Top 10 Health Articles for Portage.Life in 2025

While it’s important to have fun with friends and family members, the number one priority to making that happen relies on our health. Everyone goes through difficult times each year, which is what makes our wellbeing so important.

In 2025, we covered health topics such as health fairs, pediatricians, healthcare symposiums, children’s health, and more. We partner with plenty of organizations, businesses, and healthcare groups each year to promote wellness and ensure that the local communities stay healthy.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 health articles on Portage.Life to recap the good news in 2025!

Young patients leave NorthShore Health Center’s Give Kids a Smile Day with bright grins and high spirits

On February 7, NorthShore Health Centers held its first Give Kids a Smile Day event of the year. Parents could bring their underinsured children aged 1 to 17 to one of NorthShore’s dental clinics in Hammond, Lake Station, Portage, Crown Point, Merrillville, or Chesterton for free X-rays, exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatments. Another Give Kids a Smile Day will be held later in the year to ensure that the children can have their teeth cleaned and checked every six months, the recommended frequency of dental appointments for youth. 

Powers Health cardiology experts support Hearts of Hope campaign, explore innovative treatments to improve patient lives at free community event

Powers Health closed out American Heart Month with Innovative Cardiovascular Procedures: A Hearts of Hope Event. This free event gave attendees an opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in treating heart conditions from leading experts: Interventional Cardiologist Anas Safadi, MD; Electrophysiologist Samer Ajam, MD; and Samer Abbas, MD, Powers Health’s Cardiovascular Service Line Co-Director and Structural Heart and Valve Clinic Medical Director.

NorthShore Health Centers launches new volunteer program for employees, sponsoring over 571 hours of charitable work in 2024

NorthShore Health Centers is a mission-driven organization committed to providing comprehensive and quality healthcare to everyone without exclusion. It is a mission that draws in a staff of compassionate, charitable people who search for every opportunity to make a difference in their community.

To celebrate that passion and create even more opportunities for their staff, NorthShore established a program that gives all of its full-time employees eight hours of paid time to volunteer at any organization or event of their choosing. It started in early 2024, and around 30% of NorthShore employees used their hours in that first year. Overall, NorthShore sponsored over 571 total volunteer hours and is looking to exceed that number in 2025.

Portage EDC’s annual Healthcare 360 program applies real world experience for high school students

On Thursday, April 24, the Portage Economic Development Corporation (EDC) brought students from Portage High School together for the opportunity to visit local healthcare facilities to get hands-on experience with healthcare. Students were split into groups to learn about the various careers in cardiology, understand the consequences of smoking, explore an X-Ray room, work with physical therapy, get an inside perspective of an ambulance, and more.

City of Portage touches hearts in the community at 23rd annual Senior Health Fair

On Tuesday, May 20, The City of Portage hosted its 23rd annual Senior Health Fair inside the Oakwood Hall building at Woodland Park. At the event, seniors in Northwest Indiana were presented with a full display of health tips and had the opportunity to speak with industry professionals. 

Mayor Austin Bonta gave a warm welcome to everyone in attendance at the beginning of the event. He’s excited that the City of Portage can organize this event for another year to support seniors in the local communities.

Porter County Health Department promotes health among the Region’s youth at 2nd annual Health and Wellness Family Fair

On the afternoon of Friday, June 13, Porter County Health Department hosted its second annual Health and Wellness Family Fair at the Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso. Over 35 vendors set up tables under the William E. Urschel Pavilion, offering swag and information about their services to the families that stopped by the free-to-attend, open house-style event.

Northwest Health – Porter welcomes 18 new residents to its programs at white coat ceremony

Northwest Health – Porter welcomed a new class of residents to the medical profession during its white coat ceremony on June 25. The 18 physician residents received their first white coat to mark their first step into the clinical world.

“This is a really meaningful exercise in regards to our mission, the ethics of being a doctor, and serving our community and our patients. Presenting the white coat is an important symbol as we welcome these young doctors into their first role as a physician” Chief Medical Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer Dr. Thomas Rohs, said.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program provides Regional Health Systems with committed behavioral health outlet 

Regional Health Systems offers wide-ranging services, including Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), a program that focuses on behavioral health.

“The AOT Program is a civil court-ordered commitment in Lake County, for individuals with serious mental illnesses or with a co-occurring substance abuse disorder,” said AOT Program Manager Veronica Martinez.

NorthShore Health Centers educates and reinforces community health through monthly Diabetic Diner events

A demonstration, dinner, and educational review on the basics of diabetes care is conducted every month by NorthShore Health Centers. The event – the Diabetic Diner – focuses on what days look like for people who have diabetes and how to prevent the risks that come with the disease.

Each program provides the community with a resource to review healthy diabetic care schedules.

Powers Health educates community on spinal issues at Spine Symposium

Powers Health recently welcomed the community to its popular Spine Symposium at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.

The event provided attendees with a deep dive into the causes and types of spinal issues that a person can experience.