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Seka Palikuca

A way with words. I'm Seka, an editor, writer, and content strategist based in Oak Park, IL. I was a journalist at a major metro daily for two decades before branching out into brand and content marketing. Subjects I've covered include nutrition and wellness, medicine and healthcare, lifestyle, food + drink, financial news, personal finance, philanthropic consulting, real estate, and autos. 

Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

From ‘Wellcations’ to Hydration: How to Live a Nutritious Life This Summer

Summertime in all its glory has got us thinking about how to live a nutritious life during summer vacation. As you prep for your summer travels and adventures, we’ve come up with simple hacks, helpful reminders and useful advice on how to maintain your healthy lifestyle this season.

Read on for some of the best advice on living your most nutritious life this summer.

Nutritious Life founder Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, might be a registered dietitian nutritionist, but she embraces the virtues of
Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

Thyroid Disease and Diet: Managing Symptoms With the Right Nutrients

As a health practitioner, you likely often hear from clients that they’re having a tough time losing weight due to what they think is an issue with their thyroid. That’s certainly a possibility since the thyroid plays a profound role in regulating our metabolism by secreting important hormones that control it and thereby nearly every cell and organ in our body.

And since 12 of every 100 U.S. adults develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime—with 60% of them undiagnosed—it’s worth versing
Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

How Simone De La Rue Conquered COVID Anxiety and Kept Her Fitness Empire Intact

Celebrity trainer Simone De La Rue knows a thing or two about surviving. Coming out of the pandemic with her fitness empire intact, De La Rue learned that transformation is essential–especially as the entire world continues to go through waves of shutdowns while the coronavirus morphs and evolves.

De La Rue created her signature dance-based fitness method, Body By Simone, 10 years ago after retiring from a professional dance career that led her to the stages of Broadway, London’s West End and h
Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

Healthy Eating for Diabetes: The Best Nutritious Snacks and Tasty Breakfast Ideas

If you’re living with diabetes, the biggest hurdle is often knowing what to eat and what not to eat—especially when it comes to snack time and breakfast.

Choosing foods that are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats is essential. These foods will work hard to help keep blood sugar levels where they need to be.

Read up on what diabetes is, how to help control it with healthy snacks, and some delicious breakfast ideas to start the day off right.

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes (
Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

Why Sourdough Bread Is Secretly Healthy

Ask Keri: Is sourdough bread good for you?

Keri Says: Though it’s comparable to a regular slice of white bread in the amount of calories, carbs and fiber, sourdough is lower in sugar and higher in protein, which gives it a leg up.

Traditional white bread is usually made with sugar, canola oil, and dried, preserved yeast to leaven the dough.

Sourdough bread, on the other hand, is typically made with no sweeteners or oils. Instead of using baker’s yeast, it relies on a starter, which is a combi
Nutritious Life: Healthy Tips, Healthy Recipes, Exercise •

How to Create the Healthy Holiday Bar Cart of Your Dreams

Picture yourself at a holiday party. What are you holding? Maybe a beautiful, sparkly punch garnished with cranberries and a cinnamon stick?

‘Tis the season for holiday cocktails, but many of the standards are so sugary you’ll end up drinking tons of extra empty calories and likely wind up with a massive headache the next day.

Seriously, who wants to gain holiday weight because of too much eggnog or nurse a hangover headache because of one too many hot buttered rums?

In addition to subbing th
The DO •

Social media advice for those applying to residency

First-year resident Amanda Ly, DO, is also a blogger who has over 50,000 followers on Instagram. But in the fall of 2017 when she was interviewing for residency spots, the social media influencer put all her accounts on hiatus or made them private.

Though Dr. Ly is careful to keep her social media posts positive and professional, she—like so many medical students going through the rigors of securing a residency—practiced extreme caution with her social media presence because she didn’t want to
The DO •

Documentary puts spotlight on physician depression, suicide

When osteopathic medical student Kevin Dietl took his life in 2015, he brought the crisis of depression and suicide within the medical community into sharper focus.

Though there are, sadly, many cases of doctor, resident and medical student suicide in the U.S., Dietl’s tragedy sparked a push for mental health advocacy by his parents, who agreed to be part of the documentary film titled “Do No Harm: Exposing the Hippocratic Hoax,” by filmmaker Robyn Symon, a two-time Emmy-award winner.

The docu
The DO •

Just what is functional medicine and why do some DOs gravitate to it?

Aunna Herbst, DO, was in her early 30s when she decided to go to medical school. The former lifestyle and health coach had gotten into nutrition for personal reasons. But when her business became so successful that it grew too big, she decided to sell it.

Her love of biochemistry coupled with her natural affinity for healing led her to Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM).

“During residency training, I wondered how I was going to incorporate the two worlds of ost
The DO •

Perspectives on living and dying from best-selling author's widow

Physician Lucy Kalanithi is the widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, who wrote the New York Times best-selling memoir “When Breath Becomes Air.” The book was published after Paul Kalanithi’s death from lung cancer, with an epilogue written by his wife.

Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, who is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, will offer the keynote address Jan. 25 at the LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy & Development) conference in Austin, Texas.

We spok
The DO •

NASA's top doc: A DO is helping launch the first human journey to Mars

As NASA’s chief health and medical officer, J.D. Polk, DO, has had a totally cosmic career trajectory.

Dr. Polk wears multiple hats at the space agency, where he is in charge of the health of all NASA employees—including its astronauts, who are monitored for life. Dr. Polk is also the health and medical technical authority for the agency, overseeing a team that serves as experts on the health specifications for new vehicle development at NASA.

“We have to make sure each vehicle is built to med
The DO •

A career in medical cannabis: DO treats children with epilepsy, cancer patients and others

Junella Chin, DO, was a patient first.

At 17, she was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a condition that grew progressively worse during her college years, leaving her body stiff and painful. She tried a series of failed treatments—from physical therapy to muscle relaxers, epidurals to opioids—but nothing worked.

As a medical student at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) in California, she was introduced to CBD, or cannabidiol, as a possible salve for her pain.
The DO •

5 things to know about direct primary care

As a pre-med student, Matthew Abinante, DO, MPH, shadowed 10-12 physicians and each told him to not go into medicine due to their disillusionment with the profession.

For Dr. Abinante, who was passionate about his career choice, this level of burnout was disheartening. But the last physician he shadowed had a different story to tell. He loved what he did and told Dr. Abinante to definitely go into medicine. That physician practiced a version of concierge medicine for which he charged patients a
The DO •

Skipping class is the new normal. What does it mean for med school today?

As a second-year medical student, Brittney Kolb skips class sometimes—and her school is OK with that.

Kolb, who attends Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM), is part of a growing demographic of medical students who choose to watch recorded classroom lectures remotely, at their own pace, instead of attending class in-person.

Nearly a quarter (23.5 percent) of second-year medical students reported in 2017 that they “almost never” attended cla
The DO •

Intermittent fasting: Can we fast our way to better health?

Diet trends come and go, but the newest dietary craze—intermittent fasting—can actually trace its roots to the days of the caveman.

Our ancestors practiced intermittent fasting (IF) due to food scarcity, but this ancient survival adaptation might also serve as a tool for improving health. Recent short-term studies have shown intermittent fasting’s potential for improving many critical health markers.

“Intermittent fasting can be an effective tool for weight loss, blood sugar and blood pressure
The DO •

The keto diet: 5 fast facts

The ketogenic diet is an ultra-low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has been used for decades to treat certain medical conditions. Today, adherents claim that it will help you drop pounds while boosting your energy levels and controlling your blood sugar. Its promise of fast and aggressive weight loss is a compelling one in our world of quick fixes, but the ketogenic diet can be complicated in its execution and the research of its long-term benefits and drawbacks is ongoing.

“Most people’s expe
The DO •

The anti-inflammatory diet: 5 things to know

Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for a host of diseases and health problems plaguing Americans today. Finding ways to help your patients cut down their inflammatory processes can be a crucial component to improving their overall health and well-being.

Diet can be a major contributor to chronic inflammation, says William Welches, DO, PhD, a family physician and biochemist who works at Cleveland Clinic’s Pain Management Clinic.

“If you eat a diet that’s rich in combustibles—which the standa
The DO •

5 myths about whole-food plant-based diets debunked

A chronic disease epidemic is currently plaguing the health of Americans. Many of these illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, can be prevented or alleviated with lifestyle changes.

Colin Zhu, DO, is on a mission to make sure his patients are armed with the knowledge to make those changes. Board-certified in family medicine, lifestyle medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine, Dr. Zhu is a bold advocate for teaching healthier eating, exercise and stress management to patients.

“It
The DO •

American Indian DO shares insights on working with Cherokee Nation patients

For Amanda Bighorse, DO, being named medical director of Vinita Health Center in Vinita, Oklahoma, was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Ever since she was a little girl in rural Oklahoma, Dr. Bighorse knew she wanted to be a doctor. Growing up listening to her grandmother share stories of her father, who was a medicine man, and then watching her own father suffer through a fatal leukemia diagnosis, only served to strengthen her resolve to pursue a career in which she could help others heal.
The DO •

Fearing license issues, depressed doctors don't get help

In an essay last year in the New York Times, Aaron E. Carroll, MD, wrote about his depression during residency and his reluctance to acknowledge it, even after peers and loved ones told him he needed help.

Why the hesitancy? Dr. Carroll asserts that the problem with physician depression is made worse by “a profession in which admitting a problem carries a stigma that can have more impact than in others.”

In fact, a recent survey of 2,100 female physicians on a closed Facebook group found that
The DO •

'We have an opportunity to close this chapter': HHS official on ending the HIV epidemic

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic conditions are currently top-of-mind concerns for health care professionals in the U.S., but it’s critical that we keep children’s health in mind as well, says Admiral Brett P. Giroir, MD, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Health.

“The big threat at the highest level is forgetting about children,” says Dr. Giroir, who’s also a pediatric critical care specialist. “Children always have to be at the forefron

Content editing - Personal finance for physicians and medical students

The DO •

Money tips for each step of your medical journey

Making sense of your finances while in medical school and beyond can be daunting. Whether it’s advice on paying back loans, buying a new home or car, or basic money management, The DO has helpful money tips for doctors to provide assistance on each step of the way.

Here is a roundup of our top financial advice for physicians, residents and medical students alike.

1. Is a physician mortgage right for you?

DOs should consider the pros and cons of a doctor loan, a specialized home loan financin
The DO •

Buying a car? What new DOs should know before splurging on a set of wheels

Medical students and residents toil for years, learning their profession and delaying gratification. So, it’s no surprise that many newly minted DOs can’t wait to spend a buck or two.

“New doctors have a lot of pent-up consumption, so it’s natural that they would want to splurge a little,” says Chris Chen, a certified financial planner with Insight Financial Strategists in Waltham, Massachusetts.

A sparkling new luxury car often tops the list. Not only can a set of hot wheels feel like a well-
The DO •

6 smart ways to manage your student loans during residency

This story initially ran in The DO on Oct. 6, 2017, and was updated in June 2018.

When it comes to handling student debt during residency, flexible payment plans provide the option of paying now or later, but it’s important to factor in the trade-offs to determine what’s best for your situation.

In 2016, about 86 percent of new osteopathic medical school graduates were burdened by education debt, according to a survey by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Among gradu
The DO •

Navigating the costs of OMS IV

The last year of medical school might seem like a time to exhale. After all, you’ll soon be out of school and into the real world, living out your dream of life as a doctor.

But some challenges still lie ahead, including years of residency, where you won’t make much money and will see your medical school debt continue to accrue interest.

The fourth year of medical school is also filled with hurdles. During this time, you need to take some key—and expensive—tests. You also might have to pay for
The DO •

How to finish medical school with less debt

Paying for medical school is one of the biggest challenges medical students face. The costs can be astronomical, leaving new graduates hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.

Fortunately, there are many options for trimming the bill. Some of the best include the following:

Scholarships can be a game-changer for medical students who are hoping to keep the cost of DO schooling reasonable.


To learn more about available scholarships, check with your school’s financial aid office. Schools typi
The DO •

Why your FICO credit score matters so much

For thousands of new doctors of osteopathic medicine, student loan debt is a heavy burden.

In 2016, new osteopathic physicians who borrowed to pay for school carried roughly $240,000 in debt into their careers, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

If handled badly, that mountain of debt can severely hurt your credit score. This matters because you need a solid credit score to get the best rates on a mortgage or car loan.

By far the most commonly used cred
The DO •

Budgeting after your first doctor paycheck

Getting that first big paycheck after your residency is rightfully a cause for celebration. You might even want to treat yourself for a job well done. But managing your money and mapping financial goals should take priority over instant gratification.

“The initial reaction when you get your first paycheck is to want to reward yourself, but it’s important to stay modest,” says Roozehra Khan, DO, critical care attending physician at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
The DO •

Is a physician mortgage right for you?

For a new doctor eager to buy a home but carrying the weight of student debt, a physician mortgage can be a springboard for entering the housing market.

With such a mortgage, also known as a doctor loan, the underwriting process is more lenient compared with a conventional loan. But consider the pros and cons before signing on the dotted line to make sure this option is right for you.

“The main advantages of doctor loans are access to financing with little to no money down and no required priv

Branded content writing and editing - Thought leadership, blogging for professional services

GG+A blog •

Charting a path to fundraising success: Lessons from Penn State's crisis | GG+A

In November 2011, I was finishing my 15th year as senior vice president for development and alumni relations at Penn State University, when suddenly without warning a child sexual abuse scandal on campus turned our world upside down.

Within days, two university officials were indicted on perjury charges, a popular president was removed from office, an iconic coach was fired live on national television, and the governing board leadership changed. Penn State’s darkest days lie ahead.

The crisis
GG+A blog •

Philanthropy for the animal kingdom during COVID-19 | GG+A

While your zoo, aquarium, museum or cultural institution may be closed to the public due to social distancing, much of your important work still goes on. Certainly, the animals living in your habitats still need enrichment, care and feeding. Without gate receipts and other income, your institution is more reliant than ever on your supporters to ensure that your critical work and mission continue.

This is the time to reach out and appeal to your “family”—to your current and past members and dono
GG+A blog •

'Conducting a mini campaign planning study virtually' webinar with Harvard Chan's development leader Kristen Rozansky | GG+A

When a recent mini campaign planning study at Harvard T.H. Chan’s School of Public Health was forced to go completely virtual during the first weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, there were lessons to be learned.

In this webinar, GG+A Senior Vice President Andrew Allred and Harvard Chan’s Vice Dean of the Office for External Relations Kristen Rozansky discuss the pros, cons, lesson learned and implications for how they feel this might change the future of campaign planning studies.

The campaign plan
GG+A blog •

How health care fundraisers can rethink prospect engagement | GG+A

The internet’s ability to maintain connections has been crucial to ensuing some continuity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of us have grown incredibly reliant upon various forms of virtual engagement in the span of just a few months. We’ve become accustomed to meeting with our colleagues and prospects over video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Teams, attending and hosting virtual events, and conversing with our doctors using telemedicine tools.

As the crisis moves to its next phase with s
GG+A blog •

'Yay! Quarantine is over! Now what?' webinar with development director of Victoria University in New Zealand | GG+A

New Zealand is ahead of the pandemic curve compared to the U.S. and most of the world, and has lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions this week.

What lessons can we learn from New Zealand’s re-opening? Listen to the discussion between Andrew Allred, GG+A Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, and Patricia Danver, Executive Director of Development and the Foundation, Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, New Zealand. In “Yay! Quarantine is Over! What Next?,” they discuss Vict
GG+A blog •

'How we kept fundraising going in a pandemic' webinar with John T. Rogers of Penn Charter | GG+A

GG+A’s Independent Schools practice recently hosted a webinar highlighting how one school, William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, decided to continue fundraising during the pandemic.

In “How We Kept Fundraising Going in the Pandemic,” Penn Charter’s Chief Development Officer John T. Rogers shares his experiences from the earliest days of the pandemic forward. In conversation with Jim McKey, GG+A Senior Vice President and Independent Schools Practice Area Leader, John discusses how he kept
GG+A blog •

More crisis fundraising, or 'Now what do I do?' | GG+A

Earlier this week, GG+A’s leadership put out a statement addressing the protests happening across our country in response to the murder of George Floyd and the fragile moment in which we find ourselves. Our nation has faced pandemics, economic collapse, and massive protests before. But never simultaneously.

So as a firm dedicated to supporting and serving nonprofits, we feel a deep responsibility to communicate our values and to redouble our commitment to the public good work that our clients c
GG+A blog •

In times of uncertainty, now more than ever—drop the clichés. (Here’s how to break the habit.) | GG+A

I’ll start by saying: look, I get it. We’ve all been there.

You’re sitting in front of a blank screen and need to say something important in this important moment. You know people care about your mission. They value what you do and they want to help. In some form or another, they need to hear from you.

But how to address this damn pandemic that’s been upending lives and institutions for months?

There’s nothing like a global pandemic and economic stagnation to bring about a bit of writer’s blo
GG+A blog •

Q-and-A with Rhea Turteltaub: UCLA Advancement leader answers your questions | GG+A

Editor’s note: This is Part I of a two-part response to questions posed by participants of a GG+A webinar. For Part II, go here.

On March 27, GG+A hosted a webinar with guest Rhea Turteltaub, Vice Chancellor, External Affairs at UCLA, entitled, “Making Relationships Matter: UCLA Advancement Program’s Response to the COVID-19 Crisis.”

In the webinar, Rhea shared how UCLA is staying connected with its internal and external communities by creating opportunities to convene virtually and remotely.
GG+A blog •

UCLA Advancement leader responds to more of your questions: Q-and-A with Rhea Turteltaub | GG+A

Editor’s note: This is Part II of a two-part response to questions posed by participants of a GG+A webinar. For Part I, go here.

On March 27, GG+A hosted a webinar with guest Rhea Turteltaub, Vice Chancellor, External Affairs at UCLA, entitled, “Making Relationships Matter: UCLA Advancement Program’s Response to the COVID-19 Crisis.”

In the webinar, Rhea shared with GG+A CEO John Glier how UCLA is staying connected with its internal and external communities by creating opportunities to convene

Branded writing and editing - Consumer health content

Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

The Mediterranean diet: 5 fast facts

The Mediterranean diet, part of a category known as heart-healthy diets, derives from culinary cultures of Greece, Spain and Italy. It is also a model for healthy, balanced and communal eating. Below are five things to know before diving in.
• Increase heart-healthy foods: This diet emphasizes increased intake of legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and olive oil. It also allows for moderate consumption of fish and poultry, with very limited red meat, processed foods and salt.
• Drink
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Intermittent fasting: Can we fast our way to better health?

Diet trends come and go, but the newest dietary craze—intermittent fasting—can actually trace its roots to the days of the caveman.

Our ancestors practiced intermittent fasting (IF) due to food scarcity, but this ancient survival adaptation might also serve as a tool for improving health. Recent short-term studies have shown intermittent fasting’s potential for improving many critical health markers.

“Intermittent fasting can be an e
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

The keto diet: 5 fast facts you should know

The ketogenic diet is an ultra-low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has been in use for decades to treat certain medical conditions. Today, adherents claim that it will help you drop pounds while boosting your energy levels and controlling your blood sugar. Its promise of fast and aggressive weight loss is a compelling one in our world of quick fixes, but the ketogenic diet can be complicated in its execution and the research of its long-term benefits
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

5 myths of whole-food plant-based diets debunked

As chronic illnesses increasingly affect more Americans’ health, the link between dietary habits and disease prevention is gaining traction in the U.S. health care arsenal.

For Dr. Colin Zhu, DO, an osteopathic family physician who practices lifestyle medicine, the path forward is clear. Dr. Zhu is a bold advocate for teaching healthier eating, exercise and stress management to patients.

“We’re living in an age of chronic disease that is plaguing our nation and contributing to diabetes, hypert
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Transgender youth: A parents' guide to helping their child transition

Since a very young age your son has played dress-up in his sister’s clothes. He always preferred playing with girls over boys and has repeatedly told you that he wants to be a girl. Lately, he’s begun insisting that he is a girl. What is going on? Your son may have gender dysphoria.

Gender dysphoria is broadly defined as a conflict between a person’s gender identity and their sex or anatomy assigned at birth.

“Gender dysphoria is emotional turmoil that transgender people feel,” says Dr. Laura
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Infectious mono: More than the 'kissing disease'

Infectious mononucleosis, or mono, is often called the “kissing disease” because the virus can be easily transmitted by kissing.

While the most common way for the virus to spread is, indeed, through saliva, you don’t have to kiss someone with an active strain of it in order to contract it. It can also be transmitted by activities like sharing drinks and using another person’s utensils, or through blood and other bodily fluids.

Being exposed to
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Perimenopause: A call to recognize 'reverse puberty' in women

The slow reduction of estrogen and progesterone that leads to the end of menstruation and beginning of menopause marks a significant mental, physical and emotional shift for women.

Perimenopause, which comprises the decline and end of a woman’s ability to reproduce, may extend for years. The transition often causes irregular cycles, extreme bleeding, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, migraine headaches, brain fog, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), night sweats and more.

“We downplay how m
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Tick season: Practice vigilance in the fight against tick-borne illnesses

Warm weather means more time spent outdoors making memories. But if your adventures include time hiking in the woods or tall grass, you should be wary of ticks and their highly infectious bites, which can cause illnesses including Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S.

Lyme disease cases exploded in the U.S. over the last two decades and experts warn that this year could shape up to be a bitter on
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Water safety: Drowning prevention strategies that could save a life

When a powerful riptide swept away six members of a Florida family plus four other swimmers, beach goers formed a human chain and rescued them.

The incident in Panama City Beach, Florida, where no lifeguard was on duty, made news around the country thanks to its feel-good vibe of strangers helping save the lives of other strangers. But it also serves as a cautionary tale on the risks associated with large bodies of water and mistakes people make in them.

“Never enter the water to save someone
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

A heart transplant survivor, ER doctor champions awareness

Alin Gragossian, DO, nearly died last December at the age of 30. An osteopathic physician in an emergency medicine residency program, she knew the signs of heart failure. Yet she mistook her own for common ailments.

Dr. Gragossian had always been active and healthy. When a cough continued for more than a month and she became easily winded, she attributed these changes to high levels of stress and a common cold. But after symptoms persisted beyond the two-month mark, she requested a chest X-ray.
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

5 things to know about sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that can affect any organ. Most people who have sarcoidosis have few signs of the disease. It is most often diagnosed when a chest x-ray is done for another reason, and is found to be abnormal. However, because sarcoidosis can affect the entire body, a wide variety of symptoms may be seen with the disease, including fatigue, night sweats, headaches, joint pain and more.

Sarcoidosis is no longer considered a rare disease
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

4 ways to spring into better health

Baseball players aren’t the only ones getting their groove back during spring training. For the rest of us, spring provides an opportunity to reassess, restructure and revitalize our lives—often after a season of hibernation. Below are four tips from osteopathic physicians to help you emerge from winter healthier in mind, body and spirit.

Cabin fever has you ready to hit the tennis courts and running trails but it’s important to ease into new exercise routin
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Treating chronic pain the osteopathic way

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans each year. Managing chronic pain without the use of opioids and other painkillers is possible for some patients.

William Welches, DO, a family physician at Cleveland Clinic’s Pain Management Clinic, helps his patients manage their pain through lifestyle modifications and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) with the goal of leaving their medications behind.

“Chronic pain is a huge problem and it’s getting worse due to the aging population,” Dr. We
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Lupus and you: What you need to know

Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans though most people know very little about the disease, which can be difficult to diagnose.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), known simply as lupus, is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems—including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

“Most people
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Knowledge is power: 5 things to know about diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and World Diabetes Day has been recognized on Nov. 14 every year since 1991. It was created by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. The campaign’s theme for 2017 is Women and Diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too
Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine •

Prom prep: Health and safety tips for your teen

Prom season means glamorous attire, limousines and late curfews for many high school students. It’s also the perfect opportunity to talk with teens about health and safety concerns around this big night.

Jennifer Caudle, DO, an osteopathic family physician and associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, has advice on the health hazards associated with this traditional rite of passag

Chicago Tribune

Explore the versatility of my writing and editing for a daily metro newspaper. 

chicagotribune.com

Tuberculosis battle is global

Even though very few of those victims live in the U.S., the lack of focus on TB does pose risks for Americans. Failure to slow the spread of the disease globally increases the odds that more infected immigrants and visitors will arrive from overseas. In fact, 65 percent of new cases in the U.S. are found in people who were born in other countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common countries of origin are Mexico, the Philippines, India, Vietnam and China
chicagotribune.com

Restaurants go with the flow on lobsters

Opening a menu at a seafood restaurant and encountering the cryptic phrase "market price" can pique your curiosity-and may even make you lose your appetite.

We're used to seeing prices on menus, and having to ask what the market price is can be embarrassing, lest we find it too high.

So why is it necessary for restaurants to use "market price" on such items as lobster?

To find out, we went to the source: six seafood restaurants and two seafood suppliers. This is what they told us.

The market
chicagotribune.com

Balancing old with new, period with personality

When my family was house hunting a decade ago, I discovered a Prairie-style "Gunderson" in one of Oak Park's historic districts and it was love at first sight. I saw myself sipping lemonade from its large front porch while watching the neighborhood kids play. Alas, it was too big and pricey for our means.

But some relationships simmer on the back burner just waiting to be catapulted back into the fore. Such was the case as I set out to find my dream home among today's Oak Park listings. No long
chicagotribune.com

The view from the pits: Traders talk about trading

Bulls, Bears, and Millionaires: War Stories of the Trading Life

Each of the traders interviewed in Robert Koppel's "Bulls, Bears, and Millionaires" shows the importance of experience. As a group, their common denominator is knowledge. It's knowledge they've acquired by making millions and, most important, by losing them.

They show that there is no single formula for successful trading. Rather, each found his or her path by incorporating personality into the equation. They took their own streng
chicagotribune.com

Don Julio 70 Crystal Anejo: Redefining the silver tequila category

According to de Colsa, Don Julio 70 is versatile enough to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. To prove that point on a recent visit to Chicago, he enlisted the help of mixologists Alex Renshaw and Brian Sturgulewski of The Dogma Group to craft a drink for this specialty spirit. The pair came up with La Primavera Negra, which incorporates activated charcoal into the drink itself. The small amount of charcoal used does not affect the texture of the drink but makes a "very bright, somewhat,
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Persimmon, please: A marvelous mojito

It's persimmon season — though not for much longer. If you act quickly, you can still pick up the sweet, delicious fruit at your local market.

Typically available October through January, persimmons are prized for their sweet, mellow flavor. They are also rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Originally cultivated in China and Japan, the fruit's most common varieties available in the U.S. are Fuyu and Hachiya.

Similar to apricots or plums in flavor and texture, the Fuyu ripens with swee
chicagotribune.com

Minivans: The Next Generation

"This one goes out to all you minivan families out there. Sienna SE ... in the house." So begins the Toyota Sienna ad that has two 30-something hipsters rapping about their slick new ride — their swagger wagon. Honda uses a Judas Priest soundtrack and an exploding ring of fire in its Odyssey campaign, while Dodge bypasses the Soccer Mom and goes straight for Dad in dubbing its new Dodge Caravan R/T the "Man Van." Whether these efforts can revitalize the image of the tragically uncool minivan or
chicagotribune.com

BAD TIMES

`It could happen to anyone, anywhere in the world," says Tamara Vuckovic, an actress with the Kult Theater Company of Belgrade. "It's a story of humanity."

This story, which stopped at Chicago's Organic Theater over the summer in the form of a play titled "Dark of the Night," tells of an urban family living in Belgrade during the spring of 1991; a time when war was on the horizon, the city's mailboxes were filling with draft notices and university campuses sizzled with student protests.

"We ar
chicagotribune.com

Sweet Honey in the Rock dazzles with a divergent repertoire

Dressed in white with sashes, hats, scarves and other touches of mud cloth, a traditional West African, decorative cloth made with centuries-old techniques, Sweet Honey in the Rock took their seats Sunday night at the Field Museum amid shakeres, rainsticks and other ancient percussion instruments.

The female a cappella quintet began their concert without words, only the chanting, calling, merging and receding of their harmonious "Tama Tama Tamali." This led into Aisha Kahlil's "Wodaabe Nights,"

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Using donor insights to design regular giving products

The best way to motivate donors is to find what appeals to them and craft communications and programs geared to their interests. In this session, GG+A’s Dan Lowman and Adrian Salmon will draw on specific examples and their own experiences across the United Kingdom and Europe on how survey research, message and visual testing, and straightforward analysis can help you achieve enhanced regular giving results.

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS IN THE TIME OF COVID

Participants: GG+A CEO John Gli