Healthcare

Playing With Purpose

Athletes from Española and Los Alamos high schools joined together April 11-12 at Overlook Park in White Rock to fight for a future where the world is cancer free. Photo by Kate Cleveland

Española and Los Alamos high school athletes joined together April 11-12 and took time to read about the individuals each were playing for and then played for the cure. Photo by Kate Cleveland

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Los Alamos

The weekend of April 11-12 Play for the Cure, as many enjoyed time off with family and friends taking in the spring weather, some local young ladies were demonstrating true leadership in Read More

NMDOH: State Public Health Nurse Honored For Excellence

NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — A longtime New Mexico Department of Health nurse practitioner was honored this month for her work expanding access to HIV prevention medication in southern New Mexico. 

Gina Fullbright, a registered nurse with the New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMDOH) Public Health Division’s Southwest Region, received a Nursing Excellence Award from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence annual ceremony on April 11. Fullbright was recognized specifically for her work with the HIV-PrEP program, which provides preventative treatment to patients at risk for HIV infection. Read More

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Social Workers Step Up Prevention Efforts Amid Rising Online Threats To Children

NASW News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is highlighting both the growing risks children face online and the essential role social workers play in preventing harm and protecting youth in digital spaces. Social workers help families prevent and respond to a range of online harms, including cyberbullying, exploitation, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and predatory behavior targeting children. They are also addressing emerging threats such as harmful AI-generated content.

“Child abuse prevention Read More

Los Alamos Public Schools Launches Youth Nicotine Prevention Peer Ambassador Program

LAPS Youth Nicotine Prevention Peer Ambassadors front row from left, Samatha Kranthijanya, and Isabella Jaramillo, and back row from left, LAHS Prevention Program Kristine Coblentz, Evan Beveridge, Charles Austin, Javaya Davison, Madalyn Baily, and Prevention Program’s Sylvia Diehl. Courtesy/LAPS 

Youth Nicotine Prevention Peer Ambassadors engaging peers in conversations around nicotine use prevention. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) prevention program recently piloted a new student-led effort focused on reducing vaping and nicotine use among Read More

AMA Launches ‘Health Vs. Hype’ Podcast Series

AMA News:

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA), in collaboration with iHeartMedia’s Ruby studio, today announced the launch of its new podcast series, “Health vs. Hype with the AMA”.

The eight-episode series will provide an entertaining deep dive into the latest viral wellness trends, DIY medicine, and common health myths. Each episode will also include an evidence-based discussion with a physician to help listeners understand the trend and distinguish between which health claims are real, which are risky, and which are backed by science.

“With wellness trends and health Read More

Los Alamos Medical Center Publishes 2025 Community Benefit Report

LAMC News:

          • Report outlines hospital’s continued impact on health and economic vitality of Los Alamos County, the surrounding region, and Northern New Mexico

Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) this week published its community benefit report for the 2025 calendar year. This annual report outlines the various ways the hospital is working to support the health and economic vitality of Los Alamos and the greater region as part of its mission of making communities healthier®.

“Always striving to advance our mission is how we succeed as a community leader. We are dedicated to supporting those who Read More

New Mexico Approves First Air Quality Fee Increase In Decades

Environment Secretary James Kenney

NMED News:

“New Mexico has not raised any air quality permit fees since 2009, despite seeing an over 2,000 percent increase in oil and gas-related general construction permits and a 126 percent increase in total permitting actions since 2012.” –Environment Secretary James Kenney 

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board — the state’s independent board that reviews and approves environmental rules — on Monday approved a proposal brought by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to increase air quality permitting fees for the first Read More

Y Fitness Instructor Raj Vaidya Shares Health & Wellness Philosophy With Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit Classes

Los Alamos High School English Teacher Lori Thompson on Friday introducing longtime YMCA fitness instructor Raj Vaidya to her students. Vaidya, a LANL retiree, shared his philosophy on health and wellness during his presentations to all three of Thompson’s Sports Lit classes. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján To Introduce Resolution Highlighting National Public Health Week

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

SANTA FE — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that he plans to introduce a resolution highlighting National Public Health Week, celebrated this year from April 6 through today.

This resolution is meant to raise awareness about the importance of public health amid continued attacks by the Trump administration and recognize how public health improves daily lives, safeguards families, and strengthens communities.

Sen. Luján’s resolution also recognizes the important work of public health workers and highlights the need to strengthen the Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Watch Alert: 153 Enforcement Actions Initiated; 69 Resolved In March 2026

NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is highlighting the ongoing success of its Enforcement Watch initiative, a transparency-focused program that provides the public with consistent and timely information about the Department’s enforcement actions across environmental protection, public health, and worker safety programs.

By making enforcement data accessible, Enforcement Watch reinforces NMED’s commitment to New Mexico residents for accountability and regulatory compliance statewide.

Launched in May 2023, Enforcement Watch shares monthly Read More