Alive & In Color - The BLK+Cross

Alive & In Color - The BLK+Cross A movement for the community, by the community, towards a thriving future.

06/05/2026

Shoutout for highlighting this history! When recognizing June as African-American Appreciation Month consider all the medical achievements the Black Community has contributed to the world!

Vivien Thomas was hired as a janitor - but instead of pushing brooms, he was pioneering solutions in the surgical lab. In the 1940s, he developed the first procedure to treat "blue baby syndrome," a deadly heart defect. He built the tools, perfected the technique, and even coached surgeons through the operation that saved a child’s life.

But history called it the Blalock-Taussig shunt. Vivien’s name was left off the journals, the headlines, and the credit. For decades, he was erased.

His story is more than history - it’s a reminder of how Black brilliance has been overlooked, even when it saves lives. And it’s proof that genius cannot be contained by a title.

Healing starts with knowing. Follow for more.

This Friday is World Environment Day! Here are a few from tips to help you protect the environment tomorrow and every d...
06/04/2026

This Friday is World Environment Day! Here are a few from tips to help you protect the environment tomorrow and every day after!

This World Environment Day, the focus is on tackling plastic pollution—and the fashion industry plays a major role. Today, approximately 69% of all materials used to make textiles come from synthetic fibers, which are essentially plastics derived from fossil fuels.

These synthetic fibers contribute to microplastic pollution that contaminates our soils, pollutes our waterways, and harms ecosystems around the world. But we have the power to change this.

Every day, we can make more mindful choices that support a fashion system designed to restore and regenerate the environment. Let’s say no to plastic fashion.

This , take action:
Avoid buying new clothing.
Choose natural fibers sourced from regenerative systems.
Reduce how often you wash your clothes.
Wear what you already own—outfit repeating is powerful.
Repair and care for your clothes to extend their life.

Small choices can drive change. Together, we can shift the fashion industry away from harmful pollution and towards kinder systems that protect and respect the environment.

For a lot of men, mental health treatment remains out of reach, blocked by an invisible barrier, and the numbers back th...
06/04/2026

For a lot of men, mental health treatment remains out of reach, blocked by an invisible barrier, and the numbers back that up. That gap often gets filled with avoidance, or self-medication, even when the most valuable support is close by.

Read more to honor Men's Mental Health this month!

06/04/2026

When you’re expecting, doing what you can to take care of your health is one of the best ways to support yourself and your baby.

If you have questions about steps you can take, Dr. Theresa Jacobs, Medical Director for the Georgia Primary Care Association and board-certified family medicine doctor, has answers. She talks through ways to protect your health, including vaccines that are recommended and at what stage of pregnancy, to help give your baby the best start.

Talk to a health care provider about what vaccines are right for you.

For more information, visit the link in our bio or check out findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to find a health center near you.

This June Celebrate & Activate! Pride Month began to commemorate the demonstrations at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. While ...
06/01/2026

This June Celebrate & Activate! Pride Month began to commemorate the demonstrations at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. While you celebrate how far we've come, take the celebrations as a reminder to tap in and stay informed on the LGBTQ+ issues today.

This week's Watch covers the state of LGBTQ+ health freedoms, what the data says about the pay gap in female-dominated fields, the power of community gardens, pandemic preparedness lessons, and why showing up, from prenatal visits, to community meetings, is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Check your inbox if you're subscribed! Not subscribed? Hit the link in our bio to join the community!

To***co use affects more than just your lungs. It increases your risk for heart disease, cancer, and other serious condi...
05/31/2026

To***co use affects more than just your lungs. It increases your risk for heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions.

World No To***co Day is a reminder that quitting at any stage can improve your health and quality of life.

If quitting feels difficult, support is available. Ni****ne patches, gum, and lozenges can help reduce cravings and make the process more manageable.

Small steps today can lead to better health tomorrow.

***coDay

Epilepsy medications such as Levetiracetam (leh-vuh-tuh-RASS-eh-tam) and Lamotrigine (luh-MOH-tri-jeen) are effective at...
05/25/2026

Epilepsy medications such as Levetiracetam (leh-vuh-tuh-RASS-eh-tam) and Lamotrigine (luh-MOH-tri-jeen) are effective at controlling seizures, but many patients do not take them consistently as prescribed.

Staying on schedule and improving patient education can significantly reduce seizure risk and improve overall quality of life.

Water is a community resource, and right now it's under pressure. This week's Watch spotlights the hidden water cost of ...
05/25/2026

Water is a community resource, and right now it's under pressure.

This week's Watch spotlights the hidden water cost of AI data centers and what accountability looks like when communities are left holding the bill, plus maternal mental health, public health preparedness, misinformation, local history, and the power of creativity.

Check your inbox if you're subscribed! Not subscribed?
Hit the link in our bio to join the community.

Skipping fruits and veggies might not hurt today… but over time it can increase your risk for serious diseases. Stay ah...
05/21/2026

Skipping fruits and veggies might not hurt today… but over time it can increase your risk for serious diseases. Stay ahead of it!


Creator of the Newsletter, The Research Roundup, Shared news of a recent medical break through. Check out page to subs...
05/20/2026

Creator of the Newsletter, The Research Roundup, Shared news of a recent medical break through. Check out page to subscribe to their free newsletter.
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Hot off the presses from the New England Journal of Medicine with some good news! A new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on Ensitrelvir (Xocova) a Japanese antiviral approved for treating COVID since 2022 (emergency approval) and then fully approved in 2024 has been studied and found to be successful as a post-COVID exposure prophylaxis. While it is not a silver bullet or 100% effective, it helps fill a gap that so many of us are in!

In this study of over 2,000 household contacts, 9% who received the placebo within 72 hours of their housemate developing symptoms and testing positive for COVID became symptomatic and tested positive as well. Whereas, only 3% who received the 5-day course of Ensitrelvir within 72 hours did.

Important caveats/a few limitations that are worth noting: the trial population was nearly fully some form of “pre-immune” (98%+ vaccinated or previously infected) and absolute infection rates were low overall. The drug also requires access within 72 hours of exposure and is not yet FDA-approved in the US, but we should get an updated on this in June. They also didn’t count asymptomatic cases - if they had it would be a 34% risk reduction rather than 67% reduction of symptomatic infections.

*I disagree with the second paragraph on the second slide as everyone is at risk for COVID/Long COVID but included to show how it is being marketed

Study: Ensitrelvir for Covid-19 Postexposure Prophylaxis in Household Contacts

DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2509306

🔗: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2509306

Article: At last, a pill that can prevent COVID after exposure to infected people: Drug arrives years after pandemic’s peak, but could still offer protection to vulnerable populations.

🔗: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01546-0

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