UAB Family Medicine – Selma, Vaughan Regional Medical Center (VRMC) and the Selma – Dallas County Public Library hosted the first of its new series of “Medical Matters” lectures on Friday afternoon in the Vaughan Room of the library.

“The purpose is to enable people to take care of themselves, utilizing the hospital and the doctors that are here,” said Library Director Becky Nichols. “One of the things I wanted to do is bring the people and the doctors closer together so that they can see the wonderful resources we have right here in Dallas County.”

VRMC CEO David McCormack shared Nichols enthusiasm about the program.

“I think that healthcare is a personal responsibility, the doctors are going to do their part, but everybody’s got to try and be healthy if they can,” said McCormack. “Any opportunity we have to learn how we can be healthy, I think we ought to take advantage of that.”

The topic of the first lecture was “Healthy Living: Aging Well”, in which Dr. Dunni Adetoba informed the attendees about staying healthy during the process of aging.

Adetoba presented the attendees with a health age questionnaire, discussed with them the importance of preventative screenings and talked to them about the importance of advanced directives.

Adetoba also shared those in attendance that certain medicines could actually be causing them more harm than good.

“Everyone is on medication,” she said. “But there are certain medications that everyone shouldn’t be on.”

After Adetoba’s presentation, the attendees were encouraged to mingle with the many other doctors in the room and ask any questions they may have.

“There are seven white coats in this room,” said Nichols. “I can’t think of a better place to get sick.”