Ava McDonough is a rising 9th-grader at St. Anne’s-Belfield School and part of UVA’s Summer Volunteer Program. Here are her reflections after two weeks of volunteering.
For many expecting parents, week 20 is the best part of the pregnancy. That’s when they get an ultrasound that can reveal the baby’s sex. And if the baby cooperates — that is, gets in a position to give the sonographer a clear view — excited parents begin discussing names…
The Ebola virus: Used as a bioweapon or part of an accidental outbreak, it kills up to 90 percent of those who become infected, and there’s no cure. But School of Medicine researchers recently discovered two drugs that block the infection — and think there may be other structurally similar…
After a heart attack or a car accident, you might recall the hospital nurse you saw almost every day, the doctor who spent so much time explaining your surgery or the physical therapist who pushed you to your limit. But before any of that happened, there were emergency responders who…
We celebrate more than just the arrival of warm weather the first couple of weeks in May. National Nurses Week ends on Florence Nightingale's birthday, May 12, which also marks the beginning of Hospital Week. That means lots of fun activities to celebrate not just our nurses but all the…
Personal Salt Index For years, I’ve worried about my mom. She puts salt on everything, even pizza. I remind her of what we’ve all heard 1,000 times: Too much salt increases your blood pressure, which increases your risk of strokes and heart disease. And she rolls her eyes and tells…
The word “poisoning” might make you think of “CSI” episodes or old cop movies. But actually, most poisonings are accidental, and they’re more common than you might think. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, poison centers receive 10,830 calls every day. [caption id="attachment_6096" align="alignright" width="300"] Household cleaners…
Cathy Rogers didn’t know her son was making flamethrowers in the woods with his friends until he got burned. [caption id="attachment_6030" align="alignright" width="300"] Courtesy Central Virginia Burn Camp[/caption] Nothing had gone wrong the first couple of times they tried it but one afternoon, Jacob was trying to poke a hole…
In developing countries, one in three children suffers from malnutrition and diarrhea. The lack of nutrients has lifelong effects. [caption id="attachment_6040" align="alignright" width="225"] Children in Bangladesh, one of the countries UVA researchers visited[/caption] But these problems don’t exist in a bubble. Disease outbreaks, poor infrastructure and sanitation are just a…
“Sleep is for the weak!” That was what we said in college. For some, that meant holding down a job while taking 20 credits of advanced physics and engineering was more important. Others felt sleep cut the party short. [caption id="attachment_5551" align="alignright" width="300"] Insomnia? Avoid caffeine after mid-afternoon and keep…
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