by Nicole Young | Aug 10, 2026
A Q&A with Dr. Katrina Mitchell, Breast Surgical Oncologist & Certified Lactation Consultant, Sutter Health’s Ridley-Tree Cancer Center August is National Breastfeeding Month Breastfeeding is natural—but that doesn’t mean it’s intuitive or free from...
by Nicole Young | Oct 27, 2025
In November 2024, Marcela Tinka was feeding Mister, a horse, on the Santa Ynez Valley ranch where she lives and works. As she held the hay out from her hand, the steed pushed his nose hard into her chest in a way that seemed different from his friendly nudges. She...
by Nicole Young | Oct 22, 2025
Medical Assistant Linh Tran’s Journey from Vietnam to the Frontlines of Healthcare When medical assistant Linh Tran greets patients, she can relate to the nervousness that comes when there’s a language barrier. “I always smile when I check in with them. I ask if...
by Nicole Young | Oct 6, 2025
Steven Mendoza, a veteran postal worker, crossed countless Santa Barbara neighborhoods every day for more than 30 years. Now retired, the 77-year-old grandfather was not about to let prostate cancer slow him down. He understood the importance of screening and early...
by Nicole Young | Sep 15, 2025
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor A rare, slow-growing type of ovarian cancer called LGSOC (low-grade serous ovarian cancer) disproportionately affects women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Research conducted on the Central...
