Health Journal Online

Category: Diseases & Conditions

  • Man Held by ICE Was Jailed in Alaska for Weeks. Now He’s in the Hospital Battling Tuberculosis

    Man Held by ICE Was Jailed in Alaska for Weeks. Now He’s in the Hospital Battling Tuberculosis

    A Peruvian man has been hospitalized for tuberculosis after being detained in a detention center run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a lawyer representing the man.

    The man was held at an Alaska jail alongside 40 other individuals after he was flown to Anchorage from a Tacoma regional immigration detention center. This transportation came from a deal between ICE and the state in an attempt to tackle overcrowding, as reported by Anchorage Daily News.

    The man, who was seeking asylum, remained at Cook Inlet Pretrial Facility from June 8 to June 30, according to his attorney Sean Quirk. He was then flown back to the ICE detention facility in Tacoma, Washington.

    Quirk was reportedly unable to get in contact with his client for days, calling the facilities in which he was allegedly being detained repeatedly. He only learned of his client’s hospitalization when he failed to appear for a virtual hearing.

    The lawyer attempted to speak to his client over the phone, calling numerous Tacoma-area hospitals in order to get in contact with him. At one point, a nurse attempted to hand a phone to his client while Quirk was on the call, but an ICE agent allegedly intervened and prevented the man from taking the call.

    Quirk was eventually able to get in contact with his client. How the man contracted tuberculosis or where he contracted it from is still unknown.

    State corrections officials have stated that the detainees were properly screened for potential diseases before their detention, and have further claimed that no larger outbreak has occurred within the facility.

    Furthermore, as of Wednesday afternoon, there have been “no reported cases of (tuberculosis) in any facilities,” a spokesperson from the Alaska Department of Corrections told the outlet.

    Originally published on Latin Times

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  • How Community Health Centers Help Prevent Spread of Infectious Diseases

    How Community Health Centers Help Prevent Spread of Infectious Diseases

    Infectious diseases spread quickly when left unchecked. In low-income and underserved neighborhoods, the danger is especially real.

    Spread of such diseases increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in rural and least-developed communities. Most people in these communities have very limited access to care. Some delay treatment due to cost or mistrust of the healthcare system. Some do so due to a lack of health education and awareness within these communities.

    This is where community health centers step in and fill a critical gap. These local clinics aren’t just about treating illnesses after they happen. They work every day to stop outbreaks before they begin.

    Let’s explore the ways community health clinics or centers help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

    Access to Care When It Matters Most

    Community health centers often serve people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. They act as a vital part of the health safety net in communities that lack access to high-end medical care.

    Many patients do not have private insurance. Others speak little English or work jobs that make visiting a doctor difficult. In these situations, community clinics become a trusted source of regular care.

    When people know they can come in for free or low-cost help, they do not wait until symptoms grow worse. These clinics offer early diagnoses for things like the flu, tuberculosis, or sexually transmitted infections. They also track patients over time, making it easier to stop the spread of infection before it reaches more people.

    Health Education That Reaches Everyone

    Preventing disease is not just about vaccines or medication. It also involves education.

    Community health centers often run outreach programs, visiting schools, churches, and even workplaces. Their goal is to teach basic but vital habits like washing hands properly and knowing when to see a doctor.

    People in these communities may not always trust big healthcare institutions. But they are more likely to listen to someone from their own neighborhood.

    When a health educator speaks the same language and shares a similar background, the message carries more weight. That trust is essential to stopping infectious diseases from taking root and spreading.

    Quick Response During Outbreaks

    When diseases spread, every hour matters. Community health centers can move fast. Unlike larger hospitals, they are already embedded in the neighborhood. They know the people, the patterns, and the risks. That allows them to act quickly, offering testing, treatment, and isolation when needed.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these clinics turned into vaccination hubs. They also provided masks, hygiene kits, and reliable information. Their deep roots in the community made them a vital part of the public health response. Their swift action likely saved thousands of lives.

    Trained Nurses on the Front Lines

    One reason these clinics succeed is the people who work there. Nurses, in particular, play a major role. They are often the first point of contact for patients. They know how to identify symptoms early, calm fears, and deliver life-saving care. Their training allows them to act quickly and with compassion.

    Infectious diseases don’t wait for a doctor to be available. Trained nurses can screen patients, administer vaccines, and educate families. Many are also involved in contact tracing or follow-up visits. Their ability to work under pressure while maintaining a personal touch is what sets these clinics apart.

    To keep up with growing demand, more nurses are preparing for this kind of work through online accelerated nursing degrees. These nursing degrees allow students to finish a nursing program in less time without compromising on quality. Many choose an online accelerated BSN program, which combines flexible coursework with essential clinical rotations.

    As noted by Cleveland State University, such accelerated programs are often community-focused. Hence, these nursing students are eager to join the workforce and make a difference. Their training prepares them for hands-on nursing practice, including in community health centers, where they can directly help prevent disease outbreaks.

    Routine Services That Make a Big Difference

    It’s easy to overlook routine care, but it plays a huge role in disease prevention. Annual checkups, vaccinations, and screenings can uncover health problems early.

    A patient who comes in for a cough might be tested for something more serious. In catching infections early, clinics reduce the chance of a wider spread.

    These visits also give providers a chance to talk to patients about staying healthy. That includes managing chronic illnesses that can make infections worse, such as diabetes or asthma.

    By keeping these conditions under control, community health centers help people avoid serious complications when exposed to infectious diseases.

    Support for Vulnerable Populations

    Some groups are more at risk for infection than others. Homeless individuals, the elderly, and people with substance use disorders face higher risks. Community health centers often offer targeted services for these groups. They provide clean syringes, STI testing, and mobile care units.

    This targeted approach keeps infections like hepatitis C or HIV from spreading through the broader population. It also gives these vulnerable individuals a chance to improve their overall health.

    Data Collection That Supports Public Health

    Another overlooked role of community clinics is data gathering. They track illnesses by zip code, age group, and symptom. This information is crucial for larger public health agencies trying to predict outbreaks. Without these localized numbers, health officials are flying blind.

    In return, community health centers often receive updates and alerts. This two-way street ensures they can adjust their services based on real-time data.

    For example, if flu cases rise in a nearby neighborhood, the clinic might offer walk-in flu shots all week. That kind of coordination is only possible with solid data.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Where are community health centers mostly set up?

    Community health centers are typically set up in underserved or low-income areas where access to healthcare is limited. These include rural towns, inner-city neighborhoods, and regions with high rates of uninsured or underinsured populations. Their main goal is to bridge healthcare gaps by offering affordable, accessible services close to where people live and work.

    What kind of personnel do community health centers have?

    Community health centers employ a mix of healthcare professionals including general physicians, nurses, mental health counselors, dentists, and social workers. They often include administrative staff, interpreters, and health educators to serve diverse populations. Many also partner with local universities and training programs to bring in interns, residents, or volunteer providers to expand services.

    How do community health centers help educate people regarding infectious diseases?

    These centers educate communities through workshops, brochures, one-on-one counseling, and outreach events. They simplify complex health information about symptoms, transmission, and prevention, making it more accessible to the public. Staff often conduct vaccination drives and collaborate with schools, faith groups, or local leaders to spread awareness and combat misinformation.

    Community health centers are not just medical buildings. They are lifelines that keep entire neighborhoods safe from infectious diseases. By offering care, education, and trust, they build a wall of protection that benefits everyone.

    As our world faces new health threats, these clinics will remain essential. Their local presence, trained staff, and deep relationships make them uniquely effective.

    In a society where health inequality still exists, community health centers quietly save lives every day. Their work deserves support, attention, and investment because disease prevention starts with people who care.

    Faisal Bin Iqbal is a writer, journalist, and digital content and SEO strategist based in Bangladesh. He has years of experience in content and feature writing covering areas including, but not limited to, academics, career and skill development, tech, healthcare, and business. Faisal is currently working as a sub-editor and digital coordinator for The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s largest English daily.

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  • ‘Page After Page After Page’

    ‘Page After Page After Page’

    Science educator Bill Nye says he was forced to block Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after being bombarded with texts pushing debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.

    In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Nye laughed about the flood of messages, saying Kennedy — a longtime vaccine skeptic — was “relentless,” sending “page after page after page” trying to convince him of a link rejected by scientific consensus.



    “I just told him he confused causation with correlation,” Nye explained. “Just because somebody got a vaccination and then somebody else got autism doesn’t mean one caused the other. This is science.”

    Nye also suggested President Donald Trump deliberately chose a controversial figure like Kennedy to lead HHS. “Respectfully, the president likes things to be chaotic,” Nye said. “So he hires people who are controversial on purpose and here we are.”

    Kennedy has faced criticism for spreading vaccine misinformation — views that have been thoroughly debunked by public health experts and researchers worldwide.

    As of this week, there have been more measles cases in 2025 than any year since the virus was declared eradicated in the US in 2000, according to the CDC. This year, 1,288 people have had a confirmed case of the vaccine-preventable virus.

    Vaccine compliance rates among children entering kindergarten have declined nationwide — from 95% in 2019 to 93% in 2023. Experts fear the measles outbreak is a “canary in a coal mine,” signaling a return of preventable disease outbreaks.

    Originally published on Latin Times

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  • Jeremy Griffith Reveals the Biological Cause of Emotional Turmoil

    Jeremy Griffith Reveals the Biological Cause of Emotional Turmoil

    In recent years mental health has become a global concern with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress affecting individuals across all demographics. While therapeutic techniques and neuroscientific models continue to offer valuable support, some researchers argue that we’re missing a deeper explanation for why so many people feel fundamentally insecure or emotionally conflicted.

    One such voice is Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith whose decades-long work on the human condition offers a provocative and biologically grounded theory about the root cause of our emotional struggles. His work has attracted praise from a wide range of respected thinkers across disciplines – including science, philosophy, and mental health – for its potential to reframe how we understand human behavior, and more importantly, how we heal.

    A Biological Theory of the Human Condition

    At the core of Jeremy Griffith’s theory is a concept he refers to as the human condition – the psychologically troubled state that arose in the human species as a result of a conflict between two parts of our evolutionary makeup: instinct and intellect.

    He explains that our instincts, developed over millions of years through natural selection, provide fixed orientations for behavior. But as humans evolved the ability to think, reflect, and experiment – as our conscious intellect emerged – we began acting independently of those instinctive drives. And here’s the critical point: because our instincts are not capable of understanding this new, flexible, knowledge-seeking behavior, they responded as if our conscious mind was misbehaving, doing something fundamentally wrong.

    Griffith describes this response as a form of internal condemnation. Our instincts in effect couldn’t grasp the need for exploration and experimentation, and so they effectively “criticized” our conscious attempts to understand and manage the world. The result was a deep psychological conflict: the conscious mind, unable to explain or justify itself against this instinctive opposition, became defensive, angry, preoccupied with proving its worth, and blocking out the ‘criticism’ or alienated. We became angry, egocentric and alienated sufferers of what Griffith refers to as the human condition.

    Crucially, Griffith emphasizes that this condition is not shameful, but heroic. It arose not from failure, but from the courageous pursuit of knowledge and self-understanding. And most significantly, he argues, now that we can explain this conflict, we are finally in a position to resolve it – bring an end to the need for our defensive angry, egocentric and alienated behavior and heal the psychological suffering that has burdened humans for so long.

    A Compassionate and Controversial Insight

    One of the most compelling aspects of Jeremy Griffith’s explanation is that it seeks to defend, rather than condemn, human behavior – by revealing its deeper biological roots. While trauma, environment, and brain chemistry certainly play a role in emotional health, Griffith contends that these are surface expressions of a much deeper biological clash – one that explains not just individual distress, but generational patterns of psychological suffering.

    His work is presented through the World Transformation Movement (WTM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing this theory. The centerpiece of the WTM’s resources is Griffith’s book FREEDOM: The End of the Human Condition, which outlines his argument in scientific and philosophical detail. His ideas have been endorsed by various academics, including Professor Harry Prosen, a former President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, who described the work as “the 11th hour breakthrough humanity has been waiting for.” Professor Scott D. Churchill, a former Chair of Psychology at the University of Dallas, called FREEDOM “the book all humans need to read for our collective wellbeing,” while Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the psychologist who pioneered the concept of “flow,” suggested the theory could prompt a paradigm shift in how we understand human nature.

    Griffith’s supporters argue that understanding the root cause of emotional distress at this macro-biological level could open new doors for mental health treatment – not as a replacement for therapy, but as a foundational framework for understanding ourselves.

    Why It Matters in Mental Health

    So, what does this mean for patients, clinicians, and anyone interested in psychological wellbeing?

    “Once we understand why we have behaved the way we have,” Griffith says, “we can stop blaming ourselves and each other. We can stop the cycle of shame, guilt, and defensive anger, egocentricity and denial, and by so doing begin to heal.”

    This perspective reframes the conversation from one of stigma to one of compassion. It doesn’t invalidate the role of environment or trauma, but suggests that underneath all individual differences lies a universal psychological challenge – and that science may finally be able to explain it.

    As Professor Prosen put it, “the beauty of Griffith’s treatise is that the healing starts at the macro level of the universal human condition… and from under the umbrella of that safe position, everyone can gradually work inwards to their particular experience of all the imperfections in human life that have now, finally, been made sense of.”

    The Path Forward

    In a field often fragmented by competing frameworks – from neurobiology to psychodynamic theory – Griffith’s work stands out for offering a unifying lens, one that bridges the evolutionary and emotional dimensions of human suffering. It is an approach that has been described as a paradigm shift – a foundational biological explanation that has the potential to redefine how mental health is understood and approached.

    Learn more: Completely free access to Jeremy Griffith’s books and interviews is available through the World Transformation Movement, where readers can explore Griffith’s insight in more detail.

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  • How Jay Bhaumik is Shaping the Future of Pharmacy Startups

    How Jay Bhaumik is Shaping the Future of Pharmacy Startups

    The idea of a pharmacy once evoked a counter, white coats, and a shelf lined with bottles. People came for prescriptions and advice. Now, pharmacies are changing as technology and new business ideas reshape the field.

    Today’s pharmacy startups build patient-centered services, digital health tools, and at-home care. This change comes as consumers expect more control, flexibility, and guidance in their health journeys.

    While tradition still matters, startups now guide the next chapter of pharmacy, influenced by tech trends, changing patient needs, and fresh ideas that see the person, not just the prescription. Jay Bhaumik, CEO of Texas Star Pharmacy, explores how the profession is shifting, what drives these changes, and where pharmacy startups might head in the future.

    From the Counter to Startup Culture: How Pharmacy is Reinventing Itself

    For decades, pharmacies followed a reliable script: Fill and dispense prescriptions, offer advice, and stay within well-defined limits set by state and federal law. But a new energy is pulling the field forward, sparked by changes in health policy, consumer behaviors, and the tools now available for care delivery.

    Today, companies large and small are moving past the countertop model. They see gaps in care and work to close them with smart products and seamless services. Some focus on easier prescription refills. Others enable drug price transparency, connect patients with pharmacists over video calls, or provide medication synchronization at home.

    Startups also look beyond medicine, addressing wellness, chronic disease support, and even genetic screening. Growth in telehealth, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence has helped this shift. Patients can go online for care, get reminders to take medications, or use wearables that connect them to support.

    These innovations reflect a broader shift in healthcare, where business models organize around what patients want and need, not just what insurance requires. This new wave is driven by three main forces: Regulatory adjustments that encourage competition, a growing demand for convenience and value, and technology that puts control in the consumer’s hands.

    “Pharmacy is less about transactions and more about relationships, education, and outcomes,” says Jay Bhaumik. “The profession is at a turning point, where startups extend beyond the boundaries of pharmacy to broader healthcare, setting new standards.”

    Technology is revolutionizing the pharmacy startup landscape, turning routine medication management into a personalized, digital-first experience. Telehealth platforms now let patients consult pharmacists remotely, while AI enhances safety by flagging drug interactions and delivering timely medication reminders.

    Mobile apps simplify refills, track adherence, and connect users to live support, making pharmacy access more seamless than ever. These innovations do more than streamline transactions. They improve healthcare access for those with limited mobility, remote locations, or irregular work hours.

    Automated alerts help boost adherence, reduce hospital visits, and improve outcomes. AI processes large datasets to detect side effects, making today’s pharmacies as reliant on algorithms as on active ingredients. Startups thrive by rapidly testing, refining, and scaling their tech solutions.

    Real-time user feedback fuels ongoing improvements, replacing outdated feedback loops with agile responsiveness. At the core is a shift in mindset: the patient is now a customer, expecting convenience, transparency, and personalized care. Startups rise to meet these demands with features like home delivery, intuitive interfaces, and real-time support.

    Services go beyond prescriptions, offering wellness guidance and chronic care management. Even pharmacy education is adapting, training professionals to deliver empathetic, digitally-savvy care that supports the patient’s broader health journey.

    Excitement about pharmacy innovation often collides with practical hurdles, especially in licensure and funding. Pharmacy is highly regulated. New companies must secure licenses in each state they serve and keep up with laws that change frequently. This takes time and money, especially for those with national ambitions.

    Privacy is another constant concern. Companies need advanced systems to protect sensitive health information, which involves ongoing investment in cybersecurity and compliance. Fines and lawsuits over data breaches can erase years of progress in a heartbeat.

    On the financial side, launching a pharmacy startup requires more than vision. Investor interest is often strong early, but companies soon face steep costs on software, compliance, marketing, pharmacy staff, and infrastructure. Many rely on rounds of funding to build a user base before reaching profit. It’s a high-stakes effort where speed, trust, and real-world results matter.

    “Standing out also means providing value to insurers or health systems, not just individual users,” says Bhaumik.

    Some startups must negotiate reimbursement contracts, build relationships with supply chains, or find ways to cut waste in medication spending. The most successful ones combine smart technology with sound business plans and a clear commitment to regulatory compliance.

    Turning Ideas into Action: The Startup Journey in Pharmacy

    Great ideas are just the starting point for pharmacy startups. Turning vision into value requires market research, prototyping, real-world testing, and thoughtful scaling. Success hinges on identifying actual patient needs and maintaining close collaboration with users and healthcare professionals throughout the process.

    Founders begin by studying service gaps, listening to patient concerns, and defining problems worth solving. This research phase shapes smart decisions and helps avoid costly missteps. Next comes building a minimum viable product.

    Teams create early versions to test in the field, often with patients, pharmacy staff, or caregivers. Real feedback reveals what works, what confuses users, and what needs fixing. Iterating based on these insights strengthens design and sharpens focus.

    Real-world testing follows, whether in homes or clinics. Teams measure engagement, satisfaction, and health outcomes. These insights guide improvements and prepare the startup for wider launch.

    Scaling is the final step. As adoption grows, startups hire staff, expand infrastructure, and form partnerships. Feedback loops continue, ensuring products evolve to meet rising demand.

    “Ultimately, pharmacy tech succeeds when it solves real problems. Whether simplifying medication routines or empowering caregivers, solutions grounded in real-life challenges build loyalty, trust, and long-term impact far beyond a business pitch,” says Bhaumik.

    Pharmacy startups grow faster when they team up with doctors and pharmacists. These experts help ensure that new products are safe and work well. Health system partners offer a place to test new ideas on real patients.

    Startups often get advice from pharmacy schools or hospitals to catch safety issues early. Clinics give honest feedback on what works and what doesn’t. Working with trusted medical groups gives startups more respect and helps their solutions catch on.

    These partnerships also help with rules, insurance, and real-world patient needs. Products that fit into daily healthcare routines have a better shot at lasting success. Pharmacy startups are changing how people get their medicine and care. They use tech and expert advice to focus on what patients need most.

    New rules, higher expectations, and digital tools drive these changes. Startups work with healthcare pros to fill gaps and improve service. The future looks promising for companies that listen, build trust, and make care easier for everyone. As these services grow, patients and communities stand to benefit.

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  • New Psychiatry Residency Program Launched in Los Angeles by Residents Medical and Brain Health USA

    New Psychiatry Residency Program Launched in Los Angeles by Residents Medical and Brain Health USA

    Every year on July 1, thousands of newly minted doctors across the United States begin their medical residencies, which is a critical next step in their training that allows them to put their academic knowledge to practical use. For many, this transition follows years of intense preparation, such as undergraduate education, medical school, board examinations, and a challenging application process. According to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the 2024 Match saw more than 50,000 applicants vying for approximately 41,000 positions, which shows the competitive nature of medical residency placements in the United States.

    Residency candidates are assessed on a range of criteria, including their United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. International medical graduates (IMGs) face additional challenges, such as navigating ECFMG certification and competing for a limited pool of positions designated for non-US graduates. Despite these hurdles, IMGs make up a crucial segment of the American healthcare system, comprising more than 25 percent of the physician workforce, according to the American Medical Association.

    To meet the needs of these applicants, several organizations have stepped in to help thousands of medical school students and graduates prepare for and achieve their dream residency or fellowship. Residents Medical, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, plays a unique role in this space by helping medical students and graduates on their path to becoming residents and fellows in the United States. Through a combination of personalized mentorship, application enhancement strategies, and interview preparation techniques, the organization has worked to expand access to residency and fellowship programs, particularly in areas experiencing workforce shortages.

    Residency training itself can vary widely depending on specialty, institution, and geographic location. Psychiatry, for instance, has emerged as one of the fields most in need of new practitioners. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of up to 31,000 psychiatrists by 2030, fueled by increased mental health awareness and provider retirement. New residency programs are being developed in response to these needs, often through collaborations between clinical facilities and academic partners.

    This July, a new ACGME-accredited psychiatry residency program officially opens its doors at Brain Health USA in Los Angeles, California. Developed with support from Residents Medical Consultancy, Brain Health USA’s Psychiatry program will help prepare physicians to meet the growing demand for mental healthcare while also reinforcing quality and compliance through accredited standards. The start of Brain Health’s new psychiatry program marks a moment in the field of graduate medical education, where mental health services have increasingly become a priority across policy and practice.

    “The country has never needed more mental health professionals than it does right now,” said Dr. Michael Everest, Founder, Chairman, & Chief Academic Officer of Residents Medical and Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Everest Family Foundation. “Supporting a psychiatry residency at Brain Health USA allows us to help both patients and physicians at a time when access to behavioral healthcare is an urgent concern.”

    “This residency represents what we strive for, which is creating educational pathways that serve underserved communities while fostering excellence in medical training,” added Dr. Everest. “Every new GME program is an opportunity to support the next generation of healthcare professionals with tools that meet today’s challenges.”

    As the July 1 start date marks a transition for new medical residents across the country, the start of this new psychiatry residency in Los Angeles serves as a milestone and a signal. It reflects the realities of healthcare today, where mental health, educational support, and systemic access must all be addressed in tandem. Through targeted development and a commitment to quality, organizations like Residents Medical are helping reshape the journey into residency.

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  • PROSPER Together Founder Urges a Shift Toward Community Connection

    PROSPER Together Founder Urges a Shift Toward Community Connection

    For decades, the conversation around suicide prevention has been largely dominated by clinical procedures and emergency interventions. But Dr. Kent Corso, a clinical psychologist and founder of PROSPER Together, believes it’s time to shift that narrative and the responsibility back to where it belongs: the community.

    Dr. Corso, whose organization partners closely with rural states like Wyoming to train everyday citizens in evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention, is on a mission to close the 30-year gap between research and practice. “We’ve spent half a century trying to apply a one-size-fits-all solution to a deeply personal and cultural issue,” this board-certified behavior analyst says. “And it’s not working.”

    A key insight Dr. Corso underscores is that suicide isn’t only a mental health problem. “It’s a social issue,” he says. “People in distress are less likely to seek help, especially in areas where doing so violates cultural norms.” In rural America, this often means men like ranchers or farmers who take pride in self-reliance and helping their neighbors but who rarely, if ever, ask for help themselves.

    This ethos is both a challenge and an opportunity. “These are communities that may never walk into a therapy office,” Dr. Corso notes. “But they’ll show up for a neighbor. That’s where our work begins: empowering those neighbors to reduce risk.”

    One of the biggest barriers to timely help is access. In some rural areas, the wait time for a therapist or psychiatrist can be months. Dr. Corso warns: “Nothing we do in, maybe four months from now, will help someone in crisis today.”

    Prosper Logo

    But rather than seeing this as a dead end, PROSPER Together sees it as a call to action. The organization trains all community members to recognize distress, ask meaningful questions, and implement evidence-based tools like Crisis Response Plans (CRPs). These simple but effective plans are personalized action plans people can follow during moments of acute distress. When used in person, CRPs have been shown to reduce suicide attempts by up to 76%. Even via telehealth, according to a 2024 study, they can lower risk by 41%. “These aren’t complicated interventions. They’re just unfamiliar to the general public,” Dr. Corso says. “But anyone can learn them.” And that’s the point.

    Dr. Corso argues that the traditional model of suicide intervention—when someone reports they are in crisis and escalates to the highest level of care—often does more harm than good. “We’re punishing help-seeking behavior with a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach and a system that’s broken. People have such a negative experience that they won’t speak up the next time they’re in distress,” he says.

    Instead, he advocates for a long-game approach: instill comfort, confidence, and competence in communities so they can care for themselves and each other. PROSPER Together’s training programs consistently show that most participants report significant improvements in those three areas. “When people feel ready to help, they’re more likely to help,” Dr. Corso says.

    And readiness doesn’t require a degree. “We don’t need more doctors,” he adds. “We need more neighbors.”

    Another key issue Dr. Corso highlights is the years-long lag between what research shows is effective and what’s implemented in practice. Part of that delay stems from human nature. “The further you get from your postgraduate training, the further you drift from current research,” he explains. “Clinicians trust their anecdotal experience more than a study.”

    Another reason? Fear. Dr. Corso shares, “Providers are afraid of losing their license, so they refer out rather than address it themselves. But that just feeds the system’s dysfunction.” This extends to clinicians not asking every patient about suicidal history. He further explains, “They say they’re not confident or trained enough. That’s exactly what we focus on: training for comfort, confidence, and competence.”

    Progress is happening, albeit slowly. Missouri was the first state to formally acknowledge mental health in its Good Samaritan law. Now, Wyoming is leading as the second state which declared mental health emergencies, including suicide, equally important as physical ones. “This legitimizes mental health and empowers citizens,” Dr. Corso says. “It encourages people to act and lets them know they’re authorized to help.”

    He compares this attainable shift to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): 65% of Americans have been trained in it, even though it’s barely effective outside hospital settings. Meanwhile, something like a CRP, which can reduce suicide attempts by more than 70%, remains relatively unknown to the public. Dr. Corso further states, “Let’s train people to do what works. Let’s meet people where they are, within their culture, values, and communities. That’s how we reduce risk. That’s how we change the trajectory.”

    A single question, asked at the right time, can be the difference between another tragedy and another chance.

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  • A Hospital Group Pioneers Life-Changing 3D-Printed Implants

    A Hospital Group Pioneers Life-Changing 3D-Printed Implants

    Vinmec Healthcare System, a leading private hospital group in Vietnam, is transforming bone cancer care with personalized 3D-printed implants, offering new hope to patients previously facing amputation or lifelong disability.

    In a global first, eight-year-old Tran Minh Duc received a fully 3D-printed, growth-adaptive titanium femur after being diagnosed with aggressive osteosarcoma. Multiple hospitals recommended amputation. Instead, Vinmec offered a two-stage solution using CT-based design and modular implant technology.

    According to medical literature in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there have been no recorded cases of fully 3D-printed, patient-specific femoral implants used in children. That makes Tran Minh Duc the youngest patient in the world to receive a growth-adaptive titanium femur made entirely through 3D printing.

    Today, Duc walks unaided, his limb and childhood preserved.

    “The surgery represented a breakthrough in complex techniques and was a testament to strong collaboration within the multidisciplinary medical team”, Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, Director of the Orthopedic Council, Vinmec Healthcare System, said in a release.

    A similar approach helped 25-year-old Vu Dinh Tuy, whose advanced sarcoma had damaged both femur and pelvis. Instead of removing entire joint systems as in traditional surgeries, Vinmec doctors preserved key tendons and load-bearing structures. This enabled Tuy to take his first steps just two days post-operation.

    Thanks to innovative 3D-printed implant approach, 25-year-old Vu Dinh Tuy took his first steps just two days after surgery to treat aggressive bone cancer.
    BY VINMEC

    This precision-guided, personalized approach also delivered transformative results for middle-aged patients.

    For Do Phuc Hoan, 48, decades of hip deformity from untreated dysplasia had led to severe disability, Crowe type IV. After repeated rejections, he turned to Vinmec. Surgeons implanted a tailored hip prosthesis with 98% anatomical precision, enabling him to walk within a week.

    After decades of immobility from severe hip deformity, 48-year-old Do Phuc Hoan walks again—thanks to a custom 3D-printed hip implant by Vinmec surgeons.
    BY VINMEC

    These surgeries did more than extend survival, they brought back movement, autonomy, and hope. Where traditional methods fell short, 3D printing paved the way for personalized, life-changing care.

    Vietnam’s 3D Healthcare Revolution

    Vinmec is Vietnam’s leading healthcare provider in applying patient-specific 3D printing to musculoskeletal surgery. Using MRI and CT data, the hospital designs custom implants and surgical guides that enhance joint function and speed recovery, often at a lower cost than imported alternatives. Vinmec also became only the second hospital worldwide to join the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Connected network.

    Nationwide, this innovation is accelerating. According to Expert Market Research, Vietnam’s 3D-printed medical device market is expected to triple by 2034, reaching USD 142.8 million.

    Supporting this trend, the Vietnam 3D Technology in Medicine Association was recently launched to connect clinicians, engineers, and industry partners.

    “The establishment of the Association is essential to connecting resources and building a thriving ecosystem for 3D technology development in Vietnam’s healthcare sector.”, Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in medical innovation.

    Commenting from the material-supply side, Dr. Huan Dau, CEO of Vinnotek – one of the country’s leading metal 3D printing firms, added: “Collaboration is key. By building regional supply chains and uniting with scientific organizations, we can reduce costs and improve access to life-saving technology.”

    From pediatric oncology to complex orthopedic care, Vinmec has not only transformed care, it’s positioning Vietnam as a rising force in global healthcare.

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  • ‘You Can Do Drug Approvals Quickly With AI’

    ‘You Can Do Drug Approvals Quickly With AI’

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing renewed scrutiny after declaring the public should “stop trusting experts” while unveiling his plans to integrate artificial intelligence across federal health agencies, including accelerating drug approvals at the FDA.

    Speaking on “The Tucker Carlson Show” on Monday, Kennedy said he is leading an “AI revolution” within the Department of Health and Human Services, enlisting tech talent from Silicon Valley to overhaul outdated systems like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

    His goal, he explained, is to automate and streamline processes like drug approvals without relying on animal testing, arguing that AI tools can achieve results “very, very quickly.”

    “We are at the cutting edge of AI,” Kennedy said. “We’re implementing it in all of our departments. At FDA, we’re accelerating drug approvals so that you don’t need to use primates or even animal models. You can do the drug approvals very, very quickly with AI.”



    Kennedy’s remarks included sweeping criticisms of the scientific establishment, including the assertion that trusting public health experts is “not a feature of science,” but instead akin to “totalitarianism.” He claimed that Americans were wrongly discouraged from conducting their own COVID-19 research, adding, “We need to stop trusting the experts, right?”

    While Kennedy did not specify which AI systems would be used for drug approvals, he suggested the agency would move away from traditional clinical models in favor of simulated testing.

    During the interview, he repeated misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccine trials, suggested former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci should face legal consequences and called for a national “truth commission” to investigate the government’s pandemic response.

    While Kennedy says the agency is actively recruiting engineers and data scientists for his AI initiative, he has yet to announce any formal rule changes or provide technical guidance for how AI would meet existing regulatory standards.

    Originally published on Latin Times

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  • Rural Nebraska Hospital Shuts Down Over ‘Anticipated Cuts to Medicaid’ Hours Before ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Passes

    Rural Nebraska Hospital Shuts Down Over ‘Anticipated Cuts to Medicaid’ Hours Before ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Passes

    A small town clinic in southwest Nebraska will close its doors after more than three decades, citing financial strain and looming federal cuts to Medicaid.

    Community Hospital in McCook announced Wednesday that it will be shutting down the Curtis Medical Center in Curtis — a community of roughly 900 residents. The announcement, reported by KLKN-TV, came just before Congress passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill” on Thursday.

    “Unfortunately, the current financial environment, driven by anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, has made it impossible for us to continue operating all of our services, many of which have faced significant financial challenges for years,” Community Hospital CEO Troy Bruntz said in a statement obtained by the outlet.

    The clinic, whose motto is, “Advanced care. Always there,” will phase out operations over the coming months.


    Despite representing Vermont, Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke out about the hospital’s closure, warning that it will likely be “the first of many” due to the estimated Medicaid cuts included in the tax and spending bill.

    “While Republicans celebrate the passage of the largest Medicaid cut in history, the Curtis Medical Center in Nebraska announced it will shut down as a result of these horrific cuts — the first of many hospitals to close,” Sanders said.

    “This is a dark day for rural America and for our country,” he continued.

    The Nebraska Hospital Association and other rural health advocates have sounded alarms about the bill’s potential impact, warning it could force more clinics and hospitals in underserved areas to cut services or close.

    Originally published on Latin Times



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