Willis-Knighton Health System has announced that James K. Elrod, president and chief executive officer, plans to retire effective Sept. 30. The board of directors has unanimously elected Jerry A. Fielder II (Jaf) to succeed Elrod as president and CEO.

As kids and parents gear up for the backto-school season, the excitement and concern over the growing to-do list follow.

Cold weather can affect our activities and how we feel doing them. A common complaint is joint pain. Research has not been able to explain precisely why joint pain occurs with changing seasons and weather. One theory is the change in air pressure and its effects on the surrounding tissues.

• The thymus, which is located behind the breastbone, is one of the organs of the immune system. The thymus is where immune cells – white blood cells – called T lymphocytes (T cells) mature. The thymus begins to shrink when we are young adults. By middle age, it is only about 15 percent of its maximum size.

Robotic surgery, also known as robotassisted surgery, is an option for numerous surgical procedures, including bariatric, urology, gynecology, cardiovascular, thoracic, orthopedic and general surgery.