
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 free physical therapy clinic is being offered at DeSales University starting Monday. The services are being provided by students in the physical therapy program.
-
A professor of law is weighing in on a medical repatriation — or as some call it, a 'medical deportation' case — in the Lehigh Valley. Professor Lori Nessel is the director of the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at the Seton Hall University School of Law.
-
A Dominican woman who is undocumented faces medical deportation in the Lehigh Valley. She was placed in a medically-induced coma after a procedure for an aneurysm. Now her family is fighting to keep her in the Allentown area.
-
The Lehigh Valley will host a marathon for the first time since the pandemic started. Registration will open this month for the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest.
-
Drug shortages seem to be a big issue in the wake of the pandemic. Children's pain medication and other prescriptions have been hard to get in the past few months because of supply chain issues.
-
Musician James Casey talks to a Lehigh Valley company about his fight with colon cancer. He is using his platform to tell others about the importance of getting screened.
-
Many school nurses say the pandemic made them feel burned out, stressed out, and exhausted. Now, some are working to catch up on work that didn't get done during that time.
-
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s hospital just expanded its inpatient pediatric unit from 30 beds to 50. The expansion comes on the heels of a severe respiratory season.
-
St. Luke's University Health Network cut the ribbon on their new Women and Babies Pavilion and Oncology center in upper Bucks County. This will expand services to women and babies as well as those going through cancer treatments.
-
A cardiologist from Lehigh Valley Health Network is raising awareness about a type of heart attack that can impact women in their 40s and 50s. She says knowing the signs could save a life.
-
The American Red Cross is reminding people to use the end of Daylight Saving Time to test smoke alarms. The nonprofit says changing the clocks twice a year can serve as a life-saving reminder.
-
Cancer Support Community Greater Lehigh Valley is holding a community awareness event Saturday. Cancer patients, their families and caregivers are invited to learn about the resources available to them.
-
For people who need to buy their own health insurance, it’s time to enroll in or renew their Affordable Care Act health plan. A health policy analyst says there are ways to save money in the Obamacare process, but the enrollee must opt into them.
-
Lehigh Valley Health Network is hosting its annual free drive-through flu vaccine clinics this weekend. Dr. Alex Benjamin said now is the time to get the shot as the season ramps up.
-
A monoclonal antibody treatment used to prevent RSV is now available to infants at St. Luke's University Health Network. The injections are intended for children up to 8-months-old.
-
In an effort to grow services where the organization sees fit, Lehigh Valley Health Network is cutting about 240 jobs. The move comes as a "restructuring" plan is underway.
-
It's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The state Health Department is encouraging parents to get their children tested and educating adults on how to minimize exposure.
-
Halloween can be dangerous for kids heading out in the dark and crossing streets. Choose bright-colored costumes or use reflective tape on costumes to keep children safe this Halloween — that’s the message from AAA East Central.
-
The local American Red Cross chapter is looking for people to nominate local heroes for helping others. Nominations are open now through November for the Celebration of Heroes event in which they recognize community members, first responders and veterans.
-
Lehigh Valley Health Network held their annual Halloween party at the Children's Hospital. More than 100 children were expected to attend.
-
A bill aimed at allowing nurse practitioners to practice on their own is being touted in the state capital. State Sen. Lisa Boscola was in Harrisburg Tuesday showing support for Senate Bill 25 which would allow Nurse Practitioners full practice authority.
-
Another pediatric emergency room now is open in the Lehigh Valley. St. Luke’s University Health Network on Monday opened the Isaacman Family Children’s Emergency Room, after establishing a children’s hospital this past June.