Diabetic fall program introduces specialist

Black Hills Diabetes Association Inc. will host Dr. Thomas Hanson of Regional Medical Clinic Endocrinology. In observance of November's National Diabetes Month, Hanson will present "Diabetic History has Always Been: Hope for the Future" at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at Rapid City Regional Hospital's auditorium.

Hanson has served as co-medical director of the Diabetes Treatment Center of America and was clinical director of the University of Texas Health Science Center. Nationally, 21 million adults and children are living with diabetes, and another 54 million people are at risk of developing the disease. The fall program includes exhibits and door prizes. Health-care professionals, diabetics and family members with diabetes are welcome. For more information, call the Black Hills Diabetes Association at 923-4682.

Association honors two local physicians

SIOUX FALLS - Last month at the South Dakota State Medical Association annual meeting in Sioux Falls, members recognized Dr. Reuben Bareis and Dr. Lowell P. Swisher, both of Rapid City, for their 50 years of service to medicine.

Bareis graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1952 and finished his three-year residency in internal medicine in Michigan after spending a year in Korea. He then moved to Rapid City in 1957 and practiced his specialty in the clinic, hospitals and nursing homes for more than 40 years. Most recently, Bareis served as the medical director of several nursing facilities, provided guidance of some biomedical ethics programs and did some teaching.

In his retirement, Bareis has written two books. He lives in Rapid City with his wife Marloe and has four children and eight grandchildren.

Swisher started his practice in April 1961 at Kadoka. He retired in January 2001. He and his wife, Ardith, have four children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

State offers free flu shots to all children

According to the South Dakota Department of Health Web site, Gov. Mike Rounds announced that the state will offer free flu shots for all South Dakota children, ages 6 months to 18 years. South Dakota is the first state in the nation to offer the vaccine to all children.

While the vaccine is free, providers may charge an administration fee; the fee must be waived if people are unable to pay it. Parents can check the following list to find a childhood vaccine provider to give the shots. Parents should be aware that some children may need a second dose of the vaccine. For more information, go to flu.sd.gov.

· Children (8 years and younger) need two doses of influenza vaccine if being vaccinated for the first time.

· Children (6 months through 8 years) who received only one dose of flu vaccine in the first year they were vaccinated need to receive two doses of vaccine the second year they are vaccinated.

· The two doses should be given as least four weeks apart.

· If using the inhaled vaccine (FluMist), two doses should be given at least six week apart.

Pennington County childhood vaccine providers include:

· South Dakota Department of Health, Community Health Services, 909 E. St. Patrick St., Suite 7, Rapid City, 394-2516.

· Black Hills Pediatrics, 2905 Fifth St., Rapid City, 341-7337.

· Creekside Family Practice, 2620 Jackson Blvd., Suite C, Rapid City, 341-1208.

· Community Health Center of the Black Hills, 504 E. Monroe, Rapid City, 394-6665.

· Diamond Family Clinic, 703 Quincy St., Rapid City, 716-6623.

· Medical Arts Clinic, 717 St. Francis, Rapid City, 342-2880.

· Mountainside Family Practice, 2625 Fifth St., Suite 202, Rapid City, 348-2636.

· Native Women's Health Care, 640 Flormann St., Suite 400, Rapid City, 342-7400.

· Rapid City Medical Center, 2820 Mount Rushmore Road, 342-3280.

· Rapid City Medical Center - Midtown, 2006 Mount Rushmore Road, 348-2273.

· Rapid City Medical Center - Westside, 3810 Jackson Blvd., 343-4050.

· Rapid City Public Schools, Kibben Kuster School, 3302 W. St. Cloud, 394-1818.

· Rapid City Regional Hospital, 353 Fairmont Blvd., 341-8199.

· RCRH Family Practice Medicine Residency, 502 E. Monroe, 719-4060.

· Regional Medical Clinic, 640 Flormann St., Rapid City, 718-3100.

· Sioux San IHS Hospital, 3200 Canyon Lake Drive, Rapid City, 355-2392.

· SD Dept. of Health Community Health Services, 242 Deerfield Road, Hill City, 574-2225.

· Hill City Regional Medical Clinic, 1041 Montgomery St., Custer, 574-4470.

· Wall Health Services, 112 Seventh Ave., Wall, 279-2149.