The “Giving Gals” of Montrose, Pennsylvania have been sewing dresses and quilts for our young patients for many years. This month, they had a moment in the spotlight. Monica Morales, an Emmy award-winning investigative reporter for PIX11 News, is the host of Monica Makes It Happen, which highlights social issues such as food insecurity and human trafficking.

It's always stunning how quickly we move from the height of summer to the rush of “back-to-school” season — that cusp between summer fun and business as usual. But is this a “business-as-usual” year?

This month’s selection is reflective of changes in health policy on a federal level and the challenges our patients face locally regarding poverty trends, homelessness and other socio-economic issues. The city’s mayoral race is also pushing some of these topics to the forefront of news coverage.

Recent reports of a passenger with measles aboard an Amtrak train traveling through Penn Station on its way to Washington, D.C., evoked scenes from pandemic thrillers like Contagion. The idea of one infected individual unknowingly spreading disease to countless others might seem dramatic—but in today’s highly interconnected world, it’s an increasingly realistic scenario.