Hitchcock Health Institute

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from Dr. Hitchcock and her furry support staff! ❤️🎄☃️

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas Eve 🎄from Dr. Hitchcock and the HHI team! To out patients: Hoping you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends wherever you are celebrating. No snow here in Orlando, what about where you are????

Lara Hitchcock, MD, FAAFP is a MDVIP Affiliate offering a combination of wellness plus program onsite ultra-preventative testing with personalized concierge- style medicine.

12/20/2025

12/14/2025

Scientists have discovered that wax moth larvae, known as wax worms, can break down polyethylene plastic—a material that takes decades to decompose. These larvae, which naturally feed on beeswax, have been found to also consume polyethylene, breaking it down with the help of bacteria in their guts. In laboratory tests, about 2,000 wax worms were able to degrade an entire polyethylene bag in just 24 hours.

Researchers have identified that the larvae's ability to digest plastic is linked to specific bacteria in their intestines. When these bacteria were suppressed using antibiotics, the larvae's ability to break down polyethylene significantly decreased. This suggests that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the degradation process.

Further studies revealed that the larvae convert the broken-down plastic into lipids, storing it as body fat. However, a diet consisting solely of polyethylene led to rapid weight loss and death in the larvae, indicating the need for additional nutrients to sustain their health.

To harness this natural process, scientists propose two strategies: one involves mass-producing wax worms fed on polyethylene, potentially using them in waste management; the other focuses on isolating the responsible bacteria and enzymes to create a scalable method for plastic degradation without relying on the insects themselves.

Research Paper 📄
DOI: 10.1038/ndigest.2017.170827

12/13/2025

One study found that meditating for 2 months increased gray matter in parts of the brain that control emotions and learning. It may also ease inflammation in the brain and protect against Alzheimer’s disease. https://wb.md/4rOCR4R

12/05/2025

We had a blast at our HHI holiday outing!! 🎄🎨 We are now known as Team Picasso 🤣🤣🤣

12/03/2025

This Giving Tuesday, let’s flip the script.

Instead of simply giving, what if you could see the impact of your support firsthand?

At Lighthouse Central Florida, every contribution — whether it’s time, resources, or donations — helps us open new doors for people who are visually impaired. Want to see just how big an impact you can make?

📚 Your support helps children explore tactile books and learn the joys of reading.

🧑‍🍳 Your involvement creates opportunities for adults to gain life-changing skills, like cooking safely or navigating their world independently.

💼 Your engagement means occupational therapy and job readiness support for those ready to enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence.

You’re not just giving to a cause — you’re giving individuals the tools to thrive.

Click here to join us in seeing what's possible, together — http://lighthousecfl.org/mynextchapter

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!!! So grateful to my patients whom I am grateful and honored to care for and my team that works so hard by my side every day. So blessed times a million 🙏🙏🙏 It is with an appreciative heart that I wish you all a fantastic Thanksgiving with your family and friends!!!

11/21/2025

This morning, Dr. Julie Heimbach and her liver transplant team performed the 4000th liver transplant at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota!

We honor every patient, donor, family, and team member who made this milestone possible. With deep gratitude, Mayo Clinic teams continue to innovate transplant forward—offering hope and healing to patients who once had no other options.

11/14/2025

11/14/2025

Happy, Happy Birthday to Jamie!!! 💕🎂🎉 May this year around the sun be one of your best yet!! 🌺☀️