Caution: Extreme Heat Expected Across New Mexico
NMHealth News:
SANTA FE — With dangerously high temperatures forecast for much of New Mexico this weekend, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) urges residents to take steps to protect themselves and others—particularly those most vulnerable to heat-related illness.
The National Weather Service’s HeatRisk map indicates “major” to “extreme” heat levels in several regions of the state beginning Friday, signaling that people should take extra precautions to protect themselves and others.
“Heat illness is preventable, but it takes planning, awareness and very quick action,” Read More
Understanding Alzheimer’s: The Urgent Need For Brain Health Awareness
By SARA ANDERSEN, CFNP
MANNM Los Alamos
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects more than 6 million Americans today. Without significant breakthroughs, that number is projected to more than double by 2050. Behind every statistic is a person: a grandparent, spouse, sibling, or friend slowly losing their memory, identity, and independence.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain Read More
Hampton: The Role Of The County Health Council In Our Community
By LISA HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos County Health Council
As Chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I wanted to provide an update about the role of the Health Council and our current activities and objectives moving forward.
The Los Alamos County Health Council is a state-mandated entity, and because of that has specific deliverables that must be met each year. In 2019, the State of New Mexico established 33 health councils and 10 tribal councils (through the passing of HB 137), which have legislative funding appropriated to them each year for carrying out a set of deliverables that includes Read More
State Announces Annual Conference On Aging Sept. 23–25
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — The 47th annual Conference on Aging will take place Sept. 23-25 at the scenic Glorieta Adventure Camp in Glorieta, New Mexico.
This year’s conference will bring together seniors, caregivers, service providers and advocates from across the state for three full days of learning, connection and celebration. With the theme, “EngAGE as you Age,” this year’s event will focus on healthy aging and vibrant living. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in informative sessions on health and wellness, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, adult abuse, neglect and exploitation, Read More
Skolnik: Response To Lisa Shin
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
Dr. Shin’s adulation for Donald Trump’s economic policies is extraordinarily short-sighted (link). It is especially disappointing to me, given that Dr. Shin is a healthcare provider.
To assist Dr. Shin’s consideration of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and Trump’s economic policies, I would like to remind her, for a start, of the following negative impacts of the bill on the US economy and on the American people.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says that the bill will add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit from 2025 to 2034.
According to the Read More
Public Health Offices Closed For Juneteenth
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — State public health offices and administrative offices will be closed Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
All New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) offices will reopen as regularly scheduled on Friday, June 20.
The NMDOH Helpline,1.833.SWNURSE (1.833.796.8773) will be available on Juneteenth during regular business hours: 7 a.m.–8 p.m. The Helpline is staffed by nurses available to speak in English and Spanish for health questions, healthcare connections and provider support.
The Read More
AMA Statement On Sec. Kennedy’s Removal Of All 17 Members Of Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices
By Bruce A. Scott, M.D.
President
American Medical Association
Note: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he is removing all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with new members. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations on the safety, efficacy and clinical need of vaccines.
“For generations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been a trusted national source of science- and data-driven Read More
Dannemann: Dental School To Open In NM This Month
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2025 by Merilee Dannemann
New Mexico is about to have a school of dentistry. That is potentially very big news. Meanwhile, New Mexico has done apparently nothing to develop a program that was supposed to provide dental care around the state. The dental therapy program, which was pushed hard by healthcare advocates several years ago, is not happening.
The new dental school is opening in late June and will offer low-cost dental care to the public, provided by advanced students under the supervision of dentists. The school has come to us by an unusual route. Read More
Kiwanis Club Hears Mental Health Therapist Lori Padilla Discuss Grandparents And Other Kin Raising Children
Local Mental Health Therapist Lori Padilla speaking at the June 3 Kiwanis Club meeting. Courtesy/Kiwanis
By BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos
At its June 3 meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos heard an enlightening presentation from Mental Health Therapist Lori Padilla about the issues, challenges, and support in the County for grandparents and kin raising children.
Padilla cited a 2024 report by the LANL Foundation that described how, between 2021 and 2023, New Mexico had the highest rate of children in kinship care in the nation (8%), more than double the national average (3%) and Read More
C’YA Celebrates 11 Years: ‘Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First!’
‘Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!’ Courtesy/C’YA
C’YA News:
Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) celebrates its 11th anniversary this week with a goal for 2025 to attempt a new signature fundraiser.
This year on Oct. 4, C’YA will host a fundraiser called “Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!” Additional information on this event will be available soon.
NMSPI QPR brochures. Courtesy/C’YA
Also this week, the New Mexico Suicide Prevention Initiative (NMSPI) donated a large number of QPR brochures to C’YA’s free suicide prevention training program.
“The NMSPI donation really allows our small Read More
NMED & NMHealth: 100 Free Taos Domestic Well Water Tests
NMED/NMHealth News:
TAOS — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) will host a free domestic well water testing event Saturday, June 14 in Taos.
Testing will be available 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Taos Farmer’s Market, 105 Albright St. in Taos.
Well water tests typically cost about $150, but will be free to the first 100 participants, or while supplies last. Participants must bring their own water sample to the event for it to be tested. Test results will be mailed to the households following the event within two to three weeks.
“Private well Read More
Hearing Loss Forum Hosted By Unitarian Church June 8
COMMUNITY News:
The public is invited to attend the Sunday Forum at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos at 11:45 a.m., Sunday, June 8, at 1738 North Sage Street.
Individuals with hearing loss are at increased risk for developing cognitive decline and dementia. While one’s risk increases with the degree of hearing loss, even mild hearing loss can increase dementia risk by as much as 200%. New research confirms that hearing loss is the single most modifiable risk factor for dementia, making very effective treatment for this condition a top priority.
Contrary to common wisdom, how hearing Read More
New Mexico Department Of Veterans’ Services Women Veterans’ Conference June 14
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) will hold its annual women veterans’ conference from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors Event Center, 1635 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
The conference will bring together veterans, family members, service providers, and advocates from across the state for a day of educational workshops, inspiring speakers, and crucial health care information for women veterans.
NMDVS benefits personnel will assist eligible veterans and unmarried widows/widowers applying Read More
Neal Clinton: Remote Patient Monitoring Brings New Era Of Healthcare To Los Alamos
By BEVERLY NEAL-CLINTON
Los Alamos
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is revolutionizing healthcare delivery in Los Alamos, offering significant benefits for patients, local practitioners, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
As digital health technology continues to advance, RPM is emerging as a vital tool to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and increase access to care — especially in rural communities like Los Alamos.
Empowering Patients and Providers
RPM leverages connected devices—such as blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and weight scales—to Read More
New Mexico LEND Program Highlighted On Autism Conversations Podcast
UNM News:
Anyone interested in the New Mexico LEND Program is encouraged to listen to the latest podcast by the Autism Conversations Podcast team.
The conversation focuses on how this program has expanded trainees’ knowledge and experience regarding public policy, legislative advocacy and so much more, even beyond graduation.
The shared purpose of graduates is to continue to make a valuable advancement in advocacy. This podcast essentially highlights how graduates of the LEND Program go on to make a difference in their community.
There are two ways to listen:
- Autism Programs’ Portal; and
Scenes From ‘Monastery Of Christ In The Desert’ In Abiquiu
View Sunday morning of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert in Abiquiu. A community of monks lives at this Benedictine monastery in the Chama Canyon wilderness, about 75 miles north of Santa Fe. According to its website, ‘The monks here have the goal of living the contemplative life, which St. Benedict, whose Rule is followed, envisions as a life free from all attachments so that a relationship with God becomes their central and even exclusive relationship. Such a life is modeled on the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ and empowered by a prayer life in the Holy Spirit as the monk spends his Read More
County: Tick Prevention For Pets
COUNTY News:
Dogs and cats often come into contact with ticks when they are outside. Like humans, pets can get sick with tickborne diseases. In addition, pets can transport ticks from outside the home to inside, where the ticks may then bite people. Dogs can also be infested by the brown dog tick, which is unique in that it can infest indoor spaces like homes and kennels.
Watch your pet closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you know or suspect a tick has bitten it. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite. Except for Lyme disease in dogs, pets cannot be Read More
Three Members Named To The State’s Behavioral Health Executive Committee
From left to right: AOC Director Karl Reifsteck, Dr. Stacey Cox, Dr. Violette Cloud, Former Sen. Gerald Oriz y Pino. Courtesy photo
NMAOC News:
SANTA FE — Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Director Karl Reifsteck today appointed three distinguished New Mexicans to a newly created committee to coordinate behavioral health improvements across the state.
Named to the Behavioral Health Executive Committee are:
- Dr. Stacey Cox of Silver City, chief executive officer of the Center for Health Innovation-New Mexico Public Health Institute.
- Dr. Violette Cloud of Albuquerque, senior project
Robinson: One Candidate Gets Real About New Mexico’s Doctor Exodus
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, in declaring his candidacy for governor, did something no other Democrat has been willing to do: He challenged his fellow Democratic candidates to refuse campaign funding from trial lawyers.
Miyagishima stated correctly that New Mexico’s malpractice laws and the spike in litigation and insurance premiums in recent years is driving doctors from the state. “We are the only state that is losing doctors,” he told the Albuquerque Journal, referring to data from the New Mexico Medical Society, Read More
