Homer resident Jackie Kondak has her blood pressure taken by Meredith Morphew, a registered nurse at South Peninsula Hospital, during Homer’s inaugural Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer resident Jackie Kondak has her blood pressure taken by Meredith Morphew, a registered nurse at South Peninsula Hospital, during Homer’s inaugural Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer residents get new program, place to exercise with SPH physicians

Dozens of residents young and old traded their boots for sneakers this past weekend for Homer’s inaugural Walk with a Doc event, a localization of an international program.

Led by Dr. Rob Downey, a functional medicine provider and chief of staff at South Peninsula Hospital, about 35 people made laps around Homer’s new South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 7. They talked with Downey about their health, in particular blood pressure, which was the topic of the day, while getting exercise that is sometimes hard to come by during Alaska’s dark winter months.

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Dr. Rob Downey, functional medicine provider and chief of staff at South Peninsula Hospital, leads a discussion on blood pressure before the community’s inaugural Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. The walks will take place once a month with different doctors so people can get exercise and health advice at the same time. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Dr. Rob Downey, functional medicine provider and chief of staff at South Peninsula Hospital, leads a discussion on blood pressure before the community’s inaugural Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. The walks will take place once a month with different doctors so people can get exercise and health advice at the same time. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Dr. Rob Downey, functional medicine provider and chief of staff at South Peninsula Hospital (far left) talks with community members during the first ever Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. The walks are part of a national program and will take place monthly with rotating doctors to help people get exercise and health advice at the same time. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Dr. Rob Downey, functional medicine provider and chief of staff at South Peninsula Hospital (far left) talks with community members during the first ever Walk with a Doc event Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the newly completed South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center in Homer, Alaska. The walks are part of a national program and will take place monthly with rotating doctors to help people get exercise and health advice at the same time. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

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