G. Wayne Miller: Thanks, Mariah, for joining us. Much to delve into but let’s start with Walk with a Doc, a program you lead. What is it?
Dr. Mariah H. Stump: Walk with a Doc (WWAD) is really simple — and really fun. It’s a free walking group led by Rhode Island physicians — me and my colleague Dr. Max Cohen. We’re both primary care doctors and we teach at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. A few times a month, we meet up with Rhode Islanders of all ages at beautiful spots throughout the city to walk, talk, share and connect. Walk with a Doc is a national program and we are glad to lead this chapter in Rhode Island.
Here’s how it works: at the very beginning of the walk, we’ll gather for about five minutes, and the doctor leading the walk that day will do a quick little health talk. It might be about osteoporosis, high blood pressure, nutrition — whatever feels useful and timely. People usually ask a few questions, which sparks a nice discussion. Then we just start walking together. The walk itself is relaxed and social — no pressure, no pace requirements. I make a point to move around and chat with different groups so everyone gets a chance to ask questions, connect and feel included. It’s a really nice way to get moving, learn something new, and build community at the same time.
Where and when does it take place?
Stump: The Providence group meets every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., rotating between different downtown spots, including Roger Williams Park or India Point Park. One of our go-to meeting spots is the Providence River pedestrian bridge, where the group gathers on the east side of the bridge near South Water Street, across from Plant City.
There’s a dedicated group that walks together every week, but the physician-led walks — when Dr. Cohen or I are there — usually happen once or twice a month. The best way to know where the group is meeting is to check the Walk with a Doc Providence Facebook page. We post updates there regularly.
What are the health benefits?
Stump: Walking is honestly one of the best things you can do for your health. It’s low impact, which means it’s much easier on the joints than something like running, but it still gives you great cardiovascular benefits. It’s also weight-bearing exercise, which is especially important as we age and start thinking about bone health and osteoporosis.
And that’s just the start — walking can also boost your mood, lower blood pressure, support heart health, and give you a chance to connect with others. There are just so many benefits packed into such a simple activity.
And it’s part of a national program, correct?
Stump: That’s right. Walk with a Doc started back in 2005 when a cardiologist in Ohio invited his patients to join him for a walk. The response was so positive that it grew into a national movement. Now there are more than 500 chapters across 48 states.
Here in Rhode Island, our Providence group got started in 2018. And just last fall, Dr. Carla Martin — one of our colleagues at Brown’s medical school — launched a new chapter in Central Falls, with monthly walks that take place at River Island Park.
Do Brown medical students take part in the walks?
Stump: They do, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the program. Across both chapters, first-year Brown medical students in our doctoring and lifestyle medicine courses and student members of the lifestyle medicine interest group walk alongside community members. It’s a wonderful complement to their clinical training — they get to connect with people in a relaxed, real-world setting while learning firsthand how lifestyle habits like walking can make a big difference for health.
And there is a take-home message for Walk with a Doc. What is it?
Stump: Some of the power of Walk with a Doc is the community and connection that it nurtures. While walking alone has its own cardiovascular and mood boosting benefits, walking with another person or better yet in a group seems to synergistically enhance mood. In addition, we are out in nature which is another component of the experience – taking in sights, sounds, and experiencing the New England elements through all seasons! We are stronger together.
Let’s learn more about you and your other work. Please tell us about your background.
Stump: My path has always blended traditional medicine with integrative approaches. After medical school and residency, I went on to complete the International Structural Acupuncture course for physicians at Harvard through Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and then a two-year fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona’s Andrew Weill Center for Integrative Medicine. I also pursued certification in Lifestyle Medicine to gain experience in nutrition and chronic disease prevention, which I use every day in my clinical practice of primary care to try and help patients optimize their health and well-being.
What brought you to teach at Brown’s medical school?
Stump: I joined the Warren Alpert Medical School faculty at Brown in 2016, where I’m an assistant professor of medicine and, clinician educator. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member at the Mindfulness Center at Brown’s School of Public Health.
My clinical and research interests really center on helping people live well: integrative and lifestyle medicine, fibromyalgia and pain management, and women’s primary care. At Brown’s medical school, I direct the Lifestyle Medicine clinical elective, co-advise the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group, and direct the program in Scholarly Concentration at the medical school – a program where students can focus on specific areas of study during their careers. Teaching at Brown gives me the chance to bring all those passions together and to help train the next generation of physicians in this broader view of health.
Outside the clinic, I’m also a certified Vinyasa yoga instructor and movement therapist in Shake Your Soul: the yoga of dance. I lead yoga classes for Providence Parks in the summer and run workshops in women’s health/yoga/well-being in the Rhode Island community.
What’s some of your advice for people who want to improve their health?
Stump: Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t always need to join a gym or pay for an expensive supplement in order to boost or enhance your health and vitality. Sometimes it is getting back to basics:
- Connecting with the breath: Instead of reacting with anger at a red light, take a pause to connect with your breath and practice breathing through the moment of frustration.
- Connecting with each other: Instead of scrolling through a screen mindlessly on our phones, reduce screen time by giving a friend a call – or better yet, make a plan to meet a friend, neighbor or relative for a coffee, lunch or a simple walk around the block to connect. Connection is the antidote to loneliness which is something that our society is struggling with. We are more “connected” than ever with social media and screens, yet we are more isolated than ever.
You are also an attending physician with Brown Physicians, Inc. What are your responsibilities and what types of patients do you see?
Stump: I am a primary care physician. In an environment where primary care doctors are scarce, I am proud to serve the Rhode Island community. I see adults ages 18 and up from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of medical conditions. I love connecting with my patients, hearing their stories and finding ways to “walk” with them on their health journey by setting goals together and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves.
Anything we missed? You certainly have many passions!
Stump: As president-elect of the Rhode Island Medical Society, I am passionate about advocating for increasing our recruitment and retention of physicians in Rhode Island through specifically better reimbursement that is equitable to our neighboring states. While primary care is particularly suffering right now, all specialties in Rhode Island are in need of support and advocacy. I am also passionate about community work and enriching our local community with programs that support the health of our patients in an affordable and accessible way.
Copyright © 2025 Salve Regina University. Originally published by OceanStateStories.org.
