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.
December 9, 2025
Children's Health
Vitamin K shots prevent newborns from severe bleeds, but parents are increasingly declining them
Fewer babies are receiving vitamin K shots at birth, because their parents are declining them, a new CHOP study finds. Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, and babies who are deficient are at higher risk of severe bleeds.December 5, 2025
Addiction
A severe vomiting condition, dubbed 'scromiting,' is rising among chronic weed users
A severe condition dubbed 'scromiting' is rising among chronic marijuana users. The condition is called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, and causes cycles of painful, prolonged vomiting.December 4, 2025
Prevention
New cervical cancer screening guidelines endorse the use of self-swab kits
The American Cancer Society endorsed the use of self-swab HPV kits in its new guidelines for cervical cancer screenings. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer.December 4, 2025
Children's Health
Pediatric cancer treatments are saving kids' lives, but more research funding is needed to improve them, report says
CAR T-cell therapy, a cutting-edge cancer treatment, saved the life of South Jersey's Lianna Munir. But more research into advanced technologies is needed to improve the survival rates of pediatric cancers, a new report says.December 3, 2025
Prevention
Shingles vaccine may offer an additional benefit — slowing the progress of dementia
The Shingles vaccine may slow down its progression of dementia, new research shows. The study builds on earlier research that found that the shot also may prevent the development of dementia.December 2, 2025
Depression
After a lifetime of seasonal depression, I finally tried light therapy. Here's what I learned
Seasonal affective disorder is form of major depression that causes an array of symptoms, including fatigue, mood instability, weight gain and sleep issues. Light therapy, among other treatments, may help mitigate the symptoms.November 28, 2025
Fitness
Choosing a running shoe that fits well and meets your needs can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips
Need a new pair of running shoes? Trying several pairs on at a store is the best method for finding a shoe that properly fits and meets your needs. But there are several guidelines that can help people buying them online.November 26, 2025
Healthy Eating
Here's how to still eat healthy at the airport and on a plane
Experts offer tips for eating healthy on flights. Choosing foods that are high in protein and drinking lots of water help with digestion and fatigue while flying, they say.November 26, 2025
Women's Health
More women are using weight-loss drugs after giving birth, study says
More women are using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to lose baby weight, a new study suggests. Health experts warn that not enough data exists about how these medications affect nursing and the body's postpartum process.November 26, 2025
Mental Health
Even a weeklong break from social media improves mental health, study says
A one-week break from social media apps like Facebook, X and TikTok significantly improves mental health, a new study suggests. Young adults who opted for a 'detox' were less depressed, anxious and lonely, and slept better.Just In
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