*June 16, 2022*

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## Featured Resources

### Raise Awareness About Important Health Observances

Check out NIAMS' new Health Observances web page to find health observances related to conditions that affect the bones, joints, muscles, and skin. Each observance includes links to resources to help educate patients and community members about these conditions. Health Observances are special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Spread the word!

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### Understanding Autoimmune Diseases: *When Your Body Turns Against You*

Your body’s disease defense system, called the immune system, goes to battle every day. It helps keep you healthy by fighting off viruses and bacteria that sneak into your body. But sometimes, your immune system makes mistakes. If it sees your body’s healthy cells as a threat, it may attack them. This can cause an autoimmune disorder.

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### Discussing Bone, Muscle, Skin, & Autoimmune Diseases: *Info for American Indians, Alaska Natives*

Listen to the audio recording of an interesting conversation between Dr. David R. Wilson, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tribal Health Research Office, and Dr. Lindsey A. Criswell, director of NIAMS, about information and resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives related to bone, muscle, skin, and autoimmune diseases.

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### Letter from the Director: *NIAMS, NIH Seek to Better Understand Arthritis in Native American Communities*

The recent observance in May of National Arthritis Awareness Month offered us a chance to reflect on a sizable component of the NIAMS mission area. Arthritis impacts the lives of nearly 60 million Americans. However, a recent conversation with David Wilson, Ph.D., director of NIH’s Tribal Health Research Office, reminded me that arthritis hits some communities harder than others.

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### 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit

Not getting what we want out of a doctor visit can be frustrating. However, there are things we can do to prepare ahead of time. This animated video from the National Institute on Aging at NIH provides tips to make the most of doctor visits.

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### Looking for Printable Tools to Educate People About Research and Research Participation?

The Office for Human Research Protections has created new and attractive brochures for those interested in volunteering for a research study. The brochures explain the basics of how research works and the important partnership between researchers and participants. They offer a framework for what potential volunteers should think about before deciding about their participation.

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### Dietary Guidelines Professional and Consumer Resources Now Available in Spanish

Many of the professional and consumer resources for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020‒2025 are now available in Spanish. Print and share these new resources.

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### COVID-19 Updates

Get the latest public health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the latest research information from NIH. Additional resources include:
                    - COVID-19 County Check  – CDC
                    - Questions About COVID-19 Treatments  – NIH
                    - New Decision-Support Tool for COVID-19 Testing Can Help You Get Back to Your Life, Safely  –  NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
                    - Summer Camp Toolkit  – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

## Upcoming Event

### Register Now: NIH Health Disparities in Osteoarthritis Workshop, July 12‒13

This virtual workshop, which will begin each day at 11 a.m. (ET), will focus on combining behavioral and biomedical science to address personal, interpersonal, and societal influences that contribute to health disparities in osteoarthritis. Discussions will cover how understanding these disparities can lead to better health in osteoarthritis. Information and Registration

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