April is Physical Fitness Month at AMM! Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and according to the CDC, the average adult should get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity in every day. At AMM there are a few different fitness programs offered to patients.

I have learned that there is always people out there making a difference in the community even amidst difficulties and barriers. AMM inspires and motivates me to apply my future studies and career towards something greater and share that endeavor to those around me. I didn't realize how much work and problem solving it requires in order to close the health gaps in today's society. I think it's been an honor to be able to witness this firsthand.

Did you know that your kidneys play an important role in your overall health? Despite their

modest size, these bean-shaped organs are critical for waste removal, fluid balance, and overall

health maintenance. However, kidney disease often remains unrecognized because symptoms

appear gradually over time. That is why National Kidney Awareness Month, which occurs in

March, is such an essential time to learn more about kidney health, raise awareness about the

dangers of renal disease, and explore prevention methods.

AMM’s current Social Work Intern, Erin, is a Master of Social Work student at NC State. She reports to Nick, our Director of Social Work Services. Not many free and charitable clinics have a social worker who is embedded in the clinic. Erin is over halfway through her time with AMM, so we asked her some questions about Social Work and her experience at AMM.

February is recognized as American Heart Month and is an opportunity to spread awareness regarding heart disease prevention. The United States commemorates the 61st annual American Heart Month in February. President Lyndon B. Johnson, a heart attack survivor, originally declared this in 1964. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women initiative will celebrate its eleventh anniversary on National Wear Red Day in 2025. Wearing red on this day helps spread the word about heart disease and motivates people to lead healthy lives.

Jenifer started at AMM when she was a graduate student at North Carolina State University studying Physiology. After a quick Google search for “medical volunteer clinics”, AMM was the first result, and the rest is history.

At AMM, volunteers range from college students who are hoping to get into the medical field, community members looking to make a difference, congregations who build hygiene kits and provide groups for our Garden Workdays, the list goes on. Some volunteers, however, have unique ways of getting involved, and former volunteer and medical assistant Olivia Joyner is the perfect example.

What is volunteering? According to Miriam-Webster, volunteering is when “a person voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service.” Though this is the technical definition, volunteering is much more than just that! 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, stigma is defined as “a mark of shame or discredit,” and oftentimes is paired with the discussion on mental health; or, rather, the lack of discussion regarding mental health.

November is National Diabetes Month! This month is dedicated to raising awareness about diabetes, specifically how to prevent the disease. This issue is incredibly important to us at AMM as 48% of our patients have a diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes. By making small lifestyle changes, the risk of type 2 diabetes significantly decreases and prediabetes can even be reversed.

COVID-19 has impacted how society normally operates, especially for our community's most vulnerable neighbors. Check out the WRAL interview below featuring Executive Director, Pete Tannenbaum, explaining how technology has allowed AMM to continue offering compassionate healthcare to patients throughout the pandemic.

Today is National Doctor’s Day, and in the past year it has become glaringly obvious just how crucial our healthcare providers really are. Take a chance to honor the hard work and dedication doctors provide to their communities all across the country today (and every day!).