Category: prevention and fitness

Not Just Another School Shooting

A recent news story reminded me of my med school days at a small Oklahoma town that usually isn’t newsworthy. But now it is but not for a positive reason. I tell you about it in this post, because it is a problem that touches us all.

Note: This post deals with an emotional topic that may trigger painful feelings for some people.

In the mid 1970s, I was studying medicine at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Part of the first-year curriculum involved placing us in local and rural physician offices to observe and, hopefully, learn something about practicing medicine

I spent time with a couple of doctors in the city and nearby suburbs, and then it was time for my 4-week rural rotation. I was assigned to go to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, about 55 miles south of OKC, straight down Interstate 35.

I had never been to Pauls Valley and never lived in a small town, having grown up in Tulsa, the second-largest city in Oklahoma. So in that regard, it would be another learning experience.

I found a place where the doctors knew their patients as friends, neighbors, and sometimes relatives. Office visits offered a chance to catch up on life, as well as address medical issues. Despite living in a small town, the doctors practiced with the same level of knowledge and skill as in the city. People respected, appreciated, and trusted their doctors.

I finished my rotation with a new understanding of what it means to be a physician. I have never returned to Pauls Valley, nor have I thought about it.

Until I heard this story on the local TV news. Another school shooting.

But this story was different. This time, it was a principal who was shot. And he saved everyone else.

Pauls Valley principal receives heroism award for stopping school shooting

by Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
May 21, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma high school principal credited with stopping a school shooting has received a state award for heroism.

Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore accepted the Heroic Oklahoman Award from Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday. Stitt presented the award, meant for Oklahomans who display extraordinary heroism in the face of personal danger, to Moore during an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting at the Capitol.

Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore, left, receives the Heroic Oklahoman Award from Gov. Kevin Stitt at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

“I don’t have words to express the appreciation,” Moore said afterward. “I hate that such a tragic event happened. I appreciate all the attention, but I just – I’m ready to move on with life.”

Moore, on April 7, tackled a gunman who entered the high school lobby with a pistol, video of the incident shows. 

He said he suffered a gunshot wound to his knee while subduing the intruder, but the bullet didn’t hit bone.

No other school staff or students were hurt.

“His courage reflects really the very best of Oklahomans,” Stitt said before giving Moore the award.

Security footage shows the gunman pointing a firearm at two students before Moore bolted out of the school office, tackled the shooter, and held him down while another staff member took the gun away.

Moore said he acted on pure instinct in that moment.

“Everybody was just reacting the way they’ve been trained,

When you’re in education, you’re not there to make money. You’re there for kids, and you’ll do anything for your kids.”

Principal Paul Moore

Moore was born and raised in Pauls Valley, a town of about 6,000 people more than 50 miles south of Oklahoma City. This is his 37th year working in Pauls Valley schools, he said.

In the wake of the shooting, a GoFundMe page and corporate donations have raised about $100,000 for a “Principal Moore fund,” he said. Moore intends to donate the money to former Pauls Valley students who finish college or a training program to become teachers or first responders.

The April 7 incident made international headlines, prompting the principal to be hailed as a hero worldwide.

Victor Hawkins, 20, has been charged in Garvin County District Court with shooting with intent to kill, two counts of feloniously pointing a firearm, and two counts of carrying a weapon to a public assembly, court records show. 

Hawkins has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is a former student at the high school, law enforcement reported.

The students who were most directly affected by the incident haven’t returned to school, Moore said. They’re finishing the school year online.

“We’re getting them help,” he said. “It’s just a tough situation, but our kids are pretty resilient for the most part.”

It was a day, “where God had his hand on all of us.”

Kirk Moore, Principal

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.

Source USA Facts

Accounts From Other Sources

The local newspaper reported that Mr. Moore was transported to Oklahoma City by helicopter for treatment at the university medical center, now OU Health. Although no vital organs were hit, a gunshot wound in the leg can be deadly. The femoral artery supplies blood to the leg. As one of the largest arteries in the body, damage can cause life-threatening hemorrhage.

Court documents state that Victor Hawkins intended to commit a mass shooting at the school and that he was influenced by the Columbine school shooting. During an arraignment, he told a judge he had every intention of going inside the school to shoot students, faculty, and then himself. (KOCO NEWS) The judge urged law enforcement to limit public comment on the case to protect his right to a fair trial.

Pauls Valley isn’t relying on “thoughts and prayers” in the aftermath of this tragedy. The Pauls Valley Board of Education got the early details as changes are in the planning stages to beef up security at all four schools in the wake of the shooting incident. (Pauls Valley Democrat newspaper)

Superintendent Dr. Brett Knight said he and others have worked weekly with state and federal education officials to learn more and move forward with a plan to improve security at each local school.

At the top of the list could be making a change to the main entry points at the schools. One change on the way is the addition of a school resource officer, giving Pauls Valley schools two SROs. One thing that could come from a grant is a weapon detection system, which Superintendent Knight said is far more advanced than metal detectors.

“Innocence has been taken away,” board President JR Jackson said, referring to the shooting aftermath. “This is the new norm.”

The “New Norm”

If you have been personally affected by a school shooting, I offer my condolences. I hope you are getting whatever help you need to recover.

As I wrote earlier, I haven’t thought about Pauls Valley in 50 years. I’m disappointed that this is the reason it made the news. I applaud and appreciate Principal Moore and the other principals and teachers like him.

And there are likely other kids like the one charged in this shooting and am frustrated that we seem unable to identify and stop them. I wonder why the MAHA movement ignores this issue.

What thoughts come into your mind when you hear about “another” school shooting?

What emotions do school shooting reports stir up for you?

What actions will you take about the issue of school violence? I hope you will keep it in mind as your communities hold primaries in preparation for the midterm elections in the fall.

Images in this Post

The cover photo is from the RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com and is not affiliated with Pauls Valley High School.

The statistical graphic is from USAFacts, “built on official US government data”.

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Reading this related post might save your life.

How to Survive an Active Shooter

Shootings in the United States have resulted in numerous casualties across diverse demographics. An active shooter poses a significant threat, necessitating preparedness. The recommended response includes three strategies: RUN to safety, HIDE if escape is impossible, and FIGHT as a last resort. Prioritizing personal and collective safety is crucial.

Keep reading

Understanding GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss and Diabetes

Here I review th GLP-1 drugs, approved for managing type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss, simulate the GLP-1 hormone, promoting fullness and blood sugar control. While they can be effective, they come with risks and side effects, and long-term success requires lifestyle changes, regular exercise, and mental health support, as emphasized by healthcare professionals.

This information is current as of the date of original publication or update but may have changed by the time you read this. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with a qualified healthcare professional.

When I was in medical practice, patients asked me for weight loss drugs. There were a few that varied in effectiveness, side effects, and risks. In general, none were effective in significant long-term weight loss.

I also had numerous patients with type 2 diabetes who needed medication to achieve optimal blood sugar levels, but did not want or need insulin. Again, there were several, but most patients needed at least two drugs to lower the glucose to the target level.

Then came the GLP-1 drugs.

GLP-1 medications (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) are FDA-approved drugs used to manage type 2 diabetes and chronic weight loss. Popular brands include Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, which are generally meant for adults with high BMI (body mass index) or weight-related conditions. 

(Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool that calculates a person’s body fat percentage based on their height and weight. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters squared.)

How GLP-1 Drugs Work

  • Appetite Regulation: They mimic the GLP-1 hormone, signaling to the brain that you are full, reducing hunger and calorie intake.
  • Blood Sugar Control: They stimulate insulin release after meals and prevent the liver from producing too much glucose.
  • Slower Digestion: They delay gastric emptying, keeping food in the stomach

However, they are not perfect and have risks.

  • Possible side effects -nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, which often improve over time.
  • Potential for thyroid C-cell tumors (based on animal studies), pancreatitis, kidney issues, and severe gallbladder issues.
  •  Rapid weight loss can cause “GLP-1 face” (loss of facial fat leading to a sagging/wrinkled appearance)
  • costs over $1000 per month, and insurance coverage varies
  • FDA has warned about risks associated with unapproved, compounded versions of these medications.

Taking a GLP-1? Doctors Say Not To Forget About Movement and Mental Health

Emily Siner, Nashville Public Radio and Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio

Severe ankle pain drove Jelon Smart to start taking a weight-loss injection a year and a half ago.

Smart was 285 pounds and worked as a caterer in Savannah, Georgia. After she’d been standing on her feet for long hours, her ankles would be “as swollen as a football,” she said. She was walking with a limp.

An orthopedic doctor diagnosed her with Achilles tendinitis and recommended losing weight to mitigate the symptoms. Smart began taking the brand-name GLP-1 Ozempic.

The appetite suppression resulted in her shedding pounds quickly, at first.

“I lost 30 pounds initially without changing anything,” said Smart, 48. But then she found herself unable to shed additional pounds.

GLP-1 Drugs- Weight Loss Made Easy

GLP-1s have quickly become one of the most popular types of weight loss drug in America. Nearly 1 in 5 people have taken them at some point, according to research from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

But doctors say it takes more than a regular shot for patients to achieve their weight goals in the long run.

Body mass index chart
A BMI OF 30 or more represents obesity. BMI Chart created by Vertex42.com. Used with permission.

Here’s what to know.

The Old-School Rules of Diet and Exercise

Regular exercise, smart food choices, plenty of sleep — those basic, healthy lifestyle choices are not only going to help you lose weight on a weight loss drug but also help you keep it off, said Dafina Allen, an  obesity medicine physician who runs a clinic in Saginaw, Michigan.

For example, some people find that they eat less on a GLP-1, “but they’re not improving their health because they’re not exercising. They’re not improving the quality of the food they’re eating,” Allen said.

The path to weight loss is also guided by hormones, metabolism, and genetics.

After her weight loss on Ozempic plateaued, Smart realized she needed to start moving her body, too.  “I’m in the gym now six days a week,” she said. “I went from 285 to 175” pounds. The swelling and pain in her ankle went away as well.

Photo by Julia Larson on Pexels.com

Mental Health Matters Too

The mind and body are deeply connected. Food and body image can be especially emotional, Allen said. “I can tell you about the patients that I helped lose 50 pounds, that I helped lose 100 pounds, and they still look in the mirror and are not happy.”

The key is seeking help for mental health along the way, said Gerald Onuoha, who practices internal medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. “Making sure that you’re talking to people about your problems, whether it’s a family member or a licensed professional, I think goes a long way,” he said.

Work With a Doctor To Closely Monitor Your Dosage

Onuoha said people can run into serious problems if they increase their GLP-1 dosage too quickly or don’t follow the recommended schedule. He’s seen patients come to the hospital with pancreatitis, gallstones, or acute kidney injury.

 “I always ask patients who are on GLP-1s: How long have they been on them?” he said. “Are they adhering to the directions? Because those things determine whether or not you’re going to have those complications.”

a female physician talking to a male patient
image from LIGHTSTOCK, affiliate

Part of the issue, Allen said, is that GLP-1s are relatively easy to access — and often much cheaper — through online pharmacies or websites, but those providers may not educate patients about their dosage or side effects.

“So they might just go online, find a random company that will ship it to their house, where they don’t even know what dose of the medication they’re taking, or even if the medicine is safe for them as the patient with the medical conditions they have,” she said.

People and Policy-Who Pays for GLP-1s?

GLP-1 drugs can be costly, and most insurance programs — public or private — don’t cover the medications for weight loss.

Medicaid, the government program that covers 69 million Americans, covers GLP-1s for medically accepted conditions like diabetes, but only about a dozen state Medicaid programs cover GLP-1s for obesity treatment, according to KFF.

For older Americans with Medicare, the federal government is planning to allow temporary coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss starting in July.

Katherine Ruppelt at Nashville Public Radio contributed to this report.

HealthQ is a health series from reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, approachable guides to an unapproachable health care system. It’s a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News.KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Images in this Post

The photos in this post are for illustration only and were not in the original article.

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Use this search box for related posts on this blog or other topics of interest to you.

Dr. Aletha