Category: Health and Wellness

I’m often struck by how ahead of the curve medical innovations have been in the United States of America. Years ago, I worked with a man who was brilliant, a programmer who had a Ph.D. in mathematics, who also had a disability. After several months of working with him and sharing a few meals together, we got to know each other. I learned his disability was due to catching polio as a child. That seemed really strange to me because he was younger than I am, and I got the polio vaccine as a child. Most American kids born since the mid-1950s have gotten the vaccine, and we’ve never met anyone with polio. Read more

As a lifelong Louisiana resident, with a dad who served in the U.S. Army, it probably wouldn’t surprise you a bit to know that I was raised with guns in the house. More than a few, in fact. My dad’s job in the Army and later National Guard was as a Firearms Instructor. In fact, he taught people how to properly instruct others on firearms safety. As his oldest child, he practiced his instruction on me, to the point where I could have taught the safety class at about age five. Read more

I’m about to turn 61 years old. I can tell you, as a cancer survivor (bone cancer in my 20s), I seldom considered that I might still be around at this age, but I am thrilled to be here. I don’t feel my age every day, but every now and then … Read more

Note from Mike: It’s been a while since I brought my Straight Talk audience one of these videos. Today, I’m introducing someone we at Blue Cross consider a Thought Leader. To us, a thought leader is a person who is working to solve problems in health care and health insurance and leading innovations. Read more

Without looking, can you tell me right now what’s lurking in your medicine cabinet or bathroom drawers? Don’t worry; I can’t tell you what’s in mine, either. Read more

It’s National Volunteer Week and to celebrate, I’m turning the Straight Talk reins over to Michael Tipton, the head of Community Relations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and president of our Blue Cross Foundation.
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