Apple a Day

March is National Nutrition Month and March 26 is Diabetes Alert Day. Joey Kugler, MS, RD, LD joins us to talk about making healthy food choices on a budget, the importance of eating a variety of foods, and other themes from the campaign "Beyond the Table". She also speaks to the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and how taking a simple one minute test at https://diabetes.org/diabetes-risk-test can help you understand your risk and take the steps necessary to delay or even prevent a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.

This mild winter hasn’t given allergy sufferers much of a break, but as spring begins to blossom Dr. Brian Brennan, Allergy & Immunology physician at Lake Region Healthcare, has some tips to help avoid and treat the symptoms caused by pollens, molds and dust mites the come to life this time of year.

Diana is a Fergus Falls High School graduate who started her healthcare career as a CNA here at Lake Region Healthcare. Now, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, she is joining the team of psychiatrists in our Fergus Falls Clinic. Learn more about why she chose to come back home, how we can all help people struggling with mental illness and more about Diana’s goal to bring a fresh perspective to mental health and less the harmful stigma around it.

Listen in and meet the new Foundation Development Director at Lake Region Healthcare, and catch her energy as she talks about why she chose to move to Fergus Falls, the science behind generosity’s impact on your health, and how to become involved in the Luminate Hope and Giving Hearts Day events.

Meet Jonah Bergstrand, PA and the first Physician Extender at Lake Region Healthcare. He’ll be working side by side with doctors Vukonich, Lokken and Lacey, extending their already established patient panel, helping with their busy schedules and serving their patients in a variety of different ways. When asked what prompted him to join LRH in this role Jonah said: “What prompted me most is to serve and give back to the community in which helped raise me. Another reason …is that I wanted to be part of an organization that partners with people to enrich their lives through health and really be an advocate in the community.”

The newest full-time pediatrician at Lake Region Healthcare has an extensive background with and passion for kids’ mental health. Dr. Pratip Nag is our guest on Apple a Day today where we learn about some of the root causes of depression and anxiety in children and Dr. Nag’s approach to diagnosing and healing kids with mental health issues.

Dr. Kaveh Karimnejad has been filling in at Lake Region Healthcare for ENT/Otolaryngology services since Dr. Porter retired, and he likes it here so much he’s decided to join us permanently! Tune in to this edition of Apple a Day to hear about his extensive experience at Mayo Clinic, his transition from studying economics to pursuing medical school, the various conditions he treats, and why the Lake Region Healthcare community captured his heart and prompted him to join the Medical Group.

Hear Heather's inspiring story about why she chose her career path, her passion for giving women a stronger voice in their healthcare, and more about what she and Alicia Trakas, CNM offer to women of all ages.

Meet Dr. Ibrahim Khan, family medicine provider new to the Lake Region Healthcare Fergus Falls Clinic. He shares how his family settled on Fergus Falls (a town they thought looked like a Hallmark movie!) along with his his background, how his family inspired his medical career, and his broad range of medical specialties.

As a participant in the pilot Organics Recycling project in Otter Tail County, Lake Region Healthcare recently renewed our commitment to this important project to help reduce the 30% of waste going into our landfills that’s food waste. Cedar joins us to talk about the program, why it’s so important to our health, clear up some misconceptions and offer simple suggestions for anyone who wants to take small steps to help.