Since joining The Beacon as a full-time healthcare reporter, Suzanne King has been breaking into important underreported issues that affect the health of millions of people.
King, who assumed the role last fall, recently published a three-part series examining the causes and effects of pharmacy closures in the Kansas City area.
But that’s just the latest thing for her. She has written 42 health care articles in the past 10 months on topics ranging from the benefits of free buses to how people in Kansas and Missouri travel to receive gender-affirming care. I did.
Her position is funded in part by a grant from the Health Forward Foundation, a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to building health and wealth for all. Thanks to this support, Beacon is one of the few community organizations with a staff of local medical professionals.
One of King’s most read works is the story of how families in Missouri and Kansas end up receiving money for their children’s summer meals after tips from their communities. This article focused on how the new summer electronic benefits program for eligible school-age children will not be available to families until late summer or fall.
Since Mr. King joined our team, our health has been reported on in more than 35 different outlets, including the Topeka Capital Journal, Missouri Independent, Pike County News, and Missouri Business Alert. It has been republished 252 times. Beacon welcomes other outlets to republish our articles for free.
Mr. King’s reporting not only expanded the Beacon’s coverage of medical issues, but also galvanized coverage across the region, ensuring access to important stories in areas lacking comprehensive local news coverage. I made it possible. Subscribe to our free newsletter and follow us as we dig deeper into topics that impact the health of our community.
