Carly Stafford Dixon discusses her lymphoma journey and mission to raise support for young adults with cancer and mission to raise support for young adults with cancer: Alexandra - stock.adobe.com When Carly Stafford Dixon began feeling unusually out of breath just months after her wedding she never expected it would lead to a lymphoma diagnosis After a CT scan revealed a large mass in her chest the 30-year-old counselor from Nashville was diagnosed with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma Carly quickly began chemotherapy and later received CAR T-cell therapy which brought her into remission by summer 2023 she grappled with challenges like fertility concerns and job security — but found strength in her family Her journey led her to the Lymphoma Research Foundation Carly ran a half marathon to raise money for the Lymphoma Research Foundation she reflects on the realities of survivorship the ongoing need for support after remission and the importance of raising awareness for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer — a group she says is too often overlooked in public discourse and care resources Stafford Dixon: I think it's important to raise awareness about AYA cancer because often when cancer is portrayed in the media — whether in movies TV shows or books — you often see it as a tragic illness affecting a young child is really underrepresented in our understanding of who cancer can affect It is important that everyone feels supported throughout their entire experience from diagnosis to treatment and hopefully to survivorship if we can raise awareness about AYA cancer then there could potentially be more resources available although the Lymphoma Research Foundation already has an abundance of excellent resources people could be directed to these valuable resources earlier and understand that they are not alone I could not be more grateful for my support system I have two parents and two amazing sisters along with two amazing brothers-in-law and a husband He and I had gotten married two months before my cancer diagnosis I also [have a] great group of girlfriends who live all over the country and a good group of friends in Nashville Once we figured out the schedule for my chemo treatments — six sessions of R-EPOCH a common course of chemotherapy for patients with this type of cancer — my parents created a Google Calendar and shared it with my sisters and all of my friends because the hardest days of those three-week cycles are the ones when you're not in the hospital They made sure that for every in-between period staying with me for a week or two and taking care of me Nine of my best friends from undergrad and grad school came to visit very fortunate that my family and friends were able to do this; my family ensured I was never alone thinking that once you're declared in remission like all problems are solved and you can just jump right back into life It's felt a little bit like medical "Whack-a-Mole." I think you're just so much more aware of your body and in tune with it and I'm so grateful to medical science and my team I think a big misconception for everyone is the same one I had: that once you're in remission the day you're declared in remission is when you feel the sickest because all the treatment has accumulated in your body You gain a lot of knowledge about yourself and you learn a lot about what's important to you in life My piece of advice would be to acknowledge that but make sure your care partners know that you're still going to need support and if you are open to therapy and haven't started you can oftentimes feel like everyone's forgotten about you For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here An Expert Offers Advice and Resources for Navigating Rare Lymphoma Prostate Cancer Headlines, CAR-T Warnings and Laughter Therapy Dose-Limiting Toxicity Observation Phase Completed in CRS Trial for Lymphoma Top Headlines on CAR-T Cell Therapy Going Off Medication for Lymphoma: Could It Be True? FDA Grants Rare Pediatric Designation to Treatment With NEO100 in Brain Cancer 609-716-7777 French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura is launching her own independent music label the artist is making a clear statement: she’s ready to produce fresh talent—starting with rising artist RNBOI Aya Nakamura is already reshaping the music industry and not just pop she’s taking the independent route and leaving Rec It was under Warner Music France’s umbrella that she had released her 2023 album DNK Since the meteoric rise of her 2018 hit Djadja and across four studio albums Aya Nakamura has consistently defied expectations Dismissed by much of the mainstream media but idolized on social platforms especially following her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games she’s doubling down on her drive for creative independence It’s part of a deliberate strategy: reclaim control over her artistry Aya Nakamura now wants to carve out space for those who shine beyond conventional molds The first name to emerge under her new banner: RNBOI. Hailing from Nemours, he was discovered on the DVM Show, a talent-search program launched by Aya Nakamura herself. With a moody blend of autotuned rap and mainstream R’n’B, RNBOI quickly caught her attention. “He’s got something different,” she told Billboard France With over 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify one that Aya Nakamura is eager to champion through a lens of freedom This could well mark the beginning of a new era in French music one where the most streamed artists become champions of the underground Aya Nakamura shows she’s no longer content being a success story Newsroom 54 rue des Acacias 75017 Paris T+33 1 56 88 98 00   |    Advertising 54 rue des Acacias 75017 Paris T+33 1 56 88 98 37     |    Copyright © 2024 Numéro     |    Legal notices Votre inscription a bien été prise en compte Lacrosse Signs Five Year Old Aya Through Team Impact May 03 To better treat adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with various subtypes of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) which could inform the management and treatment of lymphoma in AYA populations Evens spoke to pertinent gaps that influence NHL care for AYA populations: lacking screening protocols primary care providers play an important role in addressing the needs of these patients While early screening measures are insufficient he discussed the available resources for those seeking to manage a new diagnosis This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity AJMC: Can you speak to the value of early detection and screening strategies for NHL Evens: There are not real screening strategies that's not a surprise; there are a hundred different cancers There are really only 4 or 5 that have cost-effective screening methods: breast cancer Most other cancers don't have a screening partly because we don't have a real test to do it This is why it can be unclear what should or should not be done for screening AJMC: What resources are available to AYA patients with NHL who are managing a new diagnosis Evens: There are resources out there in general, whether through the Lymphoma Research Foundation, American Cancer Society But I can't say a lot of that information is tailored in any form or fashion to AYAs It's more general to Hodgkin or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma We need more to address many of the issues from the very beginning but we need more tailored to this specific patient age group AJMC: Can you speak to the health barriers that impact AYA patients’ ability to access timely Evens: It starts with the (A) access and (B) insurance Many don't have a primary care provider that they’re seeing once or twice a year and doing exams they might let something persist longer than they should They’re not already docked in with routine health care and some financial navigation services for patients I think those are hopefully barriers that can improve over time And not just at the academic center but at our community oncology colleagues; if they don't have resources in their office there could at least be information somewhere online where patients could go Cutting Specialists From Suicide Hotline Threatens LGBTQ+ Youth, Experts Say New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix Managed Care Reflections: A Q&A With John Michael O’Brien, PharmD, MPH Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly From “Super Skeptical” Beginnings, a New Immune-Modulatory Vaccine Awaits Phase 3 Results Barriers in Postpartum Health Persist in LGBTQ+ People DEI Resources Tempe, AZ – Working in collaboration with the ITA Student-Athlete Council the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is proud to spotlight another student-athlete in our monthly spotlights that aim to highlight the many diverse backgrounds and communities that make up the sport of college tennis the ITA is continuing to spotlight student-athletes who have created accepting communities on their campus as directors of ACEing Autism programs on their campuses This spotlight features Catharina Ausfahl and Aya Igaki-Meader from Johns Hopkins University who have been leaders of an ACEing Autism program on their campus impacting the lives of many in the surrounding Baltimore community Ausfahl and Igaki-Meader will share a little bit about themselves and some of their experiences as ACEing Autism program directors as well as special moments and lessons experienced through their time with the program See what Ausfahl and Igaki-Meader had to say in this spotlight below: Can you tell us about your role as an ACEing Autism program director and how it aligns with your passion for tennis and working with individuals on the autism spectrum As the program director for ACEing Autism at Johns Hopkins my role involves organizing weekly tennis sessions and ensuring that each child can play tennis in a supportive and engaging environment This role allows me to channel my passion for tennis into help children on the autism spectrum develop tennis skills and social abilities Tennis has always been an important part of my life and being able to share the sport with individuals who might not otherwise have access to such an opportunity is incredibly rewarding What inspired you to get involved with ACEing Autism and how does the program fit into your broader goals for creating more inclusive environments within college tennis We both became involved with ACEing Autism during our first year of college and really enjoyed working with the players Many of our players have been attending the tennis sessions for multiple years and it has been great forming relationships with them and their family I recognize the power of sports in building confidence and friendships My goal is to create more inclusive spaces within the college tennis community where everyone feels welcome What have you learned from your experience in the ACEing Autism program that you apply to your coaching or leadership style within your team I’ve learned the importance of adaptability and patience Each participant in our program has unique strengths and is at a different stage in their tennis journey This has reinforced the importance of tailoring coaching styles to meet diverse learning needs These lessons have also influenced my leadership within my college team and supportive communication to create a positive environment and good team culture what are some of the unique strengths that athletes with autism bring to the sport of tennis and how do you cultivate those strengths in your programming Athletes with autism bring so many strengths to tennis We tap into these strengths by using consistent drills and structured activities in every session to make playing tennis both comfortable and fun How do you think the ACEing Autism program has helped shift the culture of tennis within your college especially in terms of inclusion and acceptance of athletes with autism ACEing Autism has played a significant role in fostering a more inclusive culture of tennis within the Johns Hopkins community volunteers from various sports teams and campus organizations come together to work with our participants gaining firsthand experience engaging with individuals on the autism spectrum This exposure builds appreciation for neurodiversity and the different ways people engage with the sport of tennis the program has helped create a more compassionate and supportive environment within our tennis teams and across campus.  shaped the way your team approaches both the mental and physical aspects of competition in college tennis my teammates and I have developed a greater emphasis on mental resilience recognizing that success in tennis isn’t just about physical skill but also about understanding and supporting one another Being part of this program has shown us that the best teams are those that lift each other up and embrace different perspectives and abilities 7.  In what ways do you think the college tennis community could further incorporate autism inclusion and awareness into its culture College sports teams can be integral aspects of the community allowing student-athletes to forge connections with neighboring populations college tennis teams can build upon the existing ACEing Autism framework by hosting more clinics throughout the year (perhaps biweekly or for more weekends if possible) and by developing programs for autistic individuals of all ages the college tennis community can be involved in advocacy non-tennis autism organizations can allow student-athletes to describe their experiences in ACEing Autism; alternatively those in autism advocacy/awareness organizations can speak at college workshops increasing autism awareness within general college communities college tennis communities can connect with local educational programs for neurodiverse individuals to spread the word in the autism community about the benefits of engaging in sports What advice would you give to other program directors or coaches within the ITA community who are looking to start their own ACEing Autism programs the pillars of forming a strong ACEing Autism community lie in a few factors: dedicated volunteers as the continuity in having volunteers work with the same athletes week after week is extremely important The development of relationships between player and volunteer truly allows the program to thrive we believe it is essential for all ACEing Autism program members to be educated on the nuances of autism spectrum disorder: it lies on a spectrum and can thus vary widely from person to person It can therefore be helpful to understand this and be prepared to be patient and flexible when engaging with the players we find that many players and their parents join to increase their socialization Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for players and encouraging interaction between players can help them work towards that goal Looking back on your time with ACEing Autism what moments or successes stand out to you the most as proof of the program’s positive impact on both the athletes and the tennis community at large One particular moment that stands out is a participant who was initially hesitant to engage in the program they developed a meaningful relationship with their volunteer coach who positively encouraged them and their growth the participant began to open up more socially and was eventually able to consistently hit forehands and backhands This experience showed us how not only the participant was impacted in terms of socialization and tennis techniques but the volunteer also gained meaningful experiences in bolstering the growth of others it can be extrapolated to all members involved in ACEing Autism Developing a player-coach relationship may be difficult at first; however this relationship can grow into something that benefits both the participants and the tennis community overall What personal growth have you experienced through your involvement with ACEing Autism especially in terms of your understanding of autism and working with athletes with diverse needs Working with many different people in ACEing Autism over the years has deepened my understanding of the diverse ways people experience sports Tennis is not only rallying or technique-based practice—it is a mindset and emotional experience that is different for each individual recognizing that players respond to coaching techniques and exercises in different ways has allowed me to be more flexible when coaching them players may not respond to their name or will lose focus I have learned to be understanding and work with them patiently This ties into my growth in problem-solving: since players are on various points of the autism spectrum and because each person is unique they respond to coaching methods differently sometimes it is beneficial to hold the racquet with them as they swing it is more helpful to stand back and simply offer words of encouragement I have developed my skills in empathetic and communication-oriented leadership I am invested in the growth of each of the players making sure to visit all of them multiple times throughout each session to encourage them I am sure to communicate effectively with parents and volunteers at all times making expectations known and talking with parents about the growth and development of their players has signed a definitive agreement to acquire tech-enabled healthcare staffing company Cross Country Healthcare for $18.61 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at around $615 million Calif.-based Aya Healthcare offers a healthcare-focused digital staffing platform that includes travel nursing and allied health non-clinical professionals and interim leadership Cross Country is a publicly traded company that offers healthcare staffing services the company will go private and operate as a separate brand under Aya The combined companies will allow Cross Country to have a presence in non-clinical settings and expand to all 50 states The $615 million transaction represents a 67% premium to Cross Country's closing price on the stock market on Dec and a 68% volume-weighted average trading price for the 30-day trading period that ended on Dec "Aya shares our mission of connecting people and jobs through intuitive technologies and innovative solutions that enable healthcare professionals and organizations to achieve their goals ensuring clinical excellence and exceptional patient care come first," John A "This compelling all-cash transaction will deliver significant and immediate value to our stockholders it will also enhance and expand services and solutions for our clients provide a wider array of opportunities and efficiencies for our healthcare clinicians and create new opportunities for our employees as part of an industry leader with a complementary footprint and offering." Martins formerly worked as senior VP of operations strategy at Aya Healthcare from Nov 2021 and joined Cross Country's team in 2021 as group president of nurse allied He became CEO of Cross Country in April 2022 will continue as president and CEO of the company The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025 According to a report released by Staffing Industry Analysts Aya Healthcare ranked as the largest healthcare staffing firm in the U.S Aya has acquired several companies over the last couple of years a machine learning platform that predicts the need for future patient volume and staffing levels in clinical settings which provides AI-driven insights to physicians to bolster an organization's recruitment and retention strategies a workforce solutions provider in the United Kingdom in January of this year A survey done earlier this year by AMN Healthcare revealed that 91% of the 1,155 nurses surveyed nationwide said they believe the nursing shortage is worsening and that burnout poor working conditions and inadequate pay are the primary causes In July, lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a pair of bills aimed at curbing the nursing shortage by making visas available to foreign nurses working in areas where the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has determined there is a nursing workforce shortage Other companies working to curb the healthcare workforce shortage include Va.-based ShiftMed, which connects nurses with available shifts at healthcare facilities; temporary staffing marketplace Nomad Health; and Prolucent Health which offers a healthcare jobs marketplace and recruiting services © 2025 MobiHealthNews is a publication of HIMSS Media The latest news in digital health delivered daily to your inbox A revelation at Pontins fuelled the producer to avant garde acclaim But with ‘sublime’ sounds came struggles with substances Her intense new album peels back the plaster It’s a suitably vulnerable, conflicted opener to her new album Hexed!, which plays out in a lurching mix of heavy metal and hardcore electronics. The record sounds twisted and contorted, wincing at the pain of “peeling back the plaster”, she says over a video call. She is warm, funny and seemingly at peace – following the traumas and battles with substance abuse that she revisits on this nightmarish, alien album. As a musician, Aya speaks of being able to “contact this sublime, other essence” by drawing “excitement from sound”. But she also admits that “chasing that high through rave music has led me to some pretty dark relationships with substances”. After struggles with ketamine, cocaine and alcohol abuse, she is, on the day of our interview, six months clean. Read moreAya moved to Manchester in 2016 not long after the opening of The White Hotel a former car repair workshop turned club in Salford and the locus for a new wave of local experimentalists with whom she formed the collective boygirl under her previous moniker Loft and Tom Boogizm who she says “can DJ for 10 hours but then make the most heartbreaking ambient record [as Rat Heart] you’ve ever heard – that dual energy represents Manchester to me.” A visit to 2019’s Bang Face festival at Pontins holiday park in Southport influenced her acclaimed 2021 debut album Im Hole “You go into places where there’s usually someone doing balloon animals to families,” she says But her time in the north was also difficult picturing inflating cerebellums and broken teeth was inspired by a period of “really intense well I guess I got off the train – I’m covered in snot and tears but at least I’m in Manchester.’” While she still has these experiences “they’re way less frequent and more manageable now that I’m sober” Telling ‘the past through the future’ … Aya Photograph: Dee IskrzynskaShe illustrates the chaos of the period pre-sobriety through scattershot lyrics The album’s stories blur time periods and locations and the boundaries between narration and dialogue “I’m slipping down the slope again / You’re gripping for the soap / I’m gipping on the coke,” she yells on Off to the Esso a viscerally distressing picture of drug-fuelled nights out She says she used substances as a way to provide “a level of distance from myself” and manage her sensitivity to the world around her that stops you fully engaging with the world as well.” Sinclair relocated to London in 2020 to move in with her partner but the north still looms large on her new record down to the regional slang in Off to the Esso: “I’m sizzled hen.” She found a way to “tell the past through the present” by marrying the rock of her Huddersfield teenage years with the hardcore dance music she discovered later where Aya seems to lift the album’s titular hex “We’ve run away from the three-bedroom house College & Schools and Academic Programs The University of San Diego (USD) announced today that longtime supporters Dan and Phyllis Epstein Read more read more  the University of San Diego proudly joined the 40th Annual Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair & Parade Read more read more  The University of San Diego officially opened the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Tu… Read more read more  The University of San Diego (USD) mourns the loss of Pope Francis Read more read more  Jonathan “Jonny” Kim ’12 (BA) this morning became the first Korean-American astronaut to journey into space Read more read more  USD News Minute: What you need to know this week at USD were awarded the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship that supports exceptiona… In this episode of "At the Edge of It All," we dive into the world of integrated engineering with Gordon Hoople San Diego men's golf has received an at-large selection to the 2025 NCAA Tournament and is headed to the postseason for the fifth consecutive year The USD College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hired 14 new faculty members in three distinctive themes – Borders and Social Justice The University of San Diego celebrated the official opening of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremon… The University of San Diego (USD) and JMI Sports are proud to announce a new multimedia rights partnership 7 San Diego Men's Tennis hoisted it's eighth WCC Tournament Title in the last nine seasons USD News Minute: What you need to know this week at USD… The University of San Diego officially opened the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Tuesday In this episode of "The Athletics Edge," a special series of "At the Edge of It All," we talk with Kimya Massey The USD College of Arts and Sciences (the college) hired 14 new faculty members in three distinctive themes – Borders and Social Justice Seventh-ranked San Diego Men's Tennis locked up the outright WCC Regular Season Championship title with a 4-2 win on the road over their rivals If you see Sumayya Sirajudeen walking across the University of San Diego (USD) campus it’s likely you’ll catch her talking and engaging w… It starts with an idea — one that is fostered through mentorship This philosophy is at the heart of the… 2025) - The San Diego County Bar Association has selected University of San Diego (USD) School of Law Professors David Brennan &l… In this episode of "At the Edge of It All," we sit down with Jena Hales associate professor and program director of Neuroscience University of San Diego Athletics has officially launched SanDiegoNIL.com a comprehensive digital hub dedicated to Name For alumni Elise Vaughan Winfrey ’08 and Nick Winfrey ’08 a liberal arts education helped them build a firm foundation for their careers.… An array of undergraduates spanning programs and schools gathered on the steps of the Learning Commons Town Square on April 8 and 10 The University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science has been recognized among the nation’s best in the newly released … The scent of the California air was Tatum Tande’s first clue that she was in the right place During her initial campus visit to the University … In this episode of "The Athletics Edge," a special series of "At the Edge of It All," we talk with Kimya Massey These are common words we hear in the push for more sustainable energy solutions in our communities But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots. “So there I woz, hand up my schnoz,” she opens “navel gazer,” accompanied by hacking cough, before rapping a passage I still can’t believe exists: “Warning signs from out the fog and I’m inclined to boltI drive a wedge, lean off the ledgeA sibylline revoltAbseil away another day supine inside the bagThe sodden rag, the modern fagCome watch me as I molt.” I mean, I’m not coming to the U.S. until anything changes. With how expensive visas are, I don’t want to chance paying eight or 10 grand for a visa and then get turned away at the border because my passport doesn’t line up with what they see. But I’m absolutely a control freak when it comes to music-making. I’m a big fan of learning how to do things correctly so I can choose to do them wrong. With that comes an obsessive, studied control: understanding how certain genre forms work, or how certain mix techniques work, different synthesis styles. Then I can choose to meld those, or do the opposite of what I’ve learned. A traditional pop song structure, where there’s an intro, a verse, a hook, a verse, a hook, a middle eight, a hook, and then it ends. “off to the ESSO,” “the names of Faggot Chav boys,” “droplets,” “heat death”— they’re all fairly traditional A-B-A-B-C-B song structures. As far as the “novel sounds” thing goes, do you know what physical modeling synthesis is? I would really love to play it with a band. I’d love to have a few purpose-built instruments that are just metal plates and springs, or maybe glass bowls. Then someone playing bass, someone playing a baritone sax, a live drummer, and then vocals. And synths, obviously, and a laptop. So like, a five-piece. That’s kind of where my head’s at. I’ve played drums since I was probably five or six, and started being in metal and hardcore bands as soon as I got to high school. When I got to university, I was more interested in electronic music. And I used to go to music improv workshops with my dad when I was a kid. Both of my parents do devised theater, movement theater, that kind of stuff. So performance runs in the family. A lot of the lyrics started as situations of extreme distress, needing some way of exorcising it. I carry a notepad everywhere I go, and it’ll be six quick lines of semi-abstract journaling. Then those will get fleshed out into more formalized poems, and at the same time I’ll be writing instrumentals, and there’ll come a point where this music and these lyrics are describing the same thing. And then the process of bringing those two things together will formalize what the structure is. I’m not a big reader, necessarily, though I enjoy reading when I do. But I’ve always enjoyed wordplay. I’m from a very punny family. Turning words over, finding double meanings, homophones—I was obsessed with grammar when I was a kid. Again, it’s learning to do things correctly so you can un-do things. But it’s an instinctive relationship rather than anything particularly studied, which is weird, because it sits in opposition to the way I do music. But exactly! The point is, things are clearly going quite well. [Laughs] It’s crazy how some people need to be told to live in the moment. Whereas a little bit less of the moment could really be quite good. Maybe you don’t have this expression in the U.S.—“time at the bar” means last orders. So it’s all of these toasts, and then ixnay, time to go home. And my going home is up onto the moor and off into the sky. I kind of don’t have one. I live with my partner of six years, we’ve been married coming on two years now. This is it, you know? I’m not trying to get to another place. I’m here. This is good. And it’s a very recovery thing to say, but—each day as it comes. Sixteen-year-old Aya Okimoto ’27 is hitting all the right notes both as an award-winning concert pianist and as an advocate dedicated to helping other young musicians Her passion culminated in the creation of the World Wave Music Festival a nonprofit organization that provides a free international platform for young musicians to showcase their talents online without the financial hindrance often associated with competing.  presented by Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green at the State Capitol this fall “I was blown away when I received the email,” she said can be a barrier for musicians,” Okimoto explained “I wanted to create a fee-free festival that students from all over the world could take part in.” To support this effort she created the Music Festival Club at Punahou so she and a small group of students including Lily Nomura ’26 and Nicholas Nishimura ’27 could fundraise and coordinate the festival.  garnered support from big-name corporations including Google She was able to assemble a prestigious judging panel of global artists and music professors from the likes of Juilliard The festival included 877 student musicians from 77 countries Okimoto – an accomplished pianist and violinist – started her own musical journey at age 6 performing on some of the world’s grandest stages “Music has been a huge part of my life,” she said Music has taught me to be disciplined and creative It’s something that helps me communicate my thoughts through playing The 10th grader’s list of accolades and accomplishments are a testament to her dedication and skill Okimoto entered her first piano competition in 2019 Her proudest moment was winning the American Virtuoso Music Competition which earned her a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2023 – a “life-changing” moment “I was nervous because it’s the biggest and most renowned stage in America,” Okimoto shared “I wasn’t used to playing in that kind of environment – I was used to Montague Hall But performing in front of a big audience was very rewarding Okimoto enjoys playing a variety of genres you can use vibrato and bow strokes to express yourself it’s through touch – how you press the keys,” she said “Each instrument lets me convey different emotions whether it’s a darker piece or something joyful.” but Okimoto credits her community and passion for music for keeping her on track “I’m fortunate to have amazing people supporting me I wouldn’t be willing to invest so much time in it Music helps me so much – to express my feelings and relax – and I want to give others the opportunity to experience that.”  As she continues to grow as an artist and advocate Whether through her performances or her community initiatives she certainly is inspiring a new generation of musicians to dream big and play on “I aim to continue to expand the World Wave Music Festival and look forward to providing opportunities for even more student musicians,” she said beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aya Gold & Silver Inc (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce new high-grade drill exploration results from its 2024 - 2025 program at Boumadine in the Kingdom of Morocco Today's results extend the Tizi mineralized trend by 200 meters confirming high-grade continuity along the Boumadine Main Trend and revealing new mineralized structures within the Boumadine regional permits Ag equivalent is based on a silver price of US$24/oz with a process recovery of 89% a gold price of US$2,200/oz with a process recovery of 85% a zinc price of US$1.20/lb with a process recovery of 72% a lead price of US$1.00/lb with a process recovery of 85% and a copper price of US$4.00/lb with a process recovery of 75% resulting in the following ratios: 1g/t Au: 77.9 g/t Ag; 1% Cu: 85.4 g/t Ag; 1% Pb: 24.2 g/t Ag; and 1% Zn: 24.6 g/t Ag "We are excited about today’s high-grade drill results particularly BOU-DD24-440 and BOU-DD24-450 which confirm the continuity of the Boumadine Main Zone The northern extension of the Tizi Zone further highlights the strong resource growth potential," said Benoit La Salle positive mapping and grab sampling results have identified several promising drill targets to the south as well as to the east reinforcing Boumadine’s exceptional district-scale potential We have identified over 20km of potential strike and look forward to advancing these targets in the coming months." Table 1 – Significant Intercepts from Boumadine Drill Exploration Program (Core Lengths) * True width remains undetermined at this stage; all values are uncut ** Ag equivalent is based on a silver price of US$24/oz with a process recovery of 89% Figure 1 - Boumadine Property Surface Plan with Apparent Conductivity at 175Hz and 2025 Drill Holes 117 diamond drill holes (“DDH”) totaling 46,207m have been completed at Boumadine (Figure 1 and Appendix 2) Drilling was conducted on strike along the Main Trend (North Zones) Tizi and North-East Zones as well as on some east-west structures The majority of results have been received for drill holes up to BOU-DD24-466 (Table 1 Results received during the first quarter of 2025 including hole BOU-DD24-440 and BOU-DD24-450 confirm the high-grade continuity of the Main Trend also confirm the continuity of the Tizi Zone and extend Tizi mineralization to 2.2km The Tizi Zone also remains open in all directions Hole BOU-DD24-92 returned high-grade silver results including 1,123 g/t Ag over 1.7m in an east-west structure The main mineralization generally measures 1m to 4m wide (locally reaching over a 10m width) N340-oriented massive sulphide lenses/veins sharply dipping eastward (> 70°) The massive sulphide veins (>80%) are mainly composed of pyrite Tizi and Imariren share the same characteristics except for their N000 orientation 5 and 6 shows the advance of the regional mapping and prospecting along with major fault corridor helped define five principal target areas that will need to be drill tested in the coming months Figure 2 – Surface Plan of North & Tizi Zones with New DDH Results Figure 3 – Surface Plan of South Zone with New DDH Results Figure 4 – Surface Map of Boumadine Property with Simplified Geology and Ag Grab Samples Figure 5 – Surface Map of Boumadine Property with Simplified Geology and Cu Grab Samples Figure 6 – Surface Map of Boumadine Property with Simplified Geology and Pb Grab Samples Significant upside potential exists to expand the Boumadine Main Trend which currently extends 5.4km and remains open in all directions the Corporation has mobilized 11 drill rigs to complete the 100,000m to 140,000m drilling program Half of the drilling will focus along the Main Trend and Tizi to continue extending the known mineralization trend along strike and at depth and to infill known areas advancing the project towards a preliminary economic assessment The remaining 50% will focus on greenfield exploration designed to test geological hypotheses and drill targets generated from the past three years of work The results from ongoing geology work will determine additional development work Aya has implemented a quality control program to comply with best practices in sampling and analysis of drill core Drill core samples were transported in sealed bags for analysis at Afrilab laboratory in Marrakech Standards of different grades and blanks were inserted every 20 samples in addition to the standards blanks and pulp duplicate inserted by Afrilab The scientific and technical information contained in this press release have been reviewed by David Lalonde for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101 Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources Aya’s Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania Aya’s management team maximizes shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its production For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com or contact: This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) which reflects management's expectations regarding Aya’s future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities and similar expressions or statements that certain actions have been used to identify such forward-looking information Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include statements and information with respect to the exploration and development potential of Boumadine and the advancement of and success of the exploration program at Boumadine and timing for the release of the Company's disclosure in connection with the foregoing Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect the ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates (including anticipated future estimates of free cash flow Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements 2020 regarding the materiality of its assets as well as to studies regarding non-material assets remains applicable as at the date hereof Aya does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise Appendix 1 – Full Drill Results from Boumadine (core lengths) Appendix 2 – New Drillhole Coordinates of 2024 and 2025 Boumadine Exploration Program (completed holes) (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) today announced financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31 highlighted by the successful on budget completion of the Zgounder Mine expansion — a rare achievement in this industry,” said Benoit La Salle “This milestone was essential for the commissioning phase and the declaration of commercial production announced in Q4-2024 We are now focused on optimizing Zgounder’s operations and we expect to complete an updated Technical Report in 2025 which will provide the foundation for future production and cost guidance and production is now running above nameplate capacity while balancing a shift from underground to an open-pit focused operation our focus remains on maximizing profitability while pursuing growth opportunities at both Zgounder and Boumadine — with Boumadine poised to reveal its tremendous potential.” Q4 and Full Year 2024 Operational and Financial Highlights Aya completed the construction of the new processing plant at Zgounder in 2024 in addition to expanding underground and open-pit mining operations Construction and development activities completed in 2024 included: 444,375t of ore was mined at an average grade of 162 g/t 336,371t of ore was stockpiled at an estimated grade of 153g/t allowing a comfortable buffer for the mine ramp up which is expected to reach steady state 3,000tpd processing rate in 2025 Commercial production was declared in December 2024 for the expanded operations 358,919 tonnes of ore were processed at an average grade of 171 g/t Combined mill recovery was 83.7% and is expected to reach the feasibility study recovery rate of 89% in 2025 as the new mill is optimized Figure 1: The mineral processing plant in operation at night Figure 2: New Merrill Crowe and Refinery Building Drilling at Zgounder near the mine focused on targets west at depth toward the granite contact and at east around the open-pit area in 2024 on the high-grade mineralization at the main ore body confirmed the mineralization and extended underground production zones A total of 35,931m were drilled in the year a total of 10,257m of diamond drill holes (“DDH”) were completed on Zgounder permits mostly on targets inside a two-kilometre (“km”) radius of the mine Although many results of this campaign are still pending preliminary results received show anomalous silver occurrences indicating the potential for discovery of satellite deposits to the Zgounder Mine A high resolution airborne geophysical survey was completed over the Tirzzit area in addition to a stream sediment geochemistry campaign on both Tirzzit and Zgounder Far East permits which will inform the 2025 drilling program Aya completed 107,687m of drilling compared to the initial 120,000m program planned extending the strike length from 4.2 km to 5.4 km Aya completed a satellite mapping and spectral study on Boumadine using WorldView-3 data over 674km2 The study identified numerous clay alteration halos similar to Boumadine an extensive regional airborne geophysical survey covering an area of 1,266km2 with 13,714-line km was completed on-trend conductive anomalies similar to known conductors identified at Boumadine Main Trend The continuation of the Boumadine south main trend anomaly and a series of new N340 and north–south oriented conductive anomalies; and a very large apparent conductive anomalies occurring 5km west of Boumadine of similar orientation and stronger intensity than the Boumadine Main Trend conductor This very large system also includes strong potential conductors occurring in an east-west direction Some of these anomalies were drill tested in Q4 Aya continued to expand its Boumadine land holdings through the acquisition of 15 permits The Boumadine land package increased by 117% to total 212 km² by year-end 2024 The Corporation’s primary focus for 2025 is ramping up the plant and mining to steady state of 3,000tpd while rationalizing costs The Corporation expects Zgounder production to range between 5.0 and 5.3 million silver ounces at a cash cost(x) of between $15.00 - $17.50/oz Costs are expected to be higher in the first part of the year and steadily improve as production ramps up to reach steady state The following foreign currency assumptions were used in the guidance: US$/C$ 1.40; and US$/MAD 10.10 the Corporation's silver sales were comprised of approximately 70% silver concentrate and 30% silver ingots Sales of silver concentrate are typically payable at 85% once treatment charges and refining charges are considered only silver ingots will be produced and sold starting in Q2-2025 This shift is expected to improve overall realized price for a given sales volume by increasing the payable of silver ingots compared to concentrate approximately 60% of ore mined originated from the underground mine while the remaining 40% was sourced from the open pit The underground mine operates at a higher cost per tonne of ore mined compared to the open pit and recent history shows that open pit has performed better in terms of ore recovery and grade predictability To enhance cost efficiency and improve margins the Corporation is transitioning its production strategy to approximately 1/3 underground and 2/3 open pit mix This shift is expected to significantly reduce overall mining costs in the coming quarters and contribute to improved cash costs in 2025 An updated mine plan is being completed this year to support this change in mining strategy Drilling at Zgounder (near-mine) will follow up on underground targets generated from the 2024 program An additional 10,000m will be drilled on targets within the Zgounder Regional permits with the objective of finding satellite mineralization to Zgounder Drilling data obtained from exploration in 2023 2024 and 2025 will be used to publish an updated mineral resource estimate for Zgounder later in 2025 50% of the drilling will focus along the Main Trend and Tizi to continue extending the known mineralization trend along strike and at depth and to infill known areas advancing the project towards a preliminary economic assessment The remaining drilling budgeted will focus on greenfield exploration designed to test geological hypotheses and drill targets generated from the past three years of work Aya will continue to focus on consolidating its management processes with the goal of minimizing the environmental and social impacts from current and expanded operations while continuously enhancing its safety culture The following activities will be prioritized: Q4 and Full Year 2024 Conference Call Details Aya will release its Q4 and Full-Year 2024 results on March 28 Management will host a conference call on the same day at 9 a.m Eastern Time to discuss the Corporation’s operational and financial results Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gq6awkxb Instructions for obtaining conference call dial-in numbers: The live webcast will be archived and will be available for replay Presentation slides that will accompany the conference call will also be posted on Aya’s website The scientific and technical information contained in this press release have been reviewed and approved by David Lalonde both of whom a “Qualified Person” as defined under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") Aya’s management team has been focused on maximizing shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com which reflects management’s expectations regarding Aya’s future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities statements and information with respect to (1) Aya reaching milling nameplate capacity in early 2025; (2) optimization of Zgounder’s operations; (3) Aya to complete an updated Technical Report in 2025; (4) maximization of profitability; (5) growth opportunities at both Zgounder and Boumadine; (6) Boumadine potential on-trend conductive anomalies; (14) similarity to Boumadine of the multiple potentially parallel on-trend conductive anomalies; (15) drilling of the Boumadine anomalies in 2025; (16) Aya’s guidance namely the Corporation’s ability to attain 5.0 – 5.3 Moz Ag of annual production a cash cost raging between $15.00 – $17.50/oz an average grade processed of 170 – 200 g/t Ag and to deploy an exploration and development budget of 25 – 30 million dollars; (16) timing for ramp up of the Zgounder plant and optimization of its mining capacity rationalizing costs; (17) foreign exchange rate; (18) sales mix and product strategy including only silver ingots to be produced and sold starting in Q2-2025; (19) results of the sales mix shift including improvement to overall realized price for a given sales volume; (20) transition to a production strategy at Zgounder Mine to 1/3 underground and 2/3 open pit; (21) impacts of the shift to 1/3 underground and 2/3 open pit at Zgounder Mine on cost efficiency and cash cost in 2025; (22) the completion of a mine plan in 2025 to support the shift in mining strategy at the Zgounder Mine plant; (23) the 2025 exploration program namely the 2025 drilling program at Zgounder – near-mine and regional of 20,000m – 25,000m and at Boumadine of 100,000m – 140-000m; (24) planned drilling campaign at Zgounder (near-mine) to follow up on the underground targets generated from the 2024 program; (25) finding satellite mineralization at Zgounder; (26) update of the mineral resources estimate for Zgounder later in 2025; (27) focus of the drilling at Boumadine namely along the Main Trend and Tizi; (28) expending of the know mineralization trend along strike at depth and to infill areas at Boumadine; (29) advancement of the preliminary economic assessment which is targeted for 2026; (30) the greenfield exploration to test geological hypotheses and drill targets generated from the past three years of work; (31) Aya’s strategy and priorities with respect to Environment Such statements reflect the Corporation's views as at the date of this press release and are subject to certain risks and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management’s current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the date of such statements are inherently subject to significant business economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies The material factors and assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements contained herein but are not limited to Aya’s capacity to execute on its plan its capacity to achieve each item of its guidance and those material factors and assumptions set forth in Corporation’s management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and the Corporation's Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31 2024 available with Canadian securities regulators as well as: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Corporation whether due to extreme weather events (including lack of rainfall) and other or related natural disasters labour disruptions (including but not limited to strikes or workforce reductions) pit wall slides or otherwise; (2) permitting operations and production from the Corporation’s operations and development projects being consistent with current expectations including without limitation the maintenance of existing permits and approvals and the timely receipt of all permits and authorizations necessary for the operation of our assets; and the successful completion of exploration consistent with the Corporation’s expectations at the Corporation’s projects; (3) political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Corporation operates being consistent with its current expectations including including but not limited to amendments to the mining laws in Morocco and Mauritania potential third party legal challenges to existing permits; (4) the completion of studies on the timelines currently expected and the results of those studies being consistent with our current expectations namely on the Boumadine project or resource updates on Zgounder; (5) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar dollar being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) certain price assumptions for silver; (7) prices for diesel electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; (8) attributable production and cost of sales forecasts for the Corporation meeting expectations; (9) the accuracy of the current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Corporation’s analysis thereof being consistent with expectations (including but not limited to grade future mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates being consistent with preliminary work undertaken by the Corporation mine plans for the Corporation’s current and future mining operations being concluded in a manner consistent with the Corporation’s expectations and (18) transactions announced by the Corporation including the Mx2 spinoff advancing and closing per the Corporation’s timeline and expectations For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect the Corporation's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release see the AIF and MD&A available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca as well as the Corporation's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators Readers are advised and cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information Except as required under applicable securities legislation the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information Notes to Investors Regarding the Use of Mineral Resources Zgounder technical information on resources and reserve is based on technical report entitled “NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT – FEASIBILITY STUDY ZGOUNDER EXPANSION PROJECT” 2022 with an effective date of December 13 2021 (the “Zgounder Report”) which was prepared under the supervision of Daniel M Richard Barbeau & Stephen Coatesall “qualified persons” for the purpose of the Zgounder Report Boumadine technical information is based on Aya’s press release of February 24 The mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in this press release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists (i) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures including adjusted cash costs per silver ounce and available liquidity which are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance but do not have a standardized meaning and the methods used by the Corporation to calculate such measures may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 30 of the Corporation’s Q4-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures.(ii) Non-GAAP Measures consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $30.9 million and restricted cash of $18.2 million (December 31 2024).(iii) All intersections are in core lengths and a copper price of US$4.00/lb with a process recovery of 75% resulting on the following ratios: 1g/t Au: 76.9 g/t Ag; 1% Cu: 97.63 g/t Ag; 1% Pb: 27.7 g/t Ag; 1% Zn: 28.1 g/t Ag.(iv) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 30 of the Corporation’s Q4-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures.(v) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures including cash costs per silver ounce and available liquidity See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 30 of the Corporation’s Q4-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures (vi) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 30 of the Corporation’s Q4-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures.(vii) Non-GAAP Measures consisting of current assets of $76.5 million less current liabilities of $53.1 million (December 31 current assets of $80.4 million less current liabilities of $46.7 million).(viii) Non-GAAP Measures consisting of cash of $30.9 million and restricted cash of $18.2 million (December 31 balances of $49.8 million and $20.5 million respectively) (ix) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 30 of the Corporation’s Q4-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures.(x) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1a301e4-feb1-4515-84cb-408429a0ab5e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a34de5b6-9f34-4fba-b1ce-d1c16efdebb5 cambodia@afsc.org  The Asia Young People for Action (AYA) initiative fosters peer-to-peer learning and collective action on structural peace-related issues Struggles for power and resources across Southeast Asia often lead to human rights abuses are frequently excluded from decision-making due to hierarchical and patriarchal systems.  The AYA initiative empowers young leaders to reimagine possibilities and enhance their capabilities to effect meaningful change AYA also promotes feminist leadership and strengthens regional cooperation and participation in regional and global forums AYA supports young people in tackling critical challenges and advancing peacebuilding efforts AYA demonstrates a commitment to social justice and equity contributing significantly to transformative and sustainable peacebuilding in Asia Kudos to client and software talent and staffing leader Aya Healthcare on its pending acquisition of Cross Country Healthcare (NASDAQ: CCRN) Aya is the largest healthcare and staffing resource company in the United States and its approximately $615-million acquisition of Cross Country will further expand its ability to serve its wide range of clients The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025 following approval by Cross Country shareholders The publicly traded company’s board voted unanimously to be acquired by the privately held Aya Procopio Managing Partner Dennis Doucette led the transaction on behalf of Aya, supported by Partner Trent Andrews and Associate Kaitlyn Jensen Other corporate and tax attorneys assisted in the transaction Procopio has managed seventeen acquisitions for Aya in recent years Said Aya President and CEO Alan Braynin of the acquisition of Cross Country: resources and unwavering commitment to delivering best-in-class talent solutions we are uniquely positioned to offer enhanced value to our healthcare systems Aya and Cross Country will operate as separate brands supporting each other’s clients with increased access to candidates while expanding assignment opportunities for clinicians.” Cross Country Co-Founder and Chairman Kevin Clark will stay on as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country as part of Aya Aya operates the world’s largest digital staffing platform, delivering every component of healthcare-focused labor services, including travel nursing and allied health, per diem, permanent staff hiring, interim leadership, locum tenens and non-clinical professionals. Learn more about Aya and this latest acquisition in their press release Patrick Ross, Senior Manager of Marketing & CommunicationsEmailP: 619.906.5740 Suzie Jayyusi, Events PlannerEmailP: 619.525.3818 Enter below + watch your fave nurse creators for extra chances By entering this sweepstakes, you agree to receive emails from Nurse.org. No purchase necessary. Alternate entry method and official rules. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time using the “unsubscribe” link provided in every email, in accordance with Nurse.org privacy policy Learn more about our editorial process Did you hear about the Aya and Cross Country merger?You Are we getting free scrubs or just more emails about “exciting opportunities” Yep, it’s true. Two big names in the travel nursing world—Aya Healthcare and Cross Country Healthcare—have joined forces. Aya Healthcare has agreed to acquire one of its top competitors If you thought things couldn’t get more interesting in the travel nursing market and the opportunity to earn up to $4,300 per week and enjoy the benefits of a job that truly appreciates you The merger means more jobs across various settings—schools, homes, hospitals, and beyond. Aya is already big in travel nursing, and now they’ll integrate Cross Country’s non-clinical gigs. Sounds good on paper, right? But some travel nurses on Reddit worry that combining these giants might limit options instead of expanding them Less competition could mean less bargaining power for nurses Aya’s got some AI-enabled software that promises to make job-hunting smoother—think quicker placements and better job matches The AI could potentially help travel nurses secure better contracts The companies promise improved staffing efficiency and patient care. For nurses, that might mean fewer understaffed shifts (ha!) or maybe working in facilities with better processes. But the truth? If the merger doesn’t fix systemic issues that are causing nurses to leave the profession - issues like nurse burnout and low pay - nurses are still clocking out feeling like zombies with stethoscopes Consistent leadership could smooth the transition Cross Country shareholders are cashing in on a 67% stock premium. Meanwhile, travel nurses are eyeing pay rates and wondering if this merger will help or hurt. Fewer competitors might mean tighter contracts and lower rates. So yeah, a quick look at what travel nurses are saying on Reddit reveals that they are cautiously optimistic  Emphasis on “cautiously.” While others on Reddit are flat-out pessimistic about the merger One major concern is the potential monopolization of the travel nursing industry. With one Reddit user commenting “Aya has pretty much monopolized the whole industry They’ve taken over so many hospitals as a vendor and lowered the bill rates to a point where other agencies can’t place there because Aya gets to pay more when it’s their facility.”  This sentiment is echoed in a LinkedIn post by travel nurse recruiter Andrew Craig whose post attracted 40+ comments Andrew expresses his concern over the merger with his caption stating Maybe this merger will actually bring better opportunities and smarter staffing solutions Or maybe it’s just another shake-up where nurses are left wondering if anyone at the top has spent 12+++ hours in the trenches - actually working as a nurse If you have a nursing news story that deserves to be heard, we want to amplify it to our massive community of millions of nurses! Get your story in front of Nurse.org Editors now - click here to fill out our quick submission form today Angelina has her finger on the pulse of everything nursing Angelina is an expert at producing content that nurses love to read As a former nurse recruiter turned marketer she specializes in warmly engaging with the nursing community and exponentially growing our social presence Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies - Ethnicity Super star Aya Nakamura will be in concert this Sunday at the Paris Longchamp racecourse as part of the NRJ music tour Incredible but true! Aya Nakamura will be performing a free concert in Paris this Sunday She’ll be sharing the stage with Joé Dwèt Filé https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V-l9ZggcRs She’ll be sharing the stage with Helena and Pierre Garnier the two phenomenal artists from Star Academy season 11 Tickets for his concert have already been distributed on the France Galop website but NRJ is currently offering a chance to win tickets for this unique concert until May 9 lucky winners of tickets will enjoy an incredible concert featuring the singer’s greatest hits: DjaDja Hippodrome de Longchamp is synonymous with horse racing Spectators can watch races organized by Emirates Poules d’Essai Location: 2 Route des Tribunes 75116 Paris Date : Sunday May 11 Price: free of charge The demand for travel nursing has skyrocketed, keeping travel nurse agencies busier than ever These agencies partner with hospitals and travel nurses to fill temporary staffing needs Hospitals depend on agencies to connect them with competent nurses when staffing shortages occur Most travel nurses work with at least one–sometimes multiple–agencies to find a contract One of the benefits of working with an agency is your recruiter does most of the legwork involved in finding a job The agency ensures that you have all the necessary licenses and lab work before you start an assignment The drawbacks of working with an agency are that they receive a portion of your salary and your only job options are limited to the hospitals they have contracts with Aya claims to be the largest healthcare staffing agency in the US They have the largest job database for nurses to choose from Their technology-driven staffing platform provides personalized algorithms to match healthcare professionals with ideal jobs Last year, Aya was honored with the following awards based on voting:  you can browse their available jobs and pay packages If you see a job that fits your preferences you can easily make an account in less than a minute you can click “I’m Interested” on jobs you like Your recruiter will be in touch to help you land your ideal assignment Most communications are between nurses and their recruiters Once you sign a contract for an assignment your support team will be in contact to ensure that you have all the correct paperwork and licensure in place A typical paycheck is broken down into your hourly pay and any additional personal reimbursements One thing that sets Aya apart is the support team they provide for you once you sign a contract and Travel Experience Team reach out to you to ensure you are completely ready for your assignment the Aya support teams have you covered from all angles I had a few different recruiters over the course of two years because they either moved jobs or moved up the corporate ladder Every recruiter I’ve had was quick to respond and available outside typical business hours They submitted me for the jobs I wanted in a timely manner and I ended up getting every job I applied for They submitted me and I had a phone interview or automatic offer within a couple of days Because of my experience and the demand at the time It was an efficient and streamlined process I chose Aya because I was nervous about starting travel nursing I heard that they provided a supportive team that would hold your hand through your first assignment and I found that to be true and quite helpful at the time One downside is that Aya has never offered the highest-paying contracts and available jobs made it worth it for me shared their experiences and thoughts about working with Aya said that the quality of recruiters was “hit or miss.” Her first recruiter was proactive about finding her an assignment but did not listen to her preferences “This recruiter listened to me and my priorities…they were a good fit for me and were conscious of what I wanted.” Liz has worked with multiple travel agencies and recruiters She described her recruiter with Aya as “subpar.” Since Aya was the first travel agency she worked with Liz said she didn’t know any better and didn’t know what a great recruiter looked like her recruiter would suggest assignments that were “way off base” for her needs at the time Both Bre and Liz agree that Aya’s website is easy to use and is transparent about their pay packages and assignment details Bre said that her experience finding an assignment was “low-effort.” Her recruiter and credentialing team did all the prep work and covered all the costs This is Bre’s “biggest plus” about working with Aya Liz found it easy to find an assignment that she wanted based on location “I don’t remember having any issues with placement once I requested an assignment I do believe I was submitted in a timely manner.” Bre and Liz both expressed that Aya was a good place for them to start travel nursing they have moved on to work with other travel agencies Bre shared that the downside to working with a company this big is that they do take a larger portion of your paycheck She wishes they would prioritize paying their travel nurses more since the nurses are the ones working on the front lines Both nurses agreed that Aya is an organized agency with a seamless onboarding process They handle a lot of the paperwork and licensure Working with Aya is a simple process. If you know someone who likes their Aya recruiter, then reach out to their recruiter directly. They will get you onboarded and help you find jobs. Or, you can simply sign up on their website, start browsing jobs, and a recruiter will be in touch with you. If you want to ask a question, you can fill out their contact form Just like their website and onboarding process You can filter through thousands of jobs to find one that fits your preferences You can still browse their job board and pay packages without creating an account If you're interested in checking out other agencies Disclaimer: Nurse.org may be compensated by some of the nursing schools we review this does not affect our review process or the ratings these schools receive All reviews are created independently by our editorial team We review products and services from partner schools as well as schools we do not work with The leaders of San Diego-based staffing and software firm Aya Healthcare Inc have agreed to pay $615 million in cash for publicly traded Cross Country Healthcare Inc which needs the approval of Cross Country investors is expected to close by the middle of next year The proposed acquisition will let Aya expand its services into non-clinical settings such as schools and homes while growing its network in travel nursing Cross Country will retain its brand under Aya and John Martins will stay on “to ensure a seamless transition.” Cross Country finished 2023 with roughly 2,300 corporate employees—the companies’ announcement noted that Aya plans to maintain a large presence at Cross Country’s home office in Boca Raton Florida—and averaged more than 10,800 full-time equivalent employees in the field last year “We are uniquely positioned to offer enhanced value to our healthcare systems clinicians and non-clinical professionals,” said Alan Braynin “Aya and Cross Country will operate as separate brands supporting each other’s clients with increased access to candidates while expanding assignment opportunities for clinicians.” The acquisition agreement between Aya and Cross Country calls for a $20 million breakup fee if the deals falls through for any number of reasons including if Cross Country’s directors strike a better deal with an unsolicited suitor or if Aya runs into antitrust issues the sale announcement comes after roughly two years of retrenching following the boom in healthcare staffing during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic Cross Country’s top line grew nearly 70 percent to more than $2.8 billion and its operating profits nearly doubled to $273 million But the comedown since then has been rough: Revenues and operating income shrank by 28 percent and 60 percent last year and Cross Country is on pace to book 2024 revenues of only about $1.3 billion the business had taken more than $13 million in operating losses Speaking to analysts a month ago after Cross Country had reported its third-quarter results Martins said things were getting a bit better “We are encouraged […] that demand continues to inch forward,” Martin said but it’s certainly in a better place than even at the start of the quarter.” That the salad days of staffing have faded from the rearview mirror is also evident in Cross Country’s stock price: Aya’s purchase price of $18.61 was nearly 70 percent above where Cross Country shares (Ticker: CCRN) had been trading prior to the news How do you make music together when you're an ocean apart? Ask Rachel Woolf and Makana Jimbu, who formed Duo 彩 AYA. Rachel plays flute, and Makana plays marimba. They've commissioned new works and worked up some old favorites as well, for a brand-new album, just released on Neuma Records, called "Cycles." The title "Cycles" comes from one of the pieces Rachel says the title "connected to the concept of recurrence and renewal and our performing between music and listener." the composer Fumi Ono's "Water Planet," tells an interplanetary story of a space probe discovering a water planet "The piece shows this journey where the flute symbolizes the atmosphere and it's an incredible interplay." The piece includes electronic soundscapes by Ono as well "We essentially did all of this cross-continent to put all this music together in person before we took it on the road." She calls the challenging process "a testament to our friendship and just the level of trust that we have in each other." Duo 彩 AYA - flute/marimba duoNew album, "Cycles"Album release: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4Location: Amor Eterno, 540 S. Presa St.duoaya.com and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work and performer Aya Ogawa about moving and growing up in many places a mother’s honest warning against acting navigating a career in what can feel like a “jungle” of an industry being “fully in control” of one’s own work as a director/playwright and building their play Meat Suit around interviews and personal experiences with motherhood Ogawa’s plays also include oph3lia (HERE) Brooklyn-based theatremaker and translator whose work reflects an international viewpoint and utilizes the stage as a space for exploring cultural identity and the immigrant experience and performed in The Nosebleed (Japan Society & The Chocolate Factory Theater Aya received an Obie Award for the creation whose cast was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding ensemble Aya is currently developing Meat Suit: the shitshow that is motherhood They are also a current resident playwright at New Dramatists and a Usual Suspect at NYTW Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. 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(TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce production of 357,333 ounces (“oz”) of silver (“Ag”) in February at its Zgounder Silver Mine "I am pleased to share that we continue to improve the production rate at Zgounder We see a month-over-month increase in the daily average silver production but also in the milling and mining rates from January to February 2025 This strong performance is driven by improved mine production alongside sustained processing capacity over 2,800 tpd since January,” said President & CEO Benoit La Salle "This achievement included a planned shutdown in a short month and highlights our disciplined execution and operational strength setting the stage for sustained production growth and record profitability in 2025." Eastern Time to discuss the Corporation’s financial and operational results Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gq6awkxb  subject to the announcement of September 12 For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com statements and information with respect to the capacity of the Corporation to achieve continued improved production results namely mining the ability of the plant to operate per its designed and intended purpose obtaining regulatory permits for on-site work importing goods and machinery and employment permits The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties including government approvals and permitting changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other key inputs throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics) and other factors many of which are beyond the control of Aya as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Aya’s 2023 Annual Information Form dated March 28 and in other filings of Aya with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aya Gold & Silver Inc OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce interim financial and operational results for the third quarter ended September 30 “Following a multi-year transformation and two consecutive record years we are now finalizing the expansion of Zgounder on budget in a strengthening silver market," said Benoit La Salle “These accomplishments highlight the resilience of our business as we drive long-term value through positive drill results from our key projects and chart a new growth trajectory for our non-core gold assets Our third quarter results came in below expectations due to non-recurring challenges at Zgounder which postponed some operational milestones to the fourth quarter of 2024 These temporary setbacks are now behind us and our team is on track to deliver commercial production at Zgounder before year-end Zgounder will be central to our growth plans in the coming years fueling higher production and increased free cash flow." Q3-2024 Operational and Financial Highlights (in 000’s of $) The total mining rate for the quarter averaged 1,315 tpd for a total of 120,985t of ore mined at a grade of 148 g/t Ag Underground development was completed as planned The development team is now focused on new stope development and on old stope rehabilitation required to ramp up production and improve grade Six additional stopes were in development or being defined An additional four stopes were in rehabilitation or in redesign Higher-grade stopes should be reached in the coming quarters as known defined vertical ore bodies become accessible via the 1,925m level 60,026 tonnes of ore were produced from the open pit at an average grade of 178 g/t Ag for the quarter The open pit mine had a strip ratio of 11 during Q3-2024 and technical services are provided by the Aya operations team the contractor's performance and the costs associated with mining the open pit continue to plan and in line with our expectations the underground mine produced 60,959t at 119 g/t Ag a lower grade than was originally planned for the quarter The lower grade was due to two main factors Cement backfill was delayed by two months and is expected to resume in Q4; as a result high-grade stopes were halted awaiting to be backfilled The delay was caused by a defect in the mixing equipment which impeded ramp-up operations at three stopes were suspended for rehabilitation Ore from these stopes remains accessible but needs rework Production at the underground mine came mostly from ore drives which traversed low grade zones Ore processed was 191 g/t Ag for total production of approximately 144,000 oz Ag in the month Total mill availability for the quarter was 96.0% and recovery averaged 83.0% The two plants continue to surpass design capacity and maintain excellent availability Total production of 355,927 oz was achieved in the quarter construction of the plant and surface infrastructure continued to track budget compared to over 95% at the end of the second quarter Figure 2 – New Merrill Crowe and Refinery Building The table below presents the construction progress by main project as at September 30 approximately 8,532m of infill drilling were carried out on the Zgounder mining permit Four underground rigs and one surface rig were mobilized The quarter saw positive results at depth near the granite contact and from lateral extensions east-west Drill highlights include 1,339 g/t Ag over 9.5m including 2,984 g/t Ag over 4.0m in the Central Zone and 2,372 g/t Ag over 6.5m in the Eastern Zone The 30,000m exploration program for the year will be completed in Q4 a surface rig conducted a total of 4,043m on Zgounder Regional targets with the aim of discovering satellite deposits to Zgounder Zgounder South-East and Zgounder North-West targets adjacent to the mine a total of 9,833m have been drilled on the regional properties and results are pending A total of 69,293m (139 DDH and one RC holes) were completed at Boumadine in the first nine months of the year with 10 rigs operating to complete the planned 120,000m drill program Half of the drilling program is designed to test the continuity of the known trend and for infill and the other half to test new targets generated by 2023 work and supplemented by 2024 hyperspectral and geophysical surveys Results extended the strike length of the main mineralized trend by 400m to 5.4km and indicated potential for additional mineralization styles The results also confirmed the high grade and continuity of the Tizi Zone Highlights from the Tizi Zone include BOU-DD24-340 which returned 3.1m at 412 g/t silver equivalent (“AgEq”) (1.22 g/t gold (“Au”) 1.0% lead (“Pb”) and 0.1% copper (“Cu”)).7 with BOU-DD24-324 in the Para Zone hitting 4.4m at 260 g/t (0.66 g/t Au intersected 462 g/t AgEq over 2.8m (2.25 g/t Au 0.6% Pb and 0.1% Cu) including 2.0m at 494 g/t AgEq and the East-West Zone returned 1,937 g/t Ag and 1.66% Cu over 1.9m in a new style of high-grade mineralization The Corporation has received the remaining results from the property-wide MobileMT geophysical survey that was carried out earlier this year Initial results had outlined multiple potential conductive anomalies with a similar or stronger response than the known Boumadine conductors These geophysical targets will be test drilled in the coming months the Corporation announced a delay in commissioning due to an issue encountered by the EPC provider to correct the installation of the ball mill hydraulic unit the Corporation indicated it would revise 2024 production guidance Production guidance is expected to be 1.6 - 1.8Moz for 2024 As a result of the delay in commissioning and its impact on the Corporation's prior production guidance the Corporation is withdrawing all other guidance figures presented in the year-end 2023 MD&A and March 28 Management will host a conference call today at 9 am EST to discuss the Q3-2024 financial and operational results Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ciro97w2 The live webcast will be archived and will be available for replay. Presentation slides that will accompany the conference call will also be posted on Aya’s website For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com The technical information relating to Zgounder Zgounder Regional and Boumadine properties was reviewed and approved by David Lalonde designated as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 statements and information with respect to the continued expansion of the Zgounder Mine expansion on budget the commencement of commercial production in Q4-2024 exploration and development potential of Zgounder and Boumadine and capacity to drill additional new zones and potential of said zones to be positive capacity to achieve guidance namely as production guidance of between 1.6M and 1.8M oz the capacity to drive long term value generation the temporary nature of the setbacks in operations the capacity to execute on plans to chart new growth for the Corporation achieving higher production as low-quartile costs the capacity to reach high grade stopes as scheduled and planned the capacity to mine the open pit as per management’s expectation in the coming quarters the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources into Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and future opportunities for enhancing development at Zgounder including the possible expansion of the mineral resource ability to mine higher grades in the coming quarters at Zgounder ability to continue execution of planned exploration targets at Zgounder and Boumadine ability to execute ramp up and commissioning of Zgounder expansion as expected and planned and the ability to continue to grow cash flow at low quartile cost consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $54.8 million and restricted cash of $18.3 million (June 30 balances of $85.1 million and $18.3 million (2) The Corporation reports non-GAAP measures See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 25 of the Corporation’s Q3-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures (3) See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 25 of the Corporation’s Q3-2024 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $54.8 million and restricted cash of $18.3 million (September 30 balances of $50.6 million and $20.6 million respectively) Ag equivalent is based on a silver price of US$21/oz with a process recovery of 89% a gold price of US$1,900/oz with a process recovery of 85% and a copper price of US$4.00/lb with a process recovery of 75% resulting on the following ratios: 1g/t Au: 76.9 g/t Ag; 1% Cu: 97.63 g/t Ag; 1% Pb: 27.7 g/t Ag; 1% Zn: 28.1 g/t Ag Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: Environment Specialist at the Enviroment Department - World Bank She is an Environment Specialist at the Department of Environment where she works on biodiversity conservation She is currently part of the Management Team of the Biocarbon Fund under the Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) Marcela worked at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Colombia as a researcher in environmental planning and conservation strategies Marcela holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the National University of Colombia (“Mx2” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced transaction with Aya Gold & Silver Inc including the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Amizmiz Gold Project (“Amizmiz”) located in the Kingdom of Morocco (the “Transaction”) “We’re very pleased to have completed the Transaction to formally launch Mx2 we’ve worked hard to build a strong presence in Morocco and lay the groundwork for long-term success,” commented Adam Spencer “With extensive experience in the gold sector a history of success in Africa and the strong support of Aya we believe Mx2 is uniquely positioned to pursue high-impact exploration opportunities across Morocco and North Africa.” Mx2 has successfully completed the acquisition of the Amizmiz Gold Project from Aya and has entered into an investor rights agreement between Aya the Company completed a brokered private placement in November 2024 (the “Offering”) of common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”) and subscription receipts of the Company (the “Subscription Receipts” the “Offered Securities”) for total gross proceeds of C$16.0 million priced at C$0.50 per Offered Security (see Mx2 news release dated November 20 Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction the Subscription Receipts have been converted on a 1:1 basis into 28,680,000 Common Shares and the net escrowed funds have been released to the Company Aya has been issued 20,000,000 Common Shares and the Company now has a total of 52,000,001 Common Shares issued and outstanding as at the date of this release Aya now owns a total of 22,000,000 Common Shares representing 42.3% of the Common Shares of Mx2 Clark and Spencer have agreed to a mutual shareholder lock-up for a period of two years from the closing of the Offering As part of its commitment to building a strong operational presence in Morocco Mx2 has established an office in Marrakech located less than an hour from the Company’s Amizmiz property and adjacent to Aya Gold & Silver’s local office This strategic location enables close coordination with Mx2’s on-the-ground partners and provides a central base to support exploration activities Mx2 is also pleased to announce key leadership appointments that strengthen the team’s capabilities and technical depth Abdellatif Kissami has joined Mx2 as Directeur Général Adjoint In a career that spans over 20 years and a former senior executive at Managem along with strong relationships throughout the Moroccan mining sector He is leading the establishment of Mx2’s local team and supporting the Company’s broader regional objectives including future initiatives in Mauritania Liam McDonnell has been appointed Vice President He brings a successful track record in a 15+ year career in gold exploration across Africa most recently serving as Exploration Manager of Montage Gold Corp. where he was a key contributor in discovering the +5Moz Koné Gold Project McDonnell also played an integral role in the discovery and development of the 3.34Moz Meyas Sands Gold Project in Sudan Ema Abanyin has been appointed Exploration Manager Abanyin joins the Company from Perseus Mining and brings over 20 years of exploration experience across Africa He played a key role in the Meyas Sands Gold Project in Sudan and previously served as Senior Geologist at Red Back Mining’s Tasiast Gold Mine in Mauritania These appointments reflect Mx2’s commitment to building a best-in-class exploration and operational team with the regional expertise and technical capability to drive long-term value The Company is actively advancing its evaluation of regional opportunities and is focused on building a strong pipeline of high-potential gold targets (“Mx2”) is a gold exploration and development company focused on North Africa The leadership group at Mx2 includes key personnel responsible for the success of several African precious metals companies Mx2’s assets include the Amizmiz Gold Project in the Kingdom of Morocco containing a Historic Inferred Mineral Resource of 819,769 tonnes grading 12.98 g/t for 342,094 ounces This press release contains “forward-looking information” (also referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) under the provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding the potential future operations and assets of forward-looking statements can typically be identified by the use of words such as “plans” “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions “occur” or “be achieved” or the negative connotation thereof those in respect of the use of proceeds from the Offering and certain statements related to the Transaction Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results performance or achievements of Mx2 to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including but not limited to: future global financial conditions being materially worse than current conditions; uncertainties costs and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; filing to obtain necessary additional financing; the costs of complying with environmental laws and policies; title disputes and defects and other matters relating to failing to obtain or revocation of permits and licenses; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; lower than expected future prices supply and/or uses of precious metals; adverse currency fluctuations; unexpected costs related to and delays in the integration of acquisitions; accidents; labour disputes; failure to retain key personnel; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; and other risks relating to the mining industry factors and assumptions in respect of: the future price supply and/or uses of precious metals being as expected Although Mx2 has attempted to identify important factors risks and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans Mx2 does not intend or undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this press release except in accordance with applicable securities laws The mineral resources estimate for the Amizmiz project in this press release is considered to be an “historical estimate” as defined under NI 43-101 This historical estimate is reported using the categories of mineral resources as defined by the 2005 CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and is derived from the Amizmiz Technical Report This “historical estimate” is based on the assumptions methods and parameters set out below and in the Amizmiz Technical Report but is not considered by Mx2 to be current A qualified person has not done sufficient work for Mx2 to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and Mx2 is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource The historical information provides an indication of the potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results A thorough review of all the resource information and drill data by a qualified person along with the incorporation of subsequent exploration work and results from confirmatory drilling would be required in order to verify the Amizmiz property historical estimate as a current mineral resource (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce production of 491,310 ounces (“oz”) of silver (“Ag”) in Q4-2024 at its Zgounder Silver Mine Aya is pleased to report production of 383,515 oz of Ag "I am pleased to announce Q4-2024 and January 2025 production results achieving 2024 production guidance and highlighting a significant step-change in output and an 77% month-over-month increase from December 2024 to January 2025 This strong performance is driven by improving recoveries and the successful ramp-up of the new Zgounder plant which is operating above nameplate capacity which continues to exceed expectations,” stated President & CEO Benoit La Salle “Month-over-month improvements across the integrated operations at Zgounder reflect disciplined execution and operational strength positioning us for sustained production growth and record profitability in 2025.” Q4-2024 and Full Year 2024 Production Metrics * 2024 numbers are preliminary and are subject to final adjustment In 2024 the new mill was commissioned and reached commercial production in late December 2024 The open pit performed well which gives further flexibility to reach the objective of 3,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) total mining rate in 2025 Q4-2024 and Full Year Earnings Release Date Aya will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial and operational results before market open on March 28 2025 and will host a conference call shortly afterwards Details of the call will be released at a later date For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com statements and information with respect to the continuity of the mineralization and its grade the potential to increase recoveries and ramp-up and achieve a3,000 tonnes per day mining rate Programs for AYAs with cancer aim to help them navigate treatment adolescents and young adults can feel like they’re facing a seemingly unending stream of challenges almost 90,000 of these adolescents and young adults (AYAs)—generally defined as people between the ages of 15 and 39—receive a cancer diagnosis And this group of patients often needs extra help navigating the complexities of cancer care The UNC team is now working to standardize many components of the program so it can be adapted by other cancer centers who presented the findings from an evaluation of the program in September at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality Care Symposium “A lot of [centers] are now reaching out and asking: ‘How do we do this?’” said Dr Stein. And the timing is right for the wider availability of programs to help AYAs with cancer “Studies are showing that cancer is on the rise in younger adults,” he said but there are a lot of folks now engaged and talking about cancer in AYAs in a way that we weren’t 5 or 10 years ago.” The cancer center’s AYA program started with a 14-year-old with a rare cancer named Sophie Steiner who came to UNC for her cancer treatment in 2014 Even though she was a teenager who enjoyed dance and photography she felt that her surroundings in the hospital—pink elephants and clowns on the walls—and the overall care program was geared toward children.  “She unfortunately passed away from her disease,” Dr she told her parents: ‘The health system does not take particularly good care of young people which helped the UNC AYA Cancer Program get off the ground that year with a single social worker the program doesn’t have the resources to reach out to every AYA who gets cancer treatment at UNC Lineberger But not every AYA with cancer needs the same kind of help AYAs are a diverse population with diverse needs Teens may need extra help keeping up with the daily demands of school while young adults often face financial difficulties or a lack of adequate support systems.  “A 16-year-old with Hodgkin lymphoma who’s living at home with their parents is so different from a 37-year-old with two kids and early-stage breast cancer or a 25-year-old with advanced osteosarcoma,” Dr “We focus on connecting with folks who we think are at the highest risk for running into trouble during their cancer treatment Then we very much tailor [our assistance] to their needs,” he added about 4,000 people ages 13 to 39 were seen at UNC the program went from connecting with 6% of people in this age group to more than 25% Compared with those not participating in the program during this period and have advanced cancer or a blood cancer like leukemia—all groups likely to need more attention from the health care system Despite the high clinical needs of the program participants they were more likely than non-participants to receive guideline-recommended care—including enrolling in clinical trials when appropriate almost 45% of AYAs who participated in the program enrolled in a clinical trial compared with 26% of non-participants.  In addition, AYAs who participated in the program were substantially more likely to receive other types of guideline-recommended care, including fertility counseling, palliative care About half of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers now have some sort of program in place to help AYAs navigate the complexities of treatment a clinical health psychologist who founded the City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center AYA program City of Hope also started its program about a decade ago. Every AYA program in the country today has different methods of reaching out to and working with patients, Dr. Folbrecht said, but financial help, fertility preservation and school and career issues are consistently the most common areas of need and assistance.  Her program has also chosen to focus on helping AYAs get peer support.  “AYAs talk a lot about wanting to connect with people who understand what they’re going through,” Dr but we also try to connect them with each other.”  are made with activities like online groups Hospitals big and small face multiple barriers in establishing and maintaining programs for AYAs with cancer director of NCI’s Office of Cancer Survivorship There are more than 2 million people in the United States who are long-term survivors of cancer diagnosed and treated when they were AYAs, according to a study published October 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study, led by Dr. Tonorezos and colleagues in NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, is the first to identify the size of this population in the United States because this group of survivors have different health risks and challenges compared with those treated as children or as older adults can identify research needs for this group of survivors and help health care systems understand and plan for managing their care “Not only can these interventions potentially help lower costs for hospitals and individuals but they might also allow us to provide this help to more people,” she said Nonprofit groups such as Teen Cancer America are also now helping fund AYA cancer programs at hospitals that want to start such programs Despite the increased momentum to build support systems for AYAs with cancer many will still be treated at a hospital without such a program and will need to advocate for themselves “Is this [treatment] going to affect my fertility Ask about clinical trials,” she said.  And they should not hesitate to get a second opinion if they feel that is the best thing to do “You want to make sure you and your physician are working towards an effective treatment [plan], and also preserving your quality of life and all the things that are important to you.” Will Ponsegromab Be a Game Changer for Cancer Cachexia Delivering Palliative Care by Telehealth Meets the Needs of People with Cancer If you would like to reproduce some or all of this content, see Reuse of NCI Information for guidance about copyright and permissions In the case of permitted digital reproduction please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g. “Program Connects Adolescents and Young Adults to Quality Cancer Care was originally published by the National Cancer Institute.” View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250228992806/en/ Already have an account? Login The presentation will discuss psychosocial challenges experienced by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and the development and testing of behavioral interventions to address the unique needs of this group including a problem-solving skills training intervention to reduce distress among AYA survivors recently diagnosed with cancer (“Bright IDEAS-YA”) and a digital self-management and peer mentoring intervention to improve self-management skills among AYA survivors of childhood cancer transitioning from a pediatric to adult model of care (“Managing Your Health”) Register here This program is open to all eligible individuals Keck School of Medicine of USC operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination Eligibility is not determined based on race