Congratulations Dr. Tough Mudder Bergeron!

Congratulations to Dr. Blake Bergeron for recently completing the Nashville Tough Mudder – go Dr. Blake! We asked Dr. Bergeron for a few words about the event, so here is his recap, followed by a few pictures!

"A few weeks ago, a group of us from Memphis took a trip to do the Tough Mudder outside of Nashville.  The tough mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle mud race, that has become famous for its wide variety of obstacles, most notably jumping into a dumpster of ice cold water, climbing through huge mud pits and crossing the finish line after getting shocked by 50,000 volts of electricity.  This was my 2nd mudder, and I did the first one with Nurse Meg's husband, Matt, and another friend in St. Louis last year.   It actually takes some training to be able to do the obstacles and make it through the day...but teamwork and camaraderie help a lot too!  The most important thing is to find exercise that you love, go hard and have fun!  I really tried to get another doctor from Pediatric Consultants to do the race with me, but everyone said they were busy or something.  There's always next year, right Dr. Frizzell and Mathis?"

Introducing Dr. Meg West!

Dr. Meg West

We are really thrilled to welcome Dr. Meg West as the newest physician to the Pediatric Consultants team! Please join us in giving Dr. West a warm welcome. She will be seeing new patients at our downtown Le Bonheur office and also at our East office. Please click here to view Dr. West's online bio and schedule on the Pediatric Consultants website.

Dr. West is a 2009 graduate of the University of Arkansas's College of Medicine and completed her residency training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

We sat down this week with Dr. West to ask her a few questions so that you could get to know her better!

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician? 

For the kids. So cliche. When I started medical school I had other plans, but then I did my rotation at the the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Medicine can be very emotional, but kids are always so happy and resilient and that makes the entire hospital and pediatric office a happier place. The heart and joy in the children makes the effort and time spent completely worth it.

What do you do to stay healthy?

To stay healthy, I bike, run, play tennis, and swim! Of course, a healthy diet is always important to my lifestyle as well.

What else do you do in your free time?
My free time is usually reserved for my friends and family. I have a large immediate and extended family who still live here in Memphis and are a large part of my life. As a member of the Board of Trustees for the Pink Palace Family of Museums and Christian Brother's University I give much of my time to these entities.

What are your favorite things to do in Memphis?

I love Memphis. Mostly because my family is here and so close, but also because there are so many things to do. The Cooper Young area, the FedEx Forum, Shelby Farms, the Levitt Shell, South Main and Beale Street, the River, and all of the museums all bring the richness to the city that is hard to find anywhere else.

Memphis in May Triathlon 2012

Here are a few photos from the Memphis in May Triathlon 2012! Dr. Kip Frizzell (cycling) and Dr. Marybeth Huggins (swimming and running) competed as a relay team and Dr. Chris Mathis competed in the full triathlon. Congratulations to our athletes!

Dr.

Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run

It was a beautiful day for the 7th annual Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run on Saturday, October 8th. Team PC came out in full force to show our support for our world class children's hospital! We even brought the kids along for this family friendly event. If you would like to donate money to the hospital, you can still give through our team page!

Biggest Loser Update!

With 6 weeks to go in our Biggest Loser contest, our 14 brave competitors have lost a total of 123 pounds! We are continuing to eat healthy, exercise more, and support each other to meet our personal goals!

Teens and Fitness

Dr. Frizzell was recently featured in an article about teen fitness in the Commercial Appeal! We talk a lot about healthy living at Pediatric Consultants and on our blog, and this article has great tips for getting active and staying fit:

“In his more than 30 years of practicing general pediatrics, Dr. Noel K. "Kip" Frizzell, CEO of Memphis-based Pediatric Consultants PC, has seen firsthand the problems associated with teenagers who don't get enough exercise.

"Today's teens are not getting close to enough exercise," Frizzell said. "There are a million reasons that we could blame it on, but, overall, the incidence of obesity and poor physical fitness are just way too high. I write a lot of 'healthy living' prescriptions these days, but, unfortunately, it mainly comes up when I'm seeing some of my patients with obesity."

Frizzell recommends at least one hour of exercise each day for teens. "It doesn't have to be a strenuous workout, just something fun that will make you breathe fast and get your heart rate up," he said. "Any kind of play outdoors will do." (Check out letsmove.gov/get-active or bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity /index.html)

Frizzell also recommends limiting screen time (TV, video games, computer) to two hours a day. "You'd be surprised how many kids get six hours of TV every day," he said. "It's hard to be active and stay in shape if you watch that much TV. The type of exercise each child needs is very individualized. Not everyone has good eye-hand coordination or enjoys team sports, but every child (with a parent's help and encouragement) can find an activity that is fun.””

To read the rest of the article, including tips from personal trainers, dance instructors, and parents, click here!

Pediatric Consultants Triathletes!

The race site of this year's Memphis in May Triathlon!

The doctors, nurses, and staff of Pediatric Consultants preach the importance of exercising and staying physically active to our patients and parents on a daily basis. We also practice what we preach! This past weekend, Dr. Kip Frizzell (Le Behoneur office) Dr. Marybeth Huggins (Le Bonheur), Dr. Chris Mathis (Baptist Women's East), and nurse Cassandra Dyer (East) competed in the Memphis in May Triathlon, located this year in Tunica, Mississippi.

Nurse Cassandra kicked off the weekend's fun by completing the sprint triathlon on Saturday. Her husband, Tim, also did the olympic triathlon Sunday! Dr. Frizzell and Dr. Huggins teamed up to form a dynamic duo relay team, while Dr. Mathis completed the entire olympic triathlon on his own! The weather was definitely iffy as hard rain poured down for a large portion of the event, making the course wet, but also perhaps providing a bit of relief from the heat.

All four of our Pediatric Consultants competitors put in hours, days, weeks, and even months of training in order to be able to complete these events. Dr. Frizzell logged over 800 miles on his bike in order to build endurance to complete the 40K (24 miles) bike portion of he and Dr. Huggins' relay team. Dr. Huggins swam 1.4K (one mile) in the water just outside of Harrah's Casino to begin their relay, then she got a brief rest as Dr. Frizzell briskly finished the bike course. Dr. Huggins then ran 10K to finish the race, which would normally be just over 6 miles, but the course actually was longer, almost seven miles total!

Dr. Mathis, a fitness enthusiast and well-rounded athlete, did the entire olympic race by himself, finishing the event in an impressive 2 hours and 50 minutes (that's almost 34 miles total via water, bike, and foot!).

Fun was had by all four and we send them a hearty congratulations for completing such a difficult challenge, and for setting a wonderful example for our patients, parents, and friends!

Get to Know Beth Spence!

During a vacation in France, Beth meets a real French poodle!

We're proud to introduce you to Beth Spence, Pediatric Consultants' Chief Operations Officer!

Tell us about what you do for Pediatric Consultants, and how long you have been with the group? 

My official title is "Chief Operations Officer".  I, however, do a little bit of everything.  Frontdesk? Done it. Filing? Did some today. Listen to complaints? With an open ear. Wash dishes? Just call me Mom. My chief responsibility these days surrounds our implementation of the Electronic Health Record.  I am a nurse by training and worked here as a nurse for many years. In fact, I still jump in there and help the nurses as often as I can. I started working with Pediatric Consultants in May, 1994. I thought I would try it here for a while to see if I liked it...

What is your favorite part about being part of the Ped Consultants team? 

Truthfully, I love this practice and the people who work here. I look forward to coming to work most days and I highly respect our doctors, each and everyone of them. Is our work exciting and adrenaline producing?  Well, hang out in our waiting room some days.  No, seriously, day in and day out we take care of kids from all socio-economic groups, all shapes, sizes and colors and that is a good, fun, thing. 

What are some of your favorite hobbies? 

I love to travel and dine out.  Most recently I was fortunate enough to travel to France for a trip of a lifetime.  Riding bikes has become a fairly new hobby for me as I live near the Greenline.  I don't ride to the degree Dr Frizzell and Dr Mathis ride.  I'm more of a cruiser with a bike bell.

Have you lived in Memphis for a long time? Where are you from? 

I am a lifelong Memphian.  I "went away" to school, 126 miles from home to The University of Tennessee at Martin.

Do you have any funny stories to reveal about any of PC's doctors? 

Sure, but I probably shouldn't share them here.  Suffice it to say we have a great group of doctors who are as fun-loving and self-deprecating as can be.

What is your favorite thing to do in Memphis?  

You know, this is a really hard question.  There are so many good things about Memphis -- restaurants, music, art, history.  One of my favorite times is coming up soon.  Driving down Parkway on the way to work in the springtime is absolutely beautiful.  AutoZone park for a summer night game with fireworks? perfect! Chowing down on some Memphis style (is there any other?) ribs? divine!

What was the last book you read? 

House of Prayer #2: A Writer's Journey Home by Mark Richard  It's the author's memoir of growing up in the South.  I especially like Southern Fiction and Non-fiction.  My friend Lisa (who works here as well) recommends great books.

Do you have any activities that you do stay fit/healthy? Have any tips to share? 

Ha! if you knew how hard staying fit is for me. I am a former scholarship college athlete from back in the "olden days" just after Title IX was passed.  I once was an avid runner...legs can't take it anymore.  Now, I like to walk my dogs, ride my bike, work in my yard and try to eat as healthy as I can. Last weekend I started the "Hundred Pushups Training Program"  Check back in 6 weeks to see how I do. My 90 year old Mom says, "keep moving." I think that's a good tip for all of us.

Dr. Mathis Runs for St. Jude!

Photo by Mike Maple, The Commercial Appeal

 On December 4, 2010,  thousands of people ran through downtown Memphis, Midtown, and the St. Jude's campus to raise money for children's cancer research. Our own Dr. Chris Mathis was one of those people! Every year, he participates in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend and this year he achieved a personal record in the half marathon (13.1 miles)!


Dr. Mathis says, "Running and raising funds for St Jude is on my calendar every December. We tend to take for granted having the world's premier children's cancer hospital right in our backyard. St Jude also has added a biking event this year in the late summer which Dr. Frizzell and I plan to do next year. Right, Dr Kip?"


Dr. Mathis stays fit by running, biking, swimming, competing in triathlons, and playing neighborhood kickball. If anyone out there has a New Year's Resolution to get fit this year, consider signing up for a race! It's a great motivator, and it's also a great way to raise money for a cause you believe in. Try starting with a 5K, but in time you may be ready to run a half marathon like Dr. Mathis!


"Training for the half marathon doesn't take too much time from your schedule. Four runs a week will do. Allow three months to get ready. Speed work one day a week, a long run one day a week, and middle distance or cross training the other two. Find a training partner if you can or join Memphis Runners Track Club to get the scoop on group runs around town," advises Dr. Mathis.


What was Dr. Mathis's favorite part of the race? "The best parts of the run are Beale Street with all the screaming supporters and the St Jude campus with patients and their families lining the route. This year I ran with a friend in his second year of med school who was running the full marathon so I couldn't complain about the pace! See you all next year!"

Meet Dr. Bergeron!

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Blake Bergeron to Pediatric Consultants. He started practice with us this summer and is taking new patients! Read all about this sports fanatic and proud father here, and you can check out his online bio too.

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician?

For as long as I can remember, a pediatrician is all that I wanted to be.  My favorite part of pediatrics is the relationship that is built with patients an their families. A pediatrician, more so than any other type of physician, becomes part of the family and we literally get to see the kids grow up. For me, that is extremely rewarding. I love how we get to see kids when they are healthy at their well-child visits and get to know them outside of feeling ill. I also like the challenge of pediatrics, sometimes having figure out what is going on when your patient cannot tell you exactly what hurts! I have loved every day that I have worked with children and am so excited about starting practice with such a well-respected and incredible group!

What do you do stay healthy?

I'm really big into all sports. Playing basketball is probably my favorite exercise, but recently my wife has encouraged me to start running and doing more cardio/outdoor activities. I like to lift weights but since we've had the baby, there has not really been much time to keep that up.

What are your favorite family activities?

We are active in our church, Second Presbyterian. We enjoy family walks/runs, playing with Lilly either in the backyard or on the playground, or watching our new favorite TV show, Parenthood. We also spend a lot of time sitting on our back porch.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, especially football and basketball. My favorite teams are the Davidson Wildcats, the Volunteers, Titans, and Grizzlies. I also enjoy cooking and trying new foods.  I have a huge sweet tooth (much to the chagrin of my wife, who does not). I love to read when I get the chance, and I like to exercise as well. We spend a lot of time hanging out with friends both here in Memphis and out of town.

What are your favorite things about in Memphis?

We love all the incredible restaurants in Memphis!  We love to eat at local joints, and whether it be BBQ, Mexican, Indian, Ethopian, or Asian, we eat it all. We are always up for a good suggestion. We love Memphis because of all the different types of people and how friendly everyone is. We also love all the public parks and great places to take kids to get outside and exercise.

Is there anything else you'd like your patients to know about you?

I played four years of college football at Davidson College in North Carolina. My sophomore year, our team was one of four undefeated  teams in the entire NCAA!  I grew in in Nashville and attended Montgomery Bell Academy (the MUS of Nashville, so to speak).

Introducing Dr. Katie Alvord!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Katie Alvord to Pediatric Consultants! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Alvord to our team. She is seeing new patients at our downtown office! To read Dr. Alvord's online bio, click here. Next week: Introducing Dr. Blake Bergeron!

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician?

Children keep you on your toes with their curiosity! They are such a joy to see each day. And even in the face of disease and illness, a child will stun you with his resilience and will to recover. Each day as a pediatrician brings new joys and challenges and I cannot imagine any other field of medicine I'd enjoy more.

What do you do stay healthy?

My idea of health includes eating healthfully, being active, making sure to get enough of sleep and having a daily quiet time of prayer. I enjoy running short distances and am now loving the new greenline as my path! The shade is fantastic, everyone is friendly and it's one smooth track! I also try to make it to my sister-in-law's pilates fusion class twice a week. When cooking, I try to use fresh produce as often as possible.

What are your favorite family activities?

Eating! If allowed, I enjoy spending a day in the kitchen, dabbling. Both of my parents and my brother are fantastic cooks, and as a child I have great memories of spending hours together in the kitchen. To this day, it seems we congregate in the kitchen whenever we're together! Brice, Finn, and I spend time walking, going for long drives in the country, and playing outside with our family at their farm.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to try new recipes and page through old cookbooks looking for that next best dish. My husband, Brice, and I enjoy spending time outdoors, sitting by a fire, playing trac ball (is this a lost game?), watching movies or just catching up, enjoying time with family and friends.

What are your favorite things about/to do in Memphis?

I enjoy the small-town feel to Memphis with all of her bigger city perks. Memphis has incredible restaurants, and it seems there is always something new to try. But some goodies keep me coming back like Cafe Eclectic's pancakes - something I crave (at least) once a week. The Orpheum is outstanding and we love to partake in its great shows. And it seems the city has a never-ending supply of family-friendly festivals. Two of my favorites are coming up: the Pink Palace Crafts Fair and the River Arts Fest on South Main. Lastly, the Mississippi is beautiful to watch when relaxing and guarantees a peaceful sunset at the day's end.

Is there anything else you'd like your patients to know about you?

I was born in Ottumwa, Iowa and raised in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Growing up I danced competitively (ballet, lyrical) and played the violin.

Go Kip Go!

For the fifth year in a row, News Channel 3 meteorologist Jim Jaggers rode over 333 miles on his bike to help the children at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. This year, though, he had some company! Dr. Kip Frizzell represented Pediatric Consultants by joining Jim for over 50 miles of cycling on September 22, 2010. Dr. Kip sat down with The Checkup to talk about this experience!

Why did you decide to bike in Go Jim Go? 

Channel 3's Jim Jaggers and Dr. Kip Frizzell

I am a cycling hobbyist - a recreational cyclist.  I ride for fun and fitness.  I have even dabbled in doing the cycling portion of a triathlon, but overall I don't really compete (except with myself).  I got interested in GJG because of my cycling interest and because Le Bonheur is where I live.  It seemed like a natural "fit" for me to participate in this to help raise money and awareness for the hospital.  And I was able to talk fellow Pediatric Consultants pediatrician, Dr. Chris Mathis, into joining me.  Chris, unfortunately, had a pretty serious quadriceps injury two days before the ride so he was not able to participate.  Chris has promised not to play any more kickball!

What's the farthest you had biked before this ride? 

My longest ride was about 40 miles in one day.  I'm not fast enough to get in more miles than that. I cramped up at mile number 50 and just couldn't go any further.  I think on a cooler day, or maybe with more water and/or electrolytes, I might have been able to go 60 miles!

Where did you ride?  

The last day of GJG started in Collierville.  We went to schools in Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, and Memphis,  We had lunch at a Sonic out on Winchester, I believe.  By late afternoon we found ourselves on the new 'Greenway' that runs from midtown to Shelby Farms.  It is really fantastic, by the way!  

What's Jim Jaggers like? 

Jim is great.  He is a very good cyclist and his enthusiasm for the project is contagious.  I really enjoyed getting to know him and I appreciate his efforts on behalf of LB.

What was your favorite part of the ride?  

Team Velo gives Dr. Kip an extra hand after 50+ miles

The people.  I "tweeted" at the end of the day that cyclists are the nicest people in the world.  Everyone was encouraging from the first mile on, teaching me along the way about group riding.  Jim has a group that rides with him each day and they are really dedicated.  On the last day members of Memphis Velo (here's their website), a racing team, joined us.  It was a real treat for me to get to know these cyclists.  They are great athletes and great people.  When I cramped up a bit at the very end, the team literally pushed me for a few miles on the Greenway.  I made a lot of friends on my ride, for sure.

Will you be back for Go Jim Go 2011? 

Sure hope so!

How can people learn more about Go Jim Go?

You can learn more about Go Jim Go by visiting www.lebonheur.org/gojimgo. Thanks to everyone for their support!