Voice Matters Blog

Today, We Are All AmericansMuch like the world declared after the senseless and tragic deaths of more than 3,000 people from plane attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the downed plane that crashed in the Pennsylvania field on September 11, 2001, “we are... Read More

Report: Many US Teens Never Heard of Osama bin Laden   A recent study which monitored search trends on Yahoo.com revealed that 25percent of American youth didn’t know who Osama bin Laden was prior to his death. America’s formerly most wanted man led Internet searches this week with President Obama, Pakistan... Read More

Group Checkups Gaining GroundMost of us have on occasion asked a friend, relative or spouse to go with us to a doctor’s appointment but how many of us have actually shared an appointment with 9 or 10 other patients?  Dr. Ray Dorsey’s pilot study of group doctor appointments suggests that... Read More

Florida Nursing Initiatives Transforming Health Care... Read More

Florida Nursing Initiatives Transforming Health CareTwo Florida initiatives promise better health care delivery for patients.  The nursing-led initiatives—simulation technology for teaching and an innovative coalition of nursing, industry, and policy leaders look to maximize health care delivery in the state and serve as a model for transforming health care... Read More

 McKPR Salutes the Freedom Riders at 50 Years TodayToday marks the 50th anniversary since a group of Americans united to fight for the right of all African Americans to use the same seats, bathrooms and water fountains on public transportation systems that whites could use. The stakes were high in... Read More

Feds: All Students Deserve to Learn Regardless of U.S. StatusIn reaction to reports that American public schools may begin to enroll students based on their citizenship status, the federal government issued a statement that all students are entitled to an education regardless of citizenship. As tension over illegal immigration in... Read More

May 8-14 is National Women’s Health WeekIn line with new safeguards and increased coverage for women provided in the Affordable Care Act, President Obama recently proclaimed  May 8-14 National Women’s Health Week.  Before the act’s passage, insurance companies could deny coverage to women because of previous events such as having... Read More

Busboys & Poets Owner, Andy Shallal Editorial Takes on Walmart's Impact on Small BusinessFeatured in today’s Washington Post editorial page includes an opinion letter from Andy Shallal, chairman of Think Local First DC and owner of several popular DC restaurants, including Bus Boys and Poets. Mr. Shallal explains the potential devastating impact... Read More

Study: Health Care Remains Inaccessible to Low-Income, Minority WomenWhen it comes to access to health care, this troubled economy has hit minority and low-income women harder than their male counterparts, according to a study released today. Nearly one third of women between ages 19 and 64 either lacked access to... Read More

Graduates From Country's First Black High School Celebrate 75th ReunionA milestone was marked this weekend. Living graduates from the country's first Black high school in Southwest Washington, D.C., came together for their 75th year reunion. The Dunbar High School class of 1936, now most in their 90s, celebrated the monumental occasion... Read More

Rewarding School Reform with Top HonorsWhat a graduation to remember!  In a surprise visit, President Obama gave the commencement address at Memphis’ Booker T. Washington High School. As USA Today reports, an academic turnaround at the urban school earned graduating seniors the address by none other than President Obama. The... Read More

Social Media May Have the Final SayHe's not going to the prom...now he's going to the prom. Shelton High School Administrators in Connecticut banned honor roll senior James Tate from attending prom after he and his buddies posted 12-inch cardboard letters on the school's exterior asking his potential date, Sonali Rodrigues, to... Read More

Economy Recovers for Corporate America, Not for Everyday Americans   CNN’s Fareed Zakaria reports there’s a tale of two economies in America, where the haves are big business and the have nots are the unemployed and average American worker. Corporate America has rebounded from the nation’s financial crisis while the jobless rate... Read More

Does a Happy Meal Make Everybody Happy?Well, the answer to this question for some concerned parents and groups is “No.” The marketing to children of processed meals, loaded with sodium, high in fat, and sugar coated with a “toy inside” has been argued as irresponsible and contributing to our nation’s... Read More

Cultural Competency in Health Care Trailing Behind Nation’s Demographic ShiftsAs America’s racial and ethnic mix shifts rapidly to a majority minority nation, the need for cultural competency in health care increases. Oregon’s Democratic lawmakers get that. Unfortunately, their Republican colleagues don’t.   The Register Guard reports that a split partisan vote... Read More

Doctors’ Advice: Fewer Tests, Cheaper Health CareEveryone wants to save money, cut costs wherever possible while maintaining the best life. When it comes to doctors’ visits and tests, a primary care group is working to keep more money in your pocket. Recently, the National Physicians Alliance met with doctors in... Read More

Calling Males to the Counseling ProfessionMen are all but missing in the mental health profession reports the New York Times. Need Therapy? A Good Man Is Hard to Find (New York Times, 05/21/2011) reports that “men earn only one in five of all master’s degrees awarded in psychology, down from... Read More

Oprah’s 25 Years Reminds Us to Be ‘Authentic’Yesterday, Oprah’s fans tuned in worldwide to view the Oprah Winfrey Show finale, drawing the show’s highest rating in 17 years, according to Nielsen figures. For more than 25 years (prior to her show), Oprah has devoted herself to learning and sharing stories... Read More

Source: Statistics as of June 30, 2004 from Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2004, Tables 1, 14 and 15 and U.S. Census. (Peter Wagner, June 2005)As the nation rightfully pauses this weekend to remember our soldiers, who died in battles to win, protect and preserve our freedoms, we still... Read More

Nurses Are Vital to Hospice, Outpatient and Primary Health Care The role of nurses has always been important in providing quality health care in hospitals; however, today’s nurses are transforming health care beyond hospital settings.  In addition to reinventing America’s approach to hospice care from “a service that provided a... Read More