Dr. Sami Says... May the best team win

By Sami Beg, M.D.

I’d like to announce that the people who bring you The Prevention Plan -- U.S. Preventive Medicine® -- really “walk the talk.” That’s right. In addition to introducing the concepts of the Prevention Pledge, Prevention Champion and the Daily Prevention Activities, we also launched our first major event at the Customer Care Center in Jacksonville, FL. The Prevention Journey is U.S. Preventive Medicine’s own wellness initiative.

Titled “Walk Across America,” teams of four were selected randomly and are now competing to “walk” from Jacksonville to Los Angeles on the U.S. map posted at the center.  Teams are credited with 2,000 steps if they walk for at least 15 minutes per week during lunch time as a group, and 1,000 steps if they walk individually.  The aim is to walk to the west coast in just ten weeks.    

The USPM Wellness Committee has already noticed fierce competition in the first week.  Teams have been seen practicing walks.  Rumors are that some teams come early in the morning when no one is looking while others are staying behind after work and getting extra walking practice.  There are reports that groups are selecting theme songs for their team and others are making team t-shirts.  Although no trash talk has been heard yet, teams have been seen giving each other dirty looks.  It has become clear that while everyone remains friendly, this is no friendly competition.  All have their eyes on the finish line. 

The U.S. Preventive Medicine Wellness Committee anxiously awaits the winner. We face the same daily challenges that other members do and, as the global leader in prevention, I hope all of us will continue to practice prevention in our own lives.  Individually, it may not be easy.  But together we can serve as each other’s support, reminder, motivation and all things good. 

Why?  Simply, because prevention is contagious; and U.S. Preventive Medicine is the only company spreading it.  Give it a try yourself and pretty soon you will be seeing the whole world singing our song.  

To prevention and to more good years – yours, mine, ours….

Dr. Sami Beg is the Associate Medical Director of U.S. Preventive Medicine and one of the physicians at The Prevention Plan dedicated to helping members take some long strides toward “more good years.”