ORCHID LOVERS AND THEIR ORCHIDS: A SPECIAL BOND

Guests: Tom Mirenda, Orchid Collection Specialist, Smithsonian Institution
Judy Stevenson, Heidi Whetmore-Maenner, Jill Hynum, Orchid Growers' Guild of Madison

Have you ever looked at an orchid and seen the characteristics of a face? Try it, and you will better understand one of the theories behind why people have such passion for orchids. This is just one of the theories expressed by Tom Mirenda who is the keynote speaker at Orchid Quest 2013, February 2-3 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Orchid Quest is now in its 26th year and is the largest orchid show in the Midwest.

This program is a preview of what to expect at Orchid Quest as orchid lovers and admirers at all levels of interest gather together for a "mini vacation to the tropics." Presentations range from The Mysteries of Orchid Pollination, Diversity, and Conservation to The Smithsonian Orchid Collection.

For more information about Orchid Quest and the care of orchids, visit www.orchidguild.org.

IMPROVING HEALTH IS MORE THAN IMPROVING HEALTHCARE

 

Guest: Karen Timberlake, Director, Population Health Institute at UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

What do nutrition, transportation, employment, poverty, adult education, housing, and physical activity have to do with health? Everything, says Karen Timberlake, who leads the UW Population Health Institute in advancing public health and health policy decisions that improve health. In ranking the United States versus six other countries in the industrialized world, the U.S. spends 2-3 times more on healthcare than the other countries and is last on the list of its citizens leading long, health, productive lives.

On this program, Karen Timberlake talks about the scientific data the Institute gathers to rank counties across the country on their level of health and the need for communities to come together to improve those areas which hinder healthy living. The Affordable Care Act can help, she says, by providing more affordable health insurance coverage for more people, by moving healthcare delivery and payment from volume toward value, and by requiring greater collaboration between healthcare providers and the wider community. But it is not the entire solution. Many factors influence health. It is important that all of us take action to improve our health and the health of our community.

More information on Wisconsin health trends and county rankings can be found on the Population Health Institute website, uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu.

THREE-TIME PARALYMPIAN, KELLY UNDERKOFLER

Guest: Kelly Underkofler

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What does it mean to be born with one hand? Kelly Underkofler describes her remarkable life which took her to the pinnacle of athletic competition as a member of the U.S. Team at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Born missing the lower half of her left arm did not deter Kelly from gymnastics, soccer, Nordic skiing and biathalon. "Growing up, I never heard the word 'disabled,'" Kelly said. "It was never a part of my vocabulary. It's not how I live my life."

Recently retired from competition, Kelly is passionate today about changing the way Americans think about their bodies. "In the U.S., fitness is not a way of life," Kelly says. It is something we squeeze in, or dread, or simply ignore. Exercise and eating right need to become a natural part of our lives so that we can simply be healthy instead of working so hard to become healthy."