Combatting stigma with personal stories: Portraits of Public Health

March 26, 2026.Reading time 8 minutes.

Illustration of Lana - white woman with long blonde hair, wearing a light blue collared shirt.

In our latest Portrait of Public Health, we meet Lana, a nurse and educator at Public Health’s TB Clinic, who uses her own immigration story to build trust with other new arrivals to discuss the stigmatized topic of tuberculosis (TB).

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson appoint Dr. Sandra Valenciano to lead Public Health – Seattle & King County

March 25, 2026.Reading time 4 minutes.

Portrait of Dr. Sandra Valenciano posing outdoors. She has long brown hair, glasses and is smiling.

Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson appointed Dr. Sandra Valenciano to serve as the Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County. Dr. Valenciano currently serves as Acting Director for the department.

World TB Day: A conversation with Public Health’s TB Officer

March 23, 2026.Reading time 12 minutes.

An X-ray of the chest of a man with tuberculosis. The areas infected with TB bacteria are colored red. Science Photo Library/Corbis

We rarely hear about someone being sick with tuberculosis (TB) – much less dying from it – here in King County. And yet, Public Health has an entire program and clinic dedicated to TB.

In light of King County Board of Health recognizing tomorrow, March 24, as World Tuberculosis Day, we sat down for a Q&A with Public Health’s Dr. Caitlin Reed, the Medical Officer for Public Health’s TB Program, so we can learn more about this local public health success story.

Measles case in traveler with possible exposures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

March 20, 2026.Reading time 6 minutes.

Leer en español Public Health – Seattle & King County was notified of a confirmed measles case in a Canadian resident who traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)) on March 9, 2026. The individual’s vaccination status is unknown. If you are not immune to measles or don’t know your vaccination status, and were at the airport on March 9, please visit our measles webpage for specific information about potential areas […]

Leda’s Story: How Medicaid helps families thrive

March 20, 2026.Reading time 9 minutes.

A tired but smiling couple gaze down at an infant in an NICU bed in a hospital.

In this comic, Leda, a mother of two young children, shares how Medicaid and SNAP made a crucial difference in the lives of her family, helping them stay afloat during a rough patch. It’s a familiar situation for many people who need short-term, additional support to thrive in the long-term. Have you been hearing about […]

Ask a tox doc: What’s the big deal with plastic?

March 19, 2026.Reading time 7 minutes.

It’s hard to avoid plastic. So many common objects that we use regularly have plastic, from toothbrushes and soap bottles to juice cartons and kids’ toys.

I sat down with Dr. Shirlee Tan, a toxicologist with Public Health, to chat about plastic and find out: Is it a concern for our health? And if so, how can we protect ourselves?