Charm City Wellness Collaborative

Excited and honored to be participating in (and representing Those Nerdy Girls) the Social Science Research Council's Solutions Summit University of Nairobi! Meeting with experts from around the world to get creative about pressing public health issues. Tune into the public plenary:

All-in-one virtual event platform | Zoom Events Bottlenecks for Evidence Adoption w/ Stefano DellaVigna | College and University Fund Lecture Series: Research to Solve Problems

Are you caught up? 8 health screenings for women and people assigned female at birth that can't wait

Tens of millions of U.S. women* are behind on their recommended health screenings, based on results from a recent Hologic-Gallup survey. Even though 90% of women surveyed said that health screenings for conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and s*xually transmitted infections are important, as many as 43% have fallen behind or skipped them entirely.

**NOTE: This post is copied from our Substack newsletter-- click here for better viewing with links and images: https://tinyurl.com/2vxvhhc4

We should care about this disconnect–also known as the “screening action gap”–because catching health problems early (when many conditions are most treatable) and getting timely care may mean living healthier and longer. Getting health problems under control can also help prevent other more serious health problems later. For example, managing high blood pressure can help lower risks for heart disease and stroke, and treating high-risk human papillomavirus can help prevent it from becoming cancer.

So how can we close the gap? According to the survey, there are lots of reasons women skip health screenings. Some say it’s hard to find the time, some feel like they’re unnecessary, and others have anxiety around getting medical tests or results, to name a few. But one reason stands out as something we Nerdy Girls can help with: many people just don’t know what health screenings they need and when they might need them.

Here are 8 recommended health screenings for adult women and people who are assigned female at birth:**

🙋🏻‍♀️Breast cancer:
-- If you’re 40-74 years old and you have breasts, mammograms are recommended every 2 years.
-- If you have a higher risk of getting breast cancer, your clinician may recommend that you start getting mammograms at a younger age or more often.

🕵️Cervical cancer:
-- If you’re 21-29, Pap tests are recommended every 3 years.
-- If you’re 30-65, you have 3 options:
Get screened every 3 years with a Pap test
Get screened every 5 years with a human papillomavirus test
Get screened every 5 years with both a Pap test and a human papillomavirus test
-- If you have had your uterus removed, check with your clinician about your particular screening needs.

💩Colorectal cancer:
-- Clinicians recommend that most people begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 45.
-- There are several tests, some of which can be done at home.

🍑Sexually transmitted infections (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea):
-- If you're 24 or younger and having s*x, it’s recommended that you get tested once every year.
-- If you're 25 or older, it’s recommended that you get tested every year if you're at higher risk for infection (e.g., more than 1 s*xual partner, new partner, partner with a s*xually transmitted infection).

🦴Osteoporosis (weak bones):
-- It is recommended to get a bone density test if you are 65 or older.
-- If you’re 64 or younger and have gone through menopause, ask your clinician if you need a bone density test.

🩸Prediabetes and diabetes:
-- If you’re 45 or older, it is recommended to get a blood glucose test at least every 3 years.

❤️Cholesterol:
-- Recommendations suggest that you get a blood test to check cholesterol every 4-6 years or more often if you have a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

📈Blood pressure:
-- If your blood pressure is normal with values below 120/80 mm Hg, clinicians recommend to get it checked at least once a year.
-- If your blood pressure is higher, talk to your clinician.

If you’ve missed a screening, make an appointment to get caught up. Check in with the women and people assigned female at birth in your circle–family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones–to remind them about these screenings, too!

*Note: The Hologic-Gallup survey interviewed people who identify as women. The screening recommendations above apply to women and people assigned female at birth.

**Note: This is not a complete list of recommended health screenings. Talk to your clinician about your personal risk factors, such as health history, age, if you are pregnant, and lifestyle, and what screenings may be recommended for you. There is no harm in asking your clinician whether you would benefit from earlier or different types of screenings. You can also learn more from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Stay safe, stay curious,
Those Nerdy Girls

We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health topics. Their writer training covered the following topics, among others: plain language writing, counteracting infodemics and misinformation, chief components of effective science communication, and training in the unique TNG style of writing, including incorporating humor and empathy. We constantly search for and train new writers to better serve you, our TNG community. As always, we appreciate your ongoing support.

This cohort included:
🔸 2 "hard science" PhDs (molecular biology and immunology)
🔸 2 public health professionals, specializing in health promotion and communication
🔸 1 recently-minted MPH and current MD student
🔸 1 psychiatric epidemiologist
🔸 1 other recently minted MPH with a specialty in policy and law
🔸 1 physiotherapist-turned-MPH student

You can view their bios here:

Daphne Berryhill, RPh (https://tinyurl.com/9rjc3j7e)
Ilana Gerjuoy, MPH (https://tinyurl.com/59wu6xm9)
Irini Hadjisavva, PhD (https://tinyurl.com/52uxm63f)
Sandy Laping, Masters in Epidemiology student (https://tinyurl.com/54c2cdk7)
Elisabeth Marnik, PhD (https://tinyurl.com/4dy4d38j)
Megan Reilly, MPH and current MD student (https://tinyurl.com/5xrx7trn)
Parvati Singh, PhD (https://tinyurl.com/3sd8fcb5)
Rachel Spahnn, MPH (https://tinyurl.com/3sk882w5)
Grayson Waits, MPH (https://tinyurl.com/2s4e8fvv)

Stay safe. Stay well. Stay Nerdy!

As part of our ongoing effort to better serve our Nerdy Girl community and continuing to bring high-value health information to all, we have added the position of Content Manager to our team. Nerd MK Haber is now serving in this role in addition to being a valued Contributing Writer. You can read more about them here: https://tinyurl.com/3mxrxdbf.

As Content Manager, MK will be working to:

➡️ Review and standardize the processes for recruiting and onboarding new writers
➡️ Establish procedures for writing and editorial preview to make certain that all TNG content meets the rigorous standards our community has come to expect
➡️ Ensure that our content is balanced across all areas: Infectious Disease, Reproductive Health, Mental Health, Aging, and Health & Wellness
➡️ Engage and involve writers in all phases of the editorial process
➡️ Oversee and adjust workflow to effectively serve all Nerdies from writers to administrative support volunteers.

Please join us in welcoming MK as our Content Manager!

Stay safe! Stay well! Stay Nerdy!

Today Those Nerdy Girls honor Ms. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. We first wrote about her last year (scroll down to read that post) and now want to give you some exciting updates on her amazing life and contributions to society.

🟣 On May 3, 2024, Ms. Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in a ceremony at The White House. In her comments after receiving the medal, Ms. Lee said, The Bible says we are our brother’s keeper, so let’s get busy helping folks as long as you can and as much as you can. That don’t mean you got to take him home and give him your bed.”

🟣 Dr. Opal Lee received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Southern Methodist University at the University’s May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony.

🟣 On June 14, 2024, Ms. Lee saw her brand new home in Ft. Worth, TX, for the first time. It sits on the same plot of land as the childhood home her family moved into in 1939 when she was 12. At the time, it was a white neighborhood. On Juneteenth four days after they moved in, an angry racist mob showed up and burned the house to the ground. Police came but did nothing to control the mob. Ms. Lee had always dreamed of having a home on that land, which had stood vacant for years. Many civic organizations and private companies came together to make her dream a reality. As she sat in a rocker on her new front porch, she said, “This world should be one where there's no strife. And I don't know how that will happen but I'm looking forward to being a peaceful old lady.”

🟣 In Dallas on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, at the age of 97, Ms. Opal Lee will once again complete her annual 2.5-mile walk to recognize the 2.5 years it took for the news and enforcement of freedom to reach the enslaved people in Texas.

🟣 Dr. Lee is the founding board member of The National Juneteenth Museum, scheduled to open in Ft. Worth, TX, in 2026. The $70 million, 50,000-square foot museum will serve as a cultural center, business incubator, and mixed-income residential community. See more here: https://nationaljuneteenthmuseum.org/

Learn more about Dr. Opal Lee and the history of Juneteenth in this TNG post from 2023:

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It is named for June 19th, the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas found out they were free.

Ms. Lee, who refers to herself as “just a little old lady in tennis shoes getting in everybody’s business,” has effected lasting change in our country. At age 89, she made it her mission to have Juneteenth declared a federal holiday, something she accomplished on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed the legislation with Ms. Lee at his side.

In 2016, Ms. Opal Lee walked 1,600 miles from her home in Ft. Worth, TX, to Washington, DC, to draw attention to the importance of Juneteenth. She walked 2.5 miles per day to reflect the 2.5 years that passed after the Emancipation Proclamation before enslaved people in Texas found out they were free.

At the age of 96, she continues to fight tirelessly for justice for all and walks 2.5 miles every year at Opal’s Walk for Freedom. In her words, ” If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love. And changing minds can actually be done. It’s not going to happen in a day. You’ve got to work at it.”

Learn more about Juneteenth and Ms. Opal Lee:

NYT Guide to Juneteenth: https://tinyurl.com/3t3hzsen

NYT Opal Lee’s Juneteenth Vision Is Becoming Reality: https://tinyurl.com/55k2hfsp

Oprah Daily - Juneteenth Is Now a National Holiday, and Opal Lee Is Partially to Thank: https://tinyurl.com/4ehwj5nb

NPR - Slavery Didn't End On Juneteenth. What You Should Know About This Important Day: https://tinyurl.com/339b3hhy