On a cool and overcast September morning in central Minnesota, the windows of Charlies Caf in Freeport were fogged with the steam of maple syrup, coffee and bacon.

At the counter, men in coveralls and baseball caps sat on chrome swivel stools and discussed the world while waitresses made their rounds with carafes in hand and notepads tucked in their aprons.

At the same time, in the basement, Doctors Anthony Bottini, Praveen Baimeedi and Christina Gonzaga were discussing Elements of the Neurologic Exam with a group of about twenty Twin Cities clinicians, all of them in need of Continuing Medical Education credits (CME).

Later, in a makeshift bike corral by the Lake Wobegon Trail, they all mounted bikes, put on headphones, and pedaled east to Albany and then north to Highway 10 through the hamlets of Holdingford and Bowlus.

But instead of listening to Taylor Swifts latest creation, the topic was much more serious: The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Treatment of

Low Back Pain.Not your average fare for a casual trail

ride.

TAKE IT OUTSIDEDr. Bottini, neurosurgeon at Park

Nicollet in St. Louis Park, had the idea for taking lessons outdoors at one

seemingly endless event. The problem is, you sit on

your behind for 4-5 hours in a conference room and people nod off, or play with their phones he said.

Having a seminar on a trail seemed like a perfect solution.

I lived in St. Cloud for twelve years, and I was familiar with the

Lake Wobegon and Soo Line trails, he said.

We recorded three hours of medical information and participants listen to it

on their iPods while they get some exercise. The talks were supplemented by slides and

live presentations. People are outside, get

Neurological studies on the trail

by Jan LasarTrails Publisher

10 Summer 2015 Minnesota Trails

1505Summer.indd 10 5/5/15 1:26 PM