Healthcare pioneer and retired cardiologist Dr. Henry W.B. “Hank” Smith III has been known for helping save lives for nearly forty years.

Now Smith is making one other major contribution by helping the black community build wealth and achieve other positive outcomes akin to improved health.

Smith, considered one of the primary black American cardiologists in Greensboro, North Carolina, hung up his stethoscopes last January. He practiced for 39 years before retiring from Cone Health HeartCare. He said BLACK ENTERPRISES that he spends his days encouraging collective donations to financially strengthen the Black Investments in Greensboro (BIG) fund.

MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY THROUGH FUNDING

The fund, a Black-led everlasting endowment on the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, was founded by Mae Douglas, Smith and 10 other Black community leaders in 2019. They serve on the steering committee. Today it’s price $1.5 million, and the fund’s mission is to improve education, health and economic conditions in Greensboro and Guilford County, North Carolina.

“Grants fund programs and alliances that advance these goals.”

Demonstrating his support, Smith shared that he and his wife, Cheryl, have contributed roughly $110,000 to the fund and proceed to donate annually. The Smiths live in Greensboro.

The first $50,000 grant was awarded last 12 months because the fund grew to offer short-term capital for Black contractors to buy surety bonds to enable them to bid on work projects. Smith says a second grant — likely in the quantity of $100,000 — will likely be awarded later this 12 months or in early 2025 to support apprenticeship programs for Black and disadvantaged highschool students. Find out more concerning the fund Here.

AIMING TO REMOVE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND DIFFERENCES

As the fund grows, additional capital will likely be used to improve the well-being of its recipients. In his opinion, the event of the fund within the case of collective philanthropy depends upon continuous contributions and market recognition. “The grants will be higher-level investments aimed at removing systemic barriers that cause and perpetuate Black socioeconomic disparities.”

But Smith’s desire to offer back didn’t come easy. He developed a love for interventional cardiology after graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1978 and Morehouse College in 1974.

AFTER OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, BECOME THE BEST CARDIOLOGIST

He gravitated towards cardiology attributable to the high incidence of heart problems in America, especially amongst African Americans. Smith says Morehouse repaired his low self-esteem and helped him realize that a profession in medicine was possible.

He recalls that in Statesboro, Georgia, where he grew up, there have been no black doctors and only a number of white doctors visited blacks. He noticed that in spite of everything the white patients were admitted, the black patients needed to enter the office through the back door. “There were no role models. It wasn’t until I entered Morehouse and the support of the HBCU community, faculty and fellow students that I began to consider medicine.”

As a pioneer, Smith was an early advocate of using procedures using balloons and stents to stop a heart attack. He says “balloon angioplasty” was unproven when he became a cardiologist, nevertheless it evolved to turn into the treatment of alternative for heart attacks, and stays so today.

Moreover, Smith related that each one the center attack cases he had within the early years were difficult since the equipment was primitive. However, he says the situation improved significantly within the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties. “Improvements proceed to be made, covering most cases.

I have a confession. I’m afraid of anything that has to do with lasers. Even though I know most of my friends do laser hair removal, the pain tolerance I must have to realize perfect skin is a challenge, especially if I have oily skin. However, since I struggle with hyperpigmentation and dark spots, I sometimes need a facial treatment like laser, which may help with my two foremost skincare concerns.

When Skin Laundry invited me in for a facial a couple of weeks ago, the name piqued my interest. “Skin Laundry is an aesthetic medicine clinic specializing in facial laser treatments,” says the director of compliance and safety at Skin Laundry, Chris Tuite. “We use medical-grade devices and state-of-the-art technology to treat a wide range of skin concerns such as acne, discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles, redness and uneven texture.”

Skin Laundry offers two varieties of laser facial treatments: Laser Signature Facial and Resurfacing Facial. “A laser facial can help correct and prevent blemishes, soothe redness, break down discoloration and stimulate collagen production for clearer, firmer and healthier skin,” says Tuite. “Resurfacing Facial helps improve texture, stimulate collagen, increase cell turnover and creates micro-channels for better product absorption.”

Below I will inform you intimately about my first experience with laser facial treatment.

Session

I checked in on the front desk to finish my skin history paperwork. After waiting a couple of minutes, I met with a registered nurse to review my medical history and entered the room to fulfill with the laser specialist. The laser specialist prepared my skin and performed a signature laser facial.

I must admit that I jumped a couple of times because I had never had a laser treatment before and my skin hurt lots. They were in a position to adjust it to a level where I could tolerate the laser. The treatment takes only quarter-hour. Wallace notes that “your doctor will then create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your skin goals in the future,” says the registered nurse, Lauren Wallace.

Results

Wallace notes that after each treatment, “your skin will be brighter, tighter, more refreshed and radiant.” It also says that with consistent use of laser facial treatment, your skin will turn out to be healthier and more resistant. After my facial, I went to an event and noticed that I had a glow all night long.

Evian collaborates with Pharrell Williams’ skincare line “Humanrace”. for the “Fountain of Youth” campaign.

The design is minimalist; engraved on it: “This is the fountain of youth.”

According to , Evian will produce “two limited edition glass bottles – still and sparkling – in striking blue and green colors.”

Creating glass bottles was a deliberate decision made by Evian and Williams. Louis Vuitton’s creative director wants people to be more environmentally conscious.

Williams doesn’t advocate a zero-waste lifestyle, but he does imagine that intentionality can have an effect.

“We need to be aware of our impact on the planet and strive to create products that are better for it,” he said.

The “Happy” singer’s skincare has come up in discussions through the years as he has maintained good physical appearance throughout his decades-long profession. Williams admits that taking care of herself and taking care of her body has been a thing isn’t all the time a priority for him. At one point he didn’t understand the necessity for hydration in on a regular basis life. This is not any longer true.

“When I was younger, I didn’t realize how important hydration was. It wasn’t even on my radar. But as I delved deeper into the topic of health, I realized that water is an essential element of well-being. Now it’s a non-negotiable part of my daily routine.”

Williams discussed how the partnership ties into Humanrace’s vision. She believes that the message of “The Fountain of Youth” is timely and that the world can profit from an increased emphasis on self-care and joy.

“When we created this, our goal was to create something that resonates deeply and brings to life a sense of happiness. This is really what feeling good and young is all about. Finding joy in the little things and staying connected to youthful energy, that’s why it was perfect for Evian’s latest campaign – we are both united in the pursuit of youthful joy in life.”

Williams drinks water and does much of his own business. The partnership with Evian is only one of Williams’ highlights this yr. The designer recently became co-chair of the Met Gala exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which has focused on black men’s fashion for years.

Williams, who co-chaired the Met Gala, released his biopic on October 11. In true Williams fashion, he selected to inform his life story through an unusual medium, the Lego movie format.

William’s latest collaborations match his eccentric style and love of imagination and creativity. Although the collaboration with Evian is easy as compared, it by some means suits.