An example of a school lunch at St. Paul Public Schools. Photo courtesy SPPS Facebook.

July 31, 2025 West End Healthline 5 min read Columns, United Family Physicians Clinic, West End Healthline

Fueling Young Minds: Why High-Protein School Lunches Matter

By Natasha Vo, MD As the summer is starting to come to an end and school is about to begin,

May 28, 2025 West End Healthline 3 min read United Family Physicians Clinic

The Importance of Primary Care

“Follow up with your primary care provider.” Many people have heard this phrase after receiving medical care, whether at urgent care, the emergency room or even a cardiologist. Many do not understand why this is recommended, but patients are provided with this instruction for an important reason. A primary care provider (PCP) helps to coordinate your care and ensure that nothing is missed in keeping you healthy. Over time, the PCP goes beyond looking at only a single acute problem and cares for all aspects of your health. Connecting with a PCP is one of the few things in healthcare that has been shown to keep you healthy.

May 4, 2025 West End Healthline 3 min read Columns, Rent Control, United Family Physicians Clinic

When Good Intentions Lead To Bad Outcomes: Housing Development In St. Paul.

By Steven Quam, MD An important aspect of being a family medicine doctor is considering the whole person. Our patients,

March 26, 2025 West End Healthline 3 min read Columns, United Family Physicians Clinic

When It’s Not a Breath of Fresh Air: A Review of Asthma

With Spring in full swing, bringing with it allergy season, decreased air quality and more people out and about getting exercise, now is a good time to brush up your knowledge of asthma. This is a relatively common condition that affects up to 7% of children and up to 10% of adults in Minnesota. However, while common, this condition is not one size fits all and every person who has this is affected differently.

November 1, 2024 West End Healthline 4 min read Columns, United Family Physicians Clinic

How to not get SAD this year!

As winter begins to approach, it brings many joys – the upcoming holidays, hockey season, snow falling on a quiet street –but it also brings some down sides. Days get shorter and the cold can get unbearable. Sometimes these changes with the seasons can cause mood changes. When these moods get more serious or start to affect your daily life, this is called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

September 25, 2024 West End Healthline 3 min read United Family Physicians Clinic

Lyme Disease in Fall

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. While many people associate tick bites and Lyme disease with the spring and summer months, it’s crucial to remain vigilant in the fall.

August 30, 2024 West End Healthline 0 min read United Family Physicians Clinic

Physicians Helping out in the Community!

The Allina Health United Family Medicine Residency Program trains physicians to become specialists in family medicine. In addition to learning

August 30, 2024 West End Healthline 3 min read Columns, United Family Physicians Clinic

Back-to-School Season: The Importance of Flu Shots

As summer is winding down and back-to-school season begins, now is a great time to think about health preparations for the new school year. There are many things to consider ensuring a smooth transition back to school, and one of the most important – and often overlooked – ways to promote a healthy school year is getting a flu shot. This vaccination plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health of students, families and communities. A flu shot is your best defense to prevent getting the virus and its potentially serious complications.

Here’s a few reasons why getting your flu shot should be a priority this fall, and how it fits into your back-to-school preparations.

May 30, 2024 West End Healthline 3 min read United Family Physicians Clinic

The importance of community

I love this warmer weather! My favorite part about this time of year is the ability to re-engage with people out in the world. Every spring and summer, I talk to neighbors that I haven’t seen since the start of winter. I often reconnect with friends and family for cookouts, outdoor sporting events, or dinners on patios. I have the chance to explore new parks and trails with my wife, which is a way that we like to connect and spend quality time together.