AWARDS

Optometrist

BLOOMINGTON -- Dr. Herbert Smith of Bloomington was honored by the Illinois College of Optometry at its annual reunion in Chicago. He practiced 55 years and was previously recognized by the National Eye Research Council as the first contact lens doctor in the United States. In 1967, he was named "Outstanding Optometrist in Illinois" by the Illinois Optometric Association.

APPOINTMENTS

Internist

BLOOMINGTON -- Dr. Lilla Gyires Berck has joined Medical Hills Internists in Bloomington.

The graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

She won first place at the SIU School of Medicine Combined Research Symposium for her extensive research on patient safety and caregiver awareness in Alzheimer's Disease.

She is a member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Teen fitness

BLOOMINGTON -- The Bloomington-Normal YMCA is starting a free health and fitness program for 13- to 19-year-olds.

The YMCA Fit Club will include a fitness evaluation, goal-setting and a personal exercise program written by a nationally certified personal trainer.

Activities will include group and individual exercises, group games, health education and personal training.

The group will meet twice a week for 1 ½ hours after school. Teens will be encouraged to exercise daily and will be evaluated every four weeks to monitor progress.

Twenty teens will be enrolled each session with new sessions beginning every 90 days. Four sessions will be offered annually.

The program is partially funded by a Teens United for McLean County grant awarded to the YMCA by the United Way of McLean County.

Fitness Coordinator Aaron Terronez developed the program and will coordinate it. Register at the YMCA, 602 S. Main St., Bloomington.

Buddy walk

NORMAL -- The third annual Buddy Walk hosted by the Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization is set for Sept. 29 at Carden Park, 1300 E. Raab Road, Normal.

The one-mile walk promotes acceptance and awareness of those with Down syndrome. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the walk at 9:30 a.m. Games, entertainment and food will be available. The fund-raising goal is $20,000. Proceeds will go toward literacy programs for those with Down syndrome.

For more information, call (309) 452-3264 or visit www.cidso.org.

Make-a-Wish

PEORIA -- The Make-A-Wish Foundation is seeking children who qualify for the wish-granting program.

A child must be between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 and be diagnosed, at the time of referral, with a life-threatening medical condition, which includes but isn't limited to cancer, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and transplants.

Children can be referred by a parent, guardian, physical, social worker, child life specialist or other member of the child's medical team. The child's physician determines medical eligibility.

Contact Janet Bantz Glavin at (309) 637-1659.

Submit Health Digest items to Health Editor Paul Swiech at pswiech@pantagraph.com.

AWARDS

APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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