In another case that she recalls, an interpreter who worked at the health center spotted a man limping on the street. After talking for a few minutes, the two realized they were from the same country. The man explained that he didn’t have health insurance or money to see a doctor. The interpreter brought him to Dr. Bettigole, and she learned that the limp had been caused by a stroke. She treated him, and the man became her patient. She also became the doctor for his daughter, his wife, and his father. Dr. Bettigole is committed to helping people be as fit and healthy as possible. She now is responsible for several Philadelphia city health programs. They include efforts to reduce teen smoking and to increase exercise and healthy food options. “The most rewarding part of my job is that I can help to make changes across the city that can make the quality of life better for a lot of people in Philadelphia,” she says. One of Dr. Bettigole’s top goals is to see fewer kids use tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes. Smoking can lead to many health problems, such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD. COPD causes people’s lungs to become weaker. They get out of breath more easily. “No treatment can reverse it,” Dr. Bettigole says. “When the damage is done, it is done.” Cheryl Bettigole Teaching habits that can lead to a healthier life Dr. Cheryl Bettigole has dedicated her career to helping people get the medi- cal care they need. They often are people who don’t have a lot of money or don’t know how to find a doctor or nurse. To assist them, the City of Philadelphia has a network of health centers where treatment is free or low-cost. Dr. Bettigole spent 13 years working at the centers. What can happen when someone has trouble finding a doctor? Dr. Bettigole tells the story of a boy she treated several years ago. When he arrived at the health center, he was wrapped in an Ace bandage from his chest to his stomach. His parents didn’t know how else to lessen the pain he felt every time he took a breath. They were new to the United States and had not known where to go for help. By the time they learned about the health center, the boy had a serious case of pneumonia. Dr. Bettigole sent him to a hospital, where he spent several weeks. He recovered, she says, but “it could have been much worse.” 8