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Local Medical Academies Preparing Students for Health Careers

by CHERYL ROGERS Eighteen public schools in Polk County train students for future careers in healthcare through medical or health science programs. Here’s a look at how some of them have fared. Katya Viegas and Janet Hernandez are heading to medical school. Jesus Jimenez, or J.J., is glad he found an incentive to finish high…
Pop Quiz: Facts and Stats about Immunizations

by ERIKA ALDRICH August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to explore the topic of immunizations around the globe. The efforts to immunize people against debilitating and life-threatening diseases is a global initiative that we are all a part of. Test your knowledge of facts and statistics about immunizations by taking…
Tips to Prepare for the New School Year

by Mary Toothman It’s that time of year again: School supply aisles will be flooded with parents and children, clutching lists of what is required. First-day-of-school outfits will be carefully selected by many students. Late-morning sleep-ins will be replaced by early wake-up calls. Back to school means many things to parents and students — some…

Family Health: It’s time for back-to-school physicals

THE ARRIVAL of summer means it’s time for your child’s back-to-school physical. Since classes in Polk County public schools begin August 24, now is the perfect time to make your appointment at Pediatric Partners in Winter Haven.
Medical Advice: New ‘Sun’s Up’ project to help residents and visitors stay safe from UV radiation

AS SCHOOL comes to a close and the thermometer begins to climb, it is a good time to remember the importance of protecting our skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Florida offers so many opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but we need to remain aware of the dangers that come…
Healthy Cook: Kid-approved summer snacks with blueberries

WE HAVE A PROBLEM. Too many of our children are overweight or obese. And that can lead to type 2 diabetes. The reasons are easy to figure out. Just look at the youngsters and compare what they are doing now with what kids did in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.