Health

Health Flashes - November 2009

Healthe Habits for Living, a comprehensive weight loss program for individuals with a body mass index of 30+, celebrated its one-year anniversary with an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The event included useful weight loss and nutrition information, as well as samplings from the Healthe Food line.

Healthe Habits for Living opened its doors in the Oil Center in July of 2008 with its mission being to train, coach, and counsel groups and individuals in appropriate exercise, healthier eating, and ways in which to maintain these healthy habits for life.

“Our program is not a quick fix to weight loss — you can’t go for a week and then quit,” says owner and Occupational Therapist Jill Hurley. “But, when you stick with it, you will see real changes. In fact, clients usually start to feel changes within the first month. Each plan is customized for each client according to their specific needs.”

For more information on the program or to schedule a free consultation call 261.9188.

Administrators at Women’s & Children’s Hospital recently announced the appointment of John Marker as Chief Nursing Officer. Marker replaces Leona Bullion, RN, who accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer at Women’s earlier this year. Marker’s duties will include providing leadership and guidance to the nursing staff as well as participation in the development of hospital policies and contribution to the overall strategic management of the hospital.

Marker received his bachelors of science degree in nursing in 1997 from Kansas Newman College in Wichita, Kansas. He then enrolled in the masters program at Wichita State University and obtained a double masters degree in business administration and nursing in 2003.

Marker was most recently employed as associate chief nursing officer at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. As a member of the senior management team, he led the Patient Care Efficiency Team to substantial efficiencies and also served as a consultant to the Professional Practice Committee. Additionally, he held several interim roles while serving as associate nursing officer, including women’s service director, OR director and interim chief nursing officer. Successes in the interim chief nursing officer position include significant reductions in nursing turnover and the redesign of the facility’s nursing model of care.

“John brings over 20 years of progressive health care management to Women’s,” states Kathy Bobbs, CEO, Women’s & Children’s Hospital. “We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of John’s caliber join our team. He will play a prominent role in the continued recruitment and retention of our quality nursing staff.

Marker has relocated to Lafayette from Wichita with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Lauren, 12 and Joshua, 10.