Wood County and UT Health East Texas EMS have formed the Wood County Health Advisory Committee “to identify community health concerns and create positive health outcomes, with a focus on community heath.”

“Rural communities in Texas have high factors of coronary disease, strokes and diabetes,” said Dr. Yagnesh Desai, UT Health East Texas EMS medical director. “With this committee, we want to bring awareness to staying healthy, getting screened (and) starting and keeping healthy lifestyles.”

The committee includes Wood County civic and business leaders and representatives of UT Health. They plan to help identify health needs and underlying factors that lead to increased use of emergency medical services and then work to develop ways to address them through education, events and awareness campaigns that will have the most impact.

UT Heath will provide resources and staff, along with the Wood County judge’s office, to provide healthy events. An example would be a presentation to youth on the dangers of vaping.

“This is an example where leaders of the community, in cooperation with our local health care providers, can create a synergistic partnership to impact the health and well-being of county residents,” said Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron. “It will be exciting to see the results on a local level over a period of time.”

Members include Wood County Commissioner Virgil Holland, Scott Dunson, Tom Izzo, Cody Mize, Susan Resnik, Mercy Rushing, Gwen Winters, Hebron, and from UT Health Scott Berkley, Tom Mullins, Hayden Ray and Jared Smith.

“It takes many years to change habits, and we think this advisory committee is a good start,” said Mullins, director of business development for UTH. “Changes will not be quick, but the health outcomes will hopefully change for many people because of (their) efforts.”