Public Health | Montgomery County Medical Society (MD)

Breast Cancer Screening Is a Conversation for Every Specialty

A large pink breast cancer awareness ribbon next to a text box that reads, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, against a background of smaller pink ribbons.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the guidance behind that conversation has moved in the last two years. Patients now arrive with questions about density notices, earlier screening, and what their insurance will cover. They bring those questions to every kind of appointment, not only primary care and OB/GYN. Here is what has changed…

Referral Guide to SUD and Recovery Services

Home › Archive for Public Health As Recovery Month closes out, here’s a current rundown of what’s available in the county, organized by level of care, to keep your referral list up to date. Where to start For patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid and don’t know where to begin, Montgomery County DHHS’s Access…

Measles Is Back: A Warning We Should Not Ignore

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Home › Archive for Public Health Amar Duggirala, D.O., MPH, FAAFP MCMS Board Member This year has provided a stark warning of what can happen when misinformation about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases spreads unchecked. Declining vaccination rates, increasing global measles activity, and confusion surrounding changing vaccine guidance have created an environment in which diseases we…

Have This Naloxone Conversation With Your Patients

A naloxone nasal administration object - a white plastic object with a tall, narrow top and a rectangular base sits on a textured purple background; a red tab and a gray tab are visible beneath the base.

Home › Archive for Public Health September is National Recovery Month, which makes it a natural time to have a conversation that belongs in every visit anyway: have you recommended naloxone training to your patients? Not just the ones in active recovery or on opioid prescriptions, but anyone who might one day find themselves first…

Housecall with Dr. Joseph C. Hsu, Pediatrician

Illustration of a doctor holding a shield and large syringe, standing in front of a family. Virus particles float in the background. Text reads Vaccine Policy at the top.

Home › Archive for Public Health Dr. Joseph Hsu, a longtime Germantown pediatrician who grew up in Rockville, sat down with Housecall host Dr. Steven Kariya to talk through what parents need to know about childhood vaccines, from how they work and get approved to Maryland’s school entry requirements. He also covers the CDC’s contested…

MDH Releases Vaccine Recommendations

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The Maryland Department of Health has published 2026-2027 Vaccine Recommendations for Children and Adults. The recommendations can be found at health.maryland.gov/recommendedvaccines. Printable PDF for Childhood RecommendationsPrintable PDF for Adult Recommendations. Maryland releases 2026-2027 vaccine guidelines for children and adults Recommendations ensure Marylanders have access to science-backed, user-friendly guidance for upcoming respiratory season Baltimore, MD – The…

2026-27 Respiratory Season Evidence & Recommendations

On September 2, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP), announced the release of an independent evidence review to inform respiratory virus immunization recommendations for the 2026-27 season. These recommendations were developed by: American Academy of Pediatrics (<19 years of age) American Academy of Family Physicians (≥19 years of age and health care personnel)…

Can Methadone be Effectively Provided in Primary Care?

New and old evidence from abroad says yes. The US would need a system overturn. Jasleen Salwan M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M. Key points In the US, methadone treatment for opioid addiction is only available through specialty clinics. Other countries allow primary care providers to prescribe methadone, to be dispensed at community pharmacies. A new study from…

This September, Recovery Happens Together in Montgomery County

September is National Recovery Month, established in 1989 to promote evidence-based treatment and recovery practices and to celebrate the millions of Americans who are living in recovery from substance use disorders. The 2026 campaign carries the theme that recovery from addiction happens together, with SAMHSA framing meaningful human connection as central to resilience and long-term…

Maryland Measles Outbreak: Cases Triple Before School

A map of Maryland with red virus icons connected by lines, symbolizing the spread of illness across different regions of the state, on a blue background with faint medical crosses.

UPDATE: August 28, 2026 This article was originally published July 17, 2026, when Maryland had confirmed 9 measles cases. The situation has changed substantially. The update below reflects current case counts and the formal outbreak declaration issued by MDH on August 25, 2026. Maryland is now in an active measles outbreak. The Maryland Department of…