Features

Caution: Extreme Heat Expected Across New Mexico

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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