print | close window | Doctor Champions for Children Some people have jobs, some have careers, Dr. Henry Anhalt (D.O. ’88) has a mission — he strives daily to improve the healthcare options available to children. During his 17 years as a physician, Henry has seen proof that the National Institutes of Health are right in their assertion that the rising threat of childhood obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions. Although these observations make him sad, the sham treatments hoisted on hapless families trying to improve their health also anger him. But hope remains as he witnesses progress among his own patients. As director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., Henry has created a program geared to help children learn healthy habits that will last a lifetime. He has worked with a team of healthcare experts to create the Healthy L.I.F.E. (Lifestyle Is For Everyone) plan to do more than just help an overweight child lose a few pounds. “For weight loss to be meaningful, children and their families must learn behavior modification that will lead to lifelong results,” he says. Henry is also dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with diabetes after seeing too many of them “literally become a slave” to their treatments. He says most children with diabetes who come to him are depressed following years of strict regimens. Many were told by their former doctors that they should be doing more to stay healthy. Henry strives to make the children understand that they are more than their disease. He teaches them how to control diabetes so it doesn’t control them. For his efforts, Henry received a Best Practice in Diabetes Research award from the American Osteopathic Foundation. The doctor is still an active lecturer at NYCOM, happily returning to his alma mater to share his experiences. “I am forever in debt to NYCOM,” he says. “My professors had faith in me and made me everything that I am today.” Whenever he mentions NYCOM to someone who is considering medical school, Henry says, “If you’re lucky enough to get in there, grab it.” While his medical missions keep him extremely busy, the doctor always finds time for his family. Henry and his wife, Rona, have three children – Alexander, Ariana and Aiden. Indeed, his happiest time of day is early in the morning when he makes breakfast for the children and sends them off to school. “Family has to come first,” he says.   - Angela Marshall   Send feedback and story ideas to alumni@nyit.edu.   top | print | close window | ©2006 New York Institute of Technology. All rights reserved.