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FLIGHT SCHOOL
Moore Public Schools adds flight simulators, touts career-ready opportunities in new aviation program
Setting students up for success is the driving force behind Moore Public Schools’ new aviation program, with additional program enhancements in place and future plans underway. Flight simulators are the latest addition to the course offerings, which are an elective series for high school students that creates a career pathway as an airline mechanic or drone/ personal pilot.
First offered in 2023, the program is part of a districtwide emphasis on STEM, with national award-winning curricula by Project Lead the Way. Funding is made possible in part by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which provides federal funding for career and technical education programs.
“As we were looking at the possibility of implementing an aviation and aircraft mechanics program, we wanted to be sure certifications would be available as a next step, tools they can use to prepare for exams that can get them workforce-ready,” said Jimmy Martin, assistant superintendent of Alternative Education, CareerTech, Child Nutrition & Federal Programs at Moore Public Schools (MPS).
With the new flight simulators, students can experience real-world conditions and log actual flight hours. They feature side modules and screens where teachers can change weather, air pressure and wind to simulate different conditions. Both types of simulators, Gleim and Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD), are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved.
VR headsets also allow teachers and students to navigate diverse modules and scenarios, with a dashboard to time and score lessons, which can then be personalized to address individual needs.
Aviation mechanics students could choose to sit through testing after their senior year for general maintenance certification. Administrators hope the program could include internships in the future.
“A student who went all four years in our program would be ready to go onto next steps that put them at a tremendous advantage for state tests, certifications and career opportunities. After four years of aircraft maintenance, for example, they could take the general aviation test, get a certification and go to work,” Martin explained. “Even though flight hours would have to be completed
and paid for separately, our graduates would already be familiar with so much that is involved.”
Jobs in aviation at Tinker Air Force Base and in private industry abound in the state.
The need for airline personnel has grown acute, with industry experts warning that more than 50% of current commercial pilots are expected to retire in the next 15 years. Military opportunities are also a ready outlet.
Drone pilots can find work in land surveying, CLEET, law enforcement and emergency response services due to their thermal detection and mapping capabilities.
Approximately 40 students are enrolled at each high school in the aviation program, with between 60 and 70 at each site for the airline mechanic path.
Bradley Black, an aviation and aircraft maintenance instructor at Southmoore, described the flight simulators as a gamechanger for the program.
“Last year was the first year for MPS to offer aviation and we were all learning together. This year, the new flight simulators have made all the difference,” he said. “Students ask me if they can come before school and fly, if they can stay after school and fly, and of course, if they can come in during lunch and fly.
“The students want to do it every day, but we still have coursework that we have to do throughout the week. I truly have the best teaching job ever. Students want to come to aviation class; they are excited, and that gets me even more excited.”
Rocky Dickinson, MPS career education coordinator, agrees the program is unique and a great opportunity.
“It is different from a typical high school program. All four of those years include practical information to carry students directly into a career and help fill an employment gap,” said Dickinson. “They can go right to the workforce and be successful.”
Currently, there are no prerequisites to join the program in freshman year.
“We care so much about our students and their future. We are laying a great foundation, not just for work-ready kids but also for college-bound students,” he said. “This is a pathway into the career world. When I talk to people about the program, they say ‘I wish that had been available when I was in school.’ The program will help (students) gain a lot of life experience and make their lives better.”– SMS
Matchmakers!
A COMMON BOND
Local Family Pursues Same Career Field, Credits Moore Norman for Preparation
The Yadon family shares a passion for the trades and a deep appreciation for the place that trained them.
Norman residents Steve Yadon and his sons, Josh and Seth, pursued careers in heating, ventilation and air conditioning after graduating from Moore Norman Technology Center (MNTC).
Josh and Seth now work on the HVAC team at the University of Oklahoma, while Steve serves as the director of construction trades at MNTC. All three credit the technology center for providing opportunities and preparing them for success in the field.
Steve said students, like his sons, who are interested in trade careers — such as HVAC, electrical work, carpentry and cosmetology — can explore the variety of jobs available in these fields while gaining the knowledge and training needed to be job-ready.
MNTC offers programs for adults and high school juniors and seniors. Steve noted the trade fields are growing rapidly and in need of skilled professionals to fill open positions.
“There’s a lot of opportunities when (students) leave here,” he said.
Steve said he’s honored that his sons chose a similar career, and he’s thrilled to see them find rewarding jobs.
“It’s pretty cool to have people that speak your language,” Josh added.
The brothers said the HVAC field offers competitive
wages and opportunities for continued education, advancement and job fulfillment.
Seth works on heating, cooling and refrigeration systems at OU. He enjoys the variety of projects and “the satisfaction of helping people,” he said. Watching his father, grandfather and uncles pursue careers in the trades inspired him to follow a similar path.
For Seth, MNTC was “a great environment to learn” because it continually focuses on the future and equips students with essential skills.
Josh works in building automation at OU, which includes programming building functions and monitoring and controlling heating, cooling, ventilation and related equipment. The job offers him the chance to do hands-on work and engage his mind.
“Every day, I’m learning something new,” Josh said. “I leave work every day feeling accomplished.”
Josh’s interest in HVAC also grew from observing his family. He said MNTC’s curriculum, instruction and training “helps make you job-ready.”
Steve believes MNTC has positively impacted his family and other graduates who have found fulfilling careers thanks to the training and experiences provided by the center.
“We’re in the business of better tomorrows and changing lives,” he said.
For more information about MNTC’s trade programs, visit mntc.edu. – SMS
Seth, Steve and Josh Yadon
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The concept of playing the game of baseball one pitch at a time is both simple and profound. Spend time with Sooner head coach Skip Johnson, and you’ll often hear this philosophy emphasized.
Year after year, Skip Johnson challenges the Oklahoma baseball team to focus on each pitch, staying present in the moment. This message has become a cornerstone of the program, contributing to the team’s ongoing success as a consistent postseason contender.
As the Sooners prepare for the 2025 season and the challenge of the toughest conference in college baseball, a talented pitching staff and a solid core of returning offensive talent has Oklahoma poised to compete at the highest level.
“The game doesn’t care how you feel,” Skip Johnson said. “You can go 0 for 5 or 5 for 5… you just gotta keep playing the game one pitch at a time.”
Last year, during the Sooners’ final season in the Big 12, Oklahoma won the regular season crown, an incredible parting gift as they prepared to move to the SEC.
The Sooners finished one win shy of capturing the Big 12 Tournament title, earning the No. 9-overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and returning postseason baseball to L. Dale Mitchell Park for the first time in over a decade.
The Sooners ultimately fell to Connecticut in the Norman Regional after forcing an “if-necessary” game but came up short of the Super Regionals. OU finished its final season in the Big 12 with a 40-21 record.
“Our watermark, what we plan for is to go to Omaha every year, and that’s what we practice every day for, to win the last game of the year,” Skip Johnson said. “We get after it and play hard and that’s what we’re about.”
The Sooners have made the postseason in each of the last three seasons, including a trip to Omaha in 2022 that ended in the Championship Series of the College World Series. As other programs pursued the Sooner skipper, this offseason Skip Johnson renewed his commitment to Oklahoma, thanks to a commitment from the administration and the Kimrey family.
The Sooners received a $20 million donation to the baseball and football programs, the largest in the history of the baseball program. The donation, from Bartlesville residents Brian and Kim Kimrey, came just weeks after the Sooners joined the SEC and days after Skip Johnson signed a new deal with the Sooners.
“It’s a partnership… with the Kimrey family,” Johnson said. “What they’ve done is incredible and we’ve got to
continue to get our facility a lot better. That’s going to be the biggest deal going forward, we’re going to be playing in these nice facilities and if we want to be like those guys, we need to recruit to those facilities as well.
“We’ve got to continue trying to raise money to build our facilities because we are the University of Oklahoma. We’ve got to act like that, we’ve got to practice like that, we’ve got to have facilities like that, if we’re going to go all-in, let’s go all-in.”
The Sooners have gone all in as they prepare to compete in the most challenging conference in college baseball.
“We couldn’t be more excited as a group,” Sooner standout Scott Mudler said of the move to the SEC. “This is what you play for. You want to be on the biggest stage, you want to play against the best talent in the world. The SEC, there is no doubt it’s the best conference in the country for baseball. The home series are going to be great for the fans.”
The SEC is loaded with tradition and talent. Georgia was the first SEC team to dogpile in Omaha in 1990 against Oklahoma State. Then one year later LSU won its first of five national championship titles under then-coach Skip Bertman.
Since 2010, the SEC has won eight of the last 13 CWS championship series. 14 SEC teams have appeared in the CWS championship series —finishing either as the national champion or runner-up — in the last 15 years. Since 1990, eight different SEC teams have won a National Championship.
It’s deep, it’s talented, it’s challenging. But the Sooners know the approach - one pitch at a time.
“It’s still business as usual. It’s still 60 feet 6 inches and the bases are 90 feet,” Skip Johnson said. “The difference is going to be in the environment. You’re going to be in a football type environment in a baseball setting.”
The Sooners enter 2025 with plenty of momentum. As has been the case in recent years, the team’s strength should come on the mound, led by twin right-handed prospects Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon. The development of LSU transfer lefty Cameron Johnson under the tutelage of Skip Johnson will be a key factor in the OU rotation.
The Sooners have plenty of other arms, including the likes of JUCO transfers LHP Cade Crossland, RHP Dylan Tate and LHP Beau Sampson. Also returning for the Sooners are senior right-handed pitchers Dylan Crooks and Reid Hensley and sophomore RHP Jacob Gholston.
BY: CHRIS PLANK
ARMED & RELOADED
2025 Sooner Baseball
Kyson Witherspoon
Newcomers like Cameron Johnson have a chance to make an impact in 2025. Out of high school, he was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 2 left-handed pitcher and the No. 11 overall player in the nation. He was ranked as the No. 42 overall prospect in the nation entering the June 2023 Draft by MLB Pipeline.
“We have a ton of new guys in the locker room. There are so many that can come in and make a big impact,” Scott Mudler said. “Cam Johnson is a big-time lefty that can really help us out. He’s had experience in the SEC.”
The strength of the pitching staff is in the returning foundation, including the Witherspoon twins. The breakout star of 2024 might have been Kyson Witherspoon. The transfer from Northwest Florida State College excelled in his first season in a Sooner uniform. He was selected as a USA Baseball Collegiate National Team member and named a Midseason
All-American by Perfect Game.
Kyson Witherspoon led OU with a 3.71 ERA in 80.0 IP and registered an 8-3 record. Notching 90 strikeouts to 40 walks, he combined one shutout and earned one save finishing with a 6-1 record in conference play with 57 strikeouts to 21 walks.
“He’s done a great job. His competitive spirit and his poise are what make him so good,” Skip Johnson said.
His twin brother Malachi Witherspoon also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and stepped up as the Sooner closer. Overall, he made 21 appearances on the mound primarily in the closer role, leading the team with five saves.
Offensively in 2025, the Sooners will have a much different look with several new faces. The OU lineup that was an absolute machine last season will be replacing some big names such as right fielder Bryce Madron, first baseman Michael Snyder, third baseman Anthony Mackenzie and left fielder Kendall Pettis. Add to the mix John Spikerman and Jackson Nicklaus and the Sooners will be replacing six of the nine starters.
OU does return 2024 NCBWA All-American junior catcher Easton Carmichael, sophomore all-conference infielder Jaxon Willits, sophomore outfielder Jason Walk and senior catcher Scott Mudler.
During the fall, the offense was sparked by Carmichael, Walk and Dasan Harris, an impressive surprise as Harris saw limited action in 2024 behind a veteran outfield. JUCO transfers Dawson Willis (INF) and Brandon Cain (OF) showed they should be in the starting mix with their speed and defensive abilities.
With all the new faces, the fall was a learning process to prepare the team.
“We lost a lot and brought a lot of guys in,” Skip Johnson said. “Whether it’s when we show up at the ballpark to how hard we practice, all those little details, we have great leadership to help us along and let them know how we’re going to handle our business.”
One pitch at a time, one practice at a time, one day at a time. That mentality sounds so easy, but as Oklahoma prepares for a ton of “new” in 2025, the consistency of its coaching staff and their approach breeds confidence among its players.
“All the coaches on our staff have a little different way of coaching, but when it’s not time for baseball, we can talk to any of the coaches about anything,” Mudler said of the coaching staff. “They love having a good time and they love cracking jokes.
“But when it’s time to play baseball, they know exactly how to get that fire into us. They turn it up a notch. Motivating the players is the biggest thing they do.” – SMS
Jaxon Willits
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MOORE LIONS
Moore Tennis
The Lions are eager to hit the courts for the 2025 tennis season, bringing fresh energy and determination. While they’ll be moving forward without a couple of key contributors, head coach Debby Hooks remains optimistic. Last season, several Lions came close to qualifying for State, and though it wasn’t the finish they had hoped for, Hooks is confident in the talent and potential of this year’s team.
Girls
Stepping up in a big way for the girls, senior Elisa Boozer is transiting from the No. 2 single to the No. 1 spot.
“(Boozer) is the ultimate competitor,” said Hooks. “If anyone can step up to the challenge ahead, it’s her.”
Boozer is one of the top-ranked rifle shooters in the country and has accepted a scholarship to shoot for the rifle team at the University of Kentucky.
Hooks said the No. 2 singles position has yet to be filled but is looking at five or six girls to take the position.
Senior Keagan Cooper is returning to compete on the No. 1 doubles team with a new partner in senior Vi Worlund. Cooper’s season ended before she wanted it to last year and will surely be looking to finish with a strong senior season.
The No. 2 doubles team is returning junior Emma Endsley and sophomore Makenzie Clements. Lions’ faithful should expect a big season out of these two after they made serious noise last year.
“They were really successful last year,” said Hooks. “They won several tournaments, and I thought they were going to qualify for State, but they barely got beat out.”
Boys
The boys side is a little more complicated and definitely not set in stone. Hooks will have to make the difficult decision to either put together a dynamic No. 1 doubles team or split them up.
Right now, the Lions have junior Jackson Tait as the No. 1 singles player. Taking the No. 2 singles position is junior Sal Lopez.
Both are great players and Hooks has confidence in both but will undoubtedly have her hands full as she decides what is best for the team.
The No. 1 doubles team returns a familiar face in sophomore Cruz Crawford. Starting with him will be sophomore Matt Pennington. The No. 2 doubles team will be returning sophomores Kiree Davis and Payton Fletcher. Both are good friends off the court.
Moore Golf
The Lions look to tee off the 2025 season with plenty of excitement after sending both the boys and girls to State last year. Head coach Ryan Dukes believes his squad can repeat and possibly bring back hardware this season.
“Between the boys and girls, I only lost one that went to State last year,” said Dukes. “So, our expectations are the same or even higher.”
Boys
The offseason can be a tricky situation for high school golf, especially in the state of Oklahoma. However, Dukes was able to get his team in action during the fall.
“The cold can make it difficult to stay sharp,” said Dukes. “The boys are golf obsessed, and they live at the golf course. We played in one offseason tournament and had one finish top five.”
The boys have lofty expectations of going to State and winning once they get there. If they are going to meet expectations, they must play with a short memory.
“Last year, we would have days where a bad score would ruin a whole day,” Dukes said. “It’s all about course management. We have to forget about a bad hole and move on to the next.”
Leading the way at the No. 1 bag is senior Charlie Dowell who should be in for a great year.
“(Charlie) doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” said Dukes. “He’s always had a great short game, but now that he’s older, he’s hitting the ball a lot farther and turning pars into birdies.”
No. 2 through No. 4 bags could change at any time throughout the season. For now, the Lions have senior Jesse Dowell, Charlie’s twin, at the No. 2 bag.
Senior Casen Bell will be the No. 3 bag and senior Preston Baker at the No. 4 bag. Junior Kase Stark will be at the No. 5 bag and rounding out the group is sophomore James Wheeler.
Girls
The girls bring back all but one golfer who made it to State last year. Dukes expects the girls to return to State again but needs their short game to improve.
“Only way to improve the short game is time on the green,” said Dukes. “Get on the course and simulate those shots under pressure. You can practice as much as you want, but it’s different when you’re out there and the pressure is on you and you’re trying to save par.”
The girls No. 1 bag will be senior Ava Fritts and should not be a surprise to anyone. Fritts has been one of the best golfers for the girls since she began her career.
No. 2 bag will be Ava’s younger sister, sophomore Anna Fritts. The No. 3 bag will be handled by freshman Paisley Noles. Dukes believes Noles has a lot of potential and is excited to see how her career develops over time.
At the No. 4 bag will be senior Macey Foreman. The No. 5 bag is up for grabs and Dukes said there are five or six girls who could claim it. Lions’ faithful should not be surprised if Jaely Bell gets in the mix and becomes a reliable contributor as the season progresses. Another name to look out for is freshman Emmie Kincannon.
A good taste of what competition will be like at RState is going to be the conference tournamentw on March 31. – SMS
Photo by: Greg Conder Casen Bell
WESTMOORE JAGUARS
Boys Golf
For the Westmoore Jaguars’ boys golf team, an appearance at the state tournament was accomplished by individuals, but not as a team. This season, Addison Staggs, the Jags’ head coach, said their emphasis is to make it to State as a team.
“We’re a young team with tremendous potential and are focused on being a competitive team this season and in the future,” Staggs stated.
Westmoore has a trio of returning golfers who have invaluable experience. Those include juniors Kyle Karty, Griffin Gappa and Jordan Masters. All three of these golfers have tournament experience and know what to expect.
The Jags have a couple of other players who are dual-sport athletes and are more than capable of finishing with low scores. Jace Noey is a wrestler in Westmoore’s well-known program and will pick up his golf clubs when he hangs up his singlet.
Jake Reed – the golf team’s only senior – has played both football and baseball and can provide the leadership necessary for any team to succeed.
Westmoore’s best finish last season was fourth place as a team in the Mustang Invitational with a combined total of 335.
The golfers have a full schedule and aim to finish high on the leaderboard in each tournament. The Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference tournament will be held at the Greens Country Club at the end of March. The level of competition is high in the COAC and will bring out the best in Westmoore’s team.
Girls Golf
The girls golf program at Westmoore is well poised to make some waves. The Lady Jaguars have a variety of youth and experience coming into the season that tees off March 1. Head coach Lori Reed, along with assistant coach Athena Mathis, will lead a dozen competitors who all bring a measure of enthusiasm and aspirations.
The Jags have five upperclassmen to help mentor and encourage seven younger golfers. The seniors include Makayla Been, Carsyn Lyne and Sophia
Leonetti. Juniors Karsyn Bullock and Caileigh Lucas add depth to this year’s team. The other golfers who will forge the future of the girls’ golf program are sophomore Ashley Moody, along with six freshmen golfers - Ella Gamble, Annabella Hoang, Eva Sauler, Paisley Lyne, Taryn Ross and Camie Rollins.
A recent change approved by the OSSAA permitted golf tournaments in the fall. One of the Jags’ best outings was turned in by Been in the Ardmore Tournament where she finished with an impressive round of 77.
Reed and the team use multiple methods to prepare. When the weather permits, they are outside practicing and playing. And when the weather doesn’t permit outdoor play, the Jags have access to an indoor facility equipped with hitting nets and putting greens.
Tennis
The Westmoore Jaguars’ tennis program can easily be described as dynamic in nature. Under the guidance and tutelage of head coach Randy Painton, the popularity of the sport has generated not only a high-level of interest, but one of success as well.
Usually, the top eight players for each team are selected for the varsity competition. Those not initially selected comprise the junior varsity team and compete at the JV level throughout the season. Painton has an enviable task of selecting the best eight players for the boys team from nearly 30 interested in playing this season. The girls team has a pool of 15 players.
Last season was one of the best in recent years for the boys team. Junior Trenton Kanchanakomtorn was a finalist at No. 1 singles, barely losing a three-set battle to Jenks. Senior Jonathan Eichman placed third at No. 2 singles while senior Evan Boyer and junior Edward Nguyen placed fifth at No. 1 doubles. That trend and success are expected to continue this year. Painton plans to see Trenton, once again, compete as one of the top singles players in the state.
The girls team last season was led by Falon Prater at No. 1 singles and Sadie Hadlock at No. 2 singles. Hadlock eventually qualified for the state tournament, the first girl to do so in five seasons. Hadlock,
BY: DANNY HENDERSON
a junior, has elected to concentrate on her high-level academics this season and anticipates a return her senior year.
One of the best positive injections for the Jaguars’ girls team is the addition of four extremely talented freshmen. Ava Calderwood, Sydney Haynes, Winnie
Li and Mackenzie Woods all show a lot of potential.
While the season has yet to officially have its first serve and volley, the positive energy, competitiveness and overall teamwork support from all players bode well for 2025.– SMS
Sadie Hadlock
Trenton Kanchanakomtorn
Southmoore Golf
The Sabercats look to hit the course for the 2025 season with the intention of going to State. Head coach Brad Black is excited about the group at his disposal but acknowledges it will be an uphill battle.
“We’re hoping that we qualify as a team on the boys’ side for State,” said Black. “On the girls’ side, we lost six seniors two years ago and have been in rebuild mode since.”
One of the things both the boys and girls struggled with last season was the ability to see the big picture.
“Our course management wasn’t as good as it should’ve been,” said Black. “As kids get older, they mature. They start realizing where they are on the course and learn to make the smart move.”
Boys
The Sabercats are in good shape on the boys’ side and have everyone they need to put together a solid season. Senior Gavin Elmore is expected to lead the way for the boys at the No. 1 bag.
“He qualified for State and was all-conference as a junior last year,” said Black.
At the No. 2 bag, sophomore Gavin Scheibmeir has impressed as he nearly qualified for State as a freshman. The No. 3 bag will be handled by junior Nick Cowan, but bags No. 4 and No. 5 are in a tight battle between senior Isaiah Smith and sophomore Justin Wiley.
Black is excited to see how the team competes at the Southmoore Invitational at Westwood Park.
Girls
On the girl’s side, there are a few unknowns that need to be figured out before the season begins. Without the luxury of depth, Black will have to push the right buttons to ensure a successful season.
“We’ve had qualifying rounds and almost every time the order changes,” said Black. “They’re all pretty close to each other talent wise, but we haven’t had a clear lineup.”
Joey Folsom
SOUTHMOORE SABERCATS
The five girls on the roster are: juniors Camryn Rodriquez-Stone and Bella Taylor, sophomores D’Lisa Burris and Aubrey Conley and freshman Katharina Cox.
Black is eager to take the girls to Edmond North’s tournament at the Oak Tree Country Club on March 10. The invitational is set to tee off at 8:30 a.m.
Southmoore Tennis
The Sabercats put together a pretty good run last year and look to ace the 2025 season. Head coach Kelly Johnson had two girls qualify for State last year and hopes to serve up similar results.
“Last season went well, but we are still sort of in a rebuilding phase,” said Johnson.
Johnson used the offseason as a time to get back to the fundamentals to ensure the team is finely tuned.
“We have focused a lot on consistency in serving,” said Johnson. “We want to work smarter, not harder, and the offseason allows us the opportunity to focus on the basics so we can take those skills and start working more on strategy in both singles and doubles play.”
BY: T.J. TURNER
Girls
Southmoore is strong on the girl’s side and should be followed closely this year. The Sabercats have two seniors - Samantha Nguyen and Mia Johnson - who will be looking to finish their fantastic careers with a deep run at State.
Nguyen has impressed throughout her entire career and will continue to do so as the No. 1 singles player. The Sabercats have seen Nguyen qualify for State every year, so anything less would undoubtedly be a disappointment.
Mia Johnson has qualified for State at both singles and doubles. At the moment, it is unclear if she will be the No. 2 singles player or partner up on the No. 1 doubles.
Boys
Johnson has optimism for the boys team and hopes to have a couple qualify for State.
Johnson believes senior Kevin Luu has the potential to make State and will be the No. 1 singles player for the Sabercats. Sophomore Caden Belcher is the No. 2 singles player.
Johnson believes Belcher can accomplish whatever he sets his mind to.
“I’m looking forward to (a great season for) both of these boys,” said Johnson. “I want them to achieve their personal goals and see them qualify for State.”
The remaining positions will be tinkered with as the season progresses.
“I still have not determined who will be playing which positions,” said Johnson. “Several of our players are very close skill-wise, so it’s going to be a tough decision week-to-week.”
Johnson is excited to see how her Sabercats compete in two tournaments this year - the Ponca City and Deer Creek tournaments.
“Both of these tournaments host many of the teams who placed in the top five in 6A tennis last season,” explained Johnson.
Southmoore will head to Ponca City on March 11 and will be at Deer Creek on March 25 and 26 – SMS
Trina Nguyen, Breanna Laughhead, Allie Sprague & Samantha Nguyen
Mark Moses, MD has Joined Ortho Central
ORTHO STAT EXPANDS
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
Ortho Stat, a same-day orthopedic care clinic affiliated with Ortho Central, recently opened a new, expanded location in Norman. The clinic also added extended hours, accepting walk-in patients from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
“We moved into the new clinic Dec. 23,” shared Joe Bourland, a certified physician’s assistant with the clinic. “It’s brand new and totally built for our needs.”
In the new facility, Ortho Stat doubled the number of clinic rooms, adding additional staff to ensure limited wait times.
“Due to patient demand, we felt we could provide more opportunities to our patients,” said Chris Travis, another certified physician’s assistant with the clinic.
Travis and Bourland, who both have more than 25 years of experience in orthopedic care, serve as the clinic’s two primary providers. Travis and Bourland appreciate the specialty’s hands-on nature and the ability to resolve patient issues.
Ortho Stat provides care for patients ages 2 and up, treating closed fractures, cuts and lacerations, dislocations, joint pain, sprains and strains, including sports- and work-related injuries, on a walk-in basis. No appointment or referral necessary.
“Our clinic is popular with patients because of the convenience and how quickly we can treat their injuries,” Travis said. “We can save patients time and perhaps additional visits because we’ve done the x-rays and other screenings.”
Bourland added that patients “benefit from the expeditious care they provide” because of their connection with Ortho Central.
“We get you into the right treatment and therapy quickly and you’ll leave with a referral to a specialist to best manage your treatment,” he explained. “We can likely get patients in to see a specialist quicker.”
Ortho Stat is now located at 3400 W. Tecumseh Rd., Suite 100, just north of the Ortho Central office near Norman Regional Hospital. For more information, visit orthocentralok.com.– SMS
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
HEART HEALTH IN FOCUS
Tackling Heart Disease with Awareness and Action
February is Heart Month and, according to the American Heart Association, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for more than a century. Despite this tenure at the top, a recent survey conducted on behalf of the association found that more than half of the people surveyed were unaware of this fact.
In fact, heart disease and stroke claim more lives than all forms of cancers and chronic lower respiratory disease combined.
Dr. Robin Singh, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Norman Regional, emphasized the importance of awareness campaigns like Heart Month.
“Periodic reminders offer extra focus on the small yet impactful changes we can make to improve our cardiovascular health,” he explained.
Singh pointed to prioritizing attainable changes.
“I think people sometimes set the bar too high and when they aren’t able to reach those goals that can deter them from continuing,” he cautioned. “Your health journey isn’t always a linear process, don’t let that discourage you.”
To support cardiovascular health, Singh suggested focusing on one or two lifestyle changes at a time.
Key areas to prioritize include:
• Avoiding tobacco
• Getting six to eight hours of sleep each night
• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Moderating caffeine intake
• Incorporating 20 to 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise four to five days a week
• Reducing stress
• Increasing social interaction
The American Heart Association offers strategies and inspiration to help create healthy, lasting habits at heart.org.
Dr. Singh joined Norman Regional to help build the cardiac electrophysiology program, a cardiology subspecialty that focuses on the heart’s electrical system. With the expansion of the Healthplex, now Norman Regional’s main hospital campus, the cardiac electrophysiology program will soon have its own dedicated space to treat patients dealing with heart arrhythmia conditions such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia.
“We have the latest technology, some of which we are one of only three hospitals in the world to have – France, Denver and Norman,” Singh said. “But it’s the people that make the facility.
“Cardiologists require an excellent team around us to provide high-quality care and we really have the best staff because they care about their community.”
Singh noted that while heart arrhythmia conditions affect a wide range of patients, most interventions significantly improve quality of life.
“Atrial fibrillation (AFIB) is the most common condition we treat, and the most common factor is age,” he shared. “If you are lucky enough to live long enough, you’ll likely develop AFIB.”
To learn more about the cardiac electrophysiology services at Norman Heart & Vascular Associates, visit normanregional.com/norman-heart-vascular-associates.– SMS
Norman has hear t
. Norman Regional is at the heart of advanced cardiovascular care in southern Oklahoma. We proudly o er $50 heart scans with no referral required, plus a full range of heart services, including ablations, pacemakers and treatment for AFIB. We deliver award-winning care. With a cardiac catheterization lab and life-saving expertise nearby you’ll find compassionate, leading-edge heart care right down the road.
Bruce Cannon, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
More than 30 years of experience
Schedule your $50 heart scan today.
