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Doctors Worry Grant Changes Will Derail Biomedical Science
Proposed OMB grant review changes could shift science funding from peer-reviewed to subject to political whims, impacting drug development and patient care.
Woman's Doctor: Why are women more prone to sports injuries?
In this Woman's Doctor segment, what's behind the several factors that may make women more prone to sports injuries than men?
Dolly Parton provides health update after skipping Dollywood ride opening
The 80-year-old star sent a video to Dollywood fans after her doctor told her not to travel for the ride opening.
Dolly Parton provides health update after skipping Dollywood ride opening
The 80-year-old star sent a video to Dollywood fans after her doctor told her not to travel for the ride opening.
Dolly Parton provides health update after skipping Dollywood ride opening
The 80-year-old star sent a video to Dollywood fans after her doctor told her not to travel for the ride opening.
What happened to Dolly Parton? Singer shares update after missing Dollywood event
Dolly Parton appeared in a prerecorded video at the opening of Dollywood's NightFlight Expedition, explaining that her doctor urged her to stay home.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion reeals Siege of Castle Doom DLC
Today, Dotemu and Tribute Games unveiled brand new Siege of Casstle Doom DLC for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The first piece of art can be found above. The DLC will feature a brand new game mode along with two new playable characters. Unsurprisingly, the infamous Doctor Doom will be central to that mode. With the Avengers: Doomsday movie coming up, it...
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Doctor Doom DLC Arrives this Fall
The Siege of Castle Doom includes a brand-new game mode
Stunned by a glowing green light: what happened when the ground lit up at night? - Futura-Sciences
The Aurora Hunter of Alaska Vincent Ledvina is a doctoral student in space physics, but don’t be fooled by the academic credentials—he’s also a social media star. Ledvina scours the Alaskan skies night after night, always on the lookout for the magical spectacle of the Northern Lights, and he regularly...
Insurer reviews get an automation boost
The federal government's effort to modernize prior authorization is beginning to show up in the software doctors use.
Healthcare Providers Hit With New Accessibility Requirements
A pair of federal rules are imposing first-ever requirements designed to ensure that people with disabilities are better served when they visit the doctor.
Gen Z is eyeing up ‘secure’ healthcare jobs to AI-proof their careers, but be warned: Chiropractors, doctors and paramedics are the unhappiest workers
Health care workers report burnout and lower job satisfaction. So Gen Z's safest bet might just be behind a counter, not a stethoscope, research suggests.
Science & Medicine: San Antonio's fungus lab is on the front line of a growing drug-resistance crisis
When doctors can't identify a fungal infection, they often turn to UT Health San Antonio's Fungus Testing Laboratory, which has discovered more than 60 new species since 2013. The lab is now racing to fight drug-resistant fungi while helping bring new antifungal treatments to market.
Doctors and women who've had it call for more attention on postpartum psychosis
The high-profile murder trial of Lindsay Clancy's has put the condition in the spotlight. Women who have had it call for more research and understanding of a difficult mental illness.
With measles cases on the rise, doctors stress childhood vaccination
As nationwide measles cases climb to the highest levels seen in 35 years, Lucas County medical practitioners are raising the importance of vaccinating ...
Dolly Parton’s ongoing health battle forces country legend to miss major Dollywood event
Dolly Parton appeared virtually at Dollywood's new roller coaster opening after her Nashville doctor grounded her travel over dizziness and dehydration.
A doctor shares 4 bare minimum food rules to boost healthspan
Making small changes to your diet can make a big impact on your health, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel said.
Additional charges filed against former UF Health doctor found dead in Alachua County Jail
A former UF Health doctor facing child pornography charges was found dead inside the Alachua County Jail on Aug. 13, as investigators were pursuing additional charges against him.
Mike Beltran sues political group over doctored campaign image
Former State Rep. Mike Beltran sued a political action committee that he says forged an image of him that did not depict reality, and that it failed to disclose it was built with AI — as required under Florida law.
Measles case confirmed in western Kentucky, health officials suspect outbreak
Officials confirmed at least one unvaccinated person in western Kentucky's Christian County contracted measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease. Officials warn of several unconfirmed cases in the area too.
People are injecting fat from dead bodies. It’s called ‘zombie filler’
People are injecting fat from corpses and calling it "zombie filler." Doctors say the GLP-1 boom is driving the trend.
Health advocacy group sues AMA to make billing codes public
PatientRightsAdvocate.org is challenging the doctor’s association’s copyright of the current procedural terminology, or CPT, system. Use of the codes is required by law, and that means they should be freely available, per the suit.
Make policy based on science, not on RFK Jr. ’s lifestyle choices
Kennedy is neither a doctor nor a medical researcher, and his personal practices should not guide federal policies.
Top Doctor Sounds the Alarm About Trump’s ‘Most Extraordinary’ Health Issue
Among the litany of issues, this is the most concerning, according to Dr. Jonathan Reiner.
‘We’re seeing lots of people who feel dizzy’: how heatwaves are taking a toll on people’s health and the NHS
Doctors and nurses describe rise in fall injuries and other heat-related problems on top of stifling working conditions
Exploring how discretionary time impacts health | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Time may be money, but is time health? That’s what doctoral candidate Laura Chen is trying to find out.
UF Health doctor, professor facing child porn charges found dead in jail
A UF Health doctor charged in July with child porn possession was found dead at the Alachua County Jail on Aug. 13. Cause of death not yet determined.
UF Health doctor dies in custody at Alachua County Jail
Incident occurs Thursday morning.
New Executive Order Undermines Child Health
On August 10, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at making major changes to federal vaccine policy. Among several other actions, this order would make major revisions to the childhood vaccination schedule, direct care providers to administer monovalent vaccines as soon as they are available (starting with splitting up the MMR (measles, mumps, […]
HHS Releases Report Exposing Fraudulent Insurance Coding For Sex-rejecting Procedures On Minors
HHS released a report Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of “Gender Medicine”.
Emergency Medicine Residency Program strengthens South Texas healthcare workforce
For more than a decade, the UT Health San Antonio program has trained doctors to address shortages in care across the region.
In Good Health: Why Measles Numbers Are On The Rise
Nationwide, students, teachers, and parents are gearing up for the school year.And measles is spreading. The U.S. has already logged more cases this year than in all of 2025. It’s the highest count in 35 years. That’s in large part because measles vaccination rates have slipped below 95 percent – the threshold public health experts say is needed to stop community spread. Last week on CNN, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said children should be vaccinated for measles after being pressed on-camera, even as he used the same interview to push a debunked claim about respiratory syncytial virus. And on Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at upending the childhood vaccine schedule, including changes to the measles vaccine and others. But what will actually change at the doctor’s office?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Make policy based on science, not on RFK’s lifestyle choices
Kennedy is neither a doctor nor a medical researcher, and his personal practices should not guide federal policies.
Small Business Spotlight: Specialty dental practice takes root on Market St.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO OPEN BLUE HERON ROOT CANAL SPECIALISTS? OWNER SARAH ERMOSHKIN: “I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. When I was 23 years old, I owned a cafe in Seattle, where I even fought to oppose oppressive sales taxes on espresso drinks. After selling that business, I got married and started a family. Once my children were in school, I attended dental school through the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which covered my tuition and provided a stipend. From the beginning, my goal was to eventually own my own practice after completing my military service. The work I do is incredibly rewarding and being able to create an environment that puts patients first while helping employees grow professionally makes every day as a business owner meaningful.” WHAT DOES YOUR BUSINESS PROVIDE? ERMOSHKIN: “Endodontists are often called ‘pain doctors’ because our primary mission is to relieve pain and save natural teeth. We specialize in root canal therapy, retreatment of nonhealing root canals, treatment of root resorption, apicoectomies – microsurgical root-end procedures – and vital pulp therapy for children. Our goal is to preserve teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted and replaced with implants. Saving a patient’s natural tooth is almost always the best long-term solution for their oral health.” HOW DOES YOUR MILITARY TRAINING HELP YOUR BUSINESS? ERMOSHKIN: “My military service taught me how to lead, collaborate and make decisions under pressure. I worked closely with senior leadership while treating a large patient population and collaborating with specialists across multiple disciplines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, (I) served a dual role as Navy dentist and as the public affairs officer for Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, where I helped develop medical and dental communications for the midshipmen and support staff, while coordinating with the broader Navy Capital Region. We worked closely with other military treatment facilities to share best practices and deliver consistent public health messaging. Those leadership experiences continue to shape how I lead my team and serve our patients today.” WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING RIGHT NOW IN YOUR BUSINESS? ERMOSHKIN: “One of our biggest challenges is overcoming the misinformation surrounding root canal treatment. Root canals are safe, effective and often the best way to relieve pain while preserving a natural tooth. Unfortunately, many people choose extraction because they believe it’s less expensive or because they’ve seen misleading information online. What they may not realize is that losing a tooth can lead to shifting teeth, changes in the way they bite and chew and significantly higher costs to restore their smile later.”
Experimental Pulse Oximeter Accurate Regardless Of Skin Tone, Researchers Say
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Pulse oximeters became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors used the finger clip devices to tell whether a respiratory infection was robbing patients of needed oxygen. But skin tone impairs the ...
Your address holds clues to knowing your child's hospitalization risk
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's used local data to create a framework that predicts a child's hospitalization risk based on their address.
USC Scientists Are Using Quantum Computing to Rethink Cancer Detection - USC Viterbi
By combining quantum computing with artificial intelligence, USC researchers are laying the groundwork for medical imaging tools that could help doctors diagnose cancer and plan treatments more precisely
'Blue Bloods' star Jennifer Esposito says she was locked in psych ward as health battle spiraled
Jennifer Esposito reveals how celiac disease caused liver failure, a psychiatric ward stay and thoughts of suicide before doctors finally diagnosed her.
AHA resource: Economic Impact of Disparities in Health Outcomes
The AHA Aug. 11 released a new resource guide designed to address a critical gap by helping leaders understand and quantify the economic burden of disparities of health outcomes. The guide provides practical methods to identify and assess the financial impact of health disparities, along with data-driven approaches to implement interventions that both improve outcomes and reduce costs. READ MORE
Has science finally made up its mind about coffee’s health benefits?
Doctors used to warn coffee drinkers. Now research reassures them
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
Doctors spanning the information gap to boost health literacy in Armenia
Council of Europe helps develop a more accessible and inclusive health system in the country
When a physician’s ‘noble’ reassurance leads to a patient’s unsought treatment
When a doctor tells a patient that his or her symptoms are normal within some given context, the patient may ignore the contextualization and only hear “You’re normal.” As shown in a new study, the partially received message can be a problem.
Rod Stewart cancels Rocket Arena show due to health concerns
Rod Stewart canceled his Rocket Arena show scheduled for Tuesday following a period of monitoring; doctors advised Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours.
Dr. Ramon Tallaj reflects on the family doctor, faith, and health equity
Dr. Ramon Tallaj is chairman of the board and founder of SOMOS Community Care. “SOMOS,” which means “we are” in Spanish, is a physician-led network of 2,600 healthcare providers serving over 850,000 Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in New York City’s immigrant communities. Tallaj reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of the family doctor, and how faith has played a large role in his life and work.
Wisconsin health providers worry new Medicaid work requirement hurts doctor-patient relationship
The new rule, which was included in Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last year, provides exemptions for a number of groups, including people who are pregnant, have children under age 19 who live with them and people with a recognized disability.
Long waits to see the doctor? This SC health system is working toward a cure.
Experts say there is a shortage of health care workers that’s causing patients to see longer waits. This Upstate health care system has a program to help with that.
ACHE launches executive leadership program
The Fort Smith-based Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) will soon begin offering a doctor of executive leadership (DEL) program after receiving approval from the Higher Learning Commission. Each class...
For decades, we were told to choose low-fat dairy. New research says otherwise
Full-fat dairy may be healthier than conventional advice has suggested. In a 12-week study, adults who ate three servings a day showed no meaningful increases in weight, body fat, cholesterol, or insulin resistance. They also experienced improved blood pressure and consumed more calcium, protein, and vitamin D. The findings suggest dairy’s complex structure may matter more than its saturated fat content alone.
Community walk kicks off health center celebration
Berks Community Health Center added a 5K walk with doctors to its annual Community Day celebration on Penn Street. The event, part of National Health Center Week, also featured about 50 community organizations, family activities, food and…
Chester County doctor explains prostate cancer spread as Joe Biden's health worsens, son says
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, said his father's cancer has spread to his bones and is "very debilitating" and "painful".
Social prescribing boosts health checks without raising costs
Patients referred to social prescribing are more likely to seek health care in the short term but could end up needing their primary care physician less often within a year, according to a new study by ...
Ohio funding scholarships to boost mental health care
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Experts said there is an unprecedented need in Ohio for mental health care, but there aren’t enough professionals to meet the demand. A new state-funded scholarship pr…
Tackling prostate cancer and heart disease: Free Health screenings at Pro Football Hall of Fame
On Friday, fans and players who gathered at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton found an opportunity to address both — not at a doctor's office, but outside the Hall itself.
Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic welcomes family medicine specialist Dr. Nicholas Woessner
Dr. Nicholas Woessner, a doctor of osteopathic medicine specializing family medicine, is thrilled to join the Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic.
Doctor Reveals the Best Age to Start Building Bone Density
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a doctor shares the best age to start boosting bone density, which deteriorates as you age.
Everyone's talking about hormone therapy for menopause. Should I be on it?
For years doctors advised women against hormone therapy for women in the menopausal transition. Now everyone's talking about how great it is. Is it really a wonder drug that women should all be on?
SHARE program allows students to experience medicine and science
As Jayson Smith approached his sophomore year at Nettleton High School, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but he didn’t really know where to start. “I...
A Denver doctor highlights how health centers are working to meet patients where they are
Doctors caution about "SickTok" and risks of getting health advice on social media
Oscar Health Stock Sinks Amid This Second-Half Risk
OSCR stock dived despite a big earnings beat. Oscar Health management is bullish on the outlook, but big ACA Marketplace coverage shifts limit visibility.
Minnesota DHS roll out eligibility tool ahead of federal Medicaid work requirement changes
Individuals enrolled in Medical Assistance can check if they meet the federal work reporting requirements set for 2027, as well as review a list of exemptions by using the new renewal lookup tool provided by DHS.
Exclusive | Senate Panel Says It Has Obtained Copy of Fauci’s Covid-Era Phone
Republicans in Congress have ramped up scrutiny of the retired government doctor, and one panel could vote on holding him in contempt on Thursday.
As FDA approves new marketing for nicotine pouches, some doctors sound alarms
Health advice is a click away on social media, but doctors caution against trusting "SickTok"
Doctors are finding they are faced with questions about health advice from social media, but they caution that you can't always trust what you find.
Wickliffe optometrist celebrates 50 years in business
Dr. Sid Savitt has now been in business in Wickliffe for 50 years as an optometrist at Savitt’s Optometry. Located at 29610 Euclid Ave., Savitt said his practice has been a “wonderful ride” since he started it in 1976. As his mom and dad…
Tigard healthcare provider announces 100+ layoffs as it moves away from skilled nursing
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Tigard-based healthcare provider is planning multiple rounds of layoffs. In a notice filed Tuesday, Avamere Health Services announced a restructuring of the company expect…
The No. 1 Daily Exercise to Boost Gut Health, According to a GI Doctor
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a doctor explains how physical activity supports better digestion and gut health.
Rodeo is one of the most dangerous sports. These doctors and trainers get cowboys back in the saddle.
Behind the scenes with the sports medicine team at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
UTC DNP students provide free health screenings, build skills at Chattanooga Wellness Expo
Despite the rain, hundreds of Chattanooga community members came to McKenzie Arena and the Wolford Family Athletic Center on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the Chattanooga Wellness Expo. Among them were 20 faculty members and students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Cardiovascular health spending has tripled, but death rates are rising in major Hampton Roads cities
By Yiqing Wang/WHRO Cardiovascular care has become more advanced over the past two decades, giving doctors new ways to prevent deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other conditions. But a new national study found those advances have come with rapidly rising costs while improvements in cardiovascular death rates have largely stalled. The analysis, published in the Journal […]
Forget 10,000 steps a day. Science says this is the real sweet spot for health
This magic number feels like a medical rule, handed down by doctors across the globe
‘Doctor’ El-Sayed’s bizarre health hustle raises campaign headache: ‘Moon Juice Brain Dust’
Abdul El-Sayed criticized Mehmet Oz for selling health products as a doctor, then used his own medical credentials to promote supplements and devices.
A shocking 92 percent of US adults are not going to the doctor because it’s too expensive
The decision to delay medical care involves multiple factors, including gender - women are more likely to put off care than men
How AI could change your trip to the doctors
As AI health tools expand, is it time for Dr Chatbot to see you now?
This Is How Much Fiber to Eat Daily to Prevent Constipation
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a doctor reveals how much fiber to eat daily to prevent and treat constipation, and the best whole food sources.
In Philly, roughly 1 out of 3 adults are obese. How should doctors, pediatricians talk to their patients about it?
Health care providers say initiating conversations about weight and nutrition is a key aspect to tackling obesity-related health problems.
Healthcare staffing shortages are driving a patient care quality crisis
From hospitals and clinics to doctors' offices and urgent care centers, healthcare executives and clinicians agree: staffing shortages directly compromise their ability to provide high-quality care to patients.
DOJ issues declination of charges against eye care group, opting to indict CEO for role in $3.4M fraud scheme
The shift in prosecutorial focus is part of a new enforcement policy to address healthcare fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges the CEO of CampusEye paid kickbacks to doctors for referrals, going on to bill Medicare for unnecessary tests.
Hobbies can improve your health – here are four tips for choosing one
From sea swimming to painting, doctors are ‘prescribing’ hobbies – but you don’t need a doctor’s note to get started
Video: Opinion | A Doctor Weighs In on the Health Tracking Craze
If a fitness enthusiast like Joe Rogan wants to scan his body ad nauseam to track his wellness, that’s fine, says Dr. Rachael Bedard on “The Opinions.” But using those scans to look for medical abnormalities can lead to costly, potentially harmful follow-up tests.
AI Cognitive Health Startup Mantis Biotech Rethinks How Women Are Diagnosed
The AI Catching Brain Fog, ADHD, And Dementia Between Doctor Visits
Does public health *need* MAHA?
Last week, our friend Dr. Craig Spencer sparked an ongoing volatile discussion with his Atlantic article “Public Health Needs MAHA.” Some have come out in strong dissent, others are cheering, and others are simply lamenting that we find ourselves in such a divided world to begin with. We will dare to dip our toes in these controversial waters, too. Does public health need MAHA? We think in some ways yes, and in other ways, no. MAHA leaders versus the everyday MAHA supporter The vitriol in this debate mostly comes from one collapsed distinction: the leadership of MAHA is not necessarily the same as the people who support it. Say “MAHA” and most people picture RFK Jr. Fair enough, as he coined the term and holds most of the power. And, yes, some MAHA followers treat Kennedy as something close to a saint. But talk to the grassroots, and it’s not a monolith. They’re Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. People who distrust vaccines and vaccine supporters. It’s a wide, eclectic coalition. The data backs this too: 4 in 10 Americans support the movement—that’s a lot of people! But according to polls, vaccines and medical choice (the issues most tied to Kennedy personally) are cited by only 4% as their reason for supporting the movement. For many, the motivations are much broader. Many MAHA supporters are signing up for the idea that “something needs to change” with health in this country. They’re asking good-faith questions about corporate influence on our health systems, health care costs, nutrition, chemicals, and clean air and water. These are all questions that plenty of public health professionals recognize as legitimate and also care about very deeply. Blurring the lines between the leadership and grassroots does real damage in two important ways: It hands the 4 in 10 exactly the narrative already fed—that the health ecosystem doesn’t listen, doesn’t care, and paints every critic with the same brush. It gives the actual bad actor more power. RFK Jr. has done irreparable damage and can’t be trusted. What the MAHA movement gets right A healthy population is something the public health field was literally built on, and many of these topics are things we have dedicated our lives to. Yet the MAHA movement has captivated nearly half the country in a way the public health establishment has failed to achieve. So that means MAHA is doing something right. Some of it may be timing (after a Covid-19 pandemic and deep frustration and mistrust with institutions). The movement also does three other things really well: 1. It gives a new, louder voice to system failures. While MAHA is not a monolith, one theme stays consistent across their stories: the system failed them. For some, it was the system that flooded their communities with opioids and then walked away. For others, it was the system that let their business collapse during Covid with no safety net in sight. For others still, it was the system that failed to help them manage a complex chronic illness, bouncing them from physician to physician without any real answers. And in many ways, our health ecosystems are failing Americans. Why are medical bills so incomprehensible? Why do some kids get a healthy school lunch and others don’t? Why do an epidemiologist and a MD/PhD student have to start newsletters in the middle of the biggest public health emergency in a century, just so people can get straight information? Because the systems failed. This deep-seated frustration driving many Americans to search for solutions elsewhere needs to be recognized. 2. MAHA has brilliant comms central to their efforts. MAHA figured out something most health institutions still have not: the information landscape changed. It’s participatory now, not top-down; influence runs through many nodes in a community, not one institution; and storytelling and telling audiences “what you really think” moves people more than data dumps do. MAHA goes where audiences are listening, using podcasts, social media, and memes in ways most health institutions would scoff at—but it works. 3. They are very good at organizing. A MAHA meeting feels like a rally: energy, speakers, music, and most importantly, an action for everyone. Someone’s writing the next policy brief, someone’s seeding a narrative, someone knows the next legislative deadline, someone’s sending the text messages for a campaign. None of this is new (ask the civil rights movement), but MAHA knows it works and has capitalized on it. What MAHA gets wrong This list could be much longer, and this newsletter has spent a lot of time covering it, but here are a few things: Poor use of scientific evidence. This is the fundamental problem with many MAHA policies: the hype outpaces the science, and experts are often villainized for pointing this out. MAHA leadership has traded real solutions for cheap wins. For example, instead of taking on the powerful food industry and passing real reforms, it has celebrated french fries made of beef tallow and taken out artificial dyes from still very sugary children’s cereal. These changes won’t move the needle on America’s diet. MAHA leadership has tried to dismantle vaccine access in the U.S. While many MAHA supporters emphasize other issues, the effort to change vaccine policy has become MAHA’s signature effort. This is not surprising given RFK Jr.’s extensive track record campaigning against vaccines. It has rallied behind the wrong leader. RFK Jr. has a decades-long track record of villifying doctors, scientists, and public health workers, well before he became HHS secretary. He is known for his decades-long work sowing distrust in vaccines as well as life-saving treatments like antiretroviral therapy for HIV. This is not a serious person who can move the needle on health in the U.S, and he has already done serious damage. Public health needs more than defense Defending the evidence is absolutely necessary so health in the U.S. doesn’t move further backward. The public health establishment is very good at defense. The problem is this defense often sounds like defending the status quo, which has failed many people. Public health needs to offer an alternative to RFK Jr.’s MAHA—one that is rooted in evidence, truly listens to and addresses people’s frustrations, and has innovative solutions and the courage to change the systems. How do we get there? Find common ground. Do you know what most people care most about? The abysmal cost of healthcare. Start there. Fight for the human loudly. Too often, communications and engagement center on science with a capital S, funding mechanisms, or the CDC/FDA/NIH. Not the person. So the public doesn’t see themselves in it. Instead, they see people fighting for the very powerful systems that they feel negatively impact their health and well-being. Let the public feel and hear that you see their frustrations, you get it, and you’re fighting for them within the system. Recognize when pro-science messages are alienating people. Facts absolutely matter, but angrily venting only alienates people further. Our friend Elisabeth Marnik recently wrote a New York Times article about her experience growing up unvaccinated and how listening and empathetic conversation are the only ways to reach people that really work (a position backed by communication science). Her comments section was full of hateful comments from pro-vaccine individuals attacking her for daring to suggest we approach vaccine-hesitant individuals with empathy. It is possible to both stand firm behind scientific evidence and empathize with people who don’t trust it. Lean into politics smartly. Often, public health has shied away from politics: Don’t touch it, lest you get burned. But this fails to recognize that the third rail is what fuels the train: who is elected determines our budgets, our priorities, and our authority. Being political means being very savvy in strategy on both sides of the aisle, knowing your audience, and recognizing that political capital is as scarce as financial resources and needs to be allocated accordingly. Bottom line So does public health need MAHA? That’s not really the right question. Public health has a responsibility not to dismiss 40% of the country who feel heard by this movement and are frustrated that the system has failed them. And it has a responsibility to stick to the evidence and recognize MAHA leadership for what it is: a danger to our nation’s health. Both can, and should, be done. Love, YLE and KP A big thanks to Craig Spencer, who had the courage to put his neck out there to start a much-needed discussion at such a critical moment—one that is determining the identity of an entire field. Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD is completing an emergency medicine residency and research fellowship focusing on health literacy and communication. In her free time, she writes the newsletters You Can Know Things debunking health myths and rumors and The Public Health Roundup. Views expressed belong to KP, not her employer. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
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