RHHD Blog: Well Read

Last Updated: June 4, 2024 May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, but it’s not the only time of the year to think about ticks. Whether you’re playing, working, or exercising outdoors, keeping safety tips in mind can help protect you from serious tickborne illnesses: Prep for ticks before you head outside. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent and tuck your pants... Continue reading→

Last Updated: June 4, 2024 Applications are now open for the Richmond Health Equity Fund 2024-2025 cycle! The deadline to submit applications is June 23, 2024. Richmond is a city of health disparity. Census data show how extreme heat, mental health challenges, and lack of access to healthy foods all echo city redlining, when banks and city institutions used discriminatory lending practices to keep... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 28, 2024 May is also Stroke Awareness Month. Strokes happen when something blocks blood flow to the brain or a blood vessel in the brain bursts—it’s sometimes called a “brain attack” for this reason. Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in Virginia (behind cancer, heart disease, and accidents). People experiencing a stroke need quick,... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 28, 2024 Today, we’re welcoming Health Education Specialist TaShana Jaudon to the newsletter! TaShana works with RHHD’s Adolescent Health Program; currently, she is hosting the programs 13th Annual Healthy Living for Youth Health Fairs in partnership with Richmond Public Schools Health and PE Departments. Take it away, TaShana: In May, I’m excited... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 20, 2024 When you consult public health resources, you probably see some version of “talk to your primary care provider” or “consult with your medical provider” pretty frequently. What does it mean and why do we say it? What is a primary care or medical provider?   A primary care provider (PCP) is... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 20, 2024 Sunday, May 19, is Hepatitis Testing Day. Hepatitis can be caused by substance use, alcohol, or viruses. Viral hepatitis includes Hepatitis A, B, and C. CDC encourages all adults in the U.S. to get tested for Hepatitis B and C at least once in their lifetimes. RHHD Epidemiologist Senior Louise Lockett Gordon explains why viral hepatitis... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 All known hurricanes since 1851 that have come within 65 nautical miles of Virginia Beach. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wants you to know that most good hurricane preparation happens before a storm shows up on the forecast. That’s why May brings Hurricane Preparedness Week. NOAA has put... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 Tuesday, May 7, is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The observation recognizes the approximately 70,000 Americans who fatally overdosed on fentanyl in 2023. Ahead of May 7, RHHD Substance Use Disorder Coordinator Jasmine Blue shares some important facts about fentanyl: What is fentanyl?    Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid and a major... Continue reading→

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 Nicole McCurrach receives her RHHD Nurse of the Year award. Nicole McCurrach and her husband were at the Bryan Park playground with their two daughters—aged five and seven—on a Saturday morning when she told him she wanted to become a nurse. She had worked corporate jobs and spent time at... Continue reading→

Last Updated: April 29, 2024 MRC volunteers at work! April 21-27 is National Volunteer Week, and RHHD has reason to celebrate! When we take on community projects, some of our most important teammates are volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps of Virginia, or MRC. The MRC brings together people from all walks of life to support the educational and emergency... Continue reading→

Last Updated: April 29, 2024 “Health equity work is at my core”: Welcome, Shaleetta Drawbaugh! On April 18, RHHD welcomed Shaleetta Drawbaugh as the new Health Equity Fund Program Officer. The Health Equity Fund (HEF) invests in organizations working to eradicate health disparities throughout our city. Shaleetta has called Richmond home for a long time. She grew... Continue reading→

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 Louise Lockett Gordon’s 2024 YMCA 10K Training Team! Saturday, April 20, marks the 25th annual running of the Sports Backers’ [http://ukrop’s%20monument%20avenue%2010k/]Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K, one of the largest and most popular 10K runs in the United States. RHHD Epidemiologist Supervisor Louise Lockett Gordon has been coaching with Sports Backers’ YMCA... Continue reading→