Features

Lakeland Community, Family Support 9-Year-Old Warrior in Fight Against Cancer by PAUL CATALA photos provided by HUTSON FAMILY Aubrey Hutson’s health journey began at 7 years old in 2021 with knee pain that led to doctor’s office visits and trips to the emergency room. Eventually, the young Lakeland girl and her family received the diagnosis: […]

Workshop Series to Help Women Navigate the New Normal After Beating Breast Cancer by K. MICHELE TRICE For cancer patients, there is nothing like making it to the end of treatment and ringing that celebratory bell. Some patients, however, find an uncertainty and unease they hadn’t anticipated once on the other side of that celebration.

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care Every October, we don pink ribbons to show our support for those affected by breast cancer, a disease that claims the lives of over 42,000 women each year in the U.S. Ann Claussen, breast cancer survivor and CEO of Central Florida Health Care, knows firsthand how

Breast Cancer Survivor Nikita Lyons Smith Shares Her Story of Hope and Support by RYAN MILEJCZAK photo by JESSICA McDONALD Nikita Lyons Smith has a story that would inspire anyone. She boasts many accomplishments over her 20-year pharmacy career, including opening Winter Haven’s Mercy Pharmacy and becoming Winter Haven’s first African-American female independent pharmacy owner.

Mammograms are a fact of life for the majority of women as The American College of Radiology recommends annual screening mammograms for all women older than 40 as a necessary breast cancer screening. Despite the necessity of mammograms, there is a lot of incorrect information circulating about them. Get the facts by taking our quiz

Inaugural AdventHealth Dean of Nursing Talks About Making Difference by K. MICHELE TRICE A $1.7 million endowment to the Polk State College Foundation sparked the creation of an AdventHealth Dean of Nursing position at Polk State College.  Dr. Deleise Wilson, who has three decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience, is the first to serve

Southeastern University Introduces New Hybrid Associate’s Degree in Nursing Program by RYAN MILEJCZAK Lakeland’s Southeastern University has been offering high-quality, faith-based education to Central Florida and beyond for decades. With programs in fields like ministerial leadership, educational medicine, and business studies, they’ve helped many students achieve their professional goals. Now, SEU is hoping to help

by TERESA SCHIFFERSponsored by Central Florida Health Care Of all the difficult or uncomfortable conversations parents need to have with their children before they’re grown, one of the most challenging subjects to broach could suicide. But silence can kill, making it absolutely vital that parents summon the nerve to open communication on this topic. Suicide

National Epidemic: Get the Facts on Childhood Obesity September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. While Florida ranks 35th in the nation for childhood obesity, the problem is widespread across the country. Knowing the ins and outs of the disease is the first step to ending it. Take our quiz on childhood obesity to learn

5 of BayCare Residency Program’s Inaugural Class Staying in Area to Provide Care by TERESA SCHIFFER Three years ago, six enthusiastic medical school graduates entered a new residency program at BayCare Medical Group’s Family Health Center in Winter Haven, under the leadership of Dr. Nathan Falk. On June 17 of this year, after serving Central