Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Wounded Warrior Project Promotes Inclusive Sports for Rehabilitation


 



Dr. Paul Bolger earned both his bachelor of arts and medical doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then, he has built an active career in medicine in addition to earning a masters in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Currently a practicing emergency physician at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois, Dr. Paul Bolger is also a charitable donor to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project’s Physical Health & Wellness (PH&W) program was designed to address health and wellness issues experienced by wounded warriors such as depression, stress, and unhealthy lifestyle. By encouraging its participants to engage in positive, fun social and educational activities, PH&W assists wounded warriors at every stage of their recovery.

Inclusive sports are part of the PH&W program offered to wounded warriors. These activities focus on what warriors can do as opposed to what they cannot do. A great tool for rehabilitation, inclusive sports involve these warriors in athletic activities designed to help them overcome their emotional, physical, or cognitive impairments.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

How Do Appetite Suppressants Work?





Paul Bolger, MD, has served as an emergency medicine physician at Trinity Medical Center in Illinois and Iowa since 2002, and is the department’s former medical director. In addition to his responsibilities as an attending physician, Dr. Paul Bolger owns Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa.

At the Center, Dr. Bolger and his staff provide patients with various cosmetic and weight-loss services. Among the latter are customized weight loss plans, body sculpting, and appetite suppressant prescriptions.

Appetite suppressants are generally prescribed to individuals who are on, or preparing begin, a diet in order to lose weight. The pills are intended to simplify the dieting process; they decrease one’s cravings for food by affecting serotonin levels in the brain.

Serotonin naturally curbs hunger. Its production is triggered by the consumption of carbohydrates, but if an individual is seeking to lose weight, he or she may be avoiding these starchy foods. In such cases, an appetite suppressant offers an alternate way to shut off food cravings: it increases serotonin much like carbohydrates do. Once a serotonin balance is reached, hunger cravings diminish. 

While appetite suppressants can be beneficial to those trying to lose weight, they are generally a short-term solution. Since the pills may become less effective as time goes on, they are usually recommended as supplements to other weight loss practices, such as healthy eating and exercise.

Monday, October 17, 2016

SAMS Foundation’s Efforts to Provide Critical Medical Care in Aleppo

 



Dr. Paul Bolger is a respected emergency physician who practices with UnityPoint Health-Trinity Medical Center, and also leads a Davenport, Iowa, wellness and aesthetics clinic. Paul Bolger, MD, supports a number of charitable organizations, including local food banks and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation.

Established nearly a decade ago, the SAMS Foundation focuses on providing care to those most in need in Syria and beyond. A recent report from Aleppo points to the dire situation of those living under the constant threat of aerial bombardment in a city of 300,000, including 85,000 children.

Unfortunately, health care providers are a major target. Two of the largest hospitals SAMS maintains were recently damaged severely in airstrikes, to the point where they were taken out of service. As of late September, only a half-dozen ICU beds were operational in the entire war-torn city.

With more than a dozen attacks on medical facilities occurring within a three month period, physicians are now forced to select between patients in providing life-saving treatment. The SAMS Foundation is seeking resources to continue its critical work in Aleppo and prevent the tragedy from becoming much worse.

Friday, September 23, 2016

The ARC - Relief and Services to Those Impacted by Louisiana Flooding


Since receiving his MD from the Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Paul Bolger has studied for his MBA at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Now based in the Quad Cities region, he owns and operates Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa, and serves as an attending physician in the Emergency Department of UnityPoint Health Trinity Medical Center. Maintaining a strong community presence, Dr. Paul Bolger and his wife support charity events sponsored by organizations like United Way and the American Red Cross (ARC).

Focused on responding to emergencies, the ARC’s activities encompass disaster relief, including from the flooding that impacted Louisiana in the summer of 2016. One remarkable story associated with that event involved Nhan Thi Nguyen and Canh, her son.

Settled in the United States by the U.S. State Department following the early 1970s bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Ms. Nguyen established a productive life in eastern Baton Rouge. When several feet of floodwater covered her neighborhood, she had difficulty evacuating. Ms. Nguyen’s family possessed 12 cats and dogs, and her son’s legs had blood clots. After a neighbor helped her reach an abandoned parking lot on dry land, her family, including pets, waited three days for assistance.

Ms. Nguyen and her son were finally taken to an ARC-administered community shelter, with the son taken to the hospital for emergency care. Additionally, a local pet service provider cared for her pets. For three days, ARC volunteers personally assisted Ms. Nguyen, ensuring that an individual with limited English was in a stable situation with her immediate needs addressed.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Cosmetic Facial Treatments - Dermal Fillers



Dr. Paul Bolger is an emergency physician with more than fifteen years of experience. In addition to his position as an attending emergency physician at Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois, Paul Bolger, MD, owns Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa, where he and his team provide a range of services, including weight loss and Botox. Dr. Paul Bolger also recently began offering dermal fillers at his medical spa.

A dermal filler is a substance composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) that is injected into the lips, cheeks, and other parts of the face in order to contour, plump, and smooth the skin. Often used in conjunction with facial rejuvenation surgery, dermal fillers are a minimally invasive option for reducing the signs of aging and disguising scars.

Though the results are similar, dermal fillers differ from products like botulinum toxin (Boxtox) in how they achieve those results. While fillers can reduce wrinkles by replenishing naturally occurring HA that is lost as the skin ages, Botox is injected to relax the muscles of the face to achieve the same effect.

Like Botox, in most cases, clients can carry on with their day-to-day activities after treatment with a dermal filler. Though side effects may include an initial “over-filled” look, numbness, and mild swelling or bruising, it is unlikely patients will experience any debilitating or long-term negative results.                            

Sunday, September 4, 2016

ACEP Annual Leadership and Advocacy Conference



After receiving his MD from the Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Paul Bolger undertook his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago and studied for his MBA at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He currently serves as an attending emergency physician at UnityPoint Health Trinity Medical Center in the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois and owns Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Paul Bolger maintains active membership in several professional organizations, including the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

ACEP chapters advocate for high-quality emergency care, as well as patient and physician rights. The organization currently consists of more than 30,000 physicians, residents, and medical students. Members have access to discounts, professional resources, and numerous events.

One such event is the annual Leadership and Advocacy Conference, which occurs each spring. The four-day conference features forums and meetings, seminars, panels, training, and networking opportunities. During its final day, attendees can earn American Medical Association (AMA) continuing education credits by participating in Leadership Day.

Last year, during the Las Vegas event, Leadership Day included panels on the mentorship of future medical leaders and ways to increase diversity in leadership. Speakers shared the strategic plan of the AMA and opportunities for emergency medicine.

Each year, the second-to-last day of the conference closes with a reception and dinner. Next year’s event will take place in Washington, DC.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Significance of Belt Colors in the Martial Arts

 

Before receiving his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Paul Bolger studied for his MD at the Emory University School of Medicine. He now serves as an attending emergency physician at UnityPoint Health Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois, and owns and operates Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Paul Bolger counts the martial arts, which he studied for 20 years, among his varied pastimes.

In the martial arts, the color of a practitioner’s sash or belt identifies his or her standing in the discipline’s hierarchy. White, yellow, and orange belts identify beginners; green, blue, red, and brown signify intermediate practitioners; and black indicates an advanced level of achievement in the martial arts.

Like a seed under the snow, white represents beginnings. Yellow symbolizes the first rays of sunlight giving the seed the strength to grow. Progressing onward, orange signifies the advanced power of the sun, while green represents the sprouting of the seed.

Blue symbolizes the sky toward which the new plant stretches, and brown the maturing plant approaching harvest. Red is the final stage of the hot sun, now much closer to the plant than before. Finally, the black sash of the advanced martial artist is indicative of the darkness beyond the sun, symbolic of the pursuit of higher knowledge.