Bell County Public Health District

03/01/2026

Make the most out of owning backyard chickens by preventing disease

02/28/2026

Day 28 of is Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston. Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston (born 1939) grew up in the housing projects in Cincinnati, Ohio. She became an African American physician who dedicated her career to improving healthcare for poor and minority families. Inspired by her own experiences with her mother's health issues and a lack of access to care.

Gaston faced challenges due to poverty and prejudice, but persevered in becoming a doctor. After studying zoology at Miami University, she attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she developed an interest in sickle cell disease (SCD) during her internship at Philadelphia General Hospital. She completed her residency in pediatric medicine at the Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Gaston conducted significant research on SCD, leading to a nationwide screening program for newborns and demonstrating the benefits of early treatment, specifically penicillin, in preventing infections.

In 1990, she became the first African American woman to direct the Bureau of Primary Health Care in the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, overseeing substantial funding for healthcare services for underserved populations.

Gaston's scientific achievements and commitment to health equity have been recognized with numerous awards and honors.

02/27/2026

The BCPHD offers adult vaccines to those who qualify.* Call 254-532-9800 to schedule during appointment-only hours.

Killeen Clinic Hours:
Tuesdays
Walk-ins: 7 to 11 am
Appointment only: 1 to 3:30 pm
309 N 2nd St, Killeen, TX 76541

Belton Clinic Hours:
Wednesdays
Walk-ins: 7 to 11 am
Appointment only: 1 to 3:30 pm
1605 N Main St #104, Belton, TX 76513

*Adult vaccines are available for adults 19 and older who are uninsured, underinsured, or Medicaid recipients.

02/27/2026

Day 27 of is Dr. Herbert W. Nickens. Dr. Herbert Wallace Nickens (1947 – 1997), was a psychiatrist and vice president of minority and community programs at the Association of American Medical Colleges. He was known for his work in training more minority physicians and improving minority health standards.

Nickens held an AB degree from Harvard, and a medical degree, and a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. He did his psychiatric residency at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar.

From 1978 to 1986, he was an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Simultaneously beginning in 1982, he began a series of federal appointments at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 1985, he became the director of the Office of Policy, Planning and Analysis at the National Institute of Aging. In 1986, he became the first director of the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, holding that position until joining the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Nickens was a member of Black Psychiatrists of America, the National Medical Association, American Public Health Association and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

02/27/2026

02/26/2026

Day 26 of is Vivien Thomas. Vivien Theodore Thomas (1910 – 1985) was a medical laboratory supervisor who, in the 1940s, played a major role in developing the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt used to treat blue baby syndrome.

Thomas started as an assistant to surgeon Alfred Blalock at Vanderbilt University and later Johns Hopkins University, learning and creating surgical techniques and tools by operating on dogs before humans. He was instrumental in finding a surgical cure for blue baby syndrome (cyanotic heart disease) and did groundbreaking work on the causes of hemorrhagic and traumatic shock, and crush syndrome, saving thousands of lives during World War II.

Thomas was unique in that he did not have any formal education past his high school diploma or experience in a research laboratory when he started. However, he trained future cardiac surgery pioneers, such as Drs. Denton Cooley, Alex Haller, Frank Spencer, Rowena Spencer, and others. He initially planned to go to college and medical school, but his savings to pay for school was wiped out in the Great Depression, which lead to working at Vanderbilt. He was never able to attend college, but was honored by Johns Hopkins in 1976 with an honorary doctorate and named an Instructor for Surgery at the School of Medicine.

Thomas' story was documented in the 2003 PBS documentary, "Partners of the Heart," and the 2004 HBO movie, "Something the Lord Made".

02/26/2026

As companies launch an array of protein-rich products and new federal dietary guidelines advise Americans to prioritize protein, nutrition experts have mixed feelings about the new emphasis on protein.

02/26/2026

We had a great time at with the City of Harker Heights

02/26/2026

We'll see you soon!

LOCATION CHANGE!!

The Killeen Branch NAACP & the Killeen Youth Council is proud to be a sponsor for the Black Family Wellness Expo, hosted by the Lone Star (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Join Us on March 7 at the Killeen Arts & Activities Center!!

This event is free and open to the public. Bring your family, bring a neighbor, bring a friend- you don’t want to miss this Wellness Expo for all!

02/25/2026

❣️Did you know Texas WIC has live online classes?

Join us for, “Ask the Expert: Breastfeeding & Pumping,” every Thursday at 2 PM. Get real answers to your breastfeeding questions, learn what’s normal, when to seek help, and sort through all the information heard on social media. Each session is guided by your questions, and WIC clients receive class credit.

02/25/2026

See you soon !

02/25/2026

Day 25 of is Dr. David Satcher. Dr. Davis Satcher (born 1941) is a physician, academic, and public health administrator noted for being the 13th and first African American director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the 16th and second African American to serve as the Surgeon General of the United States.

Satcher graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 1963. While at Morehouse, he was arrested several times for his participation in the Civil Rights movement. He received his medical degree and a PhD in cell biology from Case Western Reserve University in 1970.

For his first three years as Surgeon General, he served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He released both the “Tobacco Use Among US Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups” report and the “Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior.”

After his term in public service, he served as a fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation before returning to Morehouse School of Medicine as the director of the National Center for Primary Care and, for a short time, the interim president. He is also a leader in the fight to address health disparities for minorities, the poor, and other disadvantaged groups.