From the Editor | Fall 2021
Autumn is here in Central Texas and the Fall 2021 issue of Tex Appeal features a lot of great stories about our hometown health care professionals as well as some of our neighbors.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple ranked second out of 15 top teaching hospitals in the nation in Fortune magazine recently and we tell you why on page 24.
If you don’t know what a hospitalist is, we will tell you on page 28 with the help of two AdventHealth doctors. AdventHealth and Baylor Scott & White Health hospitalists now work together in a new partnership to serve Central Texans.
Our cover story features paramedic and flight nurse Vanessa Vargas who flies for your life on page 32.
Mental health is physical health, especially for military veterans, and Dr. Stacy Ritz, chief of Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine for the Central Texas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, tells us how COVID-19 challenged her staff in caring for patients on page 42.
Future doctors from Texas A&M University share their inspirations for becoming physicians on page 44.
Dr. Shona Ahuja, a new internal medicine specialist at Wellstone Health Partners at Seton Medical Center in Harker Heights, shares her views on what makes patient care effective on page 48.
Dr. Rabia Qaiser, pediatric neurosurgeon at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center – Temple, shares on page 52 how she treats the whole patient and their family in what can be a scary time for them.
Dr. Daniela Blanco, Ph.D., and star of National Geographic’s documentary film Own The Room, plans to electrify chemistry with artificial intelligence. Find out more on page 56.
Meet Neighbor TaNeika Driver-Moultrie, executive director of the Greater Killeen Community Clinic, and her staff who advocate for those who have limited or no access to health care services. Find out what sets the clinic apart from others on page 8.
See who was at the Temple Civic Theatre’s historical marker unveiling, Bell County Comic Con, and the Central Texas State Fair recently in Scene on page 11.
Sample a new twist on old classic Southern and global cuisine at the Barton House Restaurant in Salado with Owner Clinton Harwell, Executive Chef Jacob Hilbert and Director of Operations Amanda Eakin in Flavours on page 16.
On page 22, take a peek at Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer, which is a step-by-step plan to break the cycle of worry and fear that drives anxiety and addictive habits.
Cynthia Hernandez, executive director of the Belton Economic Development Corporation writes about her experiences Being Central Texan on page 59.
Learn what, when, how much and whether you should drink celebratory beverages during the upcoming holidays in fall and into the winter in Health & Wellness on page 60.
In Daytrippin’, visit Old Fort Parker near Groesbeck and Mexia to experience mid-19th century Texas history and learn about a violent clash between the Comanche people and Texas settlers on page 62.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. As always, if you have a story idea for me, shoot me an email at editor@texappealmag.com or call me at 254-774-5266. I’d love to hear from you.
Janna Zepp
Tex Appeal editor