The Polk County Wellness Coalition has appointed Dr. Charles Whalen, a resident of Tryon, as the coalitions new coordinator.

Im excited for the opportunity to serve my community here in Polk County by helping raise the level of health and wellness for all our residents, said Dr. Whalen, a retired chiropractor with 25 years in private practice.

A graduate of Sherman Chiropractic College in Spartanburg, S.C., Dr. Whalen serves on the colleges Board of Regents. He served as a board member for Doorway to Recovery and the Mercy Center, both in Deteroit, Mich., and organized numerous fundraisers for Sherman College, Penrickton Center of Blind Children and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In 1995, Dr. Whalen participated in Conversations on Health with former First Lady Hillary Clinton and last fall, he moderated a community discussion on healthcare for Team Obama.

The Polk County Wellness Coalition is a broad-based group of community leaders, health professionals and concerned community members who work together to plan and implement effectived strategies to address health needs in the community. The coalition attempts to coordinate not duplicate efforts in the community to best utilize the available resources.

Polk Wellness Coalitions initiatives include Access to Primary Care, Obesity, Mental Health/Substance Abuse, and Health Prevention and Education.

In October, the Polk County Wellness Coalition was awarded a recertification as Healthy Carolinians, a designation that secures funding and enables the coalition to tackle health disparities in Polk County.

For more information about the Wellness Coalition or to join the coalition, call Dr. Whalen at 828-899-WELL.