Richard Bosshardt, a Tavares plastic surgeon and contributing writer for Healthy Living Magazine, has authored his first book, “The Making of a Plastic Surgeon: Two Years in the Crucible Learning the Art and Science.” The book can be purchased on Amazon. 

“This has been a labor of love and a passion to present to the world a truly honest, entertaining, and informative exposé on my specialty—plastic surgery.”

—Richard Bosshardt, MD, FACS

In Marion County, eight children under 15 died in drowning accidents between 2019 and 2021 according to the Florida Department of Health. Several Marion County venues offer swimming lessons, which can greatly reduce the odds of childhood drowning.  

1) Aquatic Center of Ocala  |  352.245.0162

2) Ocala Swim Academy  |  352.207.0933

3) Perry’s Swim School  |  352.732.5540

4) Frank Deluca YMCA  |  352.368.9622

5) Central Florida Swim America  |  352.804.5438

A bundle of joy comes with a bundle of responsibilities. Thankfully, UF Health Leesburg Hospital is offering a three-part class on all stages of childbirth. Expectant parents can gain confidence going into parenthood while enjoying light refreshments and interacting with the hospital team.  

Class dates are Oct. 10, Oct. 17, and Oct. 24.

The annual County Health Rankings, published by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, were released in April 2023. Between Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties, Lake scored the highest in the overall health category, finishing 22nd among Florida’s 67 counties. 

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please consider these important numbers.

Source: American Cancer Society

Being around a horse brings physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits. The equine-therapy programs listed below in Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties allow individuals to learn to groom and tack up horses, ride to the utmost of their ability, and care for the horses afterward. 

Marion: Marion Therapeutic Riding Association provides healing horseback riding and equine-assisted learning activities for children and adults living with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges in our community. Visit mtraocala.org.

Sumter: At Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures, people with physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disabilities find unconditional love, strength, and acceptance by working with miniature horses. Visit minitherapy.org. 

Lake: Horses With A Mission gives people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities a chance to bond and experience the therapeutic benefit of majestic horses. Visit hwamfl.org. 

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that are beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer, decrease cholesterol levels, and strengthen collagen proteins. Where better to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables than a farmer’s market, which undoubtedly benefits the community and helps local farmers?

One option is the Sumter County Farmers Market, which is held each Saturday from 8am to 3pm. In addition to produce, shoppers can purchase plants, flowers, seafood, jellies and jams, honey, organic products and much more. 

Our snack choices can help or hinder weight loss and wellness efforts, so consider these healthy snacks: 

Pro Tip: Choose baked chips over traditional!

Lycopene is part of the carotenoid group that gives tomatoes and other foods their deep red color. However, lycopene is best known for its health benefits, including being a powerful antioxidant and cancer fighting agent. Lycopene also helps prevent:

• Plaque build-up, which narrows and hardens arteries

• Diabetes

• Age-related macular degeneration and cataracts

• Aging of skin

• Osteoporosis

Source: WebMD

How many calories can you burn through exercise? Depends on what you do. Here’s what a 200-pound person will burn in one hour doing various exercises.

Source: Mayo Clinic

A bicyclist can burn 400-700 calories per hour, depending on speed and terrain. With that said, consider participating in the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival, which offers varying rides through Lake County’s countryside. The event debuted 47 years ago, which makes it Florida’s oldest and largest bicycle festival. Visit cyclemountdora.com for more information. 

The Yearling Trail in the Ocala National Forest (off SR 19 in Marion County) is every bit as educational as it is scenic. Deep into the woods, hikers come across a small cemetery that contains the family of Reuben Long, a Confederate soldier who built a homestead in the forest in 1876. Years later, author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings visited the homestead, which inspired her to write the famous novel “The Yearling.” Today, hikers leave coins and flowers on the tombstones. 

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital received an “A” Hospital Safety rating from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit dedicated to upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates the achievements of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.