Monthly Member Spotlight: Walk with a Doc

An Interview with Dr. David Sabgir and Walk with a Doc

Dr. David Sabgir, MD, is a cardiologist and the founder of Walk with a Doc.

1. What is your organization’s interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA)?

We first learned about the OAAA through Dr. Amanda Nelson, a rheumatologist at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Nelson and Kirsten Ambrose, the Program Manager. Kirsten gave a great webinar in May 2016 that taught me a lot on the OAAA. As a cardiologist, I see many patients with the co-morbidity of osteoarthritis. This has a strong overlap with specific areas of my focus. So many of my patients with OA are unable to participate in physical activity that will dramatically improve their chances against heart disease. Many of them are also taking NSAIDs that double their risk of heart disease.
One of the overarching goals of the OAAA is to mobilize health care professionals to identify and address OA in the office – something that must be done.

2. What do you think is the most important issue today related to osteoarthritis?

I believe the overweight and obesity epidemic is the most important issue today related to osteoarthritis. With 1/3 of the US being overweight and an additional 1/3 being obese – 2/3 us are at risk for osteoarthritis with that risk factor alone. This makes a bad problem worse as our patients now have one more obstacle in their path to regular physical activity.

3. How does your organization’s work connect to issues in osteoarthritis?

At Walk with a Doc we promote the CDC’s 2008 guidelines of moderate physical activity for 150 minutes or more/week. We have found that most of our patients that are doing very well into their 80’s and 90’s have a common denominator – regular physical activity. We believe that by helping facilitate physician led walking (and talking) groups in our communities, such as Dr. Nelson’s, we can help make a difference. Based on a significant amount of recent medical literature, regular moderate physical activity can have a profound effect of treating and preventing osteoarthritis. That’s real news.

4. What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?

"Osteoarthritis Burden Down 87% Over Previous 5 Years"

The OAAA, in collaboration with Walk with a Doc, have dramatically reduced the burden of pain and suffering associated with osteoarthritis and made it fun while doing it.

5. What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?

We are blessed to have 320 chapters in 45 states and we are starting to see widespread domestic and international expansion.