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.
March 10, 2025
Prevention
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the U.S. remains vulnerable to another crisis
Five years after COVID, most Philadelphia health systems aren't commenting on pandemic readiness while vaccination rates decline and measles outbreaks grow. CHOP's Dr. Paul Offit says political fear is silencing medical voices.March 6, 2025
Illness
Large tattoos nearly triple the risk of lymphoma, new study suggests
Tattoos may increase the risk of skin cancer and lymphoma, a new study suggests. Large tattoos double the risk of skin cancer and triple the risk of lymphoma, the research found. But the study had limitations and past research has failed to find a direct causal link between tattoos and cancer.March 4, 2025
Adult Health
Poorly-run meetings leave workers with 'hangovers' that sap their productivity, study shows
Poorly-run meetings can leave workers with so-called 'meeting hangovers' that reduce their productivity and morale, new research shows. But there are steps employers and employees can take to remedy the problem.February 27, 2025
Health Stories
Ahead of her Philly show, Kathy Griffin opens up about her battles with cancer, addiction and PTSD
Kathy Griffin has was ostracized, investigated, and lost friends and work after posting a satirical photo of herself with a Donald Trump mask in 2017. She since has beaten lung cancer, been diagnosed with PTSD and gone into recovery for addiction. Now she's back on stage, with a March 15 stop in Philadelphia on her new stand-up tour.February 27, 2025
Adult Health
Traumatic brain injuries may one day be treated with a nasal spray
Immediately treating traumatic brain injuries with a nasal spray could be a game-changer for athletes and other people who suffer head injuries. A nasal spray tested on mice with TBIs improved their motor function, coordination and spatial memory. Its next step is human trials.February 27, 2025
Mental Health
The key to happiness? Don't strive for it
The happiness paradox is that the more people chase happiness, the more unhappy they get. A new study suggests this is because seeking happiness drains the same mental resources as self-control, making people susceptible to self-destructive behavior.February 26, 2025
Parenting
Babies are breastfed longer when their dads take parental leave
Fathers who took two or more weeks of parental leave were 31% more likely to report that their infants were still being breastfed at 8 weeks old, according to a new study. They support breastfeeding by providing hands-on care – feeding babies expressed milk, burping them and rocking them to sleep.February 25, 2025
Children's Health
Most infant formula in the U.S. contains a high amount of added sugars
The majority of infant formula in the United States has high amounts of added sugars. Health experts recommend infants have no added sugar. That means most infant formula is a health risks to infants, a recent study says.February 20, 2025
Wellness
'Detox' foot pads claim to rid the body of toxins, but health experts are skeptical
Many detox foot pad products on the market claim to draw toxins out of the body through the feet, proven by a color change when people take them off. But the darker color is most likely just a reaction between sweat and vinegar, health experts say.February 20, 2025
Adult Health
In Kensington, integrated medical care can have a 'huge' impact on HIV transmission
The Sana Clinic in Kensington integrates HIV treatment and other medical services, offering low-barrier access to people who are homeless and those who use drugs. It has more than 30 patients receiving antiretroviral shots – and all of them now have undetectable viral loads that prevent them from transmitting the virus.Just In
- How a Flyers fan became a part of Noah Cates' warmup routine
- A Pierre Robert mural is coming to Center City, but its exact site is undetermined
- Condom maker to increase prices by 30% due to Iran war supply issues
- Why traffic for Flyers and Sixers playoff games will be even worse than usual
- Report: Phillies C J.T. Realmuto placed on IL with lower back injury
- Red Cross is offering gift cards to encourage spring blood donations
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