Bias Against Female Physicians: Unseen Struggles in Medicine
Bias Against Female Physicians: Didi, a young internist in her 30s, entered medicine with a noble mission: to help people. However, after years of relentless dedication, she feels more like a glorified customer service representative than a respected physician. Despite her education, experience, and commitment, she faces subtle yet pervasive biases that diminish her contributions […]
FDA Prescription Failures: Impact on Women and Opioid Users
FDA Prescription Failures: For decades, outdated FDA regulations have created unnecessary obstacles for women seeking birth control and individuals needing life-saving opioid antidotes. Despite overwhelming support from medical experts, these policies have left millions vulnerable to preventable harm. While recent policy shifts offer some progress, many gaps remain. Birth Control: Overdue Reforms Still Inadequate Oral […]
How Generative AI is Transforming Cardiovascular Patient Education
The Growing Role of AI in Health Care Transforming Cardiovascular Patient Education: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a game-changer in health care, making headlines for its ability to solve diagnostic challenges and even outperform physicians in specific tasks. While AI-driven diagnoses and treatment recommendations are still in development, generative AI is already reshaping patient education—particularly […]
How Natural Disasters Reveal Resilience and the Power of Community
Natural Disasters Reveal Resilience: Watching the images of fires burning in and around Los Angeles is deeply triggering. Many Western North Carolinians likely feel the same way. It has not been long since Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding, devastating our communities. And for us, the ordeal is far from over. At first, you feel energized […]
Urgent Reforms Needed: Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Youth Mental Health in 2025
Opioid Crisis: At the start of 2024, the nation was still grappling with three public health emergencies that had significant behavioral health implications: COVID-19, Mpox, and the opioid crisis. Simultaneously, three major national associations continued to emphasize a “youth mental health crisis” initially declared in 2021. As we step into 2025, emergency declarations for Mpox […]
California Seeks Mental Health Warning Labels on Social Media
In a bid to address the growing mental health crisis among adolescents, California lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require social media platforms to display a “black box” mental health warning label. The bill, Assembly Bill (AB) 56, aims to ensure that users, particularly young people, are aware of the potential risks of social media […]
Despite Strong Evidence, Hypofractionated Radiation Underused in the US
In recent years, hypofractionated radiation has become the preferred treatment for several cancer types, including early-stage breast, prostate, lung, and rectal cancers. This shift is based on mounting evidence that supports the efficacy and safety of regimens delivering higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions. Research shows that this approach is at least as effective […]
FDA Approves Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for GVHD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved remestemcel-L (Ryoncil, Mesoblast Ltd), a pioneering mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for treating steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) in children aged 2 months and older. This approval makes Ryoncil the first mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for GVHD to receive FDA authorization, marking a major milestone in […]
CMS Proposes Key Prior Authorization Reforms for Medicare Advantage Plans
Streamlining Processes for Better Care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed significant reforms to improve prior authorization processes within Medicare Advantage plans. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens, enhance patient access to care, and promote a more efficient healthcare system. The proposed rules outline several critical measures: Positive Impacts for […]
The Role of Social Credit Scores in the Enforcement of Health Care Regulations
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has a long history of leveraging “social scandal” in its press releases to publicize prosecutions of U.S. physicians. Recently, the DOJ has increasingly utilized social credit scores to pressure physicians accused of malfeasance in health care services, raising concerns about their impact on health care regulations. While advancements […]