Rising to the Challenge & Safe Surroundings: Honoring EMS and trauma workers
May is National Trauma Awareness Month, presenting an opportunity for each of us to recognize and appreciate the many people working to keep us safe. So does EMS Week, which will be from May 15-21. This year’s theme for National Trauma Awareness Month is “Safe Surroundings,” with a focus on preventing violence and promoting safety in our communities by reducing [...]
Celebrating National Women’s Health Week: Prioritizing your health
This week we celebrate National Women's Health Week. This annual celebration begins on Mother’s Day every year to encourage women to make their health a priority. Women are so often in the role of caring for others; it’s critical for us to focus on our own health, and National Women's Health Week nudges us to do just that. Women [...]
Social Equity Ownership Program rollout sets standard for the nation
Recently, 26 licenses were awarded under the Social Equity Ownership Program required by the voter-approved Proposition 207, which legalized adult-use marijuana in Arizona. Lasting less than three minutes, this live-streamed digital drawing might have made the process look easy. In fact, a great deal of thought and effort went into creating a successful program on the tight timeline required by [...]
Summer sun means protecting yourself against melanoma
Few things go together more than Arizona and sunshine. Yuma, Tucson, and Phoenix are among American cities with the most sunny days, but many places across our state see abundant sunshine. All that sun brings with it an increased risk of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that is increasingly common in Arizona. From 2014 to 2018, Arizona saw [...]
State employees contribute every day to Arizona’s well-being
Today is Arizona State Employee Recognition Day, as proclaimed by Governor Doug Ducey. The governor’s proclamation notes that state employees contribute significantly to the well-being and quality of life for all Arizonans. It adds that state employees embody the “spirit of service” that helps make Arizona a one-of-a-kind place to live, work, and play. As interim director of ADHS, I [...]
New campaigns and ASHLine.org update focus on positives of ending tobacco use
A recent ADHS news release featured our joint effort to reduce tobacco use among members of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) through ASHLine.org, the Arizona Smokers’ HelpLine. It features three campaigns stemming from focus group research with AHCCCS members. Their message was clear: Positive, supportive messages are the most effective way to encourage people to quit. The [...]