Many Third Graders Struggling to Read at or Above Their Grade Level
By Jeanene Dunn, OHM Staff Across the country, in Missouri, and right here in Kansas City, third-grade students are struggling to read at or above their grade level. “Locally, only about one-fourth of third graders are reading at grade level,” says Dr. Robin Henderson, Chief Program Officer at SchoolSmartKC. The ... Read More »
Everyone Faces Grief Differently
By Dianne Maddix, MA, BA Grief has been defined in many ways, but most definitions share the key component that grief is an emotional response to a significant loss in one’s life. It has been variously described as mental, emotional, behavioral, psychological and social responses to a loss. While most ... Read More »
The Other Side of the Isolette: My Personal Journey
By Jamesia Donato, MD Board Certified Neonatologist Sunflower Neonatology Associates As a former NICU mama, I know personally that our voices can be muffled. While I could tell countless stories of the unnamed families with whom I’ve run the NICU marathon, I choose to share my own journey to “the ... Read More »
20 Years of Health Literacy and Community Impact
In September 2005, our fourth edition of Our Health Matters™ featured the headline: “What Doctors Know Is Not Necessarily What You Understand.” This title reflected the voice of our mission to increase your knowledge and equip you with an understanding of the doctor-patient relationship. My Publisher’s Greeting was titled Life ... Read More »
Serving Kansas City for 20 Years
Dear Friends, As the founder and publisher of Our Health Matters™ magazine, I’m proud to announce our 20th anniversary—a milestone that reflects two decades of trusted health education and service to families across metropolitan Kansas City. Since our inception in 2005, Our Health Matters™ has remained a free publication, distributed ... Read More »
10 Tips to Help Your Family Eat Better—One Day at a Time
Try one of these tips each day for a month to help your family take a step-by-step approach to eating healthier. Make it fun for kids to try new fruits and vegetables. Have them pick out a new fruit or vegetable in the grocery store each week. Plan together how ... Read More »
LOVE IS MEDICINE
By Dr. Robert Lee Hill Community Consultant Whenever I go to a pharmacy or visit a medical office, I think of my grandmother, Addie Burke Smith. Not because she was a medical professional, but because of the healing capacity of her love. My grandmother taught me and her seven other ... Read More »
October 2024 PUBLISHER’S GREETING
In Loving Memory of Marisa Rouser Nov 16, 1976 — Dec 21, 2023 I am dedicating my October/November 2024 cancer edition to Marisa Rouser’s memory. On December 21, 2023, we experienced the loss of Marisa Rouser, my son Walter’s girlfriend, who was only 47 years old. She was like a ... Read More »
Cancer–Who’s More at Risk?
FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT AND BEYOND…KNOW YOUR RISK. When it comes to racial disparities in cancer diagnosis, African Americans are at the highest risk of dying from cancer, even though whites have the highest rate of new cancers. Why? This increased mortality risk partly reflects a later stage of disease ... Read More »