SSM Health - Madison

02/22/2026

🚨 Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults — here’s what you need to know.
SSM Health family medicine physician Dr. Roopa Shah says early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have: “Screenings save lives. Even if you’re young and feel healthy, don’t ignore new or unusual symptoms.”
Read our blog to learn why cases are increasing, what symptoms to watch for, and how screening guidelines are evolving. It’s a must read for anyone looking to protect their long term health — or the health of someone they love.
🔗 https://www.ssmhealth.com/newsroom/blogs/ssm-health-matters/february-2026/colorectal-cancer-causing-more-deaths-among-young-people
Let’s help spread awareness and encourage others to get screened. 💙💪

What you should know to stay healthy amid this alarming trend

02/21/2026

Measles spreads fast—and easier than most people realize. Just one cough or sneeze from an infected person can leave the virus lingering in the air for hours.
Protect yourself, your family and your community by knowing the facts. Learn how measles spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how prevention keeps everyone safer:
https://www.ssmhealth.com/public-health/measles

02/20/2026

❤️ February is Heart Month — and your heart deserves the best care you can give it.
In this short message, SSM Health interventional cardiologist Dr. Lincoln Shenje reminds us that prevention is always better than cure. His advice is simple, powerful, and something we can all start today:
🥗 Eat well. Healthy food is medicine.
🏃‍♀️ Move more. Regular exercise keeps your heart strong.
💙 Focus on habits, not just the scale. Weight loss is a result of healthy choices — not the primary goal.
Small steps each day can lead to a lifetime of stronger heart health.
Let’s make this Heart Month the start of something good. ❤️
📽️ Watch Dr. Shenje’s message below and take the first step toward protecting your heart today.

02/19/2026

As measles cases continue to rise across the U.S., now is a great time to double check your protection. Not sure if you’ve received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine? You can quickly look up your vaccination history in MyChart or through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR): https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/wir.htm
Staying informed helps keep you—and our community—healthy. 💉✨

02/19/2026

Help us to honor Chaplain Susan, whose compassionate coordination of a full immersion baptism for a dying patient brought profound spiritual comfort and touched the hearts of the patient, family, and care team. Congratulations to Chaplain Susan on her well deserved BEE Award – she truly embodies exceptional, compassionate care every day.

02/18/2026

Go on, laugh a little! 😆 Laughter really is great medicine - it helps lower stress hormones and artery inflammation, while boosting our mood. In this week's Time for Kids: Recipe for Health story, News 3 Now / Channel 3000's Kyreon Lee stopped by a fifth grade class at Lincoln Elementary School in Madison for some silly story telling - and plenty of laughs.

MADISON, Wis. — Laughter really is the best medicine and fifth graders at Lincoln Elementary in Madison proved it!

02/18/2026

As we begin this sacred season of Lent, we’re invited to pause, to listen, and to return with open hearts.
“If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.”
— Psalm 95:8
Ash Wednesday reminds us of where we come from, who we belong to, and the grace that continually calls us back. May today be a moment of quiet honesty, renewed intention, and deep hope.
🕊️ May we listen.
🕊️ May we soften.
🕊️ May we begin again.

02/17/2026

Could you be someone’s lifeline?

Meals on Wheels volunteers bring a vital lifeline to homebound neighbors – often the only smile and connection they get all day.

The SSM Health at Home Meals on Wheels program is looking for caring volunteers to deliver meals in Madison, Middleton, and Monona. Routes are quick and flexible, with pickup between 10:45 am and noon.

Training is simple, and individuals, families, groups, and workplace teams are all welcome.

Call: 608-276-7582
Email: Carol.Barbian@ssmhealth.com

Let’s make sure no neighbor feels forgotten.

02/17/2026

🌟 Ever wonder what’s happening just beyond the ice when Olympic‑level skaters compete? 🏅⛸️
Turns out, there’s an amazing medical team right there behind the scenes — like SSM Health sports medicine physician Dr. Jamil Neme and the SSM Health Sports Medicine crew — planning months ahead and staying ready for anything that might happen in those high‑pressure moments.
Take a peek into what that behind‑the‑scenes world really looks like:

SSM Health physicians and athletic trainers played a critical role behind the scenes, providing expert care for elite athletes on the road to the Winter Olympics.

02/16/2026

Laugh a little! 😄 Research shows that laughter really is great medicine—especially for your heart. A good chuckle or a big belly laugh can help lower stress hormones and reduce artery inflammation, while increasing “good” cholesterol levels and boosting our overall mood.
This simple habit supports heart health in a fun, feel‑good way. Try sharing some laughter with your family by telling jokes together or watching a funny movie—it’s good for your heart and your happiness! 💕😂

02/16/2026

Save today at SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Eye Care’s spring optical sale! Now through March 31, get 50% off frames. Find a location near you. https://www.getcare.ssmhealth.com/locations?search=Eye+Care

02/15/2026

The St. Mary’s Infirmary in St. Louis, opened by SSM Health's founding sisters in 1933, was a pioneering institution that opened critical pathways for African‑American medical professionals during segregation. Beginning in the 1930s, the infirmary organized training programs that offered African‑American students — especially women — the opportunity to learn X‑ray technology, a program that continued into at least the mid‑1950s.
These efforts helped shape a new generation of skilled Black medical workers and expanded opportunities in fields that had long been inaccessible. Their legacy continues to inspire progress in healthcare equity today. 🖤✨