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Giving as Medicine for the Soul

According to Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew, giving is about more than just money—it’s about offering your time, your talent, or whatever is meaningful to you.

Akarawut Lohacharoenvanich
A woman in a sleeveless green dress stands at a clear podium, speaking into a handheld microphone. She has long, dark hair and wears a pink ribbon pin, symbolizing breast cancer awareness. A projection screen behind her shows a live feed of her speech.

Breast cancer survivor Karla Mingo shares her journey to inspire women and emphasize the life-saving importance of early detection.

A smiling young woman with braided hair, wearing a light-colored blazer and watch, holding a grey coffee mug with both hands. She is sitting in a modern, well-lit office space with green plants in the background.
Black women deserve to practice self-care, even while navigating the demands of the workplace.
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Women

October Marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month: Honoring Lives Lost and Supporting Bereaved Families

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time dedicated to supporting families who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a child during pregnancy or infancy. This month not only raises awareness of the prevalence of such losses but also encourages community support and remembrance events. It is also important to help break the stigma that keeps women quiet about losses they have experienced.

Established in 1988 through a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month helps spotlight a reality that affects millions worldwide. In the United States alone, approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and around 1 in 160 pregnancies result in stillbirth. These figures underscore the importance of providing both emotional and community support to grieving families who may feel isolated due to the often-private nature of these losses. Many parents have also experienced the loss of a child due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or other medical conditions, further emphasizing the need for awareness and understanding (March of DimesPregnancy After Loss Support.)


One of the most recognized observances during this month is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on October 15. On this day, families and communities participate in the International Wave of Light, lighting candles at 7 PM local time. This wave of light, which travels across different time zones, creates a symbolic moment of unity and remembrance as it passes around the globe. Many organizations, including the March of Dimes and local support groups like Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, offer ways for people to connect, share stories, and honor the lives of the babies lost too soon. Events such as remembrance walks and gatherings provide spaces where families can connect and find comfort in shared experiences (Pregnancy After Loss SupportUintah Basin Healthcare).

Beyond the memorial events, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month also emphasizes prevention and education. Efforts are ongoing to reduce the risk factors associated with stillbirth, SIDS, and other causes of infant mortality. Organizations like the March of Dimes advocate for research and policy changes aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes. This month is a call to action, inviting individuals and communities to raise awareness, support research, and help foster environments where all parents and infants receive the best possible start to life (March of Dimes)

Pregnancy and infant loss are more common than most people think. There are many women who have experienced it and use that experience to help support other. Whether through local support groups, online communities, or national organizations, help is available to honor the memories of these children and to offer hope to bereaved families.

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Empowering Minority Women Through Genetic Testing: Bridging Gaps in Awareness and Access

Kimberly VanYsseldyk, MN, FNP-BC, AOCNP, ACGN, CGRA — a highly respected Nurse Practitioner —works diligently with the National Consortium of Breast Centers to improve information about Cancer Genetic Risk Assessments.

Empowering Minority Women Through Genetic Testing: Bridging Gaps in Awareness and Access

A breast cancer diagnosis can be life-changing for any woman, but for many women of color, it often comes with additional challenges—limited access to healthcare, cultural and language barriers, and a long history of mistrust toward the medical system.

Why Genetic Testing Matters

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Mind, Body, and Soul: A Holistic Approach to Black Women’s Health

Mind, Body, and Soul: A Holistic Approach to Black Women’s Health

True well-being is more than being fit. It involves mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well. For Black women, the contours of women’s health care often involve addressing certain complexities that pose additional barriers to their overall health. Looking at health in the construct of Black women’s lives demands an integration of the mind, body, and soul that shifts the focus from illness to wellness to health promotion and optimal quality of life throughout all life stages.

Taking ownership of self-care behaviors, spending effort on fights for health equity, and making decisions that enhance well-being and health are some of the changes that one can make in women’s health. This will be a new approach as this will foster caring for themselves meaningfully. This article will show how Black women can take care of themselves by examining these three components in more detail.

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Dr. Nathalie Johnson Honored with the Impact Award at NCoBC 2025

NCBC President Jennifer Plichta, MD, MS, FACS, CGRA, presents Dr. Nathalie Johnson, MD, FACS, with the 2025 Impact Award.

Dr. Nathalie Johnson Honored with the Impact Award at NCoBC 2025

Las Vegas, NV – March 27, 2025 – Dr. Nathalie Johnson, a distinguished leader in breast cancer care and advocacy, was presented with the prestigious Impact Award at the NCoBC 2025 34th Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The NCBC Impact Award recognizes individuals whose pioneering contributions have significantly advanced breast cancer care, research, and advocacy.

The award was presented to Dr. Johnson by NCBC Board President, Jennifer Plichta, MD, MS, FACS, CGRA, in recognition of her unwavering commitment to improving breast cancer treatment, education, and patient care.

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Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances

Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances

In our modern day, many people ignore stress as part of the everyday normal. Severe feelings of being overwhelmed by work deadlines, financial crises, personal responsibilities, etc can cause numerous emotional and physical problems. If the problems of chronic fatigue, mood swings, weight fluctuations, or even irregular periods continue despite the implementation of stress management systems, it is perhaps wise to consider the possibility of a hormonal imbalance.

A person's hormonal health is very central to their health. The body relies on a network of glands called the endocrine system designed to produce and regulate hormones, and this system affects nearly every physiological function within a human, their metabolism, their mood, and, even their immune response. If there is some kind of disruption to this balance, the outcomes can go beyond basic stress symptoms. How does one differentiate between stress discomfort and the more sinister internal hormone imbalance? Here, we will answer some important questions concerning stress discomfort, and hormonal health.

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Black Maternal Health Week: Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Care
Photo by Shelly Shell on Unsplash

Black Maternal Health Week: Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Care

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), observed annually from April 11-17, is a national campaign founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance in 2018. It raises awareness about the disproportionate maternal health challenges faced by Black women in the United States and advocates for systemic change in maternal healthcare (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2018). Addressing Black maternal health is crucial for achieving health equity, improving overall public health outcomes, and ensuring that all women have access to safe, respectful, and high-quality maternal care. It requires a multifaceted approach involving policy changes, healthcare system reforms, and efforts to combat racism and discrimination in medical settings.

The Urgency of Black Maternal Health

The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, and Black women are disproportionately affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women (CDC, 2022). Structural racism, implicit bias in healthcare, and limited access to quality medical services contribute to these disparities.

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