Happiness Secret Revealed by New Research

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Planning a vacation makes you happy.

Planning a vacation makes you happy.

The 30A Company (http://www.30A.com), a beach media and lifestyle brand, commissioned a research study to examine the relationships between the beach, travel, and happiness. Conducted by The University of Alabama’s Public Opinion Lab (https://publicopinionlab.ua.edu), the study revealed, among other things, that people are significantly happier when actively anticipating or planning their next vacation.

The study surveyed 1,040 random U.S. adults between the ages of 25 and 55 to determine people’s level of happiness and how it is influenced by beaches and travel. People over the age of 55 were excluded from the study, to limit the possible impact of retirement on one’s happiness.

Overall, the research identified six key findings:

1. Planning a vacation makes you happy. “People who are planning a vacation are significantly happier than those who aren’t,” said Dr. Jameson Hayes, Associate Professor and Director of the Public Opinion Lab. “Reflecting back on your last vacation doesn’t necessarily make you happier, but looking forward to your next trip certainly does.”

2. It doesn’t matter where you go. Beaches are the preferred vacation destination among 34.2% of respondents, with mountain vacations second at just under 20%. But the data shows that one’s happiness increases regardless of the type of destination. “Anticipating any upcoming vacation appears to significantly boost happiness, regardless of whether it’s to the beach, the mountains, or a big city,” said researcher Jay Waters of the University’s College of Communications and Information Sciences.

3. The more you travel, the happier you are – but only up to a point. Respondents who traveled for pleasure 15-21 days per year reported the highest levels of happiness. Those traveling less than 2 weeks per year or more than 3 weeks per year, reported being less happy. “It appears that happiness does have its limits as it relates to travel,” said Waters.

4. Vacation souvenirs increase happiness. People who surround themselves with 2-3 physical reminders of their favorite vacation destination reported higher levels of happiness when compared to those who don’t. “Surrounding yourself with mementos from past vacations such as apparel, photos, art, bumper stickers, and even phone ringtones can increase happiness levels,” said Dr. Hayes.

5. Travelers use technology to stay connected with their favorite destinations. Every week, 50% of respondents viewed social media posts that reminded them of their favorite destination. Following a destination on social media, adding it to their weather app, and having a related wallpaper on their phone or computer were the most commonly used reminders.

6. Post-pandemic travel is expected to increase. Pre-pandemic, 58% of respondents said they normally spent less than five days per year on vacation. Medium Travelers (6 to 14 vacation nights per year) comprised 29%, while Heavy Travelers (15 days or more) made up 13% of respondents. Light Travelers reported that they plan to travel significantly more as the pandemic wanes, with the group of Medium Travelers expected to increase by 15 percent.

Ultimately, researchers found that action is an essential key to unlocking happiness. “We found that anticipation trumps nostalgia,” said Waters. “So if you want to be instantly happier, book a trip.”

To learn more about 30A’s inaugural Beach Happy research study, visit http://www.30A.com/beach-happy-study. For additional resources visit https://publicopinionlab.ua.edu/beach-happy-study-2022/

Inspired by small town life along Florida’s Gulf Coast, 30A® shares BEACH HAPPY® stories and eco-conscious products with millions of fans worldwide. 30A has 1.5 million social media followers, has raised $2.8 million for coastal charities, and has given away 3 million of its world-famous blue 30A stickers. Available in 380 stores nationwide, 30A apparel is made from recycled plastic bottles, preventing 6 million water bottles from going into our landfills and oceans so far. To learn more, visit http://www.30A.com.

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WECOLOR’s First Batch Of Donated Children’s Panda Masks Appeared At THON Weekend 2022

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At the just-concluded THON Weekend 2022 event, a special children’s panda mask appeared, which was donated by WECOLOR to THON, the No. 1 university student charity organization in North America.

Before the THON Weekend 2022 event, WECOLOR and the head of THON medical supplies logistics reached an agreement on the donation of 60,000 children’s panda masks, worth 20,000 US dollars. This is the first public welfare donation of WECOLOR, a well-known mask brand in the United States, hoping to give more inspiration to children fighting against cancer.

Hand-painted by WECOLOR designer Eiffel, this panda mask is inspired by pandas eating bamboo. We all know that at the just-concluded Beijing Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen’s design prototype is also a giant panda. Giant pandas are deeply loved by the people of the world and represent health and peace. Each box of WECOLOR panda masks for kids also contains panda stickers.

After the first batch of 20,000 masks was used, we are also very happy to receive an Email from Julia Semmer, the Supply Logistics Director of THON. She said, we raised $13.7 million dollars to support children and families impacted by childhood cancer, which would not have been possible without supporters like WECOLOR, so thank you!

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Pop Culture Hero Coalition Joins Forces with YMCA to Teach Relatable Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning Skills to Children, Teens, and Adults

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The Heroic Journey logo by Pop Culture Hero Coalition

Pop Culture Hero Coalition teamed up with the YMCA of the USA to utilize its Heroic Journey Curriculum.

“The Y was very impressed with the science and depth of The Heroic Journey Curriculum,” said YMCA of Northern Colorado CEO Dr. Chris Coker, who championed The Heroic Journey with Y USA. “So we wanted to partner with them to test it in various Ys across the country for a nationwide roll out.”

Pop Culture Hero Coalition, the first 501c3 non-profit to use evidence-based psychology in combination with stories from TV, film, and comics to teach mental health and social emotional learning skills for kids and teens, has teamed up with the YMCA of the USA to utilize its Heroic Journey Curriculum. Created by pop-culture-fluent psychologists and veteran educators under the direction of award-winning author and Coalition Founding Partner Carrie Goldman (Harper Collins’ Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher & Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear), the Heroic Journey Curriculum has been used in over 160 YMCA locations across the U.S.

“The Y was very impressed with the science and depth of The Heroic Journey Curriculum,” said YMCA of Northern Colorado CEO Dr. Chris Coker, who championed The Heroic Journey with Y USA. “So we wanted to partner with them to test it in various Ys across the country for a nationwide roll out.”

“The Heroic Journey teaches kids the core social emotional learning skills that they need to function well in our world,” said Goldman, who writes on child development for The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and Psychology Today. “Through the power of treasured stories, kids learn to identify, understand and manage their emotions – especially the uncomfortable feelings that explode during times of stress, such as envy, anger, fear, and sadness – and kids gain the ability to form and sustain healthy relationships. We focus on building empathy, practicing respectful conflict resolution, and asking for help during times of struggles. Our goal is for kids to complete the Heroic Journey and be better positioned to thrive in our society.”

“The Heroic Journey not only gives children the language and resources to identify and express the complex emotions that they feel every day,” adds Julia Shipman, who supervises School Age Programs at seventeen Y sites, “but it gives educators and parents a toolkit on approaching these daunting subjects with their children to make positive change.” In agreement is Lakeland Hills Kids Club After School Program and Y Summer Camp Director Shannon Bujoreanu: “The kids love the Curriculum — love, love, love it,” she added. “And our kids need this more than ever. It has been a godsend.”

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated in a December 2021 advisory, Protecting Youth Mental Health, “This is a critical issue that we have to do something about now. Kids increasingly are experiencing bullying, not just in school but online…they’re growing up in a popular culture and a media culture that reminds kids often that they aren’t good-looking enough, thin enough, popular enough, rich enough, and frankly, just not enough.”

The 32-lesson Heroic Journey Curriculum uses fun, relatable stories — including The Avengers, Star Wars, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, and Batman — to teach children and teens to develop lifelong skills. Lesson plans include Resilience, Empathy, Self-Compassion, Multi-Cultural Identity, Social Media: Funny vs. Mean, Ending Implicit Bias, and How to Seek Help, and also include tools for navigating peer pressure and enlisting positive allies in order to have successful lives. It teaches kids how to navigate depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, shame, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and to make decisions — for themselves and to better the world we live in— based on positive core values.

“With increasing intensity, young people are experiencing a lack of healthy identity, brought on by a culture that worships celebrities, along with a lack of healthy role models and the insecurities brought on by social media,” stated Founding Partner and CEO Chase Masterson, who initially realized the transformative power of pop culture through her 5-year role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Heroic Journey provides fun, relatable tools for building healthy identity and developing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in positive ways. And we give them tools to avoid risk behaviors, before it’s too late.”

To learn more about Pop Culture Hero Coalition and its Heroic Journey Curriculum, please visit http://www.PopCultureHero.org.

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Pop Culture Hero Coalition is the first 501c3 nonprofit to use evidence-based psychology in combination with iconic stories and characters to teach crucial mental health and social emotional learning skills in ways that children, teens, and adults find relatable. http://www.PopCultureHero.org / @SuperheroIRL

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New Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer is Like an “Invisible Glove” on Skin

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Antibacterial Barrier Lotion - Skinshield2

Sanitize – Protect – Repair – Moisturize

“After years of product development and testing we are excited to bring this solution to the general public,” Joe Amadeo Founder of Skinshield2

SkinShield2 is a patent-pending marvel of science that seeks to give hand washers and sanitizer users a break from the dry, irritated skin that comes with killing germs effectively.

As the global pandemic continues, frequent hand washing and utilization of alcohol hand sanitizers has become daily practice to keep hands germ-free and prevent sickness. As a result, hands have paid the price through dry, cracked, and irritated skin, which can actually allow germs to penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin, making people sicker. The makers of SkinShield2 saw the need for something better and got to work.

Proper hand hygiene is essential because 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted from unclean hands touching contaminated surfaces. SkinShield2 has formulated a way to help solve that problem, with none of the drawbacks of alcohol. What is SkinShield2?

SkinShield2 is an innovative all-in-1 antibacterial barrier lotion that replaces harsh alcohol sanitizers, one-off moisturizing creams, and advanced barrier repair lotions. It is alcohol-free and uses the active ingredient benzalkonium chloride (BZK). BZK is a safe, organic salt compound that kills 99.9% of germs like alcohol but lasts much longer. Studies have shown that BZK can kill germs for up to 4 hours (vs. 30 seconds for alcohol)

Frequently called an “invisible glove” on your skin, SkinShield2 goes a step further, protecting your hands with a revolutionary polymer barrier, which dermatologists recommend to help protect and repair damaged skin. It even stays on through hand washing and is naturally removed over a period of hours. It’s often referred to as an “invisible glove” on your hands. Skinshield2 is a force to be reckoned with for germs and viruses.

SkinShield2 is a product created by United Biotech, an innovative leader and provider to many of America’s Top Hospitals. Quality and scientific research are paramount at United Biotech. Thus SkinShield2 was formulated to be more than just a superior hand sanitizer – but a complete all-in-one hand hygiene system. “If there are too many steps in a process, people won’t do it. Our philosophy is to keep things simple. It’s one product and one step to take the place of 3,” says Dominick Salzone, Chief Operating Officer.

SkinShield2 is now available direct from the manufacturer and can be purchased at http://www.skinshield2.com.

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Kids Run Free with PNC during Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon Weekend

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PNC sponsors the Kalamazoo Marathon Kids’ 1K Run - Event will be free for all kids

All kids race free on Friday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. during the PNC Kids’ 1K Run

We welcome PNC Bank as this year’s Kids’ 1K Run Walk sponsor. It speaks volumes to their commitment to the future of our community.

Kids will race free during the PNC Kids’ 1K at Mayors’ Riverfront Park on Friday, April 22 – kicking off the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon weekend.

“Establishing healthy habits at a young age is so important, and I think events like this are essential. What makes this race impactful is that the community has really come together to make this happen. We can see everyone from volunteers to businesses involved, and that’s really leading by example, and kids pick up on that,” said Aaron Zeigler, president and CEO of Zeigler Auto Group, the marathon’s overall headline sponsor.

“We welcome PNC Bank as this year’s Kids’ 1K Run Walk sponsor,” Zeigler added. “It speaks volumes to their commitment to the future of our community.” The PNC Kids’ 1K Run Walk day will also include a kids’ sponsor expo.

Besides the PNC Kids’ 1K, the Zeigler Kalamazoo Race weekend will include a main Sponsor Expo, scheduled for Saturday, April 23; and main event races on Sunday, April 24. Course details for this year’s main events, which include a half-marathon, 10K Run, and 5K Run and Walk were recently announced by the organization, with the full marathon scheduled to return in 2023.

“We are beyond thrilled this event, along with all of the other weekend festivities, is returning to Kalamazoo. Not only for the economic impact it brings to our community, but for the health and wellness aspect of this event and the accessibility of it being in our backyard. This cannot be understated. Events such as this one are prominent staples in some of the healthiest and most vibrant destinations, and Discover Kalamazoo is a proud partner,” said Brian Persky, director of sports event development for Discover Kalamazoo.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD PROMO VIDEO FOR THE ZEIGLER KALAMAZOO RACE

In the past, the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon weekend, including the Kids’ 1K Fun Run generated roughly $1 million in direct visitor spending according to Discover Kalamazoo, which used the Event Impact Calculator from Destinations International to calculate the economic impact. Notably, the last time the event was held live in 2019, the event generated $1,051,334 from visitors traveling to the region (with visitors defined as someone traveling 60 or more miles to Kalamazoo). In 2018, that amount totaled $944,795.

“Southwest Michigan First is proud to be a driving force behind the business community here in Kalamazoo and beyond. We are also proud to have large, local organizations such as Zeigler Auto Group supporting that vision through real action. By bringing back the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon, Zeigler Auto Group will not only support the community by honoring a race that is very important to Kalamazoo, but with this event, they will also help stimulate the local economy through local and visitor spending,” said Jonas Peterson, CEO of Southwest Michigan First.

Even with the rise in prices for all services needed to organize the event, the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon has been able to keep pricing as low as possible for the community to enjoy. The main goal, the organizers said, was to keep the Kids’ 1K Run Walk free.

“It was crucial for us to continue to keep the Kids’ 1K Run Walk free. This shows our commitment to the community and ensuring that a healthy way of life and the foundation to do that is within reach for everyone. Being in a supportive environment where health is on full display is important for kids to develop these important life habits,” said Chris Lampen-Crowell, Gazelle Sports co-owner and event organizer.

Schedule of Events

● Thursday, April 21, TBD – PNC Kids’ 1K Run Packet Pick-up at Gazelle Sports

● Friday, April 22, 6:00p.m. – PNC Kids’ 1K Run & PNC Kids’ Expo at Mayors’ Riverfront Park

● Saturday, April 23, 11:00a.m to 4:00 p.m. – Race Packet Pickup & Main Sponsor Race Expo in Downtown Kalamazoo

● Sunday, April 24 – Zeigler Kalamazoo Half Marathon starts at 7:30 am at the Stryker Finish Festival. Event day will also feature 10K, 5K Run & 5K Walk

Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available. If you would like more information, please contact race director Carrie Drake at director@zeiglerkalamazoomarathon.com.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD PROMO VIDEO FOR THE ZEIGLER KALAMAZOO RACE

Register now:

Zeigler Kalamazoo – PNC Kids’ 1K Run

Zeigler Kalamazoo – Half Marathon

Zeigler Kalamazoo – 10k Run

Zeigler Kalamazoo – 5k Run

Zeigler Kalamazoo – 5k Walk

ABOUT PNC BANK

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit http://www.pnc.com.

ABOUT ZEIGLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Chicago and Michigan.

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Charles E. Crutchfield III, M.D. Named a 2022 Castle Connolly Top Doctor

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Charles E. Crutchfield III, M.D.

“Each year we evaluate tens of thousands of peer nominations in the medical community and select Top Doctors based on referred doctors’ exceptional work. My congratulations to Dr. Crutchfield.” Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.’s President and CEO Dr. John Connolly

Castle Connolly Top Doctors who are selected each year by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. are first nominated by their peers in an online nomination process. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs; each year tens of thousands of physicians cast many tens of thousands of nominations. Nominated physicians are then screened and selected by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, disciplinary histories, and much more. Only physicians such as Dr. Charles Crutchfield who are considered to be among the top 7% in their specialties are selected for inclusion in America’s Top Doctors.

Castle Connolly Top Doctors who are selected each year by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. are first nominated by their peers in an online nomination process. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs; each year tens of thousands of physicians cast many tens of thousands of nominations. Nominated physicians are then screened and selected by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, disciplinary histories, and much more. Only physicians such as Dr. Charles Crutchfield who are considered to be among the top 7% in their specialties are selected for inclusion in America’s Top Doctors. Dr. Crutchfield has been honored as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor every year since 2012.

Castle Connolly’s consumer guide has emerged as the nation’s definitive source for the acknowledgment of the top physicians and experts in medicine today. Their stringent selection process has guaranteed that the professionals who make their list are the top in their fields and the best choice for patients. It is important to note that doctors do not and cannot pay to be included in any Castle Connolly guide or online directory.

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.’s President and CEO Dr. John Connolly commented on Dr. Crutchfield’s recognition: “Being selected for inclusion in America’s Top Doctors 2022 is a very significant achievement. American physicians are incredibly high-quality medical professionals, yet some stand out. Each year we evaluate tens of thousands of peer nominations in the medical community. Then our experts go even deeper to evaluate and select Top Doctors based on referred doctors’ exceptional work and outstanding conduct. My congratulations to Dr. Crutchfield.”

About Charles Crutchfield III MD

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biology at Carleton College. He also has a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and Master’s Degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skin-of-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 20 years. Dr. Crutchfield was selected by The Grio, a division of NBC, as “A history maker shaping America’s future.” He is the team consulting dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild, and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and past president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.

Crutchfield Dermatology is a proud member of Doctors for the Practice of Safe and Ethical Aesthetic Medicine (DPSEAM).

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Responsum Health Launches Innovative Menopause Platform to Inform and Empower Patients

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Responsum Health's Logo

Responsum Health serves patient and chronic-disease communities

The platform and its mobile app primarily focus on delivering summarized, understandable content that increases women’s awareness of menopause symptoms and their confidence to speak with their healthcare providers and seek treatment when needed.

Responsum Health (Responsum), an innovative developer of personalized patient apps and chronic-disease knowledge communities, in partnership with the https://www.achleducation.com/Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL), has created and launched an online connection and knowledge platform for women living with menopausal symptoms.

The platform, called Responsum for Menopause, is now available to the public and is free to access via web browser or mobile app.

While nearly all women will go through menopause in some phase of their lives, its symptoms and effects in women’s lives are often underrecognized and undertreated. Hot flashes affect an estimated 80% of women with menopause and generally last 10-15 years. The average age for menopause is between 46-53 years, but hot flashes can start during perimenopause, which usually begins at around 40.

In collaboration with ACHL, and an Expert Advisory Council comprised of women who have experienced menopause, as well as leaders from the menopause medical and advocacy communities, Responsum for Menopause provides a digital home for a community that features education resources and content applicable to all women experiencing menopause symptoms.

Responsum Health has designed, developed, and provided a digital platform with daily-updated, expert-vetted, patient-centered content to address identified unmet educational needs of women experiencing menopause.

The platform and its mobile app primarily focus on delivering summarized, understandable content that increases women’s awareness of menopause symptoms and their confidence to speak with their healthcare providers and seek treatment when needed. It serves as a comprehensive resource and informational support tool for those suffering from menopausal symptoms.

Additionally, the Responsum app approach incorporates an expert-moderated community “chat” around which it convenes robust member-support networks.

Responsum Health’s proven approach has already demonstrated unequaled success at working in partnership with leading advocacy groups to bring its novel digital platforms to people with pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, glaucoma, uterine fibroids, and long COVID.

Finally, in addition to educating members, the Responsum platform will provide ACHL with insights gathered from user data and surveys. Through quarterly surveys, including initial benchmarking, Responsum will work with ACHL to measure the impact of its content and community support on members’ self-reported knowledge level, willingness to engage healthcare providers, and mental health (among others). These insights will support identifying areas for future healthcare provider education, ensuring members’ perspectives and challenges are considered.

This program is supported by an educational grant from Astellas.

“We are grateful that Astellas is willing to support our mission to educate, support, and empower people with chronic conditions through our unique approach to providing individuals with the information they need to drive better outcomes,” said Andrew Rosenberg, founder of Responsum Health. “By working with recognized educational leaders like ACHL, as well as trusted voices from within the patient advocacy community, we have created a unique online platform that fills a vital information gap—while simultaneously creating an authentic, welcoming online community for women with menopause.”

“ACHL is delighted to partner with Responsum Health on the creation of this unique app to address the unmet needs of menopausal women. By creating this community, we hope women will find education, support, and empowerment to speak to their healthcare providers about their menopausal symptoms and treatment options. We are especially thankful to Astellas for recognizing the need for education and supporting the goals of our program”, said Amanda Kaczerski, SVP with ACHL.

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About Responsum Health

With a mission of building and supporting online “knowledge communities” of chronic disease patients, Responsum Health (Latin for “the answer”) is a disruptive and innovative healthcare startup company that develops and provides free, disease-specific patient engagement platforms and apps that monitor, search, and curate the Internet – and then generate a personalized newsfeed of article summaries vetted by Responsum’s patient group and subject matter expert partners. For patients with chronic illness, Responsum Health replaces the need to sort and sift through the Internet on their own with a professionalized search and summary service; indeed, no other such app or platform exists.

Responsum Health wraps a proprietary newsfeed into a highly engaging digital platform that enables patients to comment on and rate the articles and share with their professional care team and loved ones. Responsum platforms also enable patients to share experiences through a moderated social wall, organize their health information, and find local patient support groups and services near them.

With dynamic patient knowledge platforms in areas as diverse as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, uterine fibroids, glaucoma, and long COVID, Responsum Health’s apps drive extremely high user engagement metrics that widely exceed industry standards. Developed from years of interviews, extensive research at Carnegie Mellon University, and collaboration with hundreds of patients worldwide, Responsum Health’s disease-specific apps are designed to improve patients’ knowledge, grow their self-confidence, and provide for the organization and coordination of their healthcare information. Today, thousands of patients and their caregivers rely on Responsum Health apps and content for their daily health information.

The company is a part of the Startup Health network of recognized healthcare innovators and counts leading corporations and organizations among its clients and partners in delivering knowledge platforms in areas as diverse as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, uterine fibroids, and glaucoma. Clients and partners of Responsum Health include Astellas, Otsuka, Abbvie, Galapagos, the Allergan Foundation, Prevent Blindness, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, The White Dress Project, the Black Women’s Health Imperative, and CARE About Fibroids.

https://responsumhealth.com/

Responsum is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL)

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning has been an accredited provider of CME/CE for over 20 years. ACHL’s mission is to design, develop, and implement quality continuing education activities that will have a positive influence on the way healthcare is practiced and ultimately to improve the quality of care provided to patients. ACHL serves its mission by designing directly sponsored and jointly sponsored educational activities using a variety of educational methods, media, and approaches.

ACHL actively engages and collaborates with diverse healthcare stakeholders to transform the reach and redefine the value of independent medical education. Through these collaborations and as an independent CME/CE provider, ACHL strives to promote positive change and improve the quality of care for patients everywhere. Based in Chicago, IL, ACHL’s team of 25 employees manages over 250 educational activities each year across a wide range of therapeutic areas – winning awards for our groundbreaking digital technologies, innovative designs, and global reach.

https://www.achleducation.com/

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MacKenzie Scott Donates $15 Million to Healthier Generation’s Whole Health Equity Focus

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“This generous gift from her, with its huge scale and impact, will proliferate Healthier Generation’s core work to help students and families thrive by advancing whole child health equity.” – Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer, Healthier Generation

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Healthier Generation) announced today that it has received its single largest major gift in support of the organization’s efforts to advance equitable whole child health. In the wake of the pandemic, Healthier Generation’s decades-long mission increased in relevance with unparalleled demand from school communities and families for digital and virtual resources to support physical, mental, and social-emotional health. As one of the organizations noted by Scott that “has a strong track record of serving under-supported needs,” Healthier Generation has attributed this gift towards meaningful efforts including:


  • Hiring a newly created executive role of Chief Health Equity Officer to ensure the acceleration and accountability in Healthier Generation’s health equity work internally and externally
  • Reestablishing Healthier Generation’s hallmark National Leaders Summit – celebrating America’s Healthiest Schools and the school staff who have worked tirelessly to support students and families recover from the impacts of the pandemic
  • Strengthening programmatic delivery including market research and evaluation of program impact at the community level to better serve school stakeholders

“Today, MacKenzie Scott deftly demonstrates her understanding that we face a critical time of relief and recovery for communities hardest hit by systemic racism and health inequities exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer of Healthier Generation. “This generous gift from her, with its huge scale and impact, will proliferate Healthier Generation’s core work to help students and families thrive by advancing whole child health equity.”

MacKenzie Scott joins a growing list of philanthropic investors committed to Healthier Generation’s strategic framework including Kaiser Permanente, Kohl’s, the CVS Health Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, Merck, Labcorp, Campbell’s, McDonald’s, Harmony at National University, Mary Black Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the organization’s founders, American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation. This collection of leading organizations demonstrates the importance of multifaceted partnerships when embarking on transformational change. With this level of support, Healthier Generation is in position to further stimulate systems change and reach its impact goal — every mind, every body, and every young person, healthy and ready to succeed.

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About Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a leading children’s health organization that advances equitable whole child health. Driven by our passion to ensure that every mind, every body, and every young person is healthy and ready to succeed, our work has reached over 31 million young people across the country. To learn more and help make a difference, visit HealthierGeneration.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

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ISPE Announces Leaders from FDA, EMA, WHO, and AEMPS at Annual European Conference

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The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) announced six regulatory speakers for the 2022 ISPE Europe Annual Conference, taking place 25–27 April 2022 in Madrid, Spain and virtually. The programme will feature a keynote address by Maria Jesus Lamas Diaz and two regulatory panel discussions with regulators across the globe. The first panel discussion will centre around sustainability, Annex 1 implementation and good engineering practice, and the second panel will discuss digital transformation.

Confirmed Regulatory Speakers:

Brendan Cuddy, Lead Scientific Officer, EMA

Brendan Cuddy joined the European Medicines Agency in October 2002. He was Head of the Manufacturing and Quality Compliance Service at the Agency from 2014 – 2020 and is currently the Chairman of the Good Manufacturing and Distribution Practice Inspectors Working Group (GMDP IWG).

Rick Friedman, Deputy Director, Office of Manufacturing Quality, CDER/FDA

Rick Friedman is the Deputy Director, Science and Regulatory Policy, Office of Manufacturing and Product Quality, which is part of the compliance office in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). In this position, he is responsible for oversight of case review relating to drug manufacturing quality to assure scientific and risk-based decisions. This position includes review of regulatory action recommendations regarding inspections and manufacturing site acceptability and promoting sound regulatory policy development.

Maria Jesus Lamas Diaz, Director, Spanish Agency of Medicines and Healthcare Products

María Jesús Lamas Díaz has been the director of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS, by its acronym in Spanish) since 2018 and, as such, is responsible for its direction, management and coordination of actions. She is also a member of the coordinating group of the Head of Medicine Agencies (HMA) and of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). She represents Spain on the Steering Board of the European Vaccine Strategy led by the European Commission.

Manuel Ibarra Lorente, Head of Pharmaceutical Inspection & Enforcement, Spanish Agency of Medicines and Healthcare Products

Manuel Ibarra Lorente has served at AEMPS in this position since July 2019. Prior to being the Head of Pharmaceutical Inspection & Enforcement, he served at AEMPS as a GMP Inspector since 2005.

Dimitrios Catsoulacos, Technical Officer – Expert Inspector, World Health Organization

Dimitrios Catsoulacos has served as the Technical Officer at WHO since 2017. Prior to his position at WHO, he has served at U.N. – UNICEF, the National Organization for Medicines EOF – Greece, and at the European Medicines Agency.

Carmelo Rosa, Director, Division of Drug Quality I, FDA/CDER/OC/OMQ

Carmelo Rosa has a B.S., M.S., Psy.D. His background is in biology and chemistry and holds a doctoral degree as a Clinical Psychologist. He has been with FDA for over 27 years. He is one of two Division Directors responsible for the review of all Official Action Indicated (OAI) inspection reports related to drug manufacturing facilities that may result in a regulatory action.

To learn more about this event and to register, visit ISPE.org/EUAC22.

About ISPE

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is the world’s largest not-for-profit association serving its members through leading scientific, technical, and regulatory advancement across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. The 18,000+ Members of ISPE provide solutions to complex pharmaceutical industry challenges through innovation, member and workforce development, technical, regulatory and compliance collaborations in more than 90 countries around the world. Founded in 1980, ISPE has its worldwide headquarters and training center in North Bethesda, Maryland USA, and its operations center in Tampa, Florida USA. Visit ISPE.org for more information.

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DVAC Warns Against Surge in Catheter Use for Dialysis Patients

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“This trend away from fistulas is bad news for dialysis patients because they aren’t receiving the ‘gold standard’ of care.”

During National Kidney Month, the Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition (DVAC) is shining a spotlight on a disturbing trend taking place in the field of vascular access and how it impacts dialysis patients.

Data from Vasc-Alert shows that patients who are on a catheter instead of an arteriovenous access (fistula or graft) had increased 44% since 2018. In addition, the available data shows that rates of long-term catheter use increased significantly during the COVID–19 pandemic.

The catheter backslide is troubling news for patients because fistulas are recognized as the best vascular access option for patients. Conversely, central line catheters have demonstrated high infection rates, high hospitalization rates, and high costs. Compared to fistulas, the average annual total cost of treating patients with catheters is significantly higher ($90,000 for catheters vs. $64,000 for fistulas).

Research has shown that fistulas are the gold standard for quality dialysis vascular access for multiple reasons, including lower rates of infection and loss of function due to clotting.

Dr. Dean Preddie, DVAC’s policy chair, said, “This trend away from fistulas is bad news for dialysis patients because they aren’t receiving the ‘gold standard’ of care. It puts patients at greater risk of higher infection rates, higher hospitalization rates, and higher costs. Health system consolidation is making this trend worse because when a vascular access center is forced to close due to insufficient Medicare reimbursement levels, it means patients are more likely to receive a catheter. DVAC will continue to raise awareness about this alarming catheter trend.”

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