With the return of NIH’s Summer Internship Program this year, NCI Frederick welcomed dozens of students and young professionals looking for a potentially life-altering experience. In Occupational Health Services, three students—ranging from newcomers to veterans—spent the summer caring for patients and finding new inspiration for their careers. Read on to hear their stories.

The piquant aroma of peppers and spices seasoned the hallways of Building 426. Eleven slow cookers from aspiring culinary champions lined a row of tables, a few large plates of cornbread alongside. Nearby, representatives from the Research Donor Program and FNL United availed themselves for conversation. The 19th Chili Cook-off, hosted by Occupational Health Services, closed out American Heart Month at NCI Frederick with camaraderie, a push for community, and—of course—good food.

This February saw Occupational Health Services host two lunch-hour activities to encourage employees to invest in cardiovascular health and healthy living. The 18th Chili Cook-off occurred on February 7, and a Heart Health Webinar occurred on February 12. Both coincided with American Heart Month.

NCI Frederick has a new chili champion. Dawn Goings, administrative assistant in Environment, Health, and Safety, blazed her way through a heated competition to clinch first place in the 17th Chili Cook-off. The cook-off, a storied lunch-hour tradition at NCI Frederick, returned to campus this year for the first time since 2019, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of the pandemic.

Experiencing a persistent cough, tight chest, and sinus discomfort can be uncomfortable. When you have these symptoms, it’s natural to seek medication to help ease your symptoms and promote healing. As a nurse practitioner, I have faced the dilemma of finding suitable over-the-counter cold remedies without a clear, evidence-based answer. Standing in the cold and sinus aisle, the abundance of products is overwhelming. To make an informed decision, I considered the underlying causes of sinus congestion, including common colds, nasal irritants, and environmental triggers.