Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, thousands of community members have stepped up to support their local health system in caring for our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several individuals, businesses and community organizations have supported Mid Coast–Parkview Health through financial contributions, sewing fabric masks and donating food and services to support our frontline team members. The teamwork, optimism and unwavering commitment shown by the community in addressing the greatest public health challenge in a century has been reassuring […]

As COVID-19 begins to wane, much speculation is devoted to the “new normal” that will emerge as life without hyper-caution returns.  But, on a grander scale, the world, which had accepted a new normal, is shifting back to the old normal. Though that may seem beyond the daily lives of average people, it directly affects us.  After the World War II defeat […]

Big tobacco targets populations who experience minority stress, discrimination, stigma and other systemic harms with targeted advertising and promotions. I am a public health professional with a specific interest in working with populations that have higher risks for poor health. I worked in HIV prevention for several years. I was naïve to big tobacco’s manipulations […]