Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2026-01-27T08:01:01

(BPT) – Winter can mean cozy moments and festive cheer, but it can mean respiratory illnesses, like flu, RSV and COVID-19, are circulating, too. If you’re feeling sick, especially if you’re at higher risk for serious illness, getting health care promptly is important, since timely treatment can reduce your risk of complications. Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate prevention, testing and treatment.

Know your risk

While anyone can get sick, some people are at higher risk of having complications or getting very sick, including:

• Adults 65 years and older
• People with underlying health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 2

If you’re at higher risk and start to feel sick, getting care quickly can help reduce your chances of potentially serious complications.

Watch for symptoms and get treatment early

Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, fatigue or sore throat. Get emergency care right away if you experience any warning signs, like trouble breathing or chest pain.

If you feel sick and are at a higher risk for serious illness, don’t wait — get timely treatment to help feel better sooner and protect those around you. Here’s what to know:

• Testing: At-home tests and community-based testing are available. Tests may be available for free or for low-cost. Some tests check for multiple viruses at once, like for flu and COVID-19.
• Treatment: Antiviral medications may be prescribed by your doctor but work best if taken early — within 2 days of symptoms for flu and 5-7 days for COVID-19.

Prevent the spread

If you’re feeling under the weather, take steps to stop the spread:

• Stay home and away from others until you’re fever-free for at least 24 hours (without using fever-reducing medicines) and your other symptoms have improved.
• Then take added precautions for the next five days, like covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands often with soap and water. Additional precautions, like avoiding crowded spaces or visiting people who are at higher risk, can be important, too.

Breathe easier all season long. Visit cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses or talk to your healthcare provider to learn more.

2026-01-26T13:01:00

(BPT) – Imagine seeing multiple doctors for multiple symptoms — from joint instability, debilitating fatigue and chronic pain to digestive issues, migraines, even heart problems — only to be told your blood tests came back normal, or your symptoms are unrelated. Many patients are then referred to psychiatry or dismissed altogether, marking the beginning of a patient’s years-long search for answers.

This is the lived experience of many people with a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a complex connective tissue disorder in which symptoms that appear unrelated are, in fact, directly connected. Too often, the lack of an explicit diagnosis leaves patients without clear answers, coordinated care or validation.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) are working to change that.

Under the leadership of Russell “Chip” Norris, Ph.D., scientists are using groundbreaking approaches to redefine how EDS is understood. To translate these discoveries into real-world impact, MUSC is in the process of launching a world-class EDS Center, a comprehensive hub for expert care, research and education, led by internationally recognized EDS specialist Anne Maitland, M.D., Ph.D.

Two defining features set MUSC’s trailblazing EDS research apart. First, scientists who themselves live with EDS are actively involved in every stage of the research process, ensuring that studies reflect real patient experience. Second, the team’s unbiased, systems-level approach has revealed a previously unrecognized immunologic component of the condition, opening new avenues for diagnosis, treatment and long-overdue validation for patients.

The most common disease you’ve never heard of

Determining exactly how many people have EDS is difficult. The condition includes 13 different subtypes — most of them extremely rare. However, the most common subtype, hypermobile EDS (hEDS), is greatly underdiagnosed and may affect as many as 1 in 500 people in the U.S., disproportionately affecting women. It often first presents during adolescence, a factor Norris Lab researchers assert has contributed to the disease not being taken seriously by many physicians.

Most types of EDS are caused by defects in the body’s collagen, a critical structural protein. While many people with EDS share a common trait — hypermobile or “bendy” joints — each subtype is genetically distinct, and symptoms can vary widely from person to person. The disease can affect multiple systems, including the heart, gastrointestinal tract, joints, skin and nervous system, making diagnosis especially difficult.

Because EDS has long been classified as a rare disease, it receives limited attention in medical education. As a result, people with EDS often wait as long as 20 years before receiving an accurate diagnosis — a delay that leaves many feeling unheard and unsupported while their health worsens.

The power of listening

The idea for MUSC’s EDS Center began with a conversation. As a professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Norris regularly opened his office to doctoral students seeking guidance. One of them was Cortney Gensemer, now a Ph.D., who lives with EDS.

“Studying my own disease wasn’t something I thought was feasible,” said Gensemer. “There was no one studying it.”

As Norris listened to her describe how much remained unknown about EDS, including its underlying genetics, the seed was planted for a new way of thinking. Focusing on a large family with multiple individuals affected by hEDS, the team saw a rare opportunity to pursue genetic sequencing on an unprecedented scale. That work ultimately laid the foundation for a genetic registry that now includes more than 15,000 EDS patients.

“Thanks to this work, we were able to seek support from MUSC leadership to develop an innovative EDS Center,” said Molly Griggs, program coordinator for the Norris Lab. For Griggs — an EDS patient and mother of teenagers living with EDS — the work is deeply personal. “It’s the only center in the world that integrates broad clinical care and comprehensive research for EDS.”

From the start, it was vital to Norris, Gensemer and their colleagues that EDS patients be involved at every stage of research.

“The best way to learn is to listen to patients. The central component of everything we do is taking a truly honest approach to patient-centered research,” explained Norris. “That means not just having a patient sitting on an advisory board but fully integrating patients into study design, research, publishing and presentations — everything.”

Building on that philosophy, the Norris Lab established patient-scientist internship programs that invite individuals living with EDS who are interested in scientific and health care careers to participate directly in research. The programs provide hands-on experience for those exploring paths in graduate education, medicine, nursing and related fields.

“It’s crucial for participants to see other patient-scientists at work to understand this is something they can do,” said Gensemer, for whom the internship is named. “They see us actively living through the experience of the disease while doing the work. It’s incredibly empowering.”

The patient-scientist programs include:

Gensmer Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Intern Program — An eight-week summer internship for students with a personal connection to EDS who are passionate about advancing EDS research and patient care. Participants gain hands-on experience in genetic and molecular research, receive one-on-one mentorship and join a growing network of patient-scientists.

Visiting Scholars Program — A three-day immersive experience that brings small cohorts of four to six individuals living with EDS to the lab. Participants engage directly with researchers, learn about ongoing studies and connect with a community of peers who share lived experience and a commitment to advancing understanding of EDS.

“We’ve already trained more than 100 students from high school through graduate school to pursue careers as physicians and scientists,” Norris said. “While our discoveries in genetics and biomarkers have reshaped how hEDS is understood, our long-term impact will come from training the hundreds of people who will carry this work forward.”

The immunology connection

In addition to an ongoing biomarker study aimed at identifying genetic and blood markers for hEDS — work that could lead to definitive diagnostic tests — researchers uncovered something potentially game-changing. By analyzing registry data alongside patients’ stories, the team identified a possible connection between hEDS and immune disorders.

“Part of our biomarker study revealed involvement of immune responses, including allergies and mast cell activation syndrome,” Norris said. “Our clinical registry also showed that approximately 70% of patients reported triggering events that worsened symptoms or revealed new ones, including Epstein-Barr virus and COVID — indicating this is likely an immunological problem.”

By grounding discovery in patient experience, MUSC’s approach is already transforming how EDS is studied. With the full clinical implementation of the EDS Center, MUSC will uniquely unite patient-scientists, comprehensive care and translational research — a unique and essential convergence that has the potential to change the future of EDS diagnosis and treatment fundamentally.

Learn more about EDS

Discover the pioneering EDS research at MUSC by visiting TheNorrisLab.com or on social media @thenorrislab.

The complex realities of EDS take center stage in “Complicated,” a riveting documentary that features several MUSC EDS experts, streaming on Apple TV beginning March 20.

2026-01-23T15:01:00

(BPT) – A newborn’s heart will grow roughly 15 times larger in volume by the time adulthood is reached — a remarkable transformation that presents an extraordinary challenge for pediatric heart surgeons treating congenital defects such as aortic and pulmonary valve disease.

Heart defects affect approximately 1% of babies born in the United States each year, or roughly 40,000 infants. For many families, these diagnoses mark the beginning of long and arduous journeys. Children born with complex valve defects often require repeated surgeries and other treatments as their hearts grow, exposing them to risks and potential complications and their families to overwhelming emotional and financial strain.

Finding a better way to treat these young patients has been a longtime goal for Minoo N. Kavarana, M.D., chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and co-director of the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

“I kept thinking about babies born with the most common congenital heart defect — bicuspid aortic valve,” Kavarana said. “When infants need valve surgery in the first week of life, they often face multiple open-heart procedures and catheter-based balloon dilations over their lifetimes.”

While advances in postoperative care have significantly improved outcomes for pediatric heart surgery, risks still remain. And each additional operation compounds that risk.

“Every time we reopen a child’s chest, we expose them to more trauma,” Kavarana said. “That’s when I started asking: ‘Could we implant a valve early in life that could be expanded over time with a balloon and continue functioning into adulthood after a single operation?'”

That idea — a pediatric valve stent capable of growing with a child — had the potential to change pediatric heart care, and it aligned with the culture of innovation that has earned national recognition for MUSC’s program.

The Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital is ranked No. 4 in the nation for 2025–2026 by U.S. News & World Report, marking its fourth consecutive year in the top four and its ninth straight year in the top 12. The program is recognized for outcomes, cutting-edge technology and advanced clinical expertise, placing it among the nation’s elite programs.

A constructive reunion

As Kavarana searched for a solution, he got a call from a bioengineering team at Clemson University with whom he had previously collaborated. The team, led by Clemson bioengineering alumnus Lee Sierad, Ph.D., and his mentor Dan Simionescu, Ph.D., the Harriet and Jerry Dempsey Professor of Bioengineering, was developing a novel valve concept to treat congenital heart defects in infants. They had confidence in their design but needed clinical insight into how hearts grow, how valve disease evolves over time and how surgeons confront these challenges in the operating room. That led them to reconnect with MUSC and Kavarana.

Kavarana helped the team to tie innovation to clinical reality, clarifying which defects mattered most and how growth patterns should inform device design.

“We were asking fundamental questions,” Sierad recalled. “Would this look like a metal stent that expands? Should we design it for a one-month-old, a one-year-old or a 10-year-old?”

Simionescu said that Kavarana’s input led them to shift the design team’s direction. “Historically, we take adult devices and make them smaller,” he said. “That approach doesn’t work for children. Pediatric patients need something that grows with them.”

From concept to prototype

With vital funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation, which was created in honor of the infant daughter of Susan and Jason Smith who passed away due to a congenital heart defect, the MUSC-Clemson collaboration led to the creation of ExpandValve, designed to evolve in tandem with a growing heart. The device is a thin metal scaffold capable of expanding from an infant-sized diameter of 10 to 12 millimeters to an adult-sized diameter of 24 millimeters (just less than an inch) through gradual, controlled balloon dilations.

But allowing the valve to grow was only part of the puzzle. The team also had to account for changing blood pressures, flow dynamics and tissue response across every stage of childhood.

“All of the clinical data we shared helped the engineers to recreate conditions that closely mirror the human heart,” Kavarana said. “They’re able to test these valves in a bioreactor that simulates real physiologic environments.”

What comes next

If all goes well in the simulations, the next step on the road would be proof-of-concept testing in living hearts, which must yield positive results before potential clinical trials could begin.

“This step is essential,” Kavarana said. “If successful, this technology could dramatically reduce the cumulative trauma children experience from repeated heart surgeries and change what lifelong care looks like for families.”

For Kavarana and the Clemson team, the goal is clear: to replace a lifetime of repeated interventions with a future defined by fewer surgeries, fewer risks and far more hope.

Learn more about the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the Medical University of South Carolina at Children.MUSCHealth.org/medical-services/heart.

2026-01-23T08:01:00

(BPT) – Although they live in different states and have never met, Michael and Andrew have a lot in common. Both boys love to immerse themselves in their favorite subjects — trains for Michael and penguins for Andrew — and they are both dealing with critical illnesses. And thanks to Make-A-Wish^® and corporate partner Chase, both boys were able to see their long-cherished wishes come true.

For Michael, that meant traveling from his home near Fresno, California, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to see Big Boy 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive and one of his favorite trains! Animal lover Andrew and his family were able to travel across the world, from their home town of Draper, Utah, to Dunedin, New Zealand, to see the country’s unique yellow-eyed hoiho penguins up close and personal.

According to Make-A-Wish, which has granted over 390,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses in the U.S. since 1980, approximately 75% of children’s wishes involve some form of travel. To help meet this need, Chase has donated more than $4 million in Chase Ultimate Rewards^® points, allowing Make-A-Wish to have more resources to grant even more wishes, and helping to ensure that a child’s wish is granted at the best time to support their journey to fight their critical illness. Since their partnership began in 2024, Chase has helped grant over 800 wishes.

“Airfare costs are often the largest expense for granting wishes,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “And for every wish we grant, two more children with critical illnesses are still waiting. With Chase’s ongoing support, Make-A-Wish can continue to create lasting memories for children and families, bringing them hope and joy during their most challenging times.”

Life-changing journeys

Make-A-Wish strives to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness, because wish experiences can help improve their emotional and physical health.*

For eight-year-old Michael, learning about trains and wishing to see one of his favorite locomotives in person brought him hope, uplifted his spirits and gave him strength to continue his fight against cancer. Michael and his family were able to fly from Fresno, California, to Denver, Colorado, where they picked up a rental car to drive to Cheyenne. Michael experienced memorable visits to the High Plains Railroad Preservation Association and Cheyenne Depot Museum, but the trip’s highlight was his afternoon at the Union Pacific Steam Shop and private tour of Big Boy No. 4014. Michael’s wish uplifted his spirits and brought him hope.

Twelve-year-old Andrew, who has a critical genetic disorder, is an avid reader who has always loved animals — especially penguins — and enjoys swimming. Thanks to the partnership with Chase, Andrew and his family were able to travel halfway around the world to New Zealand, where they spent time at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to witness hoiho chicks being fed and cared for, as well as seeing these distinctive penguins in the wild. The family also enjoyed a trip to the beach at Otago peninsula and a visit with some alpacas, completing a once-in-a-lifetime trip that Andrew will never forget.

Most wish kids go on to overcome their illness and lead healthy lives, often crediting their wish as a turning point in their emotional and physical health. By helping grant these travel wishes, Chase’s donation enables children to replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Research shows that a wish can have significant physical and emotional benefits, increasing the chances of survival for children facing critical illnesses.*

How you can help

Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child with a critical illness? Chase cardmembers can support Make-A-Wish by donating at Wish.org/Chase, then redeem Ultimate Rewards for the value of the donation by using Pay Yourself Back^® through the Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also learn more about children who have been granted wishes at Wish.org.

*Source: Make-A-Wish 2022 Wish Impact Study, wish.org/impactstudy

2026-01-22T08:01:00

(BPT) – By Dr. Ali Khan, chief medical officer for Aetna^® Medicare and practicing board-certified internist

After you enrolled in your Medicare Advantage plan for 2026, you may have put it out of your mind. However, the new year is the ideal time to prioritize your health. I talk to my patients every day about how important preventive care is for maintaining wellness and preventing minor health issues from becoming more serious concerns. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked among older adults. By 2050, the population of adults ages 50 and older living with at least one chronic condition is projected to nearly double, making preventive care even more important.

With preventive care and regular screenings, your physician can more easily spot areas of concern early, so health problems can be more effectively treated or even, in some cases, prevented.

To get started, here are five ways to make the most of your benefits, putting your well-being at the top of your New Year’s resolutions.

1. Understand your plan

Take time to familiarize yourself with this year’s plan. Are there benefits you could have used last year, but for some reason didn’t take advantage of? Make sure to explore these in 2026. For example, your plan may include things like access to fitness programs and nutrition counseling designed for older adults.

If you have an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, you can scan the QR code on your ID card with your smartphone, which will take you directly to information about your specific plan. You can also contact the Member Services team. They are ready to answer questions, walk you through your benefits or even join a call with your provider to help schedule appointments and walk through billing questions.

2. Make appointments now

Most plans cover annual wellness visits, vaccinations and basic health screenings, so set appointments for these crucial visits right away. For some people, setting appointments at the same time each year makes them easier to remember.

Medicare Advantage plans commonly offer $0 copays for annual physicals, colonoscopies, mammograms and routine eye and hearing exams. Some plans also include $0 copays for primary care visits and labs, and $0 copays for certain vaccines. This makes it easier to ensure you’ll take care of these vital health appointments every year.

3. Put your annual wellness visit and routine physical exam at the top of the list

Your wellness visit sets your care road map for the year. It gives you the chance to talk to your primary care provider and build a prevention plan. During this visit, your doctor will use your answers to a questionnaire to create a personalized health care plan for you to follow.

Additionally, you’ll want to schedule your routine physical exam for an overall picture of your health. During this visit, your doctor will do a full exam that includes blood work, lab tests and vaccines. They’ll also order any preventive screenings that are due. By identifying health conditions early, preventive care improves treatment options and reduces costly treatments and hospitalizations, allowing people and their loved ones to manage expenses and focus on what truly matters: your well-being.

4. Don’t forget vision and hearing

Using your hearing and vision benefits is important for your well-being. Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, vision exams are key to identifying conditions like glaucoma and cataracts. And whether or not you have difficulty hearing, it’s also vital for your overall health.

As a board-certified internist and practicing physician serving older adults, I encourage everyone to prioritize common age-related health screenings like vision and hearing. These are critical for catching signs of more serious health conditions like dementia, and they allow for early intervention.

5. Download the Aetna Health^SM app

In addition to making sure you have a new ID card for 2026, you may also want to download the Aetna Health^SM app to get the most for your health. Aetna is making it simpler to stay on top of your health by providing educational resources like a video library of Medicare basics and benefits so you can stay informed and get the most out of your plan. On the Aetna website and in the app, you can also access additional around-the-clock tools and resources to find in-network doctors, track claims and even print a list of your medications to bring to appointments.

Maximizing your plan for a healthier 2026

Health care can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Aetna Medicare Advantage provides access to a Member Services team to answer your questions, and a Care Management program that offers a dedicated case manager to members to help coordinate doctors, support hospital recovery and guide you in advanced care decisions for certain medical conditions. Qualifying members can also get access to a Medication Therapy Management program for a personalized prescription review. There’s even a 24-Hour Nurse Line* connecting members with a registered nurse for quick answers to health questions, day or night.

Interacting with your plan early in the year helps you maximize your benefits. Aetna makes accessing your plan easier through their secure member website, where you can view benefits, track claims, find in-network care and see prescriptions all in one place. You can also access a video library of Medicare basics to stay informed and get the most from your plan.

Make 2026 a year to prioritize your health. Find more information and get the year off to a good start at AetnaMedicare.com.

*While only your doctor can diagnose, prescribe or give medical advice, the 24-Hour Nurse Line can provide information on a variety of health topics.

See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Participating health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change.

This material is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Health information programs provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Contact a health care professional with any questions or concerns about specific health care needs. Providers are independent contractors and are not agents of Aetna. Provider participation may change without notice. Aetna is not a provider of health care services and, therefore, cannot guarantee any results or outcomes. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna plans, refer to our website.

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2026-01-23T08:03:00

(BPT) – Excited to gather with fellow football fans for the big game? You can score big with your guests — without too much fuss — by choosing premium products that turn a ho-hum cheese plate into a delectable charcuterie board, transforming so-so game day appetizers into a chef’s kiss-worthy experience.

What’s the secret? Président^® Cheese. From flavorful Pub Cheese to creamy Brie and more, Président Cheese will be the MVP of game day, bringing a taste of dairy mastery to your snacks and creating surprisingly simple but elevated culinary masterpieces.

Get ready for kickoff with an elevated snack board

An easy way to get the party started is offering a fun, shareable game day board that brings the energy of the stadium to your table. Classic bites get an irresistible upgrade with Président^® Pub Cheese^® Sharp Cheddar, generously spread on top or served in inviting bowls for dipping. This mix of savory favorites, fresh veggies and crispy sides creates an effortless spread that will keep everyone reaching for one more taste.

Président^® Pub Cheese^® Stadium Snack Board

Prep time: 30 minutes; Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 packs Président^® Pub Cheese^® Sharp Cheddar
• Chicken wings
• Hasselback sausages
• Large soft pretzels
• Soft pretzel bites
• Crispy waffle fries
• Chili-spiced nuts
• Celery sticks
• Carrot sticks
• Pita chips
• Crostinis

Instructions

1. Warm the Pub Cheese: Place Président^® Pub Cheese^® in small cast-iron or regular pan, reserving a second pack to serve raw. Heat over medium on stovetop about 2 minutes, stirring continuously to ensure a smooth, even melt.
2. Prepare board: Arrange Président^® Pub Cheese^®, chicken wings, Hasselback sausages, pretzel bites, large soft pretzels, waffle fries, chili-spiced nuts, pita chips and crostinis on large serving board or platter.
3. Add fresh elements: Tuck celery and carrot sticks around the board to add color and a crisp, refreshing bite.
4. Set up the cheese: Serve melted Président^® Pub Cheese^® Sharp Cheddar in small bowls — or keep in its pan — and place around the board for easy dipping and spreading.
5. Serve and enjoy: Dip, spread and snack freely, mixing and matching favorite bites with Président^® Pub Cheese^® Sharp Cheddar.

Boost your game plan with Brie

Rich and creamy Brie was made for entertaining. Whether served as is or warmed up, it’s perfect for spreading on crusty bread or crispy crackers. Président Brie Cheese is incredibly versatile for any occasion, from grilled to charcuterie boards. You’re sure to score a touchdown with this delicious combo of nuts and honey with Brie. Simply grill Brie, then top with seasonal fruit, pistachios and honey for something so delicious in just 10 minutes.

Grilled Président Brie with Pistachios & Honey

Prep time: 5 minutes; Cook time: 10 minutes; Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) Président^® Brie
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1/4 cup pistachios, unshelled
• 2 tablespoons honey, for drizzling
• Salt, to taste
• Crostinis, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat grill: Set grill to 350°F.
2. Prepare the Brie: Score the top of the Brie in a crosshatch pattern.
3. Place in skillet: Add Brie to lightly greased 8–10 inch cast iron skillet and place directly onto a preheated grill. Close lid and let warm about 5–7 minutes, until soft and melty.
4. Add seasonal fruits and nuts: Place apple slices and pistachios around Brie in the skillet. Close the lid again and warm another 2–3 minutes to warm the fruit and meld the flavors.
5. Finish with extra honey: Drizzle the entire skillet generously with honey.
6. Serve and enjoy: Serve warm with crostini for dipping. Enjoy!

Dip it, spread it and dive in on game day

Your game watch party all-star? Chips and dip. But there’s no need to stick to the same-old, same-old. Instead, let Feta cheese add more zip to your dip. This easy dip combines sweet, juicy NatureSweet Cherubs^® tomatoes with creamy, oven-baked Président feta for a warm, savory appetizer. Perfect for game day, this simple dip pairs beautifully with pita chips for a crowd-pleasing recipe everyone will love.

Baked Feta and Tomato Dip

Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 15 minutes; Servings: 4

Ingredients

• Olive oil, drizzle
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cup NatureSweet Cherubs^® tomatoes
• 1 package (8 ounces) Président^® Feta Chunk
• 1 teaspoon fine herbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
• Pita chips

Instructions

1. Mix olive oil, garlic, red onion, Cherubs^®, Président^® Feta Chunk, pepper, fine herbs and salt in a baking dish.
2. Bake at 360°F for 15 minutes.
3. Mix and garnish with parsley. Serve with pita chips.

Score extra points with a trendy butter board

If you haven’t tried a butter board yet, now’s your chance! Just one look, and friends and family will tackle this dessert board with gusto. This recipe takes a decadent twist on the savory approach with three sweet variations of high-quality Président^® Salted Butter. Creamy dessert butter is perfect for spreading, and is even more tasty enhanced with flavors like sweet honey, sultry caramel and spiced cinnamon.

Président^® Butter Board

Prep time: 25 minutes; Servings: 10

Ingredients

Honey Butter

• 1 cup Président^® Salted Butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons raw and unfiltered honey

Caramel Butter

• 1 cup Président^® Salted Butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/3 cup caramel sauce
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Cinnamon Butter

• 1 cup Président^® Salted Butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In three separate small bowls, mix ingredients for each butter until smooth and lump free, about 20 seconds each.
2. Spread butter onto a wooden board (lined with parchment first).
3. Fill board with a variety of cookies, fruits and side dipping sauces.

Win big with exciting new recipes

You’ll be the champion of this year’s big game with a little help from Président Cheese. Visit PrésidentCheese.com for more recipe inspiration, and check out their social media on Instagram, Facebook and X. President Cheese is a product of Lactalis USA.

2026-01-22T09:01:00

(BPT) – The workplace of the future will look vastly different from today’s workplace. The impact of AI is just beginning to be felt, and experts agree jobs will continue evolving, with many new jobs being created that can’t be anticipated today.

You don’t have to go too far back to see how much digital technology has already changed the employment landscape.

“If you traveled back to 2000 and introduced yourself as ‘social media manager,’ ‘prompt engineer’ or ‘brand influencer’ you would be met with blank stares,” said Elise Awwad, president and CEO, DeVry University. “Looking forward 25 years, the difference will not just be in what jobs we do, but who — or what — is doing them. You will likely encounter jobs, departments or entire sectors that are unrecognizable today.”

Because the impact of AI is ongoing, unpredictable and unstoppable, it’s critical for higher education to respond to rapid technological changes by fully equipping students with tools, knowledge and practical skills they will need not just in today’s workplace, but also the future.

“This is why DeVry is committed to embedding AI into every aspect of our curriculum, programs and student experience,” added Shantanu Bose, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer, DeVry University. “Institutions must respond to this urgent call to action. In that vein, DeVry is executing a focused plan to incorporate AI skill-building across 100% of courses, expanding access to AI specializations and certificates, ensuring graduates can understand and apply AI responsibly in their professions.”

How to embrace AI for good

Students today already use AI to a large extent, for a variety of purposes. A recent study found that 90% of students today use AI, with many using it in helpful ways including brainstorming assignments (37%), summarizing information (33%) and receiving feedback (32%) — usually without any guidance or understanding of how to critically approach and best use AI tools.

According to recent articles in Forbes, some higher education institutions are starting to understand AI skills are key to student success in the workplace and that AI fluency is crucial for today’s students, driving many schools to introduce AI-specific content to their curriculums.

DeVry University, a digital-first, career-focused institution specializing in technology- and business-centered education for adult learners, is going even further, embedding AI in 100% of their courses by the end of 2026.

“We’re building an AI-forward education that is grounded in our belief that higher education must fundamentally evolve to remain relevant in today’s AI-powered economy,” added Bose.

DeVry’s AI-focused, dual-competency approach

Today, AI concepts and applications are already embedded across the university’s programs through coursework, discussions, projects and learning experiences that require students to analyze data, support decision-making, evaluate AI-generated insights and apply AI responsibly within their field. These durable, human skills are taught throughout DeVry’s curriculum to foster the critical thinking and creativity needed in the workplace of the future alongside AI.

Here are the many ways DeVry is further integrating AI into its curriculum and infrastructure to ensure student success in today’s digital economy — and into the future.

AI Catalyst: DeVry developed the DeVryAI Catalyst core curriculum, available to undergraduate students across disciplines. This allows students to complete a set of foundational AI courses, on which they can continue to build more advanced AI courses throughout their studies. Furthermore, every DeVry course builds toward AI fluency, so students learn to apply AI responsibly in their field.

AI program and credential expansion: DeVry launched its initial coursework in automation and machine learning in 2020 and has since taken meaningful steps to integrate AI throughout its academic portfolio, expanding applied AI coursework, specializations and certificates in Business and Technology programs. Building on this foundation, DeVry will expand its AI degree portfolio at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Lifelong AI upskilling through DeVryPro: DeVryPro extends DeVry’s AI strategy beyond traditional degrees, through its dedicated upskilling and reskilling platform designed to quickly teach workplace-critical skills to working professionals and employer partners.

AI-enabled culture of care: DeVry Care uses predictive analytics alongside dedicated advisors to support learner success. Among learners who received targeted outreach and used tutoring, 80% saw an improved assignment grade and 96% were successful (they graduated or persisted).

AI Learning Assistant in every course: All DeVry courses include an embedded AI Learning Assistant that provides real-time, conversational support, 24/7. The assistant currently handles over 90% of routine student questions, reducing friction and enabling the faculty to focus on higher-value instruction, coaching and mentorship.

AI Assisted Support for every student: All DeVry students, alumni, and applicants have access to an integrated AI-powered agent in their account portal providing on-demand assistance, 24/7, designed to reduce friction and help learners get back to focusing on what matters most — their studies. Users supported by the AI-powered agent report both high rates of issue resolution and satisfaction, especially when the AI agent and Advisor work alongside each other.

Faculty professional development: DeVry faculty are participating in a proprietary AI training program, created by faculty for faculty, ensuring they are supporting AI fluency development through coursework, discussions, projects, and learning experiences.

Preparing for an AI economy

By fundamentally reimagining both pedagogical frameworks and curricular objectives for an AI-driven labor market, the university is helping ensure that students cultivate the specialized technical competencies and ‘durable’ skills essential for professional resilience.

“Recognizing that AI raises the bar for human performance, DeVry has centered its approach on a dual-competency model; one that balances technical AI fluency with the ethical reasoning and leadership necessary now and in the future,” noted Awwad.

Learn how DeVry is leading the way in AI education at DeVry.edu.

2026-01-21T16:01:01

(BPT) – For more than a century, anesthesiologists have driven transformative advances in surgery, patient safety, critical care and pain management, shaping how medical care is delivered at life’s most critical moments.

“Anesthesiologist-led innovations have changed the course of modern medicine,” said Patrick Giam, M.D., FASA, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). “While many of these breakthroughs took years of dedication and discovery, each turned once-impossible or dangerous care into routine, life-saving surgeries, pain management and critical care for millions of patients.”

As the specialty celebrates Physician Anesthesiologists Week, Jan. 25-31, consider the following anesthesiologist-led innovations that shaped modern medicine.

1. Making surgery painless

Before anesthesia, surgery was rare and typically reserved for emergencies, such as amputations or setting broken bones. That changed in 1846 when the first public demonstration of surgical ether at Massachusetts General Hospital revolutionized medicine, enabling patients to undergo surgery without extreme pain. Incidentally, anesthesiologist Dr. Crawford Long had used ether privately for surgery years earlier starting in 1842. Anesthesiologists pioneered anesthesia and continue to refine it, from early anesthetics such as chloroform to modern drugs like sevoflurane that allow precise control and faster recovery.

2. Protecting every breath during surgery

Even after anesthesia was introduced, surgery remained dangerous because patients could stop breathing or choke. In 1878, a Scottish surgeon addressed this risk by inserting tubes into patients’ windpipes to support their breathing. Since then, anesthesiologists have continued to advance airway management, developing specialized breathing tubes and tools — such as today’s video-assisted technology — to help maintain critical airway and breathing functions. These advances enable more complex surgeries and reduce the risk of complications and death.

3. Ensuring newborn health

Invented in 1952 by anesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar, the Apgar score transformed newborn care by giving doctors a fast, reliable and standardized method to assess an infant’s health in the first minutes of life based on five signs (from skin tone to breathing). Before the Apgar score, newborn assessment was inconsistent and delays in vital care were common. Today, it is used worldwide to identify infants who need immediate care, such as oxygen or warming, and has played a major role in reducing infant mortality.

4. Creating the modern intensive care unit

During a 1952 polio epidemic, Danish anesthesiologist Dr. Bjørn Ibsen pioneered positive-pressure ventilation — forcing air into the lungs of patients who could not breathe on their own. This laid the foundation for modern ventilators and the creation of intensive care units (ICUs), enabling the support of critically ill patients for extended periods. This innovation has saved millions of lives worldwide, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. Advancing patient safety

The familiar and steady beeping of monitors in the operating room and ICU represents some of the greatest safety advances in medicine. One of those monitors is the pulse oximeter. Introduced in the 1970s, it is a small device that clips onto a finger and measures oxygen levels based on blood flow, alerting doctors to dangerous changes before harm occurs. Anesthesiologists also introduced carbon dioxide monitoring for breathing, automated systems that continuously track vital signs during surgery and simulation-based training that prepares care teams for emergencies. Together, these advances are credited with transforming surgical safety and dramatically reducing preventable deaths.

6. Transforming pain management

From epidurals during childbirth to nerve blocks for knee replacement, anesthesiologists have transformed pain care and reduced reliance on opioids. Regional anesthesia allows many procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis and offers more effective options for managing chronic and postoperative pain.

7. Making complex life-saving surgeries possible

Open-heart surgery and organ transplantation are among the complex, high-risk procedures that are now possible due to anesthesiologists. They developed methods to precisely control breathing and circulation during surgery, as well as methods to safely cool the body, slowing metabolism and reducing the need for oxygen in vital organs to protect them during life-saving operations.

Looking ahead

The anesthesiologist-led innovations continue today. The next generation of anesthesia breakthroughs is focused on even safer, more personalized care, employing the latest technology, including AI, to tailor medications in real time, better monitor consciousness during surgery and track recovery beyond the operating room.

To learn more about how anesthesiologists are at the forefront of modern medicine, protecting patients before, during and after surgery and other medical procedures, visit: https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/.

2026-01-21T09:01:00

(BPT) – If your 2026 goals include catching up with family on video calls, sharpening your skills or just streaming more of what you love, there’s one resolution that makes all the others easier: upgrade your connections.

With the right internet, mobile and entertainment setup, you’re not just checking a box — you’re supercharging your whole year. Here’s how Xfinity can help you kick things off with a fresh connection.

Power up your home base with fiber-powered internet

Say goodbye to slow speeds and unreliable connections. If your home Wi-Fi can’t keep up with all the laptops, TVs, smart home gadgets and gaming consoles in your house, it’s time for an upgrade.

Xfinity Internet delivers a fiber-powered Wi-Fi experience designed for how we actually live online today — think multi-gig speeds, low-lag connections for gaming and streaming, the power to connect hundreds of devices in your home and wall-to-wall coverage so you can scroll, stream and work from just about any room.

Every plan comes with a powerful Wi-Fi Gateway that helps protect your home network with built-in cybersecurity and gives you advanced Wi-Fi and parental controls right from the Xfinity app. Unlimited data is now included for one simple monthly price, with no contracts and the option to lock in a five-year price guarantee for extra peace of mind.

New year, new phone (and major mobile savings)

If your phone is hanging on by a cracked screen and sheer willpower, make 2026 the year you finally upgrade not only your device, but your network too. When you switch your mobile service to Xfinity, you can save $1,000 or more in your first year by moving two lines from the big three mobile providers — all while getting a new device you’re excited to show off.

Not sure how your current plan stacks up? Use Xfinity Mobile’s savings calculator to compare and see just how much money you could be putting back in your pocket instead of into your phone bill.

All Xfinity Mobile customers get WiFi PowerBoost included at no extra charge, which can deliver speeds up to 1 gigabit per second on Wi-Fi — at home or on millions of secure Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country. And if you choose a Premium Unlimited plan, you’ll unlock even more perks, like 4K UHD streaming, extra mobile hotspot data, advanced spam call protection and the flexibility to upgrade your device anytime.

Level up your entertainment experience

Between live TV, streaming, sports, apps and endless “what should we watch?” debates, finding your next show or game can feel like a full-time job. Xfinity TV makes it simple.

Every Xfinity TV package includes a 4K TV Box, so you can easily search across live TV, on demand and your favorite streaming apps all in one place — just use your voice remote to find what you want and start watching.

Sports fan? Xfinity has you covered with innovative features that make game day feel like an event:

• Multiview lets you watch multiple live events at once on a single screen, so you never have to choose between the big game and the big rivalry.
• Enhanced 4K makes it feel like you’re watching from the stands … crystal clear picture quality and only seconds behind all the live action on the field.
• Fan View brings real-time stats, scores and more right alongside the action, so you’re always in the know.

And when the game’s over, you can shift seamlessly into play mode with Amazon Luna cloud gaming on compatible Xfinity devices — no console required. Just fire up Luna, grab a compatible controller or your smartphone and stream popular games right from the cloud on your TV.

Best of all, Xfinity has simplified TV pricing with straightforward, all-in options — no surprise line items, just clear, value-packed choices.

Bundle it up and save all year long

Why stop at just one upgrade? When you combine select Xfinity Internet, Mobile and Xfinity TV packages, you can save over $70 a month compared to similar triple-play bundles from other carriers — all while enjoying a better-together experience for internet, mobile and entertainment.

These are just a few of the ways Xfinity can help you start the year off strong and stay connected, entertained and on track for all your 2026 goals (and beyond).

Ready to give your resolutions a boost? Visit Xfinity.com to explore plans, check availability and build the perfect setup for the new year.