
Brittany Sweeney
Health and wellness reporterI’m LehighValleyNews.com’s health and wellness reporter and also host “Living in the Lehigh Valley,” PBS39's health and wellness show. I have covered health-related topics for Lehigh Valley Public Media, contributing to PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR, since 2018. Winning the 2020 Emmy Award for Video Journalist is something I am proud of accomplishing while working for Lehigh Valley Public Media. I grew up in Montgomery County and I'm passionate about telling compelling stories in my home state of Pennsylvania. I'm a graduate of Temple University (go Owls!) and spent most of my career working as an anchor and reporter for NBC affiliates in Northeast Pennsylvania and Ohio. When I'm not covering news around the Lehigh Valley, I can be found exploring the great outdoors with my family. Contact me at BrittanyS@lehighvalleynews.com or 610-984-8170.
-
A rectal cancer survivor is teaming up with a woman who lost her brother to colon cancer to get the word out about the importance of getting routine screenings. Colorectal cancer is very treatable when caught early enough.
-
Prescription drug middlemen are being blamed by independent pharmacies for revenue decline, under-reimbursement, and financial strain. As more of the smaller shops shutter, local pharmacists are calling for reform.
-
Medical students across the country found out where they are headed for their residencies on Match Day on Friday. For the first time, St. Luke’s Katz School of Medicine held a ceremony in Bethlehem along with partner school Temple University in Philadelphia.
-
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Health care companies across the Lehigh Valley are giving a voice to colorectal cancer patients and their care givers to raise awareness.
-
About a million Pennsylvanians have medical debt, but a proposal in the Gov. Josh Shapiro's 2024-25 budget could help alleviate those debts. State Rep. Josh Siegel, who represents parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township, is an advocate for the proposal.
-
Technology called cold capping helps people retain their hair during chemotherapy. A mother shares her experience using it while fighting cancer.
-
A ribbon cutting for Lehigh Valley Hospital Macungie was held Friday. The neighborhood hospital is a small scale emergency department.
-
The medication used to treat COVID-19 is widely available, but underused for treatment. Although it’s no longer free through the government, most insurances still cover the drug.
-
Families in the Allentown School District will be on the receiving end of new computer monitors. Capital Blue Cross teamed up with other area organizations to get the technology into the hands of those who need it.
-
Dr. Jay Talsania is an orthopedic hand surgeon at OAA Orthopedic Specialists in Upper Macungie. In April, the physician will head to Guatemala once again to offer free health care to children in the third-world country.
-
If you thought flu season was winding down, think again. The Lehigh Valley is seeing an increase in influenza cases right now. A local doctor weighs in with what you need to know about the latest surge.
-
The new roller coaster at Dorney Park is designed to feel dangerous, but a lot of safety testing goes into the ride before people can experience the thrill of Iron Menace.
-
Pennsylvania's state departments are coming together to address maternal health and how to improve outcomes. The Shapiro administration hopes more funding to address the issue will be granted in the 2024-25 state budget.
-
An interactive presentation caught the attention of around 150 students at the Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task Force annual conference. ThinkFast Interactive is an engaging team building program brought in to teach area high school students about different decision making scenarios.
-
The Shapiro administration is offering grants to community-based organizations to start regional maternal health coalitions. With maternal mortality on the rise, the governor is aiming to address the problem at the local level.
-
A ceremony to honor organ donors and recipients was held at St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Allentown Campus. Organ donation recipients, organ donor families, and the Gift of Life Donor Program came together with hospital employees to mark Donate Life Month.
-
The Allentown branch of the Greater Valley YMCA is set to reopen following a fire last summer. Services are limited, but plans for more programming are on the way.
-
Lehigh Valley Health Network is using new robotic technology in an effort to perform more precise surgeries. The da Vinci 5 surgical system is said to keep surgeons more comfortable, so they can better perform the surgery.
-
A practice that was always used to begin or end a workout is now being used as its own exercise form. The Stretch Lab in South Whitehall Township is an assisted stretch studio with certified flexologists.
-
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, held a roundtable discussion with veterans groups and doctors to talk about IVF and accessibility for those who served.
-
A lab dedicated to the treatment of hematologic cancers is now open in Allentown. A generous donation helped the cellular therapy lab come into fruition at HNL Lab Medicine.
-
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation will host its second annual Innovation Summit this weekend. The one-day event offers a chance for those in the health care industry to learn about the latest technology in their field.