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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: Is it a headache or migraine?

WHEN A HEADACHE HITS, it can prove to be debilitating. Headaches often come with sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, throbbing temples, and even nausea and vomiting. Headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week, so when you’re suffering, it’s important to know how to manage the pain and whether you’re dealing with…
Editor’s Dose: A thank-you note to teachers and educators

AS A MOTHER, you experience so many emotions on the first day of school. You want your child to be excited, confident, and safe. But, you also have a countless number of worries about how they will interact with their classmates and teachers. Will they find a friendly face? What will they do when faced…
Medical Advice: Drain and cover reminders to prevent mosquito bites

AS FLORIDA’S LATE-AFTERNOON showers continue to roll in, the standing water around our homes, schools, and areas of recreation continue to swell. While this may put a damper on an afternoon of outdoor activities, what many do not realize is that this standing water also cultivates a breeding ground for pesky bugs like mosquitoes.