diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 65e6559..270daa0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,13 +8,6 @@
 
 [![health](https://img.shields.io/endpoint?url=https://pyautolabs.github.io/PyAutoHeart/badge.json)](https://pyautolabs.github.io/PyAutoHeart/)
 
-<!-- The block below is auto-updated by .github/workflows/heart-health.yml (everything -->
-<!-- between the heart:begin/heart:end markers is replaced with the rendered strip). -->
-<!-- Live board: https://pyautolabs.github.io/PyAutoHeart/ -->
-<!-- heart:begin -->
-## 🔵 PyAuto health — **STALE** (score 65) · [full board →](https://pyautolabs.github.io/PyAutoHeart/)
-<!-- heart:end -->
-
 **PyAutoHeart is the Heart of the PyAutoScientist** — the organism's health
 authority. It continuously watches every repository (CI, branches, open PRs,
 version skew, script and test timings, workspace validation) and rolls what it
@@ -28,6 +21,14 @@ failing run and a one-tap 📋 button that copies a ready-made Claude prompt
 (`/bug …`), so going from "something is red" to "an agent is fixing it" is
 copy → paste, on a laptop or a phone.
 
+## Current health
+
+<!-- The line below is auto-updated by .github/workflows/heart-health.yml (everything -->
+<!-- between the heart:begin/heart:end markers is replaced with the rendered strip). -->
+<!-- heart:begin -->
+🔵 **STALE** · score 65 · [full board →](https://pyautolabs.github.io/PyAutoHeart/)
+<!-- heart:end -->
+
 ## How PyAutoHeart works
 
 1. **Observe.** `pyauto-heart tick` (or the 5-minute daemon) runs the cheap
diff --git a/heart/dashboard.py b/heart/dashboard.py
index a658139..e84415a 100644
--- a/heart/dashboard.py
+++ b/heart/dashboard.py
@@ -949,15 +949,16 @@ def _render_md(board: Board) -> str:
 
 
 def _render_md_brief(board: Board) -> str:
-    """The README strip: one glance, not a wall. A single verdict line with
-    the board link inline; blockers/warnings appear only when there ARE any
-    (stale evidence gaps and timestamps live on the board, not the README —
-    the strip earns its README lines only when something needs a human)."""
+    """The README strip: one glance, not a wall. It renders under the README's
+    own "## Current health" heading, so it carries no heading of its own — a
+    single verdict line with the board link inline; blockers/warnings appear
+    only when there ARE any (stale evidence gaps and timestamps live on the
+    board, not the README — the strip earns extra lines only when something
+    needs a human)."""
     word = _VERDICT_WORD.get(board.verdict, "GREEN")
     emoji = _STATE_MD[_VERDICT_STATE.get(board.verdict, OK)]
     lines = [
-        f"## {emoji} PyAuto health — **{word}** (score {board.score}) · "
-        f"[full board →]({PAGES_URL})"
+        f"{emoji} **{word}** · score {board.score} · [full board →]({PAGES_URL})"
     ]
     if board.verdict in ("red", "yellow"):
         label, items = _shown_reasons(board)
diff --git a/tests/test_dashboard.py b/tests/test_dashboard.py
index c3131eb..af67398 100644
--- a/tests/test_dashboard.py
+++ b/tests/test_dashboard.py
@@ -486,11 +486,12 @@ def test_md_brief_is_a_strip_not_a_table():
     v = make_verdict("red", 45,
                      red_reasons=["autolens_workspace: Smoke Tests failure on main"])
     out = dashboard.render(_failing_snapshot(), v, fmt="md-brief", now=FRESH_NOW)
-    assert "PyAuto health" in out and "RED" in out
+    assert "**RED**" in out
     assert "[autolens_workspace](" in out
     assert dashboard.PAGES_URL in out
     assert "| Check |" not in out  # no table — the Pages board carries it
     assert "snapshot" not in out   # no timestamp clutter — the board has it
+    assert not out.startswith("#")  # the README supplies the section heading
 
 
 def test_md_brief_is_one_line_unless_something_is_wrong():