life style change that will last forever.”
If you’re looking for an experienced and compassionate partner is your overallwellness journey, Dr. Anna Toker is now accepting new patients and medspa clients.
CONTACT
3150 East Broad Street, Suite 100
Mansfield, Texas 76063
(214) 942-3740
DrToker.com
SkandiiMedSpa.com
AMY SCHOENING, DDS
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Dr. Amy Schoening can tell you in one word what she loves most about practicing dentistry—relationships. As a family dentist in private practice, she treats generations of families, sometimes caring for kids and their parents and their grandparents. The time she spends chatting with them and sharing their dayto-day lives is what gets her out of bed each morning. In an era when big-box dental clinics are rushing patients through on a dental treadmill, Dr. Schoening offers her patients a dental home that’s small by design, where they can slow down and have their questions answered and where dental treatment never proceeds, until the patient understands exactly what to expect and why.
When patients visit this boutique dental practice, they know they’ll see Dr. Schoening herself—every time. And the dental assistants and hygienists will know them by name. “Having the skill to truly transform someone’s life by giving them a smile they can feel confident about is my passion,” she said. “I want to keep my practice small enough that I have time to tune into each individual patient and their needs—whether physical or emotional. I want them to feel like they’re the only patient I’ll see that day.”
With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Schoening is still passionate about reeducating herself on the latest techniques and technology. She handselected a staff that shares her patientcentric philosophy. Together they place an emphasis on patient education and empowerment. “When a patient understands why they’re doing something, they’re much more likely to do it,” she said. “I want to thank my wonderfully supportive family and a team of people who’ve stuck with me and believed in my goals and visions,” Dr. Schoening said. “It’s been an honor for me to build a boutique practice that reflects my philosophy and
my vision for dental care. In the end, I hope the people I’ve known and touched— both personally and professionally—will remember me as a good person who cared for others, someone they could trust without hesitation.”
Dr. Schoening is an active member and past president and board member of Dental Health Arlington, a nationally recognized non-profi t with the goal of providing preventive and pain-relieving services to low-income residents as well as educating children about healthy oral hygiene habits. She and her husband, Andrew’s, support of the Oakridge School Board has included donating time and finances to rebuild the Oakridge track and wrestling center. A mom of two, she enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling to Montana to ski in the winter and hike in the summer.
To provide her loyal patients with all the care they need under one roof, Dr. Schoening offers a full menu of
preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry including:
It should have been no surprise to Diane Blaising’s family when she found her calling helping others live a better life through improved hearing. Way back in elementary school, it was a young Diane who wowed her classmates with a science project demonstrating bone-conduction hearing.
“This was back when we had portable record players,” she says. “I took the record player to school, and instead of using the needle on the record, I had a sewing needle stuck into a pencil eraser. We’d hold the wooden end of the pencil between our teeth and place the needle on the turning record and could hear the record through our teeth and bones in our skulls. It’s not coming through your ear canals. It’s bone-conduction hearing.”
The workings of the human auditory system haven’t ceased to amaze Diane. Now, as a board-certified doctor of audiology, she’s discovered she likes the human side of audiology even more than the medical/science side. “I love the patient contact and making a difference in the lives of my patients the most,” she says.
After more than 26 years serving as an audiologist, the last 14 with her own practice, Dr. Blaising provides a source for total hearing care. “I want my office to serve as a resource center for everything hearing,” she says. “I opened Cityview Audiology & Hearing Aids because I wanted to do more for my patients. For instance, we offer a free aural rehab class for anyone who wants to learn coping strategies for people with hearing loss and their families. Sometimes family members need a little education about how to communicate with the one with hearing difficulties.”
Dr. Blaising says, “Our entire team joins me in our mission to help our patients obtain a better quality of life by enhancing their ability to communicate with family
and friends, leading to deeper, more meaningful relationships,” she says. “We love helping working men and women be more successful in their careers. We love helping grandparents have better communication with their grandchildren. We live in a time when hearing aid technology is extremely sophisticated, and we have the ability to treat any hearing loss successfully. Every patient is different. So we stay abreast of advancements in the programming software that allows us to correctly fit hearing instruments to each unique hearing loss.”
“Research is out now that proves hearing loss is a major contributing factor for dementia. Our office now offers our patients a cognitive domain screening. This helps us to help our patients as we treat their hearing loss.”
Dr. Diane Blaising began her career in audiology in 1992. She received her doctor of audiology degree from the Arizona School of Health Sciences and her master’s
degree in audiology from the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has years of experience working with hearing-impaired adults and children in otolaryngologists’ offices and as a pediatric audiologist at the Louisville Deaf Oral School. Dr. Blaising is board-certified in audiology by the American Board of Audiology and has twice been given the Ace Award for continuing education. Find out more at CityviewHearing.com.
REGENCY PAIN & THERAPY INSTITUTE
Jason Butler, MD
Mark Dirnberger, DO
If you’re living with daily pain, the doctors of Regency Pain & Therapy Institute would like to partner with you on your journey. With years of combined experience, they will work to decrease your pain, increase your productivity, minimize your reliance on medication, maximize your physical activity, and improve your quality of life.
Regency Pain & Therapy Institute is a multi-disciplinary group offering patients multiple treatment options. “Because we’re each from different backgrounds with different training, we bring our own special experience together for a common goal—improving the quality of life of our patients,” said Dr. Jason Butler. “We place an emphasis on patient education. When a patient knows and understands their condition and all their treatment options, they can play a vital role in their own care.”
“We believe in treating pain with a comprehensive approach,” said Dr. Mark Dirnberger. “Our practice is all inclusive utilizing education, medications, physical therapy, injections/procedures, and surgeries to treat pain. And, for patient convenience, everything is available under one roof. Because each doctor has such different experience and training, we are able to consult with each other on the combination of treatment that will best serve each patient.”
Your care at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute will begin with a thorough physical exam and a detailed history of your past care and symptoms. Once a diagnosis has been compiled, you and your doctor will collaborate on an individualized treatment plan tailored to your symptoms and your lifestyle, beginning with the most conservative measures before considering medication or surgery. “Of course, when a patient is struggling to work, has severe pain, or decreased quality of life, their treatment plan can be accelerated,” noted Dr. Jason Butler.
“Our goal is to help improve our patients’ overall quality of life by reducing the burden of the physical and emotional aspects of pain,” said Dr. Mark Dirnberger.
“We strive to provide compassionate care to all patients to assist them in living a healthy productive life. Our doctors treat the whole person, not just their symptoms.”
Regency doctors are active members of the community and volunteer their time providing accessible care to those without the means to receive it. Their goal is to treat everyone like a member of their own family and to improve the lives of every patient they treat. What could you be doing if pain wasn’t holding you back? Don’t stay stuck in a cycle of pain and medication. The doctors of Regency Pain & Therapy Institute are now accepting new patients. Call today and let the pain experts help you get back to the life you enjoy.
SERVICES PROVIDED:
Regency Pain & Therapy Institute is an interventional pain management, neuromusculoskeletal medicine, sports medicine, and osteopathic manipulative medicine practice offering help for those suffering with:
AFTER 37 YEARS AT THE SAME ADDRESS - DR. STEVEN W. THOMAS HAS MOVED HIS DENTAL OFFICE (LESS THAN 2 MILES AWAY)!
We are so excited about our new office space located on the ground floor of the Park Forest building (no more stairs or elevator to deal with) with plenty of parking, a spacious and comfortable lobby, nicely equipped patient rooms and the same wonderful team of people that cannot wait to greet you! We have implemented the recommended precautionary measures and guidelines directed by the CDC to ensure the safety of our patients while we collectively fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Please stop by 2304 W. Interstate 20, Suite 120, Arlington, Texas, 76017 to see us. Our 817468-1166 phone number remains the same.
DR. STEVEN W. THOMAS AND HIS TEAM MAKE TRIPS TO THE DENTIST ABOUT MORE THAN JUST TEETH!
If you are a current patient, you know how much Dr. Steven W. Thomas and his team value relationships and love seeing you in the office. If you are not yet a patient - you are missing out! Dr. Thomas and his team are blessed to have chosen a profession that allows them to personally partner with those that trust them with their oral wellness. Dr. Thomas has been a consistent advocate for his patients since beginning his career. His team offers full-service dental care in a warm and inviting space. Integrity, empathy and following God’s guidance are the hallmarks of his practice. “Our desire is that your entire experience with us exceeds the expectations you have for any medical appointment. Every decision we make is about our patients. We use the latest dental industry technology so we can offer the best solutions for the friends, family and neighbors that put their trust in us for their oral health. I’m proud of the love and compassion my team extends to each patient. It is not only about teeth with us. We genuinely care for each person that walks through our doors and count it a
great blessing to serve each and every person.” says Dr. Thomas. GETTING TO KNOW DR. THOMAS.
Dr. Steven William Thomas graduated from Texas A&M in College Station and completed dental school in Houston before beginning his dental career in 1983. Steven and his wife, Lori, were married in 2008 and live in Mansfi eld, Texas. They have a blended family of fi ve children ranging in age from twenty to thirty-five and have four beautiful grandchildren. They are active members of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church and seek opportunities to serve locally and globally through supported ministries. Dr. Thomas says, “Daily I lean on the wisdom of Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I feel abundantly blessed that God has allowed me to do work I love, with people I love, in a community I love.” We always welcome new patients and hope to meet you at our new location very soon!
“Our desire is that your entire experience with us exceeds the expectations you have for any medical appointment. Every decision we make is about our patients. We use the latest dental industry technology so we can offer the best solutions for the friends, family and neighbors that put their trust in us for their oral health. I’m proud of the love and compassion my team extends to each patient. It is not only about teeth with us. We genuinely care for each person that walks through our doors and count it a great blessing to serve each and every person.”
2304 W. Interstate 20, Suite 120 Arlington, Texas 76017 (817) 468-1166
TEXAS HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR HOSPITAL ARLINGTON
BY
When you or a loved one needs heart and vascular care, the last thing you want to do is drive miles to receive specialized, quality care and innovative services. Fortunately for residents of Greater Arlington and surrounding communities, Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington is located conveniently close to home.
THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN TARRANT COUNTY EXCLUSIVELY DEDICATED TO CARING FOR HEARTS
Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital provides a full suite of advanced services combined with patient-centered care. The physician-led hospital’s commitment to excellence is highlighted by a prestigious five-star CMS rating for its patient experience, patient safety, effectiveness and timeliness of care, and low mortality and readmission rates.
Caring for the hearts of the community since 2011, patients trust Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital, choosing it for diagnostic services and imaging, minimally invasive procedures, and heart surgery. If you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, it’s good to know the hospital consistently reports
a rapid door to balloon time and has received the Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association for STEMIreceiving hospitals for fi ve consecutive years. This means heart attack patients are transferred to one of the hospital’s four catheterization labs to restore vital blood fl ow to the heart. The hospital is also certified by the Joint Commission as a primary heart attack center.
HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIALISTS, QUALITY SERVICES
Comprehensive services for heart, lung, and chest conditions include interventional cardiology, thoracic surgery, heart valve repair and replacement, aortic valve replacement surgery, coronary artery bypass, endovascular procedures, diagnostic electrophysiology studies, ablation procedures, and more. Advanced procedures and techniques are utilized, including TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement), a minimally invasive option for aortic valve replacement for those patients who are not eligible for openheart surgery. More than 200 open-heart surgeries and TAVR procedures, and 2,500 cath-lab procedures are performed at the
heart hospital annually.
“Our collaborative team of physicians includes board-certifi ed interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, and electrophysiologists,” says Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital’s Chief Medical Offi cer James F. Norcross, MD, a fellowship-trained, board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon. He adds, “I believe we have very talented surgeons and staff at the hospital. The team is committed to quality, safety and compassionate care for all our heart patients here in Tarrant County.”
DEDICATED TEAM OF SPECIALIZED NURSES
“Hearts are what we do, and we strive to meet all patient needs,” says Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer Sherri Emerson, MBA/MSN, RN, FACHE. “Our nurses are specialized in cardiac care and are ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) certified. Together with our four full-time nurse practitioners, they are dedicated to meeting their patient’s needs while providing emotional support, and answering questions. Our goal is to provide a comfortable atmosphere to our
ANNETTE BROOKS | PHOTO BY KENNY RICHARD PHOTOGRAPHY
surgical patients. Patient education, which is vital to optimal recovery and good outcomes, is also a priority. The pathology and physiology of their condition are explained in understandable terms, and they receive helpful information and guidance on exercise, diet and nutrition, and lifestyle changes. Cardiac rehabilitation is provided on location through Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. For heart patients who live outside Arlington, the heart hospital refers them to quality local heart rehab programs for their convenience.
A HEART PATIENT PRAISES TEXAS HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR HOSPITAL ARLINGTON
Joe is no stranger to heart disease and life-saving procedures. In 2010 he had a triple bypass and subsequently underwent cardiac ablation twice to address atrial fi brillation. On Valentine’s Day in 2020, Joe passed out at home and discovered he required a heart-valve replacement and a pacemaker.
“Everyone at Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital is a professional, from the physicians to the nurses, and my experience was great from start to finish. They were communicative and compassionate and explained what would occur during the procedure and what to expect during recovery and rehabilitation. I felt very well-cared for. Honestly, they treated me like royalty.”
Now Joe is back to volunteering a few times a week at the cardiac rehab center located in Texas Health Arlington
Memorial Hospital and continues to embrace his positive, sunny outlook on life. “I would recommend Texas Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington to anyone,” he says. “Not only will you receive an outstanding quality of care, but they also treat you like family.”
FIND OUT IF YOUR HEART IS ACTING ITS AGE
Learn about your heart risk by taking a fi ve-minute online assessment. Visit TexasHealth.org/THHV. Scroll down until you see the Take Assessment box, click on it, and follow the directions. You’ll answer a few simple questions, and a copy of your report will be emailed to you.
You have a choice when it comes to where you receive heart and vascular care. It’s good to know that Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington conveniently provides comprehensive heart and vascular services right in your community.
Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington is a joint venture, physicianowned hospital that is owned by both physicians and Texas Health Resources
• 47-bed specialty heart hospital
• Five-star CMS rating
• American Heart Association Gold Plus Award for STEMIreceiving hospitals since 2015 for seven consecutive years
• Certified by the Joint Commission as a primary heart attack center
• Four catheterization labs, two with electrophysiology
• Four operative suites designed for heart surgery and thoracic and peripheral vascular surgical procedures
• Heart surgery program
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
• Surgical ablation
• Interventional cardiology
• Port placements
• Pulmonary resection
• Interventional vascular
• Minimally Invasive
Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)
• Vascular surgery
• Electrophysiology
• And much more
TexasHealth.org/THHV
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NOT SO SOUND asleep
THE
NIGHTTIME
THREAT THAT ROBS YOUR REST AND HEALTH
BY DAVID BUICE
illions of Americans fail to get their needed seven to eight hours of good, restful nightly sleep. Quite often, the culprit robbing them of this essential for good health is sleep apnea. Left untreated, this disorder can lead to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, enlargement of the heart (cardiomegaly), heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and may even result in sudden cardiac death. M
WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
Briefly stated, sleep apnea is a serious disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted while they sleep — sometimes hundreds of times a night — causing them to partially wake up as they struggle to breathe. The two most prevalent types of sleep apnea are obstructive and central.
Obstructive (OSA) – This more common type of sleep apnea results from the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep, forcing the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder as pressure increases to open the blockage. These episodes interfere with sound sleep, reduce oxygen flow to vital organs, and may cause irregular heart rhythm.
Central – Central sleep apnea is related to the functioning of the central nervous system. The airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe because of instability in the brain’s respiratory control center.
Whatever the type, those suffering from sleep apnea often have unexplained fatigue and mood swings because brief sleep interruptions throughout the night prevent them from getting deep, nourishing sleep.
SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS
It’s wise to seek medical assistance if you have any of these potential symptoms.
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Chronic loud snoring
Insomnia, either difficulty falling or staying asleep
Unexplained symptoms like a sore throat or morning headaches
Breathing stoppages or abnormal breathing patterns witnessed by your partner
Waking up with shortness of breath or choking or gasping sounds
Who Gets Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
People who are overweight or obese are most prone to developing OSA. Although it affects about 20% of individuals who need to lose weight, not all OSA sufferers are overweight. Approximately 3% are normal weight.
Men are more likely to be afflicted than women. OSA occurs in about 25% of men and 10% of women.
Although OSA can develop at any time, including during childhood, the prevalence increases with age, and studies indicate the maximum prevalence is in the 45-to-64-year range. For women, the risk increases after menopause due to the accumulation of excess weight in the upper abdominal area.
If you suspect you’re suffering from sleep apnea, talk with your primary care doctor and confer with a sleep specialist. These doctors include physicians certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and specially trained dentists who collaborate with sleep medicine physicians and treat OSA.
The specialist will collect information on your medical history and discuss the symptoms you’re experiencing. They may also recommend a sleep study to collect information on your breathing pattern, blood oxygen level, and any other changes occurring in your body while you sleep. This information helps them to confirm or rule out sleep apnea.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Depending on the diagnosis and the likely cause of your sleep apnea, basic treatment options include weight loss, exercise, lifestyle modifications, and changing your sleeping position.
Nonsurgical solutions include a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which provides a steady flow of oxygen through a mask worn while sleeping, designed to keep your upper airway passages open. For those with mild to moderate OSA who are uncomfortable wearing a CPAP, a custom-made oral appliance worn in the mouth while sleeping may be recommended. Similar to a mouth guard, this device is specially designed to keep your tongue and soft tissues in the mouth from collapsing as you sleep by moving the jaw slightly forward and down.
Surgical treatments include advanced procedures to remove tissue from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat and an implant called Inspire that opens your airway as you sleep by delivering mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the movement of your tongue and other key airway muscles.
THE EYES have it
VISION CHANGES OVER THE YEARS
BY DAVID BUICE
We all know that as the years pass, our bodies change and adapt, and our eyes are very much a part of this process. During our earliest years, changes in our vision are generally positive. We develop visual acuity, allowing us to change our focus quickly or improve eye-hand coordination that enables us to draw objects or sink that winning basket as the game clock expires.
Unfortunately, just as our physical strength tends to lessen over the years, our eyes also suffer age-related changes, especially after age 60. Some of these are perfectly normal and don’t indicate the onset of any kind of eye disease. Others, however, are more serious and should not be ignored.
AGE-RELATED EYE CONDITIONS
The following are some of the more common vision problems associated with aging. Presbyopia – Commonly known as far-sightedness, this condition is caused by a loss of elasticity of the eye’s lens. Consequently, you have more difficulty focusing on objects up close, such as words on the printed page or a cell phone screen. Eventually, you will probably need reading glasses, bifocal glasses, or contact lenses. And as you age, you’ll possibly have to have your prescription changed more frequently.
Cataracts – These are cloudy areas in the lens of your eyes, causing hazy or blurred vision. Some stay small and don’t change your vision much, while others grow much larger over time, creating vision issues. Cataract surgery can restore clear vision and is a safe and painless procedure.
Glaucoma – This condition is usually caused by too much fluid pressure inside the eye and can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated. Unfortunately, glaucoma often has no symptoms or pain, but you can protect your vision with an annual dilated eye exam. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops, lasers, or surgery.
Age-related macular degeneration – AMD can harm the sharp central vision essential for doing things like driving and reading. It’s the leading cause of blindness among seniors, and currently, approximately two million Americans suffer from AMD. The number is expected to double by 2050 as our population ages.
Diabetic retinopathy – This may occur if you have diabetes and often has no early warning signs. Keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control can prevent it or control it in its early stage.
EMERGENCY SIGNS
The National Institute on Aging recommends getting professional help immediately if you:
Suddenly can’t see or everything is blurry
See many new floaters — tiny specks or “cobwebs” floating across your vision — or flashes of light
Have eye pain
Experience double vision
Have redness or swelling of your eye or eyelid
Tips for Preserving Your Vision
While aging is inevitable, we can do things to help preserve our vision. Here are tips from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Cleveland Clinic to help protect your eyesight as the years accumulate.
Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist for a yearly eye exam, including pupil dilation.
Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes against harmful ultraviolet rays.
Eat a healthy diet that includes ample quantities of green leafy vegetables high in antioxidants and salmon, tuna, and sardines rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Don’t like fish? Then nibble on nuts, legumes, or seeds.
Exercise. Something as simple as a brisk 20-minute walk four times a week can help preserve your vision.
Get seven to eight hours of sleep nightly to allow your eyes to rest and rehydrate.
Don’t smoke. Smokers are three times more likely to develop cataracts and twice as likely to develop AMD as nonsmokers.
STRESSED strands
HAIR LOSS IN WOMEN: CAUSES AND TREATMENTS
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
If you’re a gardener, you know what comes up in your garden depends on what’s happening in the soil beneath. The same goes for the hair on your head. If your scalp — and overall body — are being affected by medication, illness, infection, or chemicals, your hair can’t form properly and may begin to thin. Hair loss, called “alopecia,” isn’t just a problem for men. Many women experience it, too.
SIGNS
If you’ve started noticing a large amount of hair on your pillow in the morning or more than usual left in your brush or comb, your part is growing wider, or your scalp is showing through your hair, talk to your dermatologist or general practitioner about your hair loss. Your doctor will likely begin with blood work to eliminate problems with your thyroid or an autoimmune disease. But other factors can lead to female hair loss.
CAUSES
Female pattern hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia, is hereditary and can be diagnosed using a magnification of the scalp. It affects about 30 million American women, occurring when normal-sized hair follicles are gradually replaced with finer, thinner ones. Hair follicles shrink over time and eventually stop growing altogether.
Women can also lose their hair due to pregnancy, thyroid disorders, anemia, autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or skin conditions such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Stress and physical trauma such as surgery, significant weight loss, or intense illness can also cause hair loss.
Sometimes women lose their hair because of hairstyles that tug on the hair, such as cornrows, chemical treatments and dyes, bad brushes, blow dryers or flat irons, and aggressive brushing or towel drying. This is called traction alopecia. Ask your stylist about hairstyles, volume-building products, styling tools that help prevent hair loss and breakage, and
“Always find a qualified Trichologist that has many years of diagnosing and treating many forms of hairloss including new on the horizon Covid associated hair loss. They should have many modalities of treatment, each geared to your specific hair loss etiology.”
– Lisa Moody, Skinwerx
permanent or semipermanent color to give body and volume to your hair.
TREATMENT
If your doctor determines you’re losing hair because of a medical condition, they may prescribe medications or recommend OTC treatment, or eliminating certain foods from your diet may also help. Dairy, sugar, refined carbs, nuts, fried food, and carbonated drinks are all thought to contribute to hair loss. Instead, go for foods rich in Vitamins B, D, E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron.
The next level of treatment involves in-office procedures, such as corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, and plateletrich plasma (PRP) therapy.
Noninvasive low-level laser therapy emits photons that penetrate the scalp and target the follicles to stimulate hair growth. PRP contains growth factors and proteins that speed tissue repair and promote hair regrowth by reversing the process that occurs in androgenetic alopecia.
Nonsurgical, minimally invasive hair restoration procedures have become a popular alternative to old-school surgical solutions that leave a large linear scar across the back of the head and typically involve a slow, uncomfortable recovery. New-generation automated FUE (follicular unit extraction) technology is used to extract single hair follicles and move them to areas where hair is absent or thinning discreetly, quickly, and precisely. There’s no visible scarring, downtime is minimal, and when performed by a trained and highly skilled professional, it provides natural-looking results.
Don’t suffer alone. Partner with your healthcare provider, nutritionist, and favorite hairstylist to determine the cause of your hair loss and take steps to address it.
TAMING YOUR tummy
THE LOWDOWN ON STOMACH-FLATTENING PROCEDURES
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
If you’re eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly but still unhappy with your pooching or flabby abdomen, there are procedures that can help you have the flat tummy you’ve always wanted.
LIPOSUCTION
Lipo is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove stubborn diet and exercise-resistant fat from the body then shape and contour the treated area. Lipo isn’t a weight-loss procedure, but if you have excess body fat in specific spots and an otherwise stable, healthy body weight, it may be a good option for you.
Liposuction can be performed on various areas of the body, such as:
Abdomen
Upper arms
Breasts and chest
Buttocks
Chin
Torso
Hips
Love handles
Legs
Neck
Thighs
Knees
During the procedure, your surgeon will separate fat cells from skin tissue, aspirate the fat cells with fluid, then equally distribute remaining fat cells in the area for a smooth, natural look. Recovery depends upon the type of lipo you undergo and whether it’s combined with another procedure. Patients who have had liposuction on one or two areas of their body can typically return to work within a few days and resume their normal activities within two weeks.
A tummy tuck — also known as abdominoplasty — is a customized cosmetic surgical procedure during which excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen, connective tissue and muscles are tightened, and remaining skin is repositioned to create a more toned look. You might want a tummy tuck if you have excess fat or skin around your navel area or a weak lower abdominal wall.
Many women choose to have a tummy tuck after pregnancy, significant weight loss, abdominal surgery (such as a C-section), or to address the natural changes that come with aging. Some choose to have a tummy tuck in conjunction with other procedures, such as breast augmentation, breast lift, or liposuction for a Mommy Makeover.
COOLSCULPTING
Also known as cryolipolysis, CoolSculpting is a cosmetic treatment that removes 15 to 20% of excess fat in targeted areas by freezing fat cells, killing them, and breaking them down without damaging the skin or underlying tissue. CoolSculpting doesn’t require incisions or anesthesia and is usually performed in-office. Sessions last about an hour per area treated, and up to four areas may be treated per session, after which you can resume normal activities.
Some patients experience soreness at the treated site, similar to post-workout soreness or minor muscle injury. Others report stinging, firmness, mild discoloration, swelling, or itchiness. It usually takes four to six months for fat cells to leave the patient’s body, but results can last indefinitely.
TUMMY TUCK
SMALL SPACES, big impact
REIMAGINED TOWNHOUSE IN THE RIVER OAKS DISTRICT
PHOTOGRAPHY MOLLY CULVER
DESIGN
MARRY PATTON DESIGN
LOCATION
HOUSTON, TEXAS
STYLE
TRANSITIONAL TOWNHOUSE
PROJECT GOALS
TO CREATE A COHESIVE, LIGHT, AND GLAMOROUS SPACE
INSPIRATION
MIX OF WHITE, GOLD, FEMININE COLORS, AND A SPARKLING JEWEL BOX
DESIGNED DINING // The kitchen was updated with GE Café appliances and white cabinets. Materials and colors are effortlessly mixed with the custom white lacquer and Lucite table in the dining room.
MIRROR, MIRROR // Mary removed a built-in desk to create a beautiful bar that is adorned with glass shelves and an antiqued mirror glass tile wall.
The emerald green mirror by Bungalow 5 pops against the modern Schumacher wallpaper in the powder bath.
PLAYFUL PATTERNS // Floral motifs, glass, metal, and wood, come harmoniously together in this small but mighty living room.
SERENE SLUMBER // Cool, blues, greens, and greys are paired with shades of pink for the perfect feminine touch
freshai r
LIGHT, CLEAN AROMAS TO LIVEN UP YOUR SPACE
BY SYDNI ELLIS
LIGHTEN UP // Spring-scented candles bring joy with the flick of a ligh ter.
The Hearth & Hand Meadow Dipped Ceramic Candle (3) from Target has a gorgeous green ombre design. The soy blend candle is infused with freshly mowed grass, colorful blossoms, and plucked leaves — basically, everything you love about nature in one candle! Another amazing Target find is the Opalhouse Wild Hibiscus Sangria Candle (1) , featuring the notes of black cherry, sangria, merlot, and hibiscus that burns for up to 80 hours. Target.com
If you prefer something a little fruitier, we love the Capri Blue Volcano Rainbow Watercolor Signature Jar (2) . This striking vessel contains the brand’s best-selling scent, Volcano, featuring exotic citruses, sugary notes, and tropical aromas. Capri-Blue.com
DELIGHTFUL DIFFUSERS // These aroma alternatives are another way to add long-lasting scents to your home.
Check out the Glass Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser (4) from Amazon. It doubles as a decoration with a design that looks lik e it came straight from an apothecary. It changes colors and serves as an air humidifier and essential oil diffuser. Just drop in your favorite clean scent. Amazon.com
Reed diffusers are another fantastic option. The Tuberose & Orange Blossom Reed Diffuser (5) from The Body Shop is filled with orange essential oils and tuberose extract for a sweet, floral scent that will slowly decanter through the reed sticks for a slow-release fragrance. TheBodyShop.com
SPRAY AWAY // Just like perfume for your home, room sprays offer a quick hit of fragrance.
Kill germs and freshen your home with Milk + Honey Home Fragrances (6) . This non-toxic spray contains denatured organic alcohol that serves as a natural antiseptic to eliminate odors and germs, as well as essential oils. Try Fragrance No. 08, which includes a calming lavender oil and stress-relieving eucalyptus oil. MilkandHoney.com
THE STORM
DON’T GET CAUGHT UNPREPARED THIS SPRING
BY CHRISTI BLEVINS
Spring storms are an inevitable part of living in Texas. From hailstorms to tornadoes, weather in the Lone Star State can be as wild as the Texas frontier. Regardless of what the forecast holds, you don’t have to be caught unprepared.
TAKE A LITTLE OFF THE TOP
Make sure that your trees are trimmed and that there aren’t any branches dangling over your roof. Smaller, spindly branches should also be trimmed.
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES
Take a walk around your property and look for items that might turn into projectiles during a storm. Secure items like bird feeders, flag poles, patio umbrellas, outdoor furniture, flowerpots, and trash cans. Even though the cushions and pillows on your patio furniture won’t cause damage, placing them inside your garage will prevent them from blowing down the street like tumbleweeds.
GET YOUR MIND IN THE GUTTER
Homeowners often forget to clear rain gutters until it is raining and there is an obvious problem. Be sure that all gutters are firmly attached to your house and that they are free from any debris.
PLAN FOR POWER OUTAGES
If you haven’t already done so, subscribe to receive text updates from your electric company concerning power outages. It’s also helpful to add your power company’s phone number to your contact list.
Test your flashlights and make sure you have extra batteries on hand. Avoid using candles because the last thing you need is a fire.
Keeping your freezer full can prevent you from ending up with a gloopy mess of melted ice cream and thawed meat. Fill empty milk jugs or soda bottles with water and freeze them.
This will help keep things cold until power is restored. When you lose power, fill an ice chest with a couple of frozen water jugs and the food items you’ll likely want. Avoid opening your fridge and freezer unnecessarily.
HAVE A FAMILY PLAN
Since most Texas homes don’t have a basement, determine your family’s safe space before a storm hits. In case of a tornado watch/warning, you will need an interior location to hunker down in for a bit. This might be a bathroom or a large closet on the lowest floor of your home. You’ll want flashlights, pillows, and close-toed shoes for each family member. You can also include some favorite stuffed animals and books if you have children. Grab some water bottles and snacks in case you need to be in your safe space for a while. Bicycle helmets are also useful to protect heads from flying or falling debris.
AN OUNCE OF INSURANCE IS WORTH
A POUND OF REGRET
The time to assess your insurance coverage is when you don’t need it. Pick an unbelievably sunny day when all seems right with the world to sit down with your home and auto insurance policies. Know your deductibles and exactly what is covered. Don’t wait until it’s hailing to determine that you’re underinsured. Then add your insurance agent to your phone’s contact list.
SUPPLIES ON DEMAND
You can create your own emergency preparedness kit with minimal effort and money. Items can be stored in waterproof containers with lids. Suggested items include:
• Water for drinking and sanitation (Plan for at least one gallon of water per person, per day)
• Non-perishable food
• Can opener
• Prescription medications
• Don’t forget to plan for your pets’ needs (water, food, medicine, etc.).
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Whistle (in case you need to signal for help)
• Solar-powered phone charger and a fully charged portable charger
• Battery-powered radio
• Change of clothing per person
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Car keys
• Cash
• Copies of important documents
FOR EMERGENCIES ON-THE-GO
There may be no place like home, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be at home when the storm sirens sound. It’s a good idea to create an emergency car kit for portable preparedness. This is simply a smaller version of your home supply kit. Keep water bottles, granola bars, flashlights, a phone charger, and basic first aid supplies in case a storm strikes when you’re on the go. Remember to avoid driving through standing water. Don’t try to outrun a tornado. Head to the nearest shelter and take your emergency supplies with you.
A GUIDE TO PICKING THE RIGHT CAMP FOR YOUR CHILD
BY SYDNI ELLIS
While you might be in the thick of planning spring break vacations and enjoying the warmer spring weather, summertime will be here before you know it. This means one thing — it’s time to start looking for a summer camp for your kids! Whether you just want a few hours a day to entertain a bored little one, or you are looking for educational and fun sleepaway camps for your older kids to enjoy, there is something for everyone. Texas has a wide variety of summer camps to fit every need and interest of your child. Here are some tips to start planning.
PREPARE YOUR CHILD
How do you know if your child is ready for summer camp? According to Children’s Health Dallas, kids under age eight may have a more difficult time being away from home than older children (especially overnight). Here are some questions to help you determine if they’re ready:
• Is your child interested and asking about camp?
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COMPOSTING
• Have they had experience at a day camp?
• How does your child do overnight at a friend or relative’s house?
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
• Are they responsible enough to follow the rules (for example: putting on sunscreen, staying hydrated, respecting leaders)?
• Are they worried, scared, or excited? Gauge their emotions and help them prepare or come up with a different solution together that would work for your family.
TYPES OF SUMMER CAMPS
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be! There are many different types of camps available for your child. The Camp Leaders Program, a summer camp counselor recruiting program, narrowed down the most common types of summer camps available:
Traditional summer camps // Think log cabins, water sports, arts and entertainment, outdoor programs, singing “Kumbaya” by a campfire. Traditional summer camps are a great option for parents of older kids who don’t mind being away for about four to eight weeks.
Specialist camps // Looking to learn a new skill or get some much-needed practice time in over the summer? Sign up your kids for specialist camps focused on arts, sports, STEM, and other areas. This is where your kids will have a chance to focus on cheerleading, music, technology, playwriting, or another passion without the burden of homework and have fun at the same time.
Faith-based camps // Learn more about God at one of the many faith-based camps available. These are like traditional camps as far as plenty of outdoor activities and fun, with the addition of camp worship sessions, Bible lessons, and small groups.
Nonprofit camps // For those who want to save money and give their kids a good summer experience at the same time, sign them up for a nonprofit camp. These are hosted by a local YMCA, a 4-H Club, or another nonprofit organization to give kids an exciting camp experience for a fraction of the price. These vary, but many offer programs for little ones as young as three years old to experience educational activities, learn leadership, play with arts and crafts, explore the outdoors, and more. Accessible camps // No kid should feel excluded from summer camp, which is why there are many accessible camps for kids of various abilities and needs. These will have many of the same activities as traditional summer camps (like horseback riding, painting, and S’mores-making) with trained counselors and facilities to cater to everyone.
FIND YOUR CAMP
Next, it’s time to find your camp. If you don’t already have a favorite camp in mind, you can easily search based on your child’s age, region, and camp type you’re interested in on sites like KidsCamps.com and SummerCamps.com. This is an easy way to quickly compare the different types of camps available, all in one spot.
PACK THEIR BAGS!
It’s time to start packing! Most camps have their own checklists for what to bring, but there are some other everyday items you should consider packing for your kids as well. Here are some ideas from the American Camp Association:
Hat
Sunscreen Bug spray
Swimsuits
Flip-flops
Tennis shoes
Reusable water bottles
Toiletries
Sheets/pillows
Books
Writing paper, envelopes, and stamps
Anti-itch ointment
Emergency contact sheet
Disinfecting wipes
Summer camp is such a special time in your kid’s life. No matter how much you’ll miss them, just remember they’re having a blast!
GE T A MOVE ON
Boxes and bubble wrap and tape — oh my! Moving to a new home is a major undertaking. Every year, about 31 million people move, with around three million people moving across state lines, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The typical American moves more than 11 times in their lifetime.
Are you planning a move soon? Consider this your packing primer.
PACKING 101
Whether you’re moving across town or the country, it helps to have a proper plan when packing. We’re breaking it down for you here.
Declutter Before boxing anything up for the move, go through each room in your home and look for items you can donate, recycle, or sell. If you have kids at home, get them involved. Ask them to sort through their old toys, clothes, and books and make piles of things they no longer need.
PACKING TIPS AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A MOVER
BY AUDREY SELLERS
Gather your supplies . Once the decluttering is done, make sure you have what you need on hand. You can pack more efficiently when you don’t need to run to the store for materials. Stock up on cardboard boxes, packing tape and paper, and bubble wrap. Keep some Sharpies nearby and label what’s inside each box.
Keep an inventory As you begin packing, number each box so you can easily track what you’re moving. If a box gets lost in transit, you’ll know what was inside.
Start with heavy items . Pack boxes with the heaviest items first. Each box should weigh no more than 50 pounds. Pro tip: Pack small items in small boxes and nestle them inside larger boxes. This helps corral smaller items and creates fewer boxes for you or the movers to haul around. You can also top off boxes with lightweight items such as hand towels.
Make A Move
According to Moving.org and the U.S. Census Bureau, here’s where people are moving and when they’re moving.
• 84% are moving within their home state
14% are moving to a different state
• 2% are moving to a different country
• Almost half of all moves occur between May and September, with June being the busiest month
The top reasons movers say they’re relocating include:
• To get a new or better home
• To be closer to a new job
• To get a more affordable home
• To get an easier commute
• To own a home instead of renting
Create an essentials box . This box should be the last one you pack up and the first one you unpack in your new home. It should contain daily necessities such as toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, bottles of water, and snack items. Also include chargers for your phone and laptop.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MOVERS
The right moving company can help you get your items from point A to point B safely and affordably. Here’s how to ensure you hire the right one.
Do some detective work . Read online reviews and see what previous clients are saying about the movers. Check out the company’s social media pages and Better Business Bureau profile. You can also research sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, and MovingScam.com.
Get estimates Aim to gather three to four in-person estimates. Find out if packing services are included and how the company charges. Some movers charge by the hour while others charge by the mile or
weight. Ask about any extra fees, such as flights of stairs or furniture disassembly to fit through doors. Always get your estimates in writing, and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Most movers are open to negotiation, especially if they know you have several quotes in hand.
Make sure the mover is licensed and insured . Ask the company for a copy of their Certificate of Insurance and to see their state or federal license. If you’re moving within Texas, you can verify the company’s license through your local consumer affairs agency. And if you’re moving out of state, you can request the company’s U.S. DOT number at ProtectYourMove.gov.
SMOOTH MOVES
Moving to a new home can open the door to a fresh start for you and your family. Follow these tips to reduce your stress and make your move a bit easier.
NATURAL wonder
EXPLORE TEXAS’ PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK
BY ANNETTE BROOKS
Tucked away in the Texas Panhandle about 20 miles from Amarillo is one of Texas’ most impressive natural wonders, Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Formed over millions of years and carved deep into the eastern caprock of the southern high plains, it’s the secondlargest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon. With dramatic features and breathtaking views set against the open Texas sky, Palo Duro Canyon is a road-trip-worthy destination the whole family will enjoy. It’s especially pleasant to visit in the springtime when temperatures are mild.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy while you’re visiting the state park. Start by driving the 16-mile loop that descends from the rim to the canyon floor and winds back up. Along the way, you’ll see historical markers, trailheads, a couple of old buildings and bridges, and spectacular views that include hoodoos — rock formations with a larger rock balanced atop a smaller rock. Bring lunch and eat at one of the park’s picnic tables.
HIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING
Covering around 28,000 acres, Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers more than 30 miles of trails for hiking and biking. One of the most popular, family-friendly trails leads to the park’s signature landmark, a 310-foot rock formation called The Lighthouse. The 5.75-mile trail is wide, obstacle-free, and packed with dirt and rock.
Other trails include the one-and-a-half-mile-long CCC Trail, which begins near the visitor center and takes you down to the canyon floor, and the five-mile-long Rock Garden Trail,
Concert at Starlight Canyon
The Lighthouse
to name a few. The Capitol Peak Trail is a favorite among mountain bikers because of its rocky terrain, amazing views, and great flow.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Bring your own horse or opt for a guided horseback tour provided by one of the nearby riding stables. The horseback riding-friendly park has established equestrian trails and dedicated horse camping sites. Pick up an equestrian brochure from the park headquarters. Visit TPWD.Texas. gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon/fees-facilities/horsesites for more information and check-in.
BIRDING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING
With its diverse habitats, the state park is teaming with wildlife. Birds include quail, wild turkeys, golden-fronted woodpeckers, roadrunners, Mississippi kites, Bullock’s orioles, tyrant flycatchers, hawks, owls, and the list goes on. A bird blind is located behind the Palo Duro Trading Post.
Animals include Aoudad sheep, bobcats, coyotes, mule and white-tailed deer, skunk, the endangered Palo Duro mouse, and rabbits. The canyon is also home to reptiles, including the Texas horned lizard and snakes, so be careful while hiking.
STARGAZING
Although Palo Duro Canyon isn’t a true Dark Sky Park due to its proximity to Amarillo, it’s a good place for stargazing away from the light pollution of major cities. On a clear, dark new moon night, the Milky Way is often visible over the Lighthouse Rock formation.
WHERE TO STAY
Lodging choices range from vintage rustic cabins to luxury accommodations.
The state park maintains and rents three very basic, CCC-built stone and timber cabins. Located on the canyon rim, they offer panoramic views. Book well ahead of time as they fill up quickly. TPWD.Texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon/ fees-facilities/cabins
If you’re into glamping, the state park has glampsites on the canyon floor. They include luxury rustic furnishings and creature comforts such as microwaves and refrigerators, covered porches, rocking chairs, electricity, gas grills, heating, and air conditioning. PaloDuroGlamping.com
Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast, a popular choice for couples, sits on six peaceful acres shaded by 100-year-old elm trees. Choose from four unique, updated cabins, each with a private hot tub. Rates include a hot, home-cooked breakfast delivered to your cabin on the weekends. During the week, enjoy a continental breakfast with homemade cinnamon rolls. Add-on packages include the romance package, picnic in a basket, couples massage, and a fourcourse candlelight dinner. StarlightCanyon.com
Doves Rest Cabins offers custom-designed, distinctively appointed luxury home rentals for visitors seeking private luxury accommodations. No two cabins are alike and all offer views overlooking Palo Duro Canyon. The cabins range from four bedrooms with four king beds to a collection of 480-square-foot one king bed, one bath, pet-friendly studio Phantom Cabins. With concierge service at your fingertips, arrange for in-cabin massages, golf tee times, airport transfer, private tours, and more. DovesRestCabins.com
Santa Fe Room, Doves Rest Cabins
Skyhouse Cabin, Doves Rest Cabins
El Coronado Cabin, Doves Rest Cabins
TIPS & TRICKS:
You can serve this cake warm, room temp or cold. The cake should be kept in the refrigerator and will last up to 5 days.
BERRY good
ADD SOME BRIGHT FLAVORS WITH FRUIT
BY MELISSA TATE
MIMI’S STRAWBERRY CAKE
SERVINGS: 8-10 | PREP TIME: 25 MIN. | COOK TIME: 35 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 60 MIN.
CAKE INGREDIENTS: 1 box white cake mix | 1 3 oz. box strawberry Jell-O | 4 eggs | 1 cup vegetable oil | 1 16 oz. container frozen sliced strawberries in sugar (thawed, you will use the liquid in the cake and strawberries in the icing)
ICING : 3 cups powdered sugar | 6 Tbsp. butter, melted and cooled | Strawberries from frozen sliced strawberries in sugar
DIRECTIONS: PREHEAT oven to 350°. SPRAY a Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. SIFT Jell-O and dry cake mix together. DRAIN juice from strawberries into a large measuring cup. ADD water to the measuring cup to equal 1 full cup of liquid. SET strawberries aside. COMBINE dry mix, oil, eggs, and strawberry liquid. BEAT with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. POUR into prepared Bundt pan and bake 30 to 35 minutes until done all the way through. While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting. COMBINE powdered sugar, melted and cooled butter, and strawberries. Once you remove the cake from the oven, let it sit in the pan for a few minutes. REMOVE the cake by turning the Bundt pan onto a large plate with a lip around the edge to catch the run-off icing. You want to ice the cake while it is still warm. SPOON icing onto the cake, letting it run down the center and the outer edge.
TIPS & TRICKS: Serve in a glass trifle bowl to show off the layers.
CRANBERRY PECAN SPRING SALAD
SERVINGS: 8 | PREP TIME: 25 MIN. | COOK TIME: NONE | TOTAL TIME: 25 MIN.
SALAD INGREDIENTS: 6 cups spring mix salad | 1 ripe pear, sliced in wedges | 1 cup dried cranberries | 1 cup candied pecans | ½ cup crumbled blue cheese VINAIGRETTE: 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard | ¼ cup balsamic vinegar | ¼ tsp. salt | ¼ tsp. pepper | ½ cup olive oil
DIRECTIONS: PREPARE vinaigrette by combining Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl and whisking together. SET vinaigrette aside. SPREAD half of the spring mix in a medium serving bowl. TOP with half the pear wedges, cranberries, pecans, and blue cheese. REPEAT layer and top with remaining ingredients. Directly before serving, drizzle with vinaigrette. SERVE extra vinaigrette with the salad.
TIPS & TRICKS:
Pair with soft cheese and crusty bread or a burger for an eccentric flavor.
SAVORY BLUEBERRY AND RED ONION JAM
SERVINGS: 30 | PREP TIME: 5 MIN. | COOK TIME: 40 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN.
ABOUT OUR CHEF
Melissa is a freelance food writer with a passion for hospitality and home cooked meals. Along with writing, she helps her husband run their working ranch and event venue in Rockwall, Texas. To follow her cooking and ranching adventures visit MelissaTateTX. com or find her on Instagram at @MELISSATATETX
INGREDIENTS: 1 Tbsp. olive oil | 1 medium red onion, diced (about 2 cups) | 3 springs fresh thyme | ½ tsp. salt | ¼ tsp. pepper | 2 cups fresh blueberries | 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar | ¼ cup honey | 2 Tbsp. brown sugar | ¼ cup red wine | 1 tsp. lemon juice
DIRECTIONS: HEAT olive oil over medium heat. ADD onion, salt, pepper, and thyme. REDUCE heat to medium-low. COOK for 30 to 35 minutes or until caramelized, stirring occasionally. Add blueberries, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and red wine. COOK until blueberries are enlarged and about to burst and liquid is reduced about 5 to 10 min. REMOVE thyme sprigs. Add lemon juice and stir, smashing berries. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. STORE in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
