Thanksgiving is just a few days away. When you sit down to your fabulous meal on Thursday, what will you thankful for?

I am thankful for the WISEWOMAN program. If it were not for WISEWOMAN, many women in Michigan would not have access to the chronic disease risk factor screening and lifestyle intervention services we are able to provide.

I am thankful for the WISEWOMAN staff around the State Of Michigan. Health care providers, such as nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians and others conduct the clinical screening services for the WISEWOMAN participants. Lifestyle counselors work with the participants to help make their lives a little healthier and a little better. Clerical staff schedule appointments and handle the data and paperwork that are so important for us to report to our funders at CDC. Without the entire WISEWOMAN staff working together, we would not be able to run the program.

Mostly, I am thankful for the WISEWOMAN participants themselves. My colleague, Viki, often says the WISEWOMAN participants are her heroes. I echo that sentiment. In the face of extremely difficult social and economic circumstances, they are out there trying to make changes in their lives to be healthier. They do it for their families, for their friends, and for themselves, and they keep working at it every day.

Do you know a WISEWOMAN? If so, make sure to tell her I said “Thanks!”