Schweitzer Fellow Stephanie Van Nortwick (OSU COM-Cherokee Nation) received a 2023 Oklahoma Turning Point Council Community Health Champion Award on Wednesday November 1, 2023 at a ceremony in Edmond, Oklahoma.

For her Schweitzer project, Stephanie launched a Walk With A Doc (WWAD) initiative in Tahlequah. Stephanie organizes regular physician-led free community walks to encourage and empower community members to increase weekly physical activity for better health outcomes. The Tahlequah Chapter was formed in July 2023 in partnership with the Cherokee County, the Tahlequah Health Services Council Active Living and Transportation Committee and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation (OSU-COM CN). The WWAD program is open to anyone and everyone but is focused on adults of all ages in the City of
Tahlequah who are either struggling with poor health or finding it difficult to meet suggested daily physical activity goals, or both. Congratulations Stephanie!