The Allen School Blog wishes you and yours the happiest, healthiest, holiday and a most prosperous New Year. We are looking forward to a 2011 full of promise and potential. 
In an article by Chris Kyle for Yahoo! Education, medical assistant and medical manager are two of the five top “encore” careers. That is, fields for people wishing to retrain and re-enter the workforce, perhaps after losing a job in an industry hard hit by the recession. The relative safety and immunity from economic downturn enjoyed by the medical field played a large part in vaulting these two jobs to the top of this particular list. Click here to read all the details! 
Well, no one here will likely be surprised, but according to US News & World Report the healthcare field is near the top of the list of industries where jobs are returning fastest. According to their article linked here:
“Healthcare. There was barely a recession in healthcare–employment has been rising consistently in almost every specialty. This is one of the few fields in which there are more jobs today than before the recession began. A lot more, in fact.
Jobs gained in 2010: 204,000
Change since 2007: 738,000 jobs gained“
Mining, warehousing and oil extraction also made the list. But aren’t you glad to be in healthcare rather than digging, lifting or drilling? 
Today, September 17th is Constitution Day. This holiday, sometimes referred to as Citizenship Day recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787. This year, although historic health care legislation has recently been passed, many of the worst abuses of the insurance industry are still in effect as providers plan a double digit rate increase. So even though major provisions of the newly passed bill won’t take effect until 2014, there is still a moral imperative to make sure all Americans have access to basic healthcare. I have heard many opponents of universal healthcare ask, “Where in the Constitution does it say that we’re entitled to universal healthcare?”. Follow me over the fold for the answer to this, and other questions about the amazing document at the core of our Democracy. Continue reading… 
I have written several posts on incorporating the eastern spiritual teaching of “mindfulness” into healthier patterns of living, eating and interpersonal relationships. Today, I found a very interesting article by author and health coach, Riva Greenberg entitled, “10 Tips For Mindfulness: The Healing Power Doctors Forget”. The piece talks about the lack of mindfulness the author seems to find increasingly common in doctors’ offices. As many of you will ultimately be working in these offices, I thought it was very pertinent to your education. Read the article to learn how you can infuse your work in the healthcare field with the benefits of mindful thought. 
Yes, it is war again. My yearly battle with seasonal allergies has erupted again into violence. Violent sneezing, gruesome coughing and a river of tears and clear liquid pouring from my eyes and nose. I am sure many of you readers are fighting the same battle I am these days. For some it is worse in the Spring. For me it’s worst in the Fall. Well, like any good warrior will tell you, “knowing your enemy” is of critical importance to winning the war. And although knowing what these pollens actually look like (when viewed through and electron microscope) will not provide you any critical advantage, it will at least make you feel better about nuking these scary looking irritants with Claritin, Benadryl or whatever your favorite weapon of allergic destruction may be. Grab a hanky and have a look at this interesting pollen slide show from the Telegraph UK. 
The Business Insider released an article this week listing the top ten states with the lowest unemployment rates. The lucky top 10 are:
1) North Dakota
2) South Dakota
3) Nebraska
4) New Hampshire
5) Vermont
6) Hawaii
7) Kansas
8) Wyoming
9) Minnesota
10) Iowa
The article included information on the particular industries in each of these states that contributed to its position among the states with the lowest unemployment. And although medical industry was not featured as a key driver of employment in any of these states, there’s no getting around the fact that wherever there are people, there will always be demand for medical services. So if you’re setting out, new certificate in hand, looking for a new place to start your life and career, think about some of these places where the good employment outlook surely means the local economies are vibrant. 
Like many people busy with life, work, studies, family and what have you, I frequently burn the midnight oil, staying up past my preferred bedtime to complete some obligation or another. Yet, I still must awaken the same time the next day to go to work. As a result, I am frequently getting less than 8 hours a night on weeknights. Sometimes, I make up for the deficit by sleeping a few extra hours on the weekend. But recent studies indicate that it doesn’t work that way. Click here to read why it is important to make time for sufficient sleep on a regular basis and how “playing catch up” on the weekends is not the solution. 
Did you know that more than 40 people have successfully completed surgical re-attachment of their lost limbs with new human hands provided by deceased donors? Its true. The French first accomplished this miraculous medical feat in 1998 and since then more than 40 have been given back the use of a lost hand or hands. 10 in the US alone.
Well, it seems that UCLA has announced plans to open a hand transplant facility in the US soon. They are seeking volunteers – returning war veterans or others who have recently lost their hands – to participate in this still very experimental procedure. Click here to read more about this amazing medical story.