Health Services

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Tom Hanks starred in the 2019 biographical drama about Mr. Fred Rogers titled A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.  Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was a television staple for children from 1968 until the last episode in 2001.  The program was filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania near Fred Rogers’ hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 

Fred Rogers was a shy, overweight child who was frequently bullied by classmates.  Fred took these life experiences, both good and bad, to try and develop a deeper understanding of people. Journalist Tom Junod became a friend of Rogers after being assigned an interview with him for Esquire magazine.  Tom was amazed at how quickly the relationship developed out of pure kindness from Fred Rogers.  He was noted to say that Mr. Rogers really wanted to know what you had to say and how you felt. Junod noted the authenticity of Fred Rogers. 

Mr. Rogers’ wanted to be your neighbor, he wanted to be your friend, and he was proud of you (listen to his songs)!  He made you feel special right through the television.  Tom Junod commented in an interview years later that “he (Mr. Rogers) used that power to do good”. 

Why all of this chatter about being a friend and doing good? Because it is good for your health!

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By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

The television show Family Ties was a breakout series for Michael Andrew Fox, professionally known as Michael J. Fox. He played Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom from 1982 until the finale in 1989. This series led to his success in the trilogy of Back to the Future movies. While on the Florida set of his 1991 movie Doc Hollywood, Michael J. Fox noted a slight tremor in his little finger. This was his first symptom of early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Several years after Michael J. Fox’s diagnosis, he went public with his disease and his fight to find treatments. In 2000, he established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.  This organization has become a global leader and innovator in finding therapies.

He has authored three books including No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality. Michael shares personal stories about his illness and his family. I was fortunate enough to see him at a conference where he was the keynote speaker. It was one of the most amazing speeches I have ever heard. He spoke for one hour without any notes and he held nothing back.