Head & Neck Surgery of Central Virginia

01/08/2026

Please make good choices, for yourself and for everyone around you.

12/24/2025

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, a Very Merry Christmas, and All the Best in 2026!
From all of us at HNSCV!

12/11/2025

If you were born between 1963 & 1989, please get re-vaccinated against the measles! And if you are a parent or guardian of a child, protect them from measles and many other scary diseases by seeing that they are fully vaccinated.

I’m deeply concerned by the recent measles outbreak in South Carolina — especially in light of what it means for public health, families, and communities. According to recent reports, the outbreak has already forced unvaccinated close contacts into quarantine, disrupted daily life, and raised real risk for serious health consequences.

Here’s why this matters — and why vaccination is so important 🛡️

🔎 What is measles — and how serious can it be:

- Measles (Rubeola) is one of the most contagious diseases we know. If someone around you isn’t protected, up to 9 out of 10 susceptible people nearby can catch it. 
- Symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, and include high fever (sometimes over 104 °F), cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, and the tell-tale rash. 
- Many people think it’s “just a rash and fever,” but measles can be much more dangerous. Complications include pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, brain inflammation (encephalitis), and even long-term brain damage. 

⚠️ The real — and scary — risks:

- About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles in the U.S. end up hospitalized.
- Up to 1 in 20 children will get pneumonia — the most common cause of death from measles in young kids. 
- About 1 in 1,000 cases develop encephalitis (brain swelling), which can result in permanent neurologic damage, deafness, seizures, or death. 
- Even years after recovery, a rare complication known as Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) can emerge — a fatal neurological disease linked to having had measles as a child. 

🏠 What quarantine and exposure means for families:

Local health authorities (in SC) have been identifying close-contacts and telling people who are not immune to stay home and away from others for 21 days — even if they don’t yet feel sick. That’s because people with measles can spread the virus before symptoms or rash appear. 

That kind of quarantine can disrupt work, school, social life — and it’s a serious burden on families and communities.

💉 Why vaccination remains our strongest defense:

- The recommended vaccine (MMR vaccine) gives long-lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella. 
- After two doses, protection against measles is ~97%. - In communities with high vaccination rates, outbreaks get stopped before they can spread widely — protecting babies too young to be vaccinated, immunocompromised people, and others at high risk.

🙏 A call to action:

If you, your children, or people you know haven’t had the full MMR vaccination, now is the time to talk to a trusted healthcare provider. Not just for your own sake — but to protect vulnerable people, prevent quarantine disruption, and help stop this outbreak from growing.

Because measles isn’t just “a rash.” It’s a serious illness that can have life-long (or even fatal) consequences.

Vaccination works.

11/26/2025

RECALL ALERT!
If you purchased saline nasal spray from Walgreens, please check the bottle.

If you purchased a nasal spray from Walgreens, you might want to check the bottle.

11/11/2025

Our unused equipment is on its way to serve the people of Agbélouvé, Togo, West Africa through Global Partners in Hope! We pray that it blesses patients there just as it has patients at Central Virginia ENT and Head & Neck Surgery of Central Virginia over the past ~ 50 years!
Many thanks to Rev. Dr. Peter Thompson of 1st Presbyterian Church for leading a commissioning ceremony today. HNSCV staff, special friends, and honored guest, Helen Gilmer, wife of the late Dr. Graham Gilmer, were in attendance. 💚

10/29/2025

Today is World Stroke Day — a global reminder of the importance of stroke awareness and prevention. Every second counts when it comes to recognizing the signs of a stroke and seeking immediate medical attention. In our community, support is just around the corner. The Wi******er Stroke Support Group meets monthly to offer connection, encouragement, and education for stroke survivors, caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals. The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4:30 - 6 pm at the Valley Health Wellness and Fitness Center, 401 Campus Boulevard, Wi******er, VA 22601. All are welcome, no registration necessary. For more information, contact Rhonda Ragan, BSN, RN, 540-536-3397.

10/29/2025

Get • Remember it’s best to “flu before boo” (which means get your flu vaccine before Halloween.)

09/01/2025

08/24/2025

https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/117063?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMX7GxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgyM0h-kxrBrdDsf6KkG6S3sNxpem9Fgbcz6n8CkEenXn4D5UC4SFecMGVoD_aem_n6sGvi93pS6vDNH5tlTZwQ

Reduced risk depends on early intervention, data suggest

08/07/2025

As the school year approaches, health departments across Southwest and Southside Virginia are offering vaccination clinics and immunization appointments to help families meet school requirements.

07/14/2025

Knowledge saves lives

What would you do if there was a way to reduce your risk of cancer by 40%? Andrea Radford of the American Cancer Society joined RHV to discuss their new cancer risk screening tool. CancerRisk360 fly

06/19/2025

According to the FSIS, as of June 17, 2025, the outbreak has resulted in three reported deaths and one fetal loss, as well as 17 ill people in 13 states.