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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…

Treatments Can Help Diminish Acne Scars

Many adults struggle with acne scarring, whether left over from their teenage years or as a more recent result. There are many ways to reduce the appearance of or even heal old acne scars. A dermatologist can help assess the patient’s skin and scarring and recommend treatments. There are several kinds of acne scars.…
What to Ask Your GYN at Annual Check-Ups

Your annual well-woman exam is crucial to your whole health. So, what should you be asking? Breast Health Ask about when you should begin your mammograms. Most women with average risk for developing breast cancer start mammograms between 40 and 49. Your doctor will take into account your family history and other factors to determine…
“There’s a fly in my soup!”

“There’s a fly in my soup!” No… wait, that’s not a fly. It’s a floater. What are floaters? And why do we get them? Floaters are a symptom of the natural aging of the vitreous gel in the eye. Our eyeballs are filled with gel, and as we grow older, the gel becomes more liquid.…