Couple’s twin boys end up having top names of the year
BISMARCK, N.D. — Ben and Mandy Houdek, of Bismarck, proved to be good predictors of boy names when their identical twins were born in January 2016. “The beauty about having twins is that my husband and I each got to pick a name,” said Mandy Houdek. “My husband picked Greyson and I picked Jaxon.” Like many parents, […]
⋅ 2 min read 
How to avoid injury to avoid playing ‘old man’ baseball
I’m a baseball player at heart – it’s part of my identity. Even when I quit playing, I’ll still be a “baseball guy.” Because of that, I still enjoy playing as competitively as I can. Around here, it’s small-town amateur baseball and most guys are between the ages of 20 to 35 with a few […]
⋅ 9 min read 
Maintain bone health during cancer treatment
Our bodies are in a constant balance between loss of bone cells and rebuilding of new cells. Yes, our bones are alive! As people age, it’s common for this balance to shift and result in more bone loss than bone growth in both women and men. That can cause osteoporosis, which reduces bone strength and […]
⋅ 5 min read 
Is genetic medicine relevant to me and my health?
Absolutely! Genetic medicine as part of the everyday medical experience is an idea rooted in innovation and necessity. Imagine explaining a symptom to your doctor and at their fingertips is an outline of your genetic history. The impact this could have on your treatment is profound! Not only is genetic medicine relevant to your overall […]
⋅ 1 min read 
Benefits of anterior hip replacement
Q: What is a total hip replacement with anterior approach? A: Also known as hip anthroplasty, a total hip replacement is a type of surgery that replaces a patient’s hip joint with an artificial one. A surgeon can approach this procedure from behind the hip, to the side of the hip or from in front […]
⋅ 5 min read 
Sanford Medical Center Fargo getting a Courtyard by Marriott
FARGO, N.D. – Construction has begun on a new Courtyard by Marriott located at the interchange of Veterans Boulevard and Interstate 94 to the west of the new Sanford Medical Center. Projected to open in September 2018, the nearly $15 million hotel project will have four stories and span more than 66,000 square feet. It will […]
⋅ 4 min read 
Sharing the experience of loss: Family pays it forward
FARGO, N.D. — Triple-negative metastatic breast cancer. That was the diagnosis given to Carol Prien. It was her second bout with cancer in five years, but this one was different. “Finding out there really was no cure was when our mindset changed and the care team at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center really became more […]
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Rare disease research at Sanford Health: Podcast
One of the eight areas of focus at Sanford Research is pediatric and rare diseases. Generally, a rare disease is defined as a disease that affects less than 200,000 people in the United States. About 7,000 of these diseases exist with treatments for less than five percent. Ben Forred, a project manager at Sanford Research, […]
⋅ 5 min read 
Genetics fact: Earwax type is an inherited trait
You and your parents likely share the same wet or dry types of earwax because you both share the same ABCC11 gene sequence through heredity. Genes are parts of our DNA that have the instructions for a particular feature or trait. Your features are the way your genes display your uniqueness out in the open. […]
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A guide to fun, safe gift giving for kids
With the holidays here, parents and gift givers are racing to stores to find a gift for everyone on the list. Before rushing to buy any gift for the child on your list, remember to consider if the gift you are buying is safe and appropriate. Check the age range Jody Jordet, a community life […]
⋅ 5 min read 