News & Events

Azalea Orthopedic Surgeon named as 2007 East Texas Arthritis Walk Honorary Chair

Joseph Shepard, M.D., Azalea Orthopedics Surgical as been named as the 2007 Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Walk Honorary Chair.  "It is an honor to be selected as the 2007 East Texas Walk Honorary Chair, said Dr. Shepard, Arthritis affects one out of every five adults in the United States and there is no current cure. Many of the people we care for at Azalea Orthopedics have Arthritis. My goal as honorary chair is to assist the foundation in improving education about the disease and to support our local efforts in finding new treatments and a cure for this debilitating disease.

 “We are also pleased to announce Texas Arthritis Rheumatology Specialists, Dr. Graves & Dr. Vasquez as local Platinum sponsors of the 2007 East Texas Arthritis Walk to be held Saturday, May 5, 2007 at Bergfeld Park in Tyler. "Walking is not something that millions of Americans with arthritis take for granted. How fitting that the Arthritis Walk is a way to bring attention to this debilitating, yet treatable disease. We hope people come out as a show of support for arthritic patients and to enjoy the simple beauty of God's gift of walking."The Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s signature event that takes place in communities nationwide to raises funds and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation’s number one cause of disability.  The event kicks off each May during National Arthritis Month. 

The national presenting sponsor for the Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Walk is Aleve®, marketed by Bayer Consumer Care. Other national sponsors include Nature Made® TripleFlex™, Pfizer Animal Health Rimadyl, Biomet and Arthritis Today magazine.  Locally, the Arthritis Walk is being sponsored by Stryker, Texas Arthritis Rheumatology Specialists, Abbott Immunology, Wyeth, Bristol Myers Squibb, Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic, Texas Spine & Joint Hospital, Azalea Orthopedics, Genentech, Gordon Spine, ETMC, Trinity Mother Francis Foundation, KLTV and 360 Fitness. 

The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation's number one cause of disability. For free arthritis information, contact your Arthritis Foundation chapter at 903-539-4744 or on the Web at www.arthritis.org.