Category Archives: Health

The Unfolding Catastrophe Emanating From DC and Its Implications for Everyone’s Health – Tuesday at 2:30 PM in the MBR

Paul Pottinger, MD, DTMH, FACP, FIDSA, is a board certified physician and Director of the Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Clinic at UW Medical Center – Montlake and a Professor in UW School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Division of … Continue reading

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Silencing the CDC

A recent study by the CDC showed how to prevent the most common cause of hospitalizations in babies. Why haven’t we heard about it? Paul Offit (thanks to Ed. M) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of … Continue reading

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Is There a Least Bad Alcohol?

We all know about the health risks of drinking. But if you’re going to partake, it’s natural to want to minimize the damage. By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi in the NYT Q: I’ve been trying to cut back on alcohol lately, but … Continue reading

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Medicaid cuts proposed for 8.6 million people. Impact will differ across states.

From The Epidemiologist A recent study found that, since 2010, Medicaid expansion has reduced the mortality of the low-income adult population by 2.5%. In other words, Medicaid expansion saved more than 27,000 lives. Deaths fell not only among older enrollees (who are … Continue reading

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Josh Hawley: Don’t Cut Medicaid

By Josh Hawley In the NYT. Mr. Hawley is a Republican senator from Missouri. Polls show Democrats down in the dumps at their lowest approval level in decades, but we Republicans are having an identity crisis of our own, and you can see … Continue reading

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Design lab invents first-of-its-kind 3D-printed wheelchair for kids — and will give them away for free

from Good Good Good – thanks to Pam P. The average pediatric wheelchair can cost thousands of dollars. And when children grow and their needs evolve — or a wheelchair gets damaged — those costs multiply. So, the team at MakeGood … Continue reading

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The rise of a new form of germ theory denial

Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD There is a growing, concerning movement undermining one of the most well established scientific theories there is: germ theory, the idea that germs—like viruses and bacteria—cause disease. But it’s subtle. Outright denial of germ theory is … Continue reading

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Plans for bond funded growth at Harborview

From Frank C.: At yesterday’s meeting of the First Hill Improvement Association’s Urban Design& Public Space committee, we received a brief update on the Harborview Hospital renovation project. Without getting into much detail, I think it is fair to say … Continue reading

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A Popemobile Will Ride Again, This Time Into Gaza

In his last months, Pope Francis blessed an effort to transform the vehicle he used when he visited the West Bank in 2014 into a mobile health clinic to treat Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. By Adam Rasgon in the … Continue reading

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Want to stop the ‘tush push’? Take a look at this 464-pound 2025 NFL Draft prospect

By Vic Tafur in the NYT Ed note: Is 500 pounds next? What’s the “logical” extreme as football seems to be creating an atmosphere promoting its own demise–and that of the players. What are your thoughts? Some teams wanted to get … Continue reading

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The Ugly Historical Echoes of Kennedy’s Comments on Autism

By Jessica Grose Opinion Writer in the NYT (thanks to Ed M) Last week Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held his first news briefing as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to address a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and … Continue reading

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How to Be a Happy 85-Year-Old (Like Me)

By Roger Rosenblatt in the NYT Illustrations by Janik Söllner In 2000, I published a book called “Rules for Aging,” a sort of how-to guide for navigating the later years of one’s life. I was 60 at the time and thought that … Continue reading

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King K. Holmes, 87, Dies; Researcher Destigmatized Study of S.T.I.s

He took a down-to-earth approach to sexually transmitted infections, a subject no one wanted to discuss, arriving at novel methods of treatment and prevention. By Michael S. Rosenwald – in the NYT (thanks to many residents who forwarded this article) King … Continue reading

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View Historic City Council Meeting – Unanimous Approval of Skyline’s Skybridge!

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Skybridge approval on City Council Agenda Tuesday April 8th

Ed note: The approval of Skyline’s skybridge is finally up for vote by the City Council this coming Tuesday–after making it through multiple sub-committees. It expected to pass (hopefully). If interested you can tune in to watch the proceedings live … Continue reading

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The Swede Behind the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

from the Swedish Press thanks to Bob P. Lund University alumnus Mikael Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer at Pfizer in the United States. Pfizer is, of course, the American pharmaceutical company that launched one of the first fully certified vaccines … Continue reading

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This Is Why My Texas Town Lost Trust in Public Health

By Carrie McKean in the NYT Ms. McKean is a writer based in Midland, Texas. Ed note: Smugness and demonizing those that disagree with us has wormed its way into our political discourse all too often. This article reminds us that … Continue reading

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Dr. King Holmes, UW global health chair and pioneer in STI study, dies

By Elise Takahama Seattle Times staff reporter The title of his first book tells you a lot about the work and wit of Dr. King Holmes: “How To Have Intercourse Without Getting Screwed.” “I wrote it for my kids,” Holmes said, … Continue reading

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NIH to ax grants on vaccine hesitancy, mRNA vaccines

Thanks to Ed M. A UW  colleague who has published multiple studies on immunization hesitancy received this notice from NIH today: [All your] federally funded vaccine research projects terminated today effective immediately. In the termination letter, the NIH says this: … Continue reading

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AI Without Borders: Transforming Global Health Care

Thanks to Ann M. NEJM AI PRESENTS Live Virtual Event AI Without Borders: Transforming Global Health Care April 9, 2025 / 12:00 – 1:15 PM ET REGISTER FOR EVENT  • Where AI fills care gaps and where hurdles like regulation, health literacy, and … Continue reading

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AI Robots May Hold Key to Nursing Japan’s Ageing Population

by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Medscape (thanks to Sandy J.) TOKYO (Reuters) – Recently in Tokyo an AI-driven robot leaned over a man lying on his back and gently put a hand on his knee and another on a shoulder and … Continue reading

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How Red Wine Lost Its Health Halo

Ed note: Unfortunately, facts can be unpleasant. Alcohol, even red wine, can be a contributor to A-fib and cancer,the hype from the industry not withstanding. The secret is likely moderation along with “Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet and Dr. Merryman.” For … Continue reading

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Heads up: Medicare will stop covering telehealth in April.

From Your Local Epidemiologist If you’re on Medicare and have leveraged convenient telehealth appointments, that’s about to end. Medicare originally expanded its coverage of at-home telehealth services during the Covid-19 emergency, which was an important move to protect seniors and … Continue reading

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Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

From Foundation Fighting Blindness – Thanks to Ann M. Join A Virtual Quarterly Vision Webinar on Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) February 27th | 7:00 p.m. ET   (4 PM PT) Dear Friends,   Discover the latest information on AMD with … Continue reading

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Understanding RFK Jr.

Ed note: Since the time of Pasteur, Lister, Koch and Semmelweis we’ve all (but for a few) accepted the germ theory of disease. One of those few who does not accept established science is RFK Jr. Yet, he’s about to … Continue reading

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