Talking simply, not simplistically, about health
As a journalist, improv comedian, and physician, James strives to communicate simply with the public about complex health issues, without being simplistic. In his 2017 TEDMED Talk, James …
Latest Posts
What is a fair price for a lifesaving cure?
Value-based drug pricing helps us to understand the maximum amount of money we’re willing to pay for treatments that could benefit patients and save lives. The idea is …
The shocking danger of mountaintop removal – and why it must end
“What is the ethical obligation of the scientist who believes populations are in danger?” That was the question that professor Michael Hendryx asked himself when he began to …
Why partnership is at the core of effective healthcare
Upon being diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, attorney Meg Gaines made the decision to undergo a risky new surgery that ultimately saved her life. Afterward, Meg felt compelled …
Hey Doc, how’s my immune system doing?
Shai Shen-Orr is a systems biologist and data scientist who directs the laboratory of Systems Immunology and Precision Medicine at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Check out Shai’s …
The harm reduction model of drug addiction treatment
“We know that if recovery is ever going to happen, we have to keep people alive”. When it comes to combatting drug use, Mark Tyndall believes sanctions aren’t …
How a male contraceptive pill could work
Of the 6 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year, 3 million are unintended. And while we have over a dozen methods of contraceptives for women—from pills and …
Mapping the emotional topography of a community
According to visual artist and entrepreneur Jennifer Chenoweth, “A city isn’t just land, streets, and buildings, but places overlaid with the diverse history of many people.” In one …
How organoids helped unravel the mystery of the Zika virus
Organoids are tiny collections of cells that grow into mini organs in the lab, closely mimicking the development and reactions of actual human organs. Guo-li Ming, the Perelman …
What happens when the immune system goes rogue?
When the immune functions well, it activates a variety of processes to protect us against deadly threats, such as invading microbes and cellular disease. But what happens when …