Here’s to your Health

For Dan Hudson, M.D., being a doctor runs in the family. “I was inspired to become a doctor by watching my father who was a urologist at Carraway Methodist Medical Center,” Dr. Hudson shares. In addition to his father’s influence, his brother eventually joined their father’s practice, and his sister is married to a physician. Dr. Hudson has three daughters who are all working in the medical field, too!

Dr. Hudson is a native of Birmingham and earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He returned to Birmingham and completed his residency training at Carraway Methodist Medical Center. He has served with the Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C. (HWWC) as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist since 1998. “One of the physicians asked me to join the team and it has been an enjoyable experience working with such dedicated physicians for the last 24 years,” Dr. Hudson says. 

Connecting with patients is just one aspect of being a physician that Dr. Hudson enjoys. “I always hope to be a positive influence in my patient’s lives,” he says, adding, “My faith is important in establishing a trusting, loving relationship with my patients. If I can exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit in my interactions with patients, they are drawn to that.” He also enjoys the surgical aspect of being an OBGYN. “I really enjoy performing robotic surgery.” Dr. Hudson sees patients four days a week at the Birmingham location. On Thursdays, he can be found at the Gadsden or Cullman offices. 

For more than 40 years, Henderson & Walton Women’s Center has been specializing in women’s health care. All the OB/GYN physicians, including Dr. Hudson, are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For patient convenience, HWWC sees patients in Birmingham, Alabaster, Chelsea, Cullman, Rainbow City/Gadsden, Jasper, and Tuscaloosa. To learn more about Dr. Hudson and the team of physicians and staff at Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C., visit www.hwwc.net or call 205-930-1800.

-Melissa Armstrong 

Special Feature

Freezing rain had been falling for over an hour; Jodi started her engine one more time praying they could make it through the night with little or no heat. They couldn’t hang on much longer like this. She noted half a tank of gas. Stuffing her arms up in both sleeves of her hoodie to rub her arms for warmth she watched her three-year-old twins sleeping quietly under two blankets she had slipped into the trunk a week before. Scraps of candy and crackers littered the back seat and a milk container she purchased at a nearby grocery store was almost empty. Jodi checked her purse, $25.00 and some change. Three days on the road now.

Fear gripped her when she thought of their narrow escape. Her husband had once again beaten her after an argument but then he slept hard. She had a window of time. Leaving was not an easy choice. She kept hoping. For years she suffered conflicting emotions, good days, bad days, but the continued verbal, psychological, and physical abuse was unbearable. No more! She and the twins would get out of that environment. In a blur of emotion, she grabbed the keys, a diaper bag for the boys plus the two sleepy eyed babies and left. “Lord, what am I doing, Christmas is next week?! Please,” she cried out. “I do not want to take my boys into a shelter at Christmas.” She did not want to spend the holidays around strangers trying to make her happy when she was so crushed and broken. Would she ever have a warm holiday in a quiet, safe home? Being in a shelter seemed so horribly wrong at Christmas.

There are hundreds of Jodi’s out there experiencing pain on pain during the holiday season. Thankfully, shelters do offer a short-term solution, but the dream of having a home is often never realized. When women leave shelters, they may not be able to secure and maintain independent living. We would like to offer a longer-term solution to finding that “place of my own.” It is a project entitled “Housing Hope” utilizing renovated campers for women in need. Donated campers can make this a reality. For more information, email  [email protected], call 205-677-3041 or visit www.hopes-door.org.

-Liz Sherrell, Michelle Sylestine 

Mother, daughter team: Founder and Exec. Dir. of Hope’s Door