Before delving into the RSV vaccine, let’s clarify what RSV is—and what it isn’t. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus of the upper respiratory tract that causes mild, cold- and flu-like symptoms, such as nasal congestion and a sore throat. It is a hardy, highly contagious pathogen that is spread through the air… Read more »
It’s been said that when you die, a split-second tape of your entire life plays in your head. There’s a joke among codependents that when they die, the tape that plays in their head is someone else’s life. A codependent will sacrifice their thoughts, wants and needs for those of another. They will give and… Read more »
In June, high school students in Palm Springs’ sports medicine internship program gathered to get to know each other on a deeper level. Palm Springs High School offers this internship opportunity to juniors and seniors in the Palm Springs Academy of Learning Medicine. In the program, second-year interns mentor first-years as they navigate this new… Read more »
In August, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank and Aziz Farms gave our valley a great example of what it means to be a good neighbor. In a newly formed partnership, the food bank purchased fresh produce directly from a Coachella Valley farm, with the shared goal of making these local… Read more »
Blue Zones Project Coachella (BZPC) celebrated August with its Ultimate End of Summer Wellness Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Rancho 51 in Coachella. Over 780 community members and 40 community partners came together for a day of wellness, family fun and valuable resources. The festival demonstrated an important part of the Blue Zones Project… Read more »
As September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d check in with Bernadette M. Greenwood, RT(R)(MR), (ARRT), PhD(c), chief research officer at HALO Precision Diagnostics in Indian Wells. HALO’s team continues to produce cutting-edge research on diagnostics and treatments that deliver improved outcomes for prostate cancer patients. We first reported on HALO’s advanced diagnostics… Read more »
For people living with chronic knee or shoulder pain from osteoarthritis, Desert Regional Medical Center’s Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) now offers a treatment that doesn’t involve surgery, injections or daily medication: low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT). The use of LDRT for arthritis dates back over 100 years. While it remained a common treatment in Europe, its… Read more »
The future of healthcare leadership is built not only through textbooks and classroom instruction. It is built through compassion, mentorship, service and meaningful human connection. At Coachella Valley High School (CVHS), the Health Academy students involved in HOSA–Future Health Professionals continue to demonstrate that leadership in healthcare begins long before entering a hospital or clinic.… Read more »
Summer in the Coachella Valley presents unique wellness challenges beyond high temperatures. As the frequency of outdoor activities declines, many full-time residents—particularly older adults, caregivers and individuals living alone—experience increased isolation due to fewer opportunities for meaningful social connection. Public health organizations increasingly recognize social isolation and loneliness as significant health concerns. According to the… Read more »
The current standard of care for early-stage breast cancers is lumpectomy. For decades, the question has not been whether more can be done, but whether the evidence supports doing less. The six-year outcomes of the Freezing Instead of Resection of Small Tumors (FROST) trial, recently published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, represent a meaningful… Read more »
Imagine you’re in a meeting at work. A colleague interrupts you, dismisses your idea or makes a cutting remark in front of the group. You may feel embarrassed, hurt or even enraged, yet your mind goes blank. Hours later, you’re still wondering, Why didn’t I say something? Most of us focus on this reaction and… Read more »
Before you know it, fall will be here and with it, the inevitable start of flu season. But year-round, teams are collecting and studying influenza samples in over 129 countries around the globe. The most dangerous and contagious viral strains are then identified and incorporated into the United States flu vaccine formulation to help recipients… Read more »
The Santa Rosa Mountains glowed in soft morning light as I set out on the Bear Creek Oasis Trail, a hike I expected to finish, not one that would end with a helicopter evacuation. It was February, and the trail’s rocky washes and cactus-lined ridges were coming alive with winter blooms in purple, yellow and… Read more »
For 16 years, Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM) has provided high-quality primary care at no cost to uninsured adults. As the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, I am often asked why our community needs a free primary care clinic. By focusing on prevention and ongoing care, our Palm Springs and Indio clinics help… Read more »
Clients often enter therapy questioning why they are in yet another toxic or dysfunctional relationship. My mantra is, “You’re either going to be it, or get into a relationship with it, unless you explore it.” People have a predisposition to that which is familiar. Thus, they may robotically repeat unhealthy mental and emotional behaviors until… Read more »
Palm Desert High School (PDHS) offers its students an incredible opportunity to explore their interest in the medical field through the Palm Desert Health Academy. This three-year program introduces students to health care education early, helping them build a strong foundation for future careers in medicine. The Health Academy prepares the Coachella Valley’s next generation… Read more »
In March, health care leaders, civic officials and business professionals gathered for the inaugural State of Healthcare Expo & Luncheon, presented by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together key figures shaping health care across the Coachella Valley, providing an inside look at the priorities, challenges and innovations influencing the region’s medical… Read more »
La Quinta High School’s Medical Health Academy (MHA) has long been a cornerstone of student leadership and community impact in the Coachella Valley. For years, the academy has been recognized for its life-saving partnership with LifeStream Blood Bank, coordinating dozens of successful blood drives that have collected nearly a thousand pints of blood and touched… Read more »
It seems like every week there’s another revolutionary treatment that surfs the waves of the World Wide Web to reach your Facebook feed. Some promise game-changing instant results, while others propose a permanent placement in your daily routine. By the same time next week, many of these fads fade into the endless sea of suggestions… Read more »
When I talk about well-being in Palm Springs, I’m not talking about a program. I’m talking about people. Always people. Yes, at Blue Zones Project Palm Springs we discuss policy, environment, data, metrics—all the things that make spreadsheets happy. Those matter. But after my first six months in this role (and years before that working… Read more »