Courtenay Harris Bond
Courtenay Harris Bond is the staff writer covering health for PhillyVoice. She enjoys writing about behavioral health, maternal health and inequities in the healthcare system, as well as human rights and criminal justice. A veteran daily newspaper reporter, Courtenay has also written for national outlets, including KFF Health News, Undark Magazine and Filter. She was a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism and has master's degrees from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
January 7, 2026
Healthy Eating
New dietary guidelines call for eating more meat and full-fat dairy, but less sugary foods
The 2025-2030 dietary guidelines advise Americans to prioritize protein at every meal and to consume more full-fat dairy products. They also recommend against consuming highly-processed and sugary foods, but no longer provide specific guidelines for alcohol consumption.January 6, 2026
Health News
The Philly region's blood supply dropped sharply at the holidays; here's how to donate
New Jersey has declared blood shortage emergency, and the Red Cross says Southeastern Pennsylvania is on the 'cusp' of one. Inclement weather, the holidays and a severe flu season have led to a drop in blood donations. Here's how to donate.January 3, 2026
Healthy Eating
Ginger can add zing to your recipes and help boost your overall health
Ginger offers many health benefits, including nausea and pain relief and improved digestion. It can be added to recipes or consumed in tea and other drinks.January 2, 2026
Mental Health
Not all people who die by suicide are depressed — despite common thought
Not everyone who dies by suicide has a mental illness. A new study suggests some people may have different underlying genetic risk factors than people with known histories of suicidal behavior. Conventional screening tools may not be comprehensive enough.January 1, 2026
Wellness
The holidays can mess up the healthiest of habits. Here's how to get back on track
The holidays can disrupt healthy eating and exercise routines. A local therapist offers tips for getting back on track in the new year. Among them: set attainable goals and avoid trying to do too much at once.December 26, 2025
Health Stories
As a health writer, here are five steps I took in 2025 that improved my life
In 2025, I made a few strides toward a better diet — and improving my overall physical and mental health. Eating Grape-Nuts, saying the Ho’oponopono forgiveness prayer and napping may help you, too.December 26, 2025
Mental Health
Not happy with how you look in photos? There's a psychological explanation
Mere-exposure effect, confirmation bias and spotlight effect help explain why people dislike how they look in pictures. Taking more photos may be one of the best ways to become more confident looking at photos, psychologists say.December 25, 2025
Health News
Medical school enrollment surpasses 100,000 for first time as application numbers rebound
U.S. medical school enrollment surpassed 100,000 students for the first time in 2025. Women accounted for 55% of new students, continuing an upward trend.December 24, 2025
Children's Health
Pennsylvania, New Jersey join lawsuit against federal rules restricting gender-affirming care for minors
Pennsylvania and New Jersey joined a 19-state lawsuit challenging federal rules that would cut funding to hospitals providing gender-affirming care to minors.December 24, 2025
Addiction
Smoking 'a few harmless joints' a month can hurt school performance, study says
Using cannabis products just once a month was associated with worse grades and more emotional turmoil in teenagers, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics.Just In
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