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Inclusive care critical to Ohio

I’ve been working with the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) since 1994, when I started as a student nurse at the Salt Lake City Health Care System. From there, I rose to the position of Association Director of Clinical Operations. Following, I served as director of several medical centers and clinics in places ranging from St. Louis, Missouri to Manila, Philippines. I have greatly enjoyed my career serving our nation’s veterans, and though I’ve served for a while, it feels as if I’m still just getting started. That’s why I’m so encouraged by programs like the ...

Oil and gas industry is Valley economic driver

The economic impact of the oil and natural gas industry in Ohio has been immense over the past decade. Whether the result of the thousands of well-paying jobs the industry has generated, or the billions of dollars invested in the Mahoning Valley and beyond, the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver in the Buckeye State. The industry is creating economic opportunities for people in communities across Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and other counties that are home to gas and oil wells, as well as the industry’s supply chain. To portray Ohio’s oil and gas industry as anything ...

COVID-19’s disparate impact in Ohio

In late 2019 global health authorities began warning of an outbreak of what appeared to be a new respiratory virus. The virus later became known as the 2019 novel coronavirus, and the illness caused by the virus is COVID-19. The virus rapidly spread across the world, including in Ohio. While the death and devastation from this pandemic has been widespread, not everyone has felt the effects the same. On May 8, 2020, the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights adopted a proposal to undertake a study of civil rights and equity in the delivery of medical and public ...

Teen stroke survivor calls for change, awareness

I suffered a stroke at the age of 16. It changed my life forever. “Determined,” “smart” and “caring” are just a few words my relatives use to describe me. My twin brother and I lost both our mother and father before we turned 11; however, I found my happy place on the volleyball court, even in difficult times. July 14, 2018, began as a normal day. While doing what I love most with my team at a Youngstown State University volleyball camp, my coach noticed something was off. I typically push through anything coming my way, especially in volleyball. My coach thought my ...

Fight racial disparities in health care

COVID-19 has cost the lives of more than 250,000 Americans. The virus has altered virtually every aspect of our way of life. In its wake, the pandemic places a harsh spotlight on a hard truth: Structural racism in America causes fatal inequities in health care outcomes. We see this unfold as COVID-19 continues to kill, or leave chronically ill, African Americans, Hispanics and other minority populations at statistically significant higher rates than whites. Sadly, COVID-19 puts a fine point on a larger problem. More than ever in our lifetimes, we are reminded that racial discrimination ...

Presidential endorsement: Joe Biden

Editor's note: We invited the chairperson of each Mahoning County major political party to share with our readers their arguments supporting their party's presidential nominee. Instead of focusing on Donald Trump’s failures and broken promises, we’ve chosen to focus on why Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the best choice for America. The priorities of Joe Biden and Donald Trump could not be more different, specifically on three of the most important issues facing our residents: the coronavirus crisis, jobs and health care. Saying this election is a choice between Scranton and Park ...