Second Opinion

As Congress debates cuts to Medicaid (the health insurance program for the poor and disabled) in order to deliver a tax cut to the wealthy, it risks a cascade of negative effects on our entire health care system.

USAID is a powerhouse of humanitarianism and global security

Statistics can be intimidating.  But before you decide to begin a treatment you should ask what the expected benefit will be to you.

It’s hard to tell, but we have no way to know for sure. 

AI is increasingly being used to collect and process clinical information. Whether this is a good thing depends on who you ask.

When one in three people have an abnormal lab test, does it become a disease?

By collecting health data across large populations of people, we can identify patterns that help us all.

Unfortunately, I can offer no strong advice.  The drugs seem to be effective, but, like with any new drug, we just don’t have all the answers.

Music has benefits that relate hope and social connections

Fluoride has proven so successful that it would be crazy to deprive children of its benefits

The risks are rising, and state and government officials are not taking this seriously.

Philanthropy has enabled several expensive private medical schools to offer all students free tuition. Has this changed the practice of medicine?

Why do drug companies push drugs to the public that just don’t work?

Medicine and spirituality often interact, but clinicians and patients can often find themselves in very different places.

Slouching has a rich history, but its medical consequences need to be better understood. 

Migration is at an all-time high worldwide. It can impact health in many ways. 

We often have to decide if a treatment we are taking is working and whether or not to continue it.

How can a country so rich in resources and farm production have people who still go to bed hungry?

A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality

Finding an effective treatment can be tricky, but it need not be a pill.

At present, the role of genetics testing in the diagnosis or treatment of depression is not ready for prime time. 

Dairy farmers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our milk.  But, they all need to make public health their top priority.

We are not helpless, and the situation is not hopeless.  We can’t wipe out mental illness, but we can enact reasonable gun control to protect the public.

For those Americans with end-stage kidney disease, insurance coverage is never an issue. Why can’t we provide this universal coverage for others with expensive chronic conditions?