Autumn Alert: Arm Up for Flu Season
As you slip into your favorite cozy sweater, pumpkin spice latte in hand, don’t forget to add another essential autumn activity to your checklist: Flu vaccination. This winter, we'll likely see flu, COVID-19 and RSV circulating together, says Sutter Health’s Medical...
Knowledge Seeker, Mentor Shares “Teachable Moments”
By Karin Fleming, Vitals contributor From cold and flu to family planning and transgender medicine, family medicine physicians care for patients and families with these health concerns and more. While the range of illnesses and health-related questions commonly...
Called to Serve: Volunteers Phone Homebound People
Sally Baker (above) enjoys the weekly calls she receives from Tele-Care volunteers. Since 1970, Tele-Care Program Volunteers Have Made Tens of Thousands of Calls to Check on Vulnerable Bay Area Community Members By Kathy Engle, Vitals contributor The challenges of...
Editor’s Picks
Chicoan Gets New Lungs After 120 Days on Novel Life Support
Marche Sheppard spent four months on ECMO, which saved her life and got her strong enough to receive a double-lung transplant. Sutter Roseville pulmonary specialists Drs. Imran Mohammad, left, and Rajkamal Hansra were instrumental in her care. By Debbie Ritenour,...
Oakland Woman Turning 90 Gets Heart Repaired in Bay First
Alylean Smith of Oakland is all smiles resting in her hospital bed after having her tricuspid heart valve repaired by the new TriClip™ Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair system, shown at right. By Catlin Valles, Vitals contributor Alylean Smith of Oakland will turn...
Ex-Drug Store Will Become Primary, Urgent Care Site in Tracy
Sutter Health is doubling the size of its primary care services in the city of Tracy, officials announced in August. At a ceremonial groundbreaking with city, county, and national government representatives, the health system unveiled plans to transform a former...
Pediatrician’s Top Tips for Transitioning Kids Back to School
By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor Less attention to schedules, homework and bedtimes can often make summer an enjoyable break from the regular routine. Getting children and teens back into the groove as the school year approaches can sometimes be a tough...
Dive Deeper
Quick Action Saves Child’s Vision
By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor When Ronin Zigler struggled to keep up with his kindergarten classwork, his parents took him to several doctors to have his vision examined. They learned their son was seeing double, but no one could explain why or provide...
Keep a Lid on It: Properly Fitted Helmets Crucial to Protect Kids
By Cat Valles, Vitals contributor Hospital trauma department staff members see their fair share of bicycle-related accidents. According to Pam Stoker, trauma prevention specialist at Sutter Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Calif., “Bike crashes and falls are...
Modesto Native Finds Purpose, Joy Through Volunteering
By Angela Borchert, Vitals contributor Porter Scoffield is a beloved member of Sutter Gould Medical Foundation’s volunteer team. He’s also the first person with Down syndrome to volunteer there. The Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, is...
Rookie and Seasoned Nurses Team Up in the Operating Room
By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor Healthcare is often viewed as the ultimate team sport where nurses are valued players. A winning approach supports both patients and doctors, and it must include the best training. When an experienced operating room nurse...
Closer Look
Future Physicians Ready to Change Medicine
How To Do a Skin Safety Self-Check
Bay Area Kids Explore Careers in Healthcare
Swimmer Makes Splash After Amputation
Putting Your Health First Never Stops
Stay well with screenings and preventative care. Find a doctor.