January Words on Wellness

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
January 6, 2026 11:47 am

Attached you will find your edition of the January 2026 Words on Wellness newsletter. This month’s topics include: Healthy Labels, Smarter Choices Recipe for Chili Fresh, Canned, or Frozen? All are Healthy Choices Meditation as Self-Care  For more information and upcoming health and human sciences events, check out our website! https://www.

Mercy Cedar Rapids performs first ever MarginProbe2 surgery for breast cancer

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
January 6, 2026 11:47 am

Mercy Medical Center has made history as the first hospital in the world to use the newly FDA-approved MarginProbe® 2 during breast-conserving surgery.

Iowa awarded $209 million for first year of federal Rural Health Transformation

IOWA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
January 5, 2026 5:13 pm

Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that Iowa has been awarded funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federal initiative managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

January is National Blood Donor Month

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
January 5, 2026 5:09 pm

Join us this month in donating blood at the January 23, 2026 blood drive!  From 11:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. a clinic will be set up at Virginia Gay Hospital in the Conference Room.

Benton County Suicide Prevention Coalition to meet January 5 - 6:00 p.m.

BCSPC
December 31, 2025 11:30 am

 Focus for our upcoming in-person and virtual meetings:Networking:  Strengthening connections among members and community partnersCollaboration:  Exploring opportunities to support one another's effortsGroup Building:  Sharing ideas on how our coalition can grow stronger and more effectiveYour voice and perspective are vital.

State of Iowa receives USDA approval to align Healthy SNAP, SUN Bucks in 2026

STATE OF IOWA
December 23, 2025 8:52 am

Governor Reynolds and Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the state will participate in the federal SUN Bucks program (also known as Summer EBT) beginning in 2026 after being notified Friday that the U.

Trump signs order to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana

IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH
December 22, 2025 2:55 pm

By:Jacob FischlerPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, which Trump said reflected the drug’s potential medical benefits while discouraging recreational use.

Virginia Gay Hospital Celebrates Amanda Lovell's NCLEX Success

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
December 19, 2025 10:28 am

Virginia Gay Hospital is proud to announce that Amanda Lovell, a valued team member in VG Nursing & Rehab, has successfully passed the NCLEX examination and is now a Registered Nurse (RN).

SAVE LIVES DURING NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
December 17, 2025 5:00 pm

Kick off the new year by observing National Blood Donor Month and saving lives! Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion.

Crisis Response K9 Provides Support to VGH Staff Following Difficult Trauma

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
December 15, 2025 1:03 pm

Virginia Gay Hospital (VGH) recently welcomed Shakespear, a Crisis Response K9 trained through Crisis Canines of the Midlands, to support hospital staff during a trauma debriefing following a challenging patient event.