Sacramento Bee, 01/27/20

--Gavin Newsom wants to lower prescription drug prices. Will his plan work?

Michelle Mello, professor of law and of medicine, is quoted in this article on the benefits of the state of California manufacturing its own drugs.

Patient Engagement HIT, 01/09/20

--5 principles to build positive patient-provider relationships

Stanford researchers say they have identified five practices that doctors can implement to achieve more meaningful interactions with patients. Lead author Donna Zulman, assistant professor of medicine, and senior author Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, are quoted in this article.

Stanford Medicine press release, 01/07/20

--Stanford researchers recommend 5 practices to improve doctor-patient relationships

Stanford researchers say they have identified five practices that doctors can implement to achieve more meaningful interactions with patients. Donna Zulman, assistant professor of medicine, is lead author of the paper, and Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, is senior author of the paper.

New York Times, 01/02/20

--Why are you publicly sharing your child’s DNA information?

There is a growing interest in genotyping children. This opinion piece discusses how parents are exposing their personal health data by uploading their children’s genetic information on public websites. Louanne Hudgins, professor of pediatrics, provides comment.

Medscape, 01/02/20

--Bringing humanity back is the 'greatest gift AI can give'

In this episode of Medicine and the Machine podcast, Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, and Eric Topol discuss the loss of humanity in medicine, and how AI offers an exciting opportunity to bring time and presence back to patient care.

The Future of Everything, 02/28/20

--Shaili Jain: Treatments for PTSD are more effective than ever

In this radio show produced by the School of Engineering, Shaili Jain, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discussed how a revealing father-daughter conversation led to a career dedicated to studying and treating severe trauma and stress-related disorders. Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics, of medicine and of biomedical data science, is host.

Stanford Scope Blog, 02/28/20

--Improving cancer prognoses: A radio show

This post highlights a recent segment of “The Future of Everything,” which featured Ash Alizadeh, associate professor of medicine oncology. He discussed how to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, including using predictive modeling, liquid biopsies and immunotherapy with host Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics, of medicine and of biomedical data science.

STAT News, 02/20/20

--Aided by machine learning, scientists find a novel antibiotic able to kill superbugs in mice

This piece discusses antibiotic resistance and how researchers are using artificial intelligence to expand their search into databases of molecules that look nothing like existing drugs. Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, provides comment.

The Future of Everything, 02/19/20

--Bonnie Maldonado: The science is clear. Vaccinations save lives

In this podcast produced by the School of Engineering, Yvonne Maldonado, professor of pediatrics-infectious diseases and medical director of Infection Control at Stanford Children’s Hospital, discussed how vaccinations are more powerful than ever, but better communication by the medical community is needed to combat misinformation. Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics, of medicine and of biomedical data science, is host.

Jezebel.com, 02/19/2020

-- The Spooky, Loosely Regulated World of Online Therapy

"Therapy-on-demand" app have launched over the last few years, offering access to mental health services, with missions to "destigmatize mental health" but in order to target potential clients these apps collect a wide array of personal data. Nicole Martinez-Martin, assistant professor of pediatrics, provides comment on the implications of the availability of this data to third-parties.

Colorado Public Radio News, 02/19/20

--VA embraces artificial intelligence to improve veterans’ health care

This article discusses the use of artificial intelligence at the VA, which could be could be especially useful in rural veterans clinics. Mildred Cho, professor of pediatrics and of medicine and associate director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment. 

New Hampshire Union Leader, 02/17/20

--Surprise surgery bills happen even when patients plan ahead

One in five patients who get elective surgery at U.S. hospitals that accept their insurance may still get surprise medical bills, especially if they receive anesthesia. Michelle Mello, professor of law and of medicine, is quoted in this article.

Vox, 02/12/20

--Our phones can now detect health problems from Parkinson’s to depression. Is that a good thing?

Digital phenotyping, which can detect patterns from text messages, movements, and even our speech, could transform health care. But is our personal information at stake? Nicole Martinez-Martin, assistant professor of pediatrics, is quoted in this article.

New York Times, 02/11/20

--Surprise surgery bills happen even when patients plan ahead

One in five patients who get elective surgery at U.S. hospitals that accept their insurance may still get surprise medical bills, especially if they receive anesthesia. Michelle Mello, professor of law and of medicine, who was not involved with the research, is quoted in this article.

Stanford Scope Blog, 02/07/20

--“Poor air quality affects everybody” — How to protect yourself and clean the air

In a recent segment of “The Future of Everything,” Sharon Chinthrajah, clinical associate professor of pediatrics and of medicine and director of the clinical translational research unit at the center, discussed how we can combat the negative health impacts of air pollution in California and worldwide. Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics, of medicine and of biomedical data science, is host.

NPR, 03/31/20 

--Are Hospitals Seeing A Surge Of Coronavirus Patients? Some Officials Aren't Saying

With tests scarce, epidemiologists are looking at hospitalizations as an indicator of how the novel coronavirus is spreading. But in some of the areas of the country worst-hit by COVID-19, states and counties aren't releasing that data. Steven Goodman provides comment.

The U.S. Sun, 03/31/20

--DOUBLE TROUBLE Flu symptoms could be masking signs of coronavirus, docs warn

FLU symptoms could be masking signs of coronavirus, doctors have warned. Research suggests that around one in five people with Covid-19 may also be infected with other respiratory viruses. Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, provides comment.

Vox, 03/31/20

--The grim ethical dilemma of rationing medical care, explained

How hospitals decide which Covid-19 patients to prioritize when resources are scarce. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and professor of pediatrics and of medicine, provides comment.

Palo Alto Daily Post, 03/30/20

--County’s new tool to monitor COVID-19 spread is missing key information

Santa Clara County’s Public Health Department on Friday launched a new way people can see data about COVID-19, however, the new site is missing information on how many people with the virus are hospitalized. Stanford Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine Steven Goodman provides comment.

Raw Story, 03/30/20

--Heading HereFrom China to Trump — the bungling of the coronavirus testing crisis started at the beginning: report

From the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis, things were bungled. In an extensive fact-check, the Washington Post walked through the timeline from the early days of the Chinese outbreak to President Donald Trump’s efforts in the United States today. Michelle Mello, professor of law and of medicine, provides comment.

The Takeaway, 03/30/20

--What Constitutes an Elective Procedure?

The Takeaway spoke to Dr. Alyssa Burgart, a bioethicist at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, about the debate over whether or not to cancel elective procedures, what it means for hospitals to stop them, and how we even define these types of procedures.

KQED, 3/30/20

--The Medical Ethics of the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the coronavirus crisis continues to strain medical systems, hospital ethics committees face difficult choices of how to allocate limited medical resources like testing kits, ventilators and staff. We'll hear from experts on the medical ethics questions being considered during this pandemic. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and professor of pediatrics and of medicine, provides comment.

Sports Illustrated, 03/30/20

--Is It Wrong for Baseball Players to Get Tommy John Surgery?

Pro athletes are already under fire for preferential treatment during the coronavirus crisis—and medical ethicists say this is another example. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and professor of pediatrics and of medicine, provides comment.

Stanford Medicine News, 03/29/20

--COVID-19 patients often infected with other respiratory viruses, preliminary study reports

About 1 in 5 people with COVID-19 are also infected with other respiratory viruses, according to a preliminary analysis led by Ian Brown, clinical associate professor of emergency medicine. Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, is also quoted in this story.

San Francisco Chronicle, 03/28/20

--Coronavirus slowing in Bay Area? Experts track data to see whether shelter in place is working

By day’s end Monday, most of the Bay Area will have been holed up in their homes for two weeks — long enough, experts say, to see whether the unprecedented efforts to keep people apart are beginning to halt, or at least slow down, the coronavirus. Steve Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, associate dean of clinical and translational research, and co-director of the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, provides comment.

Medscape, 03/27/20

--Stanford Hospitalist: 'What I Wish I'd Known 2 Weeks Ago'

Even with warning, the surge of COVID-19 patients came faster than expected, and hospitalists may need to be ready for 70% loss of staff availability, says Stanford's chief of hospital medicine. Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, speaks with Neera Ahuja, who heads the hospital medicine division at Stanford University.

KQED, 03/25/20

--What Happens When the Ventilators Run Out?

Ethics committees at Bay Area hospitals are discussing how they will ration care if medical resources become scarce. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and professor of pediatrics and of medicine, provides comment.

Just Security, 03/18/20

--Moral Courage in the Coronavirus: A Guide for Medical Providers and Institutions

If you are a leader at a healthcare institution, what can you do to facilitate moral agency and moral courage by healthcare providers? Bioethicists Alyssa Burgart and Holly Tabor tackle the question head on.

KPIX, 03/25/20

--Stanford Health Expert: Hospitalization Figures, Not Positive Cases, Best Indicator Of COVID-19

Santa Clara County may have seen its largest single-day increase in positive COVID-19 cases, but one Bay Area doctor said Wednesday the number that gives a better sense of what is happening with the pandemic are the hospitalizations. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, provides comment.

KQED, 03/25/20

--What Happens When the Ventilators Run Out?

Ethics Committees at Bay Area hospitals are discussing how they will ration care if medical resources become scarce. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

Vermont Conversation, 03/11/20

--“This is an impending catastrophe:” Stanford epidemiologist Steve Goodman on the coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic is sweeping across the globe and has arrived in Vermont. Stanford epidemiologist Steve Goodman discusses the uniquely dangerous dimensions of this new pandemic, the botched federal response, the impact of the Trump Administration’s misinformation, and why he calls COVID-19 “a tsunami.”

Washington Post, 03/16/20

--How U.S. coronavirus testing stalled: Flawed tests, red tape and resistance to using the millions of tests produced by the WHO

This article looks at some of factors attributed to early coronavirus testing delays. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, provides comment.

USA Today, 03/06/20

--Keeping coronavirus patients anonymous is crucial to battling the outbreak

This piece by Alyssa Burgart, clinical assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, speaks about the importance of cancelling elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stanford Scope Blog, 03/12/20

--Even if you are virus-free, COVID-19 is affecting your health. Here’s what to do

Are your healthy habits succumbing to coronavirus? In this post, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, offers some tips to stay safe and protect your well-being amid the outbreak.

The Hill, 3/11/20

--Response to coronavirus could test limits of government powers

Coronavirus lockdowns abroad are raising questions about the upper limits of government power as health officials in the U.S. and around the world scramble to slow the spread of infection. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, is quoted.

USA Today, 03/06/20

--Keeping coronavirus patients anonymous is crucial to battling the outbreak

In this California epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, officials say they are trying to be as transparent as possible. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

Newsweek, 03/06/20

--U.S. coronavirus outbreak puts those without paid suck leave in 'near-impossible situation,' experts warn

A spike in the number of cases of the new coronavirus in the U.S. has reignited the debate around paid sick leave. Medical experts warn the current situation could exacerbate the spread of COVID-19 by dissuading people to take time off work. Professor of pediatrics and of medicine; and Michelle Mello, professor of law and of medicine, provides comment. She also provides comment on media coverage surrounding coronavirus on KCBS Radio.

Elemental, 04/28/20

--‘We’re Nowhere Near Where We Need to Be’

Time to reopen? A conversation with Stanford epidemiologist Dr. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, and associate dean of clinical and translational research.

Forbes, 04/25/20

--CDC: Here are 6 new possible symptoms of COVID-19

The CDC has now added six more "Symptoms of Coronavirus" to bring the total to nine. So if you have any of the nine listed symptoms, you may have a COVID-19 coronavirus infection. Or you may not. Unless you do. A research letter published in JAMA revealed that 20.7% of specimens that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 also tested positive for one or more other pathogens as well. For the study, David Kim, MD, PhD, James Quinn, MD, MS, Benjamin Pinsky, MD, PhD, Nigam H. Shah, MBBS, PhD, and Ian Brown, MD, MS, from the Stanford University School of Medicine reviewed result from 1217 specimens from 1206 patients who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens with 116 (9.5%) of these turning out to be positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Stanford Engineering, 04/27/20

--Catherine Blish: Immunology is on the trail of a killer

Catherine Blish, associate professor of medicine, recently joined Russ Altman for this special COVID-19 edition of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast, to talk about the unique character of the virus, a few surprises she and others have unearthed in their research, and how once-competitive scientists around the world have united to find treatments and a vaccine that are critical to ending the pandemic for good.

San Francisco Chronicle, 04/22/20 

--New guidelines for hospitals to make agonizing choices in coronavirus surge

In a worst-case scenario where California COVID-19 cases surge, hospitals will judge who gets a ventilator depending on a patient’s chances of survival, life expectancy and age, according to new state guidelines. David Magnus is quoted.

The Washington Post, 04/17/20

--The cruise ships in our backyard

It is tragic but not surprising that nursing homes should suffer such heavy losses from covid-19. When it comes to a contagious pathogen, nursing homes are like cruise ships, with large numbers of people confined to finite spaces and sharing common dining and recreation areas. Steven Lee Berk is dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Abraham Verghese is vice chair of the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine.

Stanford Engineering, 04/16/20

--Victor Carrion: How to beat stress in a pandemic

Victor Carrion, an expert on trauma, with host Russ Altman, unmasks the sometimes hidden hallmarks of stress and discusses techniques to recognize and lessen its effects at every age.

Bloomberg, 04/15/20

--MapLab: Lessons From the AIDS Epidemic

While HIV/AIDS is profoundly different than Covid-19, the respiratory virus that has hit two million confirmed cases around the world, Abraham Verghese, an infectious disease specialist, thinks there are parallels between that epidemic and how the U.S. is handling coronavirus — namely, a lack of national strategy, and a lack of simple preparations by the health-care system, as advanced as it is in certain ways.

The Hill, 04/16/20

--Fox's Tucker Carlson presses NJ governor on whether restrictions violate Bill of Rights

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday defended his decision to include churches and other houses of worship in his state's strict social distancing guidelines to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the face of questions from Tucker Carlson of Fox News. Michelle Mello, professor of medicine and of law, is mentioned here.

Stanford Scope Blog, 04/13/20

--Stanford medical students provide coronavirus answers to the homeless

To provide reassurance and reliable information about COVID-19, Stanford medical students Jake Mooney, Emmy Shearer, and Natasha Abadilla are appearing via Zoom in educational sessions for the homeless.

STAT, 04/10/20

--Covid-19 ‘immunity certificates’: practical and ethical conundrums

This piece written by, Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, touches on how most Americans who develop this disease will recover from it on their own after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Some experts see them as a resource for restarting the economy and want to make their status official with the papers to prove it.

Medscape, 04/10/20

--'We're Going to Make It Through This,' Stanford Dean Says

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Abraham Verghese speaks with Stanford dean Lloyd Minor. He says our 'most valuable resource is and always will be the people,'

The Hill, 04/09/20

--Poor state reporting hampers pandemic fight

“Short of a cure or vaccine, our most powerful weapon against the COVID-19 pandemic is the information,” write Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, and associate dean of clinical and translational research, and Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science in this opinion piece. “The right data can tell us the severity of the problems we face and whether social distancing is working.”

Stanford Daily, 04/08/20

--Stanford Medicine’s ‘Stuck@Home’ series closes the distance between medicine and art despite social distancing

This article highlights the Stuck@Home virtual music concert organized by Jacqueline Genovese, executive director of The Medicine and The Muse Program at Stanford. The event, emceed by Bryant Lin, clinical associate professor of primary care and population health, features musical performances by Stanford Medicine faculty, residents, fellows, staff, families and friends.

San Francisco Chronicle, 04/08/20

--SF finally shares crucial data on coronavirus hospitalizations, demographics

San Francisco released a torrent of demographic data and other details about the city’s coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday, after repeated requests from residents and health care leaders for more complete information about who is being hit hardest by the disease. Dr. Steven Goodman, a professor of epidemiology and population health, provides comment.

STAT, 04/08/20

--After 9/11, we gave up privacy for security. Will we make the same trade-off after Covid-19?

By tapping into people’s phones and medical records, researchers and public health authorities are hoping to more swiftly identify and isolate potentially infected patients and corral a pandemic that is outrunning them despite unprecedented restrictions on daily life. Michelle Mello, a health law professor, provides comment.

The Gene: An intimate history (PBS), 04/07/20

--Part 1: Dawn of the modern age of genetics

This Ken Burns documentary — based on the book by Siddhartha Mukherjee — looks at the historical biography of the human genome while also exploring the groundbreaking new treatments for genetic diseases. Paul Berg, the Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research, Emeritus, and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, are featured. Part two airs on Tuesday, April 14.

The Future of Everything, 04/08/20

--Nigam Shah: A researcher turns to data to fight the COVID-19 virus

In a segment on The Future of Everything with Russ Altman, Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, discussed how better information and modeling can help caregivers stay a step ahead of the new virus. Altman is the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics, of medicine and of biomedical data science.

Stanford Scope Blog, 04/07/20

--Fitness challenge, meal donations and more: Stanford Medicine during social distancing

Health care workers are supporting one another during the COVID-19 outbreak through yoga challenges, virtual happy hours and humor. Stanford-trained surgeon and scholar-in-residence Arghavan Salles; Viveta Lobo, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine; and Holly Tabor, associate professor of medicine; are mentioned in this post.

San Francisco Chronicle, 04/05/20

--Missing in Bay Area’s battle against coronavirus? Detailed, reliable data

In San Francisco public health officials have released little more than basic statistics on the spread of the coronavirus for months, despite calls for more information on how the pandemic is affecting local communities and hospitals. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, and associate dean of clinical and translational research, provides comment.

San Francisco Chronicle, 04/04/20

--Which coronavirus patients get ventilators, and how will California hospitals decide?

Coronavirus cases could surge in California — as they did in China, Italy and now New York. Hospitals overwhelmed with patients desperately sick with COVID-19 would have to choose who gets limited resources such as ICU beds or ventilators. David Magus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and professor of pediatrics and of medicine, is interviewed regarding the subject.

San Francisco Chronicle, 04/02/20

--Running in the age of coronavirus: Sidewalk etiquette hot topic in Bay Area

No gyms. No yoga studios. No Orangetheory. No spin classes. No rock walls. But there’s still this, which doesn’t require even Zoom video conferencing: a pair of running shoes and an expanse of open road or trail. Randall Stafford, professor of medicine, provides comment.

Time, 04/02/20

--You Probably Read About an Uninsured Teen Who Died of COVID-19. The Truth Is More Complicated

Michelle Mello, a professor of law and medicine, provides comment on the gap between what’s moral and what’s legal and why it matters.

Medscape, 04/02/20

--'Our Job Is to Save as Many People as Possible,' ICU Doc Says

Abraham Verghese speaks with Angela J. Rogers, MD, MPH, to tell us why this disease should bring such focus on the ICU. And what she has had to learn and do in order to scale up and be ready for what might come next.

Mercury News, 04/02/20

--Coronavirus: Restaurants’ donated meals for Bay Area hospitals keep cooks, others employed

It’s a win-win, with health-care workers, chefs, servers and farmers all benefitting. On the Peninsula, organic restaurant pioneer Jesse Ziff Cool said a light bulb went off when Stanford University bioethicist and associate professor Holly Tabor asked her if there was a way for Cool’s restaurants to rev up again and help with meals.

Stanford Daily, 04/01/20

--Professor and restaurateur team up to donate meals to Stanford Hospital staff

Meals of Gratitude, co-founded by Holly Tabor Ph.D. ’02 and local restaurateur Jesse Cool on March 17, is now serving 1,000 meals per week to Stanford Health Care workers. The organization has raised more than $60,000 in donations toward the effort.

Global News Canada, 05/28/2020

-- Did Polly see a murder? Parrot to provide evidence in Argentina trial

A brutal murder case in Argentina may hinge on the recall powers of one feather-brained witness: the victim's parrot. The parrot may be able to recall a key piece of evidence in the case after a police officer at the crime scene overheard it mimicking a cry for help. Laurel Braitman, Writer-in-Residence, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 05/28/2020

-- Busting myths about urinary tract infections | Understanding UTIs, Part 3

As with much health information, the internet can lead patients down a rabbit hole when it comes to UTIs. Here are seven common myths -- and the truth, or lack of evidence, behind them. Joanna Langner, graduate student of Community Health and Prevention Research, wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, Professor of Medicine.

STAT News, 05/27/2020

-- Experts decry FDA's halting of a high-profile COVID-19 study over approvals

FDA regulators halted a high-profile effort to study the spread of coronavirus in the Seattle area, called Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN). Outside experts said the abrupt move was unnecessary and that researchers should have been asked to re-apply. Hank Greely, Profess of Law and Director of the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences provides comment.

Palo Alto Daily Post, 05/25/2020

-- Rest home where 13 died from coronavirus passed all inspections

State inspections as recently as January give no clue why 13 patients, including former Stanford President Donald Kennedy, would die from the coronavirus at the Gordon Manor assisted living home in Redwood City. Dr. VJ Periyakoil, Associate Professor of Medicine, said that there are three reasons why outbreaks such as the one that’s hit Gordon Manor have been so devastating.

Stanford Scope, 5/21/20

-- How to prevent a urinary tract infection | Understanding UTIs, Part 2

The second installment in the Understanding UTIs series provides information about preventing urinary tract infections, including risk factors and how to avoid them. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, clinical assistant professor of medicine.

The Stanford Daily, 5/20/20

-- Writing Medicine workshop helps healthcare workers reflect on pandemic

Writing Medicine, a weekly workshop led by bestselling author and Director of Writing and Storytelling at Stanford’s Medicine and the Muse Program, gathers hundreds of healthcare individuals to explore creative writing and share their stories during the ongoing pandemic. Laurel Braitman, Writer in Residence, is featured.

The New York Times, 5/19/20

-- Opinion: How Will Cities Survive the Coronavirus?

They could take a long time to recover -- and may look very different when they do. Steven Goodman, Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 5/14/20

-- What is a urinary tract infection? | Understanding UTIs, Part 1

This is the first part in Understanding UTIs, an accessible series about urinary tract infections, including their symptoms, causes, medications and more. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, clinical assistant professor of medicine.

KCBS News, 05/13/20

--The Medical Ethics of Using Telemedicine

The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many doctors and their patients to rely on telemedicine to conduct office visits by a computer screen. Patients fear contracting the virus if they enter a doctor's office and prefer the safety of their home screen to entering an office. But what about the doctor/patient privacy that could be compromised? For more KCBS news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising spoke with David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.

Stanford Engineering, 05/11/20

--Megan Palmer: COVID-19’s scientific silver lining

On the Future of Everything podcast, Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics, Medicine, Biomedical Data Science and (by courtesy) Computer Science, and Megan Palmer, the executive director of Stanford's Bio Policy and Leadership Initiatives, discuss and offer insight on today’s COVID-19 crisis and hope that leaders in policy, science and security can unite to prevent the next pandemic.

The Los Angeles Times, 5/12/20

--Column: Amid race for COVID cure, medical files ‘are not as confidential as we think’

How will researchers recruit subjects for COVID-19 vaccine or cure tests? It seems fair to wonder how confidential our medical records are. Mildred Cho, Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Associate Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

The Wall Street Journal, 5/11/20

--One Idea for Speeding a Coronavirus Vaccine: Deliberately Infecting People

It’s a controversial idea: Intentionally infect people with the virus that causes Covid-19 to test the effectiveness of a potential vaccine. The approach is called a human challenge trial, and it’s not the usual way a vaccine is tested. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

The New York Times, 05/11/20

--Employers rush to adopt virus screening. The tools may not help much.

Symptom-checking apps and fever-screening cameras promise to keep sick workers at home and hinder the virus. But experts warn they can be inaccurate and violate privacy. Hank Greely, the Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor of Law, provides comment.

NBC News, 05/10/2020

--Why have 14,000 people volunteered to be infected with coronavirus?

They want to take part in a "human challenge trial," an ethically controversial vaccine test that infects people with a virus that doesn't yet have a cure. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

USA Today, 05/05/20

--To find a coronavirus vaccine, can we ethically infect people with a disease with no cure?

To have a vaccine by next summer will require both luck and cutting corners never cut before, putting once seemingly academic questions about vaccine testing suddenly front and center. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor in Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

Stanford Medicine, 05/04/20

--Heartened by employees’ COVID-19 test results, Stanford Health Care resumes almost all procedures

With extensive testing showing very low COVID-19 infection rates and with many safety measures in place, Stanford Health Care providers are now performing almost all medical procedures, including surgeries, diagnostic imaging and routine screenings. Norman Rizk, the Berthold and Belle N. Guggenhime Professor and chief medical officer for Stanford Health Care, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 05/04/20

--Palliative care training project helps improve, expand services in India

A Stanford-led palliative-care training program is helping critically and chronically ill patients in India get services they need. Karl Lorenz, professor of medicine; Jake Mickelsen, principal improvement consultant at Stanford Medicine; and Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine, are mentioned in this post.

Los Angeles Times, 05/01/20

--The pandemic has amplified ageism. ‘It’s open season for discrimination' against older adults

On the good days, Bonnie Reed believes that, for the first time in a long time, just about everyone is united in a common cause: to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens against the coronavirus. On the bad days, the Sherman Oaks senior is stunned by the carelessness she sees around her. David Magnus is quoted.

Medscape, Medicine and the Machine Podcast, 06/29/2020

-- Wearable Tech May Detect COVID-19 Infection Before Symptoms

COVID-19 poses challenges to healthcare workers, policymakers, and the general population unlike any scene since the influenza pandemic of the early 20^th century. Humanity is now more mobile than ever, for the first time ever more people live in cities than in rural locations, novel coronavirus is taking advantage of this. Despite the monumental challenges this pandemic poses, we now have tools that we've never had before. Dr. Abraham Verghese, Provostial Professor, vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine and director of Presence, and Dr. Eric J. Topol discuss wearable technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) that can predict disease in a way that is particularly meaningful during this COVID-19 epidemic.

Inverse.com, 06/28/2020

-- Covid-19: This simple act is the most patriotic thing you can do right now

This week, the United States surpassed its previous single-day record for new Covid-19 cases. These numbers are climbing as many states ease lockdown restrictions. As hospitals in the South and West become overwhelmed by the virus, governors are rethinking moving forward with reopening plans. How can anti-mask people be convinced that wearing a mask is the right thing to do? And if that’s not possible, how can they be compelled otherwise? Meghan Halley, research scholar, provides comment.  

Stanford Law School Blog, 06/26/2020

-- Stanford Law's Michelle Mello on California's COVID-19 Spike and the Measures to Bend the Curve

On Thursday, June 25, 2020, California saw its biggest spike in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in March, with more than 7,000 new cases confirmed. The increase in confirmed cases comes after citizens have endured months of shelter in place orders and the toll on the health and financial security of millions, steep. Why are cases spiking and what can be done to bend the curve of the pandemic in California? Here, Stanford Law Professor Michelle Mello answers these and related questions.

The Print, 06/25/2020

-- This biohacker is making a DIY Covid vaccine, and he is in a hurry

Zayner, who left mainstream science to proselytize the value DIY home experiments, believes the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine is the perfect opportunity for bio-hackers. Hank Greely, Professor of Law and by courtesy of Genetics, is quoted.   

Bloomberg Law, 06/25/2020

-- Push to Expand Doctors' Legal Immunity for Virus Draws Ire

Doctors reopening practices following the Covid-19 slowdown are facing pent-up demand for elective procedures that were largely halted by states when the pandemic took off. Doctors seek liability protections for care delayed by COVID-19, some leagal observers say it's not needed and is too expensive. Michelle Mello, Professor of Law and Medicine, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 06/25/2020

-- Antibiotic Resistance and other things you need to know about UTIs | Understanding UTIs, Part 7

This final post in the Understanding UTIs series addresses antibiotic resistance and provides a wrap-up of key points to remember. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, clinical assistant professor of medicine.

KQED Forum, 06/24/2020

-- Black Medical Workers Reflect on the Front Lines of Covid and Racism

Many Black medical workers are now finding themselves on the front lines of two epidemics -- Covid 19 and systemic racism. Forum's Michael Krasny speaks with Laurel Braitman, Writer-in-Residence and Director of Writing & Storytelling for the Medicine and the Muse, Iris Gibbs, Professor of Radiaition Oncology, Brandon Turner, resident at Harvard, Adjoa Boateng, anesthesiologist and critical care fellow, and Dasha Savage, a third year medical student.

Stanford Medicine News, 06/22/2020

-- With little to go on, Stanford Medicine's ICU task force forged ahead in COVID-19 fight

With no clear guidelines on how to treat its first coronavirus patients, the ICU used teamwork to find its way through. Dr. Norm Rizk, Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Medical Director of Stanford Health Care's ICU, provides comment.

University of British Columbia News, 06/18/2020

-- $1.5 million to develop a Canadian brain research strategy

A pan-Canadian team of researchers, led by Dr. Judy Illes, has received a $1.5 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to develop a strategy that will position the advancement of knowledge about the brain as a national research priority and support the creation of the Canadian Brain Research Strategy Network.

Stanford Scope Blog, 06/18/2020

-- Men can get urinary tract infections | Understanding UTIs, Part 6

This sixth post in the Understanding UTIs series clarifies that anyone — even men, children or pregnant women — can get a urinary tract infection. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, Professor of Medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine.

KAWL, 91.7 FM SF Public Radio, 06/17/2020

-- Your Legal Rights in a Time of Pandemic and Protest

A special crossover episode Of Your Legal Rights (YLR) And KALW’S popular Philosophy Talk. YLR host Jeff Hayden welcomes fellow attorney Dean Johnson, and from Philosophy Talk, Professors Josh Landy, Professor of Comparative Literature, and Debra Satz, Dean of the School of Humanities & Sciences and Professor of Ethics in Society discuss the simultaneous pandemic, massive social unrest, and how we all find ourselves entangled in moral dilemmas and the ethical and legal problems that now confront us.

Stanford Scope Blog, 06/11/2020

-- Treatment options for urinary tract infections: Understanding UTIs, Part 5

The fifth post in the Understanding UTI series outlines the different types of medications for UTIs, including antibiotics and drugs for pain relief. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, clinical assistant professor of medicine.

Doximity Op-Med, 06/09/2020

-- The Creative Awakening Happening at Stanford Medicine

What would health care be like if we knew our colleagues’ creative talents? If we saw our team as people we can save lives with, and also make art with? That is what the community at The Medicine & The Muse Program within the Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford Medicine is seeking to address. Jacqueline Genovese, Executive Director of The Medicine &the Muse is interviewed.

Stanford News, 06/09/2020

-- Stanford awards inaugural Faculty Women's Forum Awards and virtual ceremony

The Faculty Women’s Forum, which acts to enable women faculty members to thrive at Stanford, presented its inaugural awards – for outstanding leadership and outstanding sponsorship – to two faculty members on Monday at a virtual ceremony. This year’s recipient of the Faculty Women’s Forum’s Outstanding Sponsor Award is Rebecca Aslakson, Associate Professor of Medicine and of Anesthesiology.

The New Republic, 06/08/2020

-- The Pernicious Influence of Big Oil on America's Universities

Stanford's divestment debate shows how effective fossil fuel companies have been at colonizing academia. on May 28, when it came time for Stanford’s faculty senate to discuss divestment, faculty hesitated. Robert Proctor, Professor of History and by courtesy, Medicine, provides comment.

KRON4 News, 06/04/2020

--Local medical experts weigh in on large proteests amid COVID-19 pandemic

As protests sparked by George Floyd continue to wage on in the Bay Area and across the country, local medical experts are coming together to discuss how the mass gatherings are impacting COVID-19 as well as a range of issues. Abraham Verghese, Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair for the Theory and Practice of Medicine, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 06/04/2020

--Visting the doctor for a UTI? Here's what you need to know | Understanding UTIs, Part 4

If you think you might have a urinary tract infection (UTI), it's important get a check up from your health care provider. Here's what you need to know before the visit. This piece is written by Joanna Langner, a graduate student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford. She wrote this series with the support of Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, and Kim Chiang, clinical assistant professor of medicine.

Sports Illustrated, 06/02/2020

--To Test or Not to Test: The Question That Could Determine the College Football Season

As student-athletes return to campus in anticipation of a fall season, not everyone is handling testing the same—and even doctors are in disagreement. Steven Goodman, Professor of Epidemiology, provides comment.

Genetic Literacy Project, 06/01/2020

--'Trial by fire': How COVID-19 is changing the biotech industry's relationship with artificial intelligence

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect people across the world, a technological application already familiar to many in the biotech field is lending a key supporting role in the fight to treat and stop it: artificial intelligence (AI). Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics and Medicine, Russ Altman, who is also Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, provides comment.

July

NPR, TED Radio Hour, 07/31/2020

-- Laurel Braitman: From Healthcare Workers to the Rest of Us - How Can We Better Cope?

Healthcare jobs are already stressful. Add a pandemic... and ongoing police brutality? And it's a lot. Hear from physicians of color and TED Fellow and director of writing and storytelling at Medicine & Muse, Laurel Braitman, about taking care of ourselves.  

San Francisco Chronicle, 07/30/2020

-- U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 150,000, but fatality rates vary by region. What does it mean for California?

More than 150,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, a somber benchmark that stands alone in defining the toll of this pandemic on the United States. But one critical question about the toll remains: Just how deadly is the coronavirus? Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

Stanford LIVE, 07/28/2020

-- Stanford Medicine Stuck@Home Concerts: Emotional PPE for Unprecedented Times

The Medicine & the Muse executive director, Jacqueline Genovese writes about the Sctck@Home concert series, its origins and th epower of music to connect, heal, and provide resilience durin the Cvovid-19 pandemic.

Medscape, 07/27/2020

-- Shield Physicians for Postponed Procedures, AMA Says; More

Should Doctors Be Free From Malpractice Lawsuits Stemming From Delayed Treatments as a Result of COVID? The return to some semblance of normality should be welcome news, but the American Medical Association (AMA) is eager to protect physicians who are picking up where they left off, according to Bloomberg Law. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, provides comment.

San Francisco Chronicle, 07/27/2020

-- California vs. New York: One state's pandemic has been deadlier, but the numbers are more complex than case counts

Their journeys began at about the same time, but California and New York immediately diverged down two very different paths during the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

BioWorld, 07/24/2020

-- Tsunami of change to challenge PDUFA VII

Although PDUFA VI still has two years of life left to it, PDUFA VII is already in the birthing process, with the use of real-world data (RWD), AI, and a coming surge of novel cell and gene therapies looking to be prominent features of the next five-year user fee agreement. Russ Altman, professor of bioengineering, provides comment.  

The New York Times, 07/22/2020

-- Once Science Fiction, Gene Editing is Now a Looming Reality

The prospect of erasing some disabilities and perceived deficiencies hovers at the margins of what people consider ethically acceptable. Research Scholar, Meghan Halley, provides comment.

Vox, 07/22/2020

-- End-of-life planning during the coronavirus pandemic, in 8 steps

Surely you’ve heard it’s a good idea to have a will, just in case anything should happen. Yet we tend to put off completing the paperwork; the documents are confusing and it can be distressing to think about our own mortality. The coronavirus has reminded us that mortality is unpredictable and that it’s a good time to get our medical and financial matters in order. VJ Periyakoil, associate professor of medicine, discusses steps patients can take to communicate their wishes to family and doctors.

Sports Illustrated, 07/21/2020

-- College Football's Stringent Contact Tracing Protocol is 'Massive Challenge' to Season

Dr. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment on the Power 5 conference's in-season COVID-19 management plan. The plan is drawing concerns from both college athletic leaders and physicians alike.

Medium's Elemental, 07/20/2020

--  ‘This Is Not a Public Health Crisis — It’s a Political Crisis’

Dr. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, discusses COVID-19, school closures and where to find hope in the middle of this crisis with his brother David Goodman, author and journalist.

Medscape's Medicine and the Machine Podcast, 07/17/2020

-- Fauci to Medscape: 'We're All In It Together and We're Gonna Get Through It'

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Fauci joins Abraham Verghese, Provostial Professor, vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine and director of Presence, and Dr. Eric J. Topol discuss COVID-19, the things we've learned about the disease since January 2020 and what's coming in the fight against it.

Recording of AJOB Black Bioethics Webinar now available, 07/17/2020

-- Black Bioethics: Racism, Police Brutality, and What it Means for Black Health

AJOB’s first-ever webinar on Black Bioethics, hosted by associate editor Kayhan Parsi, JD, Ph.D., featuring panelists Keisha Ray, Ph.D., Brian Williams, MD, Ruqaiijah Yearby, JD, MPH, and Patrick Smith, Ph.D., as they discuss racism, police brutality, and what it means for black health.

The Stanford Daily, 07/14/2020

-- Stanford's Music Will Go On: Recapping Spring Musical Innovations

This spring saw countless Stanford students, musicians, recording engineers and music faculty historically dependent on on-campus facilities think on their feet to keep their music-making afloat. Including the Medicine and the Muse weekly Stuck@Home concert! Jacqueline Genovese, the executive director of the Medicine and the Muse comments on the impact that music can have, even amid the physical limitations posed by quarantine.

Ologies with Alie Ward Podcast, 07/08/2020

-- Agnotology (Ignorance) with Dr. Robert Proctor

Yes, there is an -ology for that. Dr. Robert Proctor, professor of the History of Science and co-edited the book “Agnotology: The Making & Unmaking of Ignorance,” having coined the word 30 years ago. Alie and Dr. Proctor chat about everything from the true evils of tobacco marketing, to the sugar lobby, to racial injustice, horse vision, the psychology of the Flat Earther movement, which countries have the highest rates of climate denial, empathy, how to navigate difficult conversations and why it's critical to dismantle the systems of willful ignorance, starting locally.

Forbes, 07/07/2020

-- What A Stanford Researcher's Fight Against COVID-19 Can Tell Us About the Future of Drug Discovery

As Covid-19 continues to spread around the world, a great emphasis has been put on preventing and treating the disease. Could one of the over 7,800 human drugs already approved by the FDA could treat Covid-19? The current global health situation places a spotlight on a significant trend in artificial intelligence—AI drug discovery, which might be helpful in the fight against Covid-19. Professor of bioengineering and Director of the Institute of Human-Centered AI, Russ Altman, is interviewed about his lab's approach to using AI to take a "shot-on-goal" in the global fight against Covid-19.

Stanford Scope Blog, 07/06/2020

-- Black medical workers write, reflect on racism

This post highlights a recent segment on KQED’s Forum that featured health care works discussing the new awareness of racism and how writing helps them process their emotions. Laurel Braitman, Stanford Medicine writer-in-residence, and other are quoted.  You can listen to the original Forum episode here.

Politico, 07/01/2020

-- How California went from model student to pandemic problem child

California was long the nation's shining star on the coronavirus, heralded by national media and White House advisers as an example of how other states could beat the disease. The state was so confident in April that it sent hundreds of ventilators to the East Coast. Now, the Democratic state joins Republican-dominated Florida, Texas and Arizona as America's problem children, with new cases skyrocketing and leaders seemingly caught flat-footed as the spread grows beyond their control. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.  

Stanford Innovation Lab, Entreprensureship & Ethics Podcast, 07/01/2020

-- The Ethics of Emerging Technologies

In the third episode of his “Entrepreneurship and Ethics” miniseries, Stanford professor Tom Byers speaks with fellow professors John Mitchell, chair of Stanford’s Computer Science department, and Mildred Cho, associate director of Stanford’s Center for Biomedical Ethics. Mitchell and Cho discuss emerging ethical questions posed by advances in computer science and biomedical research, and explore how efforts in their respective fields can inform ethics training for entrepreneurs and innovators of all stripes.

August

The Stanford Daily, 08/31/2020

--Stanford Medicine affiliates talk dealing with racism from patients

In the midst of a mass movement against racial injustice, affiliates of Stanford Medicine are speaking out about how they respond to discrimination and maltreatment from patients and visitors. Ann Weinacker, professor of medicine, provides comment.

The Mercury News, 08/26/2020

-- “Entirely bizarre”: Santa Clara County health director blasts new CDC coronavirus guidelines

Santa Clara County health leaders on Wednesday blasted recent changes to the CDC’s coronavirus guidelines that relaxed testing recommendations for asymptomatic individuals in a press conference. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

The Wall Street Journal, 08/25/2020

-- Science Behind Convalescent Plasma for Covid-19 Is Clouded by Politics in FDA Authorization

Plasma transfusions, at higher antibody concentrations, appeared to offer a survival advantage for some patients - and FDA decision will make access easier. What’s been missing is an open discussion about the pros and cons of this emergency authorization and its consequences. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin professor of medicine and biomedical ethics, provides comment.

Scientific American, 08/21/2020

-- The Surprising Advantages of Virtual Conferences

Among other things, they're easier on the environment and more inclusive than in-person meetings. Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong professor of bioengineering, provides comment based on experience with the COVID-19 and AI Virtual Conference.  

Ever Widening Circles, 08/16/2020

-- The Inpiring Craft That's Saving Doctors' Lives!

What if there was a pill you could take that would cut the amount of distress you’re feeling in half? Would you want it? This inspiring thought leader delivers a prescription that will help each of us live brighter, more fulfilling lives: storytelling. Laurel Braitman and her work as the Writer-in-Residence are examined.

Bloomberg Law, 08/14/2020

-- A Fake Shot May Be Your TIcket to the Front of the Vaccine Line

Thousands of Americans who volunteer for Covid-19 vaccine trials only to get a placebo should jump toward the front of the line when a shot is available, bioethicists, including David Magnus, provide comment.  

Technology Review, 08/13/2020

-- Machines can spot mental health issues --if you hand over your personal data

Digital diagnosis could transform psychiatry by mining your most intimate data for clues. But is the privacy cost worth it? Nicole Martinez-Martin, assistant professor of pediatrics, provides comment.

The Washington Post, 08/11/2020

-- 'Donny from Queens’: Trump’s call into a sports radio show reveals the politics behind his push to restart college football

The topic was whether to resume playing college football amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Fox Sports Radio program was in full swing. And President Trump called in live on the air Tuesday, offering some opinions. Epidemiologists, including Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, call for caution and comment on the president's dissemination of misinformation.  

WNYC Radio, The Takeaway, 08/11/2020

-- Public Health Officials are Increasingly Facing Threats

U.S. public health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have increasingly been facing threats by those who oppose the measures these experts put forth to combat the coronavirus. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, discusses with the Takeaway.

PR Newswire, 08/10/2020

-- Stanford Center for Health Education Launches Online Program in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare to Improve Patient Outcomes

The Stanford Center for Health Education launched an online program in AI and Healthcare this week (enroll here). The program aims to advance the delivery of patient care and improve global health outcomes through artificial intelligence and machine learning. SCBE Director, David Magnus, and Associate Director, Mildred Cho, are two of the instructors of the course.

The Mercury News, 08/07/2020

-- California's worst natural disaster: How coronavirus compares to other killers

Coronavirus’ rampage through California has now made it the worst natural disaster in the state’s history, outpacing decades of wildfires and earthquakes. As the surge continues, it is on pace to be the third leading cause of death in the state this year, a stunning potential milestone for a disease that was unknown nine months ago. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

CNBC, 08/04/2020

-- Who should get the Covid-19 vaccine first? It's way trickier than you might think

Global health groups have called for a fair and equitable process to determine how vaccines are allocated. Vaccinating nearly 8 billion people won’t happen overnight. Who should get the vaccine first? We asked bio-ethicists, including Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, weigh in.

The Mercury News, 08/03/2020

-- California's coronavirus cases are finally dropping. How do we stop another surge?

In the first good news in weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said coronavirus infections in the Golden State appear to have started a downward trend — but, as Californians have learned, it’s far too soon to celebrate. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

Washington Examiner, 08/03/2020

-- Disconnect between FDA and doctors prescribing hydroxychloroquine

A disconnect appears to have arisen between the Food and Drug Administration and a sizable number of physicians when it comes to prescribing hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. Randall Stafford, professor of medicine, provides comment.

San Francisco Chronicle, 08/02/2020

-- 'We're missing huge amounts of data': Why we still can't track the spread of COVID-19 across the Bay Area

As California struggles to squash a swelling outbreak that’s now resulted in more than half a million confirmed cases and 9,000 deaths, infectious disease and public health experts are growing increasingly concerned about how little they know about this pandemic. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology and medicine, provides comment.

Medicalxpress.com, 09/23/2020

-- The geographic bias in medical AI tools

Just a few decades ago, scientists didn't think much about diversity when studying new medications. To address these inequities, federal requirements for participation in medical research were broadened in the 1990s. But we are now at risk of repeating these same mistakes as we develop new technologies, such as AI. Russ Altman, professor of bioengineering provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 09/21/2020

-- Dying patients want honesty from their doctors, experts say

Though some may find it surprising, terminally ill patients often want and need to have honest conversations with their doctors about their illness, says Stanford palliative care physician Winnie Teuteberg, MD.

Stanford Engineering Magazine, 09/18/2020

-- Andrew Huberman: How stress affects the mind --and how to relieve it

The year has unleashed stresses few would have imagined just months ago, but the science of stress — and of stress relief — is keeping pace. A Stanford neurobiologist, Andrew Huberman, discusses with Russ Altman, professor of bioengineering, on the Future of Everything podcast.

The Wall Street Journal, 09/18/2020

-- Lancet Medical Journal Changes Peer-Review Process Amid Flurry of Covid-19 Research

New requirements aim to address gaps that led to retraction in June of study on hydroxychloroquine as new-coronavirus treatment. Changes are intended to reduce the risk of research misconduct. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, provides comment.

The Mercury News, 09/13/2020

-- Opinion: COVID-19 reveals grade school science education flaws

Diana Farid, clinical assistant professor, contends that if we want to create a culture ready to tackle the next pandemic, we must teach our children how our bodies function and fail from an early age.

Los Angeles Times, 09/10/2020

-- Op-Ed: Pseudo-expertise should not guide America's response to COVID-19

In the context of former Stanford chief of neuroradiology's questionable epidemiological advice regarding COVID-19, Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology, and Melissa Bondy, professor of epidemiology offer some expert advice: Don’t trust all experts, particularly those expounding in fields far afield from their area of expertise.

The Press Democrat, 09/06/2020

-- Critics question Sonoma County's secrecy over workplace outbreaks of COVID-19

Almost every night for the past six months, public health officials have released a new batch of data documenting the unrelenting spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Sonoma County. But the county conceals information about a main driver of the continued rise in cases: workplace outbreaks. Nicole Martinez-Martin, assistant professor of pediatrics, provides comment.  

The Wall Street Journal, 09/05/2020

-- COVID-19's Lasting Effects on Healthcare

Six experts, including Nicole Martinez-Martin, assistant professor of pediatrics, weigh in on how the pandemic will change hospitals, mental health, drug development and more.

Stanford Scope Blog, 09/04/2020

-- AI researchers explore solutions for real-life health challenges

This piece examines a project by Sanford researchers, including Karen Liu, associate professor of computer science, John Etchemendy, co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human Centered Artificial Intelligence, and VJ Periyakoil, associate professor of medicine and neurology. The project looks to address real world problems, like predicting falls and stabilizing balance which are common problems among the older population.

Wired.com, 09/03/2020

-- Human Embryo Gene Editing Gets a Road Map—Not a Green Light

On September 3, 2020, the International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing released a 225-page report, describing in great detail the types and quality of evidence that scientists must provide to show they’ve correctly edited an embryo, before they can attempt to try it out in humans. It is, in essence, a road map for how to safely and responsibly get to clinical trials. But importantly, say the report’s authors, it’s not an endorsement. Hank Greely, professor of law, provides comment.   

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 09/02/2020

--Social distancing is difficult in a crowded world

This op-ed discusses how population density, climate change are connected and their relationship to the spread of COVID. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology, provides comment.

The New York Times, 09/01/2020

--As Summer Comes to a Close, Sqeeze in One Last Beach Day

Like a sea gull divebombing a bucket of fries, Labor Day weekend has a way of taking you by surprise. Which means many Americans are scrambling to plan their last beach trip of the season, a fitting way to spend summer’s last hurrah. But is it safe amid the coronavirus pandemic? Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology, provides comment.

October

Stanford Engineering Magazine, 10/20/2020

-- Markus Covert: How to build a computer model of a cell  

On the new episode of the Future if Everything Podcast, Russ Altman, professor of bioengineering, talks with Marus Covert, professor of bioengineering and chemical systems and biology, about how Professor Covert set out to create a computer simulation of a single living cell and came to grips with the remarkable complexity that is life.

ABC News, 10/19/2020

-- California won't allow virus vaccines without state approval

California won't allow any distribution of coronavirus vaccines in the nation’s most populous state until it is reviewed by the state’s own panel of experts, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. David Magnus, professor of pediatrics and director of SCBE, provides comment.

Stanford Scope Blog, 10/19/2020

-- When a child’s quality of life outweighs the next test or procedure

Stanford Medicine social scientist Meghan Halley, PhD, has learned to embrace uncertainty when making medical decisions for her 5-year-old son, Philip, who has an undiagnosed genetic disorder with physical and medical complications that never end.

Science Translational Medicine, 10/19/2020

-- Courage in a climate of fear

In this editorial, Abraham Verghese, Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor, and Eric J. Topol, discuss the how essential it is for physicians and scientists to speak up to counter misinformation about COVID-19 amid a culture of fear.

Stanford Medicine News, 10/19/2020

-- Five professors elected to National Academy of Medicine

Five professors: Laurence Baker, Jeffrey Goldberg, Steven Goodman, Fei-Fei Li and Hannah Valantine are among the 90 regular members and 10 international members elected this year to the National Academy of Medicine. Congratulations!

STAT News, 10/17/2020

-- The two months in 1980 that shaped the future of biotech

Hank Greely, professor of law and director of the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences, writes about the two months 40 years ago where five events occurred that shaped the biotechnology industry and bioscience research. Looking back on these seminal events is a reminder of the odd ways in which change happens.

Rolling Stone, 10/12/2020

-- Trump's Willful Ignorance of Science is Killing Us

The president sees science as a servant that should further his political interests, rather than as a tool for saving lives amid the crises of the coronavirus and climate change. Robert Proctor, professor of history, provides comment.

The Mercury News, 10/11/2020

-- Should California invest $5.5 billion more into promising stem cell research?

Sixteen years ago, voters were promised that $3 billion of bonds for embryonic stem-cell research would deliver cures for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart disease. Instead, we’ve gotten cures or potential treatments for a very different and unexpected set of afflictions. Should Californians decide to continue support for this research? Hank Greely, professor of law and director of Stanford's Center for Law and the Biosciences, provides comment.

The Mercury News, 10/07/2020

-- Nobel Prize: UC Berkeley's Jennifer Doudna wins for pioneering gene editing tool

UC Berkeley’s Jennifer A. Doudna and French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for making one of the most monumental discoveries in biology: a cheap, fast, precise and powerful tool to “edit” DNA, known as CRISPR. Hank Greely, professor of law and director of Stanford's Center for Law and the Biosciences, provides comment.

The Stanford Daily, 10/06/2020

-- Lucy Kalanithi explains how late husband's transition from physician to writer transformed her outlook on life

During Tuesday evening’s 30th Annual Jonathan J. King Lecture, Lucy sat down with fellow clinical associate professor Stephanie Harman to discuss her husband’s book and how it drove her to become a storyteller with goals to innovate healthcare delivery.

STAT News, 10/06/2020

-- Blood pressure and cholesterol checks are 'falling through the cracks' of virtual primary care

Widely embraced as a medical lifeboat during the pandemic, telehealth is showing signs of taking on water. This article references research conducted by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine, and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University and University of Illinois at Chicago.

Stanford Engineering Magazine, 10/05/2020

-- Rafael Pelayo: How to get a good night's sleep

A sleep expert offers insight into why so many of us are not getting enough zzz’s, what the consequences are and, above all, how we can sleep better. Join us as Rafael Pelayo and host, Stanford professor of bioengineering, Russ Altman, as they talk sleep on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Analyticsinsight.net, 10/05/2020

-- How can Artificial Intelligence Contribute to a Coronavirus Vaccine?

Biomedical research of vaccines against COVID-19 was already being tested in humans in March. Three months after the initial outbreak was identified in China, many of those owed their rapid start to the power of Artificial intelligence (AI). Work of Russ Altman, professor of bioengineering, and Binbin Chen, medical student, is featured.

November

Stanford Scope Blog, 11/25/2020

-- Breaking down diabetes: A quick guide to the plethora of medications

Debate rages over the role of drugs in treating Type 2 diabetes. Randall Stafford, professor of medicine, re-vamps this blog post for current findings on the most effective medications for diabetes.

Stanford Scope Blog, 11/18/2020

-- Breaking down diabetes: Drugs for diabetes, starting with the best — metformin

A huge assortment of 100 medications are available to treat high blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes, including two historical breakthrough drugs, insulin and metformin. Randall Stafford, professor of medicine, updates this post to make some sense of all the options.

Wired, 11/10/2020

-- Why It's a Big Deal If the First Covid Vaccine is 'Genetic'

If approved by the FDA, Pfizer and BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine would be the first of its kind, setting a record for speed—but raising questions about distribution. Ariadne Nichol, social science research professional at SCBE, is quoted.

San Francisco Chronicle, 11/09/2020

-- Affordable Care Act challenge before Supreme Court could strip insurance from millions

As the Supreme Court hears a challenge Tuesday to the Affordable Care Act, the stakes are enormous: insurance coverage for more than 20 million Americans during a disastrous pandemic. Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, provides comment.

TechXplore.com, 11/06/2020

--When algorithmic fairness fixes fail: The case for keeping humans in the loop

Attempts to fix clinical prediction algorithms to make them fair also make them less accurate. As healthcare systems increasingly rely on predictive algorithms to make decisions about patient care, they are bumping up against issues of fairness. Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine, comments.

UBC Medicine News, 11/06/2020

-- The unique mental health and brain impacts of COVID-19

As COVID-19 infections spike around the globe, with no end in sight for months, questions are beginning to arise around the long-term effects of the pandemic on our mental health and brain health. Judy Illes, neuroethicist and professor of neurology at University of British Columbia, is interviewed about research she and her UBC team conducted on COVID-19, the brain, and mental health.

KCBS News Radio, 11/02/2020

-- President Trump threatens to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci - Is this ethical?

The medical issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic have become very politicized... And now President Trump is suggesting he may fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, after the election. For more on the medical ethics of all of this, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising spoke with David Magnus, Director at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.

December

NPR, 12/23/2020

-- California May Need More Drastic Steps During COVID-19 Surge

Parts of California have reached 0% capacity in ICUs, and hospitals are considering when to invoke crisis standards of care. That could lead to some patients being prioritized over others. Alyssa Burgart, clinical associate professor of anesthesiology, provides comment. 

The Wall Street Journal, 12/11/2020

--FDA Panel Endorses Covid-19 Vaccine

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended approving the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, clearing the way for the agency to grant emergency authorization for the shot as early as Friday. Steven Goodman, associate dean for clinical and translational research and professor of epidemiology, who provided testimony to the panel is quoted.

San Francisco Chronicle, 12/10/2020

-- Will the rich and powerful get vaccines ahead of the more vulnerable? Bay Area bioethicists hope not

As California gets ready for the coronavirus vaccine, the sentries of medical ethics in the Bay Area are assembling a hierarchy of dose distribution, including measures they hope will stop wealthy big shots from cutting to the front of the line. David Magnus, SCBE director and professor of pediatrics, weighs in.

USA Today, 12/05/2020

-- Yes, some Americans may be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine but not by the federal government.

With two coronavirus vaccines under emergency review by the FDA, the nation's attention is turning to who will get the vaccine first and when. A big question remains: Will Americans be required to get vaccinated? Michelle Mello, professor of law and medicine, comments on the situation.

KPIX5 News, 12/03/2020

-- COVID Restrictions: New California Stay-at-Home Order Inflames Anti-Vax Protesters

A group gathered in San Jose to protest the latest restrictions being announced regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, while they aired coronavirus grievances, the event was organized by an anti-vaccination group. In 2020, the anti-vax movement has become one element of the larger COVID protest movement. David Magnus, SCBE director and professor of medicine, provides comment.

Associated Press, 01/25/18

--Scientists successfully clone monkeys; are humans up next?
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai have successfully used the cloning technique used to produce Dolly the sheep to create healthy monkeys. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment here and in articles from HealthDay News and the New York Post.
Read on Healthy Day and New York Times

The Six Fifty, 01/23/18

--Frankenstein@200: Stanford explores the futurism of a centuries-old novel
This Q&A features the Frankenstein@200 series hosted by Stanford Medicine’s Medicine and the Muse program. Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and founder and director of the Medicine in the Muse program, and Joshua Stanley, program coordinator for Medicine and the Muse, are included.

Scope, 01/18/18

--Breaking down diabetes: How to prevent complications
This post written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, examines strategies to avoid complications of diabetes. This is fifth in a series of eight blog posts discussing pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

IEEE Spectrum, 01/16/18

--Stanford’s AI predicts death for better end-of-life care
Stanford researchers are using artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the mortality of patients in time for palliative care physicians to identify and treat patients who could benefit from end-of-life care. This article references Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine, and Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science.

Scope, 01/11/18

--Breaking down diabetes: The importance of complications
The post written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, takes a look at complications from diabetes and best strategies to manage them. This is fourth in a series of blog posts discussing pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Stanford Medicine News, 02/26/2018

--Stanford Medicine magazine explores challenges of breaking boundaries in science

The winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine highlights science that pushes boundaries to save lives and considers ethical questions that are a fundamental part of research.

Scope, 02/22/18

--Breaking down diabetes: Drugs for diabetes, starting with the best - metformin

This post written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, examines metformin, one of the best performing medications to treat diabetes. This is part of a series of blog posts discussing pre-diabetes and Type-2 diabetes.

Civil Eats, 03/29/18

--Inside Monsanto's day in court: Scientists weigh in on glyphosate's cancer risks

In this piece about legal proceedings regarding the chemical glyphosate, Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, provides comment. 

Scope, 03/28/18 

--Design thinking helps Innovative Health Care Leader program participants tackle tough challenges

"The Innovative Health Care Leader: From Design Thinking to Personal Leadership,” is a one-week residential program for health care executives led by the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Business. Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, is a co-director of the course and is mentioned here.

Wired, 03/27/18

--The next best version of me: How to live forever

Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this piece about the ethics of synthesizing human genomes. 

Scope, 03/22/18

--Breaking down diabetes: New controversy on blood sugar lowering

In this post, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, discusses recent debate about lowering long-term blood sugar levels of patients with Type 2 diabetes. This is the conclusion in a series of nine blog posts about the disease. 

Scope, 03/21/18

--CRISPR technology offers hope for sickle-cell patients

This blog post highlights an article in the winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine that explores the use of CRISPR in treating sickle-cell disease. Mark Mercola, professor of medicine; Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics; Matthew Porteus, associate professor of pediatrics; Stanley Qi, assistant professor of bioengineering and of chemical and systems biology; Jennifer Andrews, clinical associate professor of pathology and of pediatrics; and Mildred Cho, professor of pediatrics, are featured. 

Stanford News, 3/20/18

--Stanford researchers listen for silent seizures with "brain stethoscope" that turns brain waves into sound

Stanford researchers have developed a “brain stethoscope” that can help detect non-convulsive epileptic seizures. By converting brain waves into sound, even non-specialists can detect “silent seizures” – epileptic seizures without the convulsions most of us expect. Josef Parvizi, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, is quoted in this article. The work is also highlighted in articles from New Atlas, American Council on Science, and Health and News-Medical.net.

Scope, 03/20/18

--Countdown to Childx: Upcoming conference will highlight collaborative solutions in child health

Registration is now open for the annual Childx conference, a TED-style meeting focused on inspiring innovation in pediatric and maternal health. This year’s theme “Learn, Collaborate, Innovate” will feature speakers including conference co-chair David Cornfield, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass professor in pediatrics pulmonary medicine; Stephen Quake, the Lee Otterson Professor in the School of Engineering and a professor of bioengineering; Carol Dweck, the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor; and conference co-chair Heidi Feldman, the Ballinger-Swindells Endowed Professor in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The conference will be held on campus April 12 and 13. 

Scope, 03/19/18

--Advances offer new hope for stroke survivors

This blog post highlights an article in the winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine that explores new advancements in preventing and treating strokes. Marion Buckwalter, associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences; Maarten Lansberg, associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences; Paul George, assistant professor of neurology and neurological sciences; Amit Etkin, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences; and Gary Steinberg, the Bernard and Ronni LaCroute-William Randolph Hearst Professor in Neurosurgery and Neurosciences, are featured in the article. 

Forbes, 03/16/18

--Artificial intelligence is infiltrating medicine — but is it ethical?

Artificial intelligence can be helpful, but physicians and scientists should carefully consider ethical issues related to its use, a team of Stanford Medicine researchers wrote in a perspective piece. Senior author David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics and a professor of pediatrics and of medicine, is quoted in this article.

Scope, 03/15/18

--Breaking down diabetes: Insulin, unwelcome, but underutilized

In this post, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, offers a quick guide to pros and cons of insulin use for Type 2 diabetes. This is part of a series of blog posts discussing the disease.

StateImpact Oklahoma (NPR), 03/15/18

--People with developmental disabilities may face organ transplant bias

Research by David Magnus shows that the decision-making process for organ transplantation discriminates against patients with developmental or cognitive disabilities. Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics and a professor of pediatrics and of medicine, was interviewed in this segment. 

Research Gate, 03/14/18

--AI can improve diagnostics and help doctors make better decisions, but researchers say it also raises ethical concerns

Artificial intelligence can be helpful, but physicians and scientists should carefully consider ethical issues related to its use, a team of Stanford Medicine researchers wrote in a perspective piece. The lead author is Danton Char, assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, who is featured in this Q&A. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics and a professor of pediatrics and of medicine; and Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine of biomedical data science, also contributed to the piece. 

Inside Stanford Medicine, 03/12/18

--Stanford Medicine launches exome-sequencing program for patients

The Clinical Genomics Program, which began as a pilot program a few years ago, offers whole-exome sequencing and analysis to patients with undiagnosed genetic diseases. Gregory Enns, professor of pediatrics; Louanne Hudgins, professor of pediatrics, and Euan Ashley, professor of medicine, co-medical directors of the Clinical Genomics Program, are quoted in this story.  

Scope, 03/07/18

--Why Frankenstein matters, now, to you

This blog post highlights a story in the winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine written by Audrey Shafer that explores the lessons Frankenstein teaches about pushing boundaries in science, technology and medicine. Shafer is a professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System and director of Stanford’s Medicine & the Muse Program. To read the article published in Stanford Medicine magazine click here. 

Scope, 03/06/18

--Stanford Presence Center symposium grapples with balancing human and artificial intelligence in medicine

The Presence Center will be hosting a day-long symposium in April to discuss issues surrounding humans and machines in medicine. Dean Lloyd Minor will be speaking at the event. This post includes Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor; Jonathan Chen, assistant professor of medicine; and Sonoo Thadaney, executive director of the Presence Center.

The Atlantic, 04/25/18

--What’s wrong with growing blobs of brain tissue?

Scientists use lab-grown brain organoids for research on psychiatric and neurological issues, raising ethical concerns over the potential consciousness of the cells. In an opinion piece in Nature, Sergiu Pasca, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, discuss ethical issues and guidelines of human experimentation. The opinion piece is highlighted here and in articles from The Guardian (U.K.), Newsweek, and NPR. 

Scope, 04/25/18

--Vision, virtue and vexation at the annual Medicine and the Muse symposium

The annual Medicine and the Muse symposium took place on campus this week. Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System and director of Stanford’s Medicine & the Muse Program, is quoted in this post. The symposium featured performances from Stanford medical students Dillon Stull, Nitya Rajeshuni, Kevin Sun, Natalia Birgisson, Julie Barzilay, Josh Wortzel, Stephen Marcott, Aaron Wilk, and Xinyuan (Lisa) Zhang. 

Palo Alto Weekly, 04/25/18

--In sickness and in health

This piece highlights “Homo Ex Machina”, a new play that dives into the intersection of medicine, ethics and existentialism. Author Karola Kreitmair, postdoctoral research fellow in biomedical ethics, is quoted here. 

Speaking of Medicine (PLOS Blogs), 04/24/18

--Human intelligence & artificial intelligence in medicine: A day with the Stanford Presence Center

This piece includes highlights from the Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Symposium that took place at Stanford last week. The conference, which discussed the ways technology is transforming medicine, featured talks from Dean Lloyd Minor; Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine; and former Stanford president John L. Hennessy. The event was hosted by the Presence Center and co-sponsored by the Stanford Department of Medicine.

Scope, 04/19/18

--Symposium discusses promise and pitfalls of technology in medicine

The Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Symposium took place this week. The conference, which discussed the ways technology is transforming medicine, featured talks from Dean Lloyd Minor and Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine. 

STAT News, 04/18/18

--Artificial intelligence will put a premium on physicians’ knowledge and decision-making skills

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved artificial intelligence software that can identify a common eye disease. This opinion piece examines the relationship between artificial intelligence and medicine and quotes Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine.

Associated Press, 04/18/18

--Parenting of the future: Many embryos, each with DNA profile

In this article and accompanying video, Hank Greely and Louanne Hudgins discuss the future of conceiving children and the ethics of gene editing embryos. Greely is with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and author of the The End of Sex and the Future of Reproduction; Hudgins is a professor of pediatrics. 

CBC Radio (Canada), 04/14/18

--Frankenstein 101: What the monster teaches medical students

During this segment, Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and director of the Medicine and the Muse program, discussed Stanford’s 200th anniversary celebration of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein.

Doximity, 04/09/18

--“No, first and foremost, remember to be humble"

This poem and conversation with Audrey Shafer explores the intersection of art and medicine. Shafer is a professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System and director of Stanford’s Medicine & the Muse Program.

Scope, 05/24/18

--Modern medicine is challenging the ability of doctors to listen to, bond with patients

This blog post highlights an article in the spring issue of Stanford Medicine magazine about concerns that the humanism and bond of doctor-patient relationships is suffering in modern medicine. The article features Dean Lloyd Minor; Kimberly Allison, professor of pathology; Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine; Donna Zulman, assistant professor of medicine; Kelley Skeff, the George Deforest Barnett Professor in Medicine; Tait Shanafelt, the Jeanie and Stew Ritchie Professor and chief wellness officer at Stanford Medicine; Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine; John Kugler, clinical associate professor of medicine; Alan Glaseroff, faculty member of the Clinical Excellence Research Center; Arnold Milstein, professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Excellence Research Center at Stanford; and Ann Lindsay, clinical professor of medicine and medical director of Stanford Coordinated Care. 

The Atlantic, 05/22/18

--Can genetic counselors keep up with 23andMe?

As DNA-testing kits and applications become increasingly popular, the demand for genetic counselors to interpret the results is growing. Kelly Ormond, professor of genetics, provides comment in this piece. 

Inside Stanford Medicine, 05/21/18

--Student research symposium showcases curiosity and scholarship

This article highlights the 35th Annual Stanford Medical Student Research Symposium. Jessica Rose, professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of the Motion & Gait Analysis Laboratory at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford; Neil Gesundheit, interim senior associate dean for medical education and professor of medicine; Laurence Baker, professor of health research and policy, are quoted in this story.

NBCNews.com, 05/16/18

--Creepy ‘brain in a bucket’ study spurs medical, ethical debates

In a recent study, researchers at Yale kept pig brain organoids medically active in lab, raising some ethical concerns. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this piece. 

New York Times Magazine, 05/16/18

--How tech can turn doctors into clerical workers

Electronic health records may improve medicine by reducing errors and gathering information, however it weakens the connection between physicians and patients and drives physician burnout, Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine, writes in this piece. Tait Shanefelt, chief wellness officer at Stanford Medicine, is mentioned.

05/10/18

--The John Etchemendy Cardinal Walk 2018

This week, Stanford BeWell hosted the 12th annual Cardinal Walk where faculty, staff and students take a break in their workday to celebrate the strong culture of wellness at Stanford by coming together for a one-mile journey around our scenic campus. This year's theme was superheroes!

Thanks to our Administrative Team, the 'SCBE Warriors', SCBE was well represented at the walk!

Check out #CardinalWalk on various social media platforms to see the conversation and photos from the event. Check out photos from the walk here!

WIRED, 05/01/18

--The dying scientist and his rogue vaccine trial

Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is included in this piece that tells the story of a researcher who developed a vaccine intended to cure herpes without government oversight.

STAT News, 06/29/18

--Are we spending too much on the dying? New research challenges this widely held view

Contrary to the belief that end-of-life care is excessive, new research shows that patients with the highest one-year mortality risk account for less than 5 percent of spending. The study also revealed that even with sophisticated algorithms, predicting life and death is difficult. Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine, who was not involved with the research, provides comment in this piece.

San Jose Mercury News, 06/24/18

--Treating genetic disease: Is a cure a cut away?

This piece explores CRISPR and how genetic editing may offer new hope to those suffering from debilitating disorders. Matthew Porteus, associate professor of pediatrics; and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, are quoted here.

Scope, 06/21/18

--Aspirin for prevention: Should you take it?

In the last installment of a series on aspirin, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, discusses factors for doctors and patients to consider about taking aspirin for prevention of heart attack and stroke. 

KQED, 06/14/1

--'Frankenstein' 200 Years Later: The Creature and Its Creator

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, is celebrating its 200th year. Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and director of the Medicine and the Muse program, was part of a panel discussion exploring the novel’s legacy in literature, film and science.

Scope, 06/14/18

--Aspirin for prevention: Know your risk of heart attack or stroke

In the second installment of a series on aspirin, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, discusses how to determine your risk of heart attack, strokes and some cancers.

KQED, 06/12/18

--Finding Harold

In this piece, Laurel Braitman, writer-in-residence at the Medicine & the Muse Program at the Stanford University School of Medicine, talks about an unlikely friendship.

Scope, 06/07/18

--Aspirin for prevention: A look at the potential benefits and risks

In the first installment of a new series, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, discusses the pros and cons of taking aspirin for prevention of heart attack, strokes and some cancers.

Stanford Medicine press release, 06/06/18

--Most clinical trial participants find benefits of sharing personal data outweigh risks, Stanford study finds

A survey of people who have taken part in clinical trials finds that participants care more about the benefits to sciences than the risk of sharing their personal data. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, is the senior author; Michelle Mello is the lead author. 

STAT News, 06/06/18

--After malpractice caps, doctors ordered fewer invasive tests to diagnose heart attacks

New research from George Washington University has found that in states with malpractice damage caps, physicians ordered fewer tests to diagnose heart attacks than physicians in states without the caps. Michelle Mello, professor of law and of health research and policy, who was not involved with the research, provides comment in this article. 

U.S. News & World Report, 06/01/18

--Should I test myself for BRCA gene mutations?

As at-home DNA-testing kits become increasingly popular, some genetic counselors and physicians have concerns that the information provided may leave consumers without a thorough understanding of their risks or alternatives. Louanne Hudgins, professor of pediatrics, provides comment here.

Cancer Network, 07/30/18

--Guidance to clinicians with minimal backgrounds in genetics

New tools offer clinicians with little genetics experiences a guideline using genetic testing. Co-author Kelly Ormond, professor of genetics, is quoted here.

TheUpshot (NYTimes.com), 07/23/18

--A fear of lawsuits really does seem to result in extra medical tests

A new study, which looked at the health care for active-duty military, shows that the possibility of a lawsuit increased the intensity of care that patients received in the hospital by about 5 percent, without any additional benefit. Michele Mello, professor of law and of health research and policy, who was not involved with the research, provides comment here.

Washington Post, 07/02/18

--From apps to avatars, new tools for taking control of your mental health

“Digiceuticals,” part of a new field of mental-health technology, are changing the landscape for people battling mental illness. Nicole Martinez-Martin, a research fellow at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this article.

The New Yorker, 07/02/18

--The neuroscience of pain

Researchers are developing methods to quantify pain, allowing for a greater understanding of a sensation that has long been viewed as subjective. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is quoted here. 

Scope, 08/29/18

--Stanford surgeon works to improve care for civilians in conflict zones

A recent summit led by Sherry Wren, professor of surgery, focused on ensuring the humanitarian medical response in conflict zones is capable of averting preventable disability and deaths of civilians by providing modern evidence-based care. Paul Wise, the Richard E. Behrman Professor in Child Health and professor of pediatrics, was part of a panel that discussed existing trauma system care and evolving challenges.

Scope, 08/29/2018

--After cancer: A new way of being family

Jacqueline Genovese, assistant director of the Medicine & the Muse program, writes about her experiences forming a new kind of family after losing her sister Maria to cancer.

New York Times, 08/16/18

--Officials remove special rules for gene therapy experiments

U.S. health officials are eliminating special regulations for gene therapy experiments, saying that what was once exotic science is quickly becoming an established form of medical care with no extraordinary risks. Mildred Cho, professor of pediatrics and of medicine and associate director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is quoted in this Associated Press piece.

Vanity Fair, 08/07/18

--Inside the very big, very controversial business of dog cloning

This magazine piece takes an in-depth look at dog cloning and quotes Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.

Scope, 09/27/18

--Understanding AFib: A heart dancing without rhythm 

In the first piece of a series on atrial fibrillation, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, explains atrial fibrillation (or AFib) and how it increases the risk of stroke.

AMA Journal of Ethics, Illuminating the Art of Medicine, 9/2018

Be sure to check out the following articles that had contributions made by members of Stanford's Center for Biomedical Ethics: 

--Nicole Martinez, PhD, Is It Ethical to Use Prognostic Estimates from Machine Learning to Treat Psychosis?

Calibrating a machine learning model with data from a local setting is key to predicting psychosis outcomes. Clinicians also need to understand an algorithm’s limitations and disclose clinically and ethically relevant information to patients.

--Holly Tabor, PhD, What Precision Medicine Can Learn from Rare Genetic Disease Research and Translation

Rare genetic disease research has something to teach precision medicine about addressing some patients’ limited access to treatment. Health disparities exacerbated by high costs and limited availability of drugs can, perhaps, be mitigated when patient activism accelerates drug development.

--Jason N. Batten, MA, How Stratification Unites Ethical Issues in Precision Health

Precision medicine creates patient subgroups to develop targeted interventions. This raises ethical issues about privacy, informed consent, and social justice. It also raises questions about cost, what to do with faulty data, and the role of genetic stratification in treating and monitoring patients.

--Nick Love, PhD, and Sam Rodriguez, MD, The Precision Portrait

This portrait of a child against a backdrop of health data suggests how a patient’s individuality can be obscured when precision medicine is used in decision making and developing target therapies.

Scope, 09/19/18

--How AI can improve end-of-life care

This post highlights a story from the current issue of Stanford Medicine magazine about a Stanford pilot program that marries technology and compassion, artificial intelligence and palliative care, so doctors can help patients die on their own terms. Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine, and Nigam Shah, associate professor of medicine and of biomedical data science, are featured here.

Science, 09/19/18

--‘Journalologists’ use scientific methods to study academic publishing. Is their work improving science?

This piece discusses the field of journalology, which has highlighted important problems in scientific literature and triggered reforms in academic publishing. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research and policy, provides comment here.

Scope, 09/18/18

--Journal editor aims to prompt thoughtful review of ethics in precision

The American Medical Association’s recent Journal of Ethics issue edited by Jason Neil Batten is highlighted here. Batten is a fifth-year medical student and Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics graduate fellow. 

Scope, 09/17/18

--A look inside the child detention centers near the U.S. border

In this Q&A, Paul Wise, the Richard E. Behrman Professor in Child Health and professor of pediatrics, discusses his trip to the border region this summer to interview children and tour the detention centers. Nancy Ewen Wang, professor of emergency medicine, and Ryan Matlow, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, also took part. 

Scope, 09/10/18

--Opioid overdose rates highest directly after surgery, new research suggests

Following surgery, the risk of overdose from opioids is highest during the first month, according to new research from Sesh Mudumbai, staff anesthesiologist at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices.

Bloomberg.com, 10/26/18

--No wonder scientists ask statisticians to cook the data

Some statisticians report receiving inappropriate requests regarding data analysis, a new study has found. Steven Goodman, professor of medicine and of health research & policy, associate dean of clinical and translational research, and co-director of the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, provides comment in this piece.

Scope, 10/25/18

--Understanding AFib: How to measure your own heart rate and rhythm

In the latest installment in the series Understanding AFib, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, explains how to measure your heart rate and pay attention to your heart rhythm.

Scope, 10/23/18

--A deeper look at ‘Reflecting Frankenstein’

In an essay published in JAMA, medical student Nick Love discusses the meaning behind an art installation he created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and director of the Stanford Medicine and the Muse program, co-authored the piece with Love.

Scope, 10/22/18

--A stage IV cancer patient discusses what it means to live well with serious illness

Amy Berman, a nurse with stage IV cancer, spoke at the recent Jonathan King Lecture sponsored by the Center for Biomedical Ethics. Stephanie Harman, clinical associate professor of medicine, is included here. 

Scope, 10/18/18

--Understanding AFib: Slowing down the dancing heart

In the latest installment in the series Understanding AFib, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, explains different drugs that are used to slow down the heart.

Forbes, 10/11/18

--Researchers have created healthy mice from same-sex parents. But why?

Researchers in China have created healthy mice from two female parents. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, provides comment in this article.

Scope, 10/11/18

--Understanding AFib: Blood thinners simplified

In the latest installment in the series Understanding AFib, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, explains the different types of blood thinners.

The Future of Everything (Stanford Radio), 10/09/18

--How will artificial intelligence impact medical ethics?

In a recent segment on Stanford Radio, Russ Altman, the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics and of medicine, discussed the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in medicine with guest David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics and a professor of pediatrics and of medicine.

Scope, 10/08/18

--World Bank Group leader addresses global health community at Stanford

World Bank president Jim Yong Kim shared insights from his experience at the helm of global health and financing organizations during a recent Conversations in Global Health event. Paul Wise, the Richard E. Behrman Professor in Child Health and professor of pediatrics and a core faculty member for the Center for Innovation in Global Health, interviewed Kim on stage. Michele Barry, senior associate dean for global health, is quoted in this piece.

New York Times, 10/08/18

--The importance of medical touch

This piece discusses the importance of touch in medicine and quotes Abraham Verghese, the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine.

Scope, 10/04/18

--Understanding AFib: Why do I have this? Should I take blood thinners?

In the second piece of a series on atrial fibrillation, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, examines which patients should use blood thinners.

Scope, 10/01/18

--Firelight serenade: Stanford Medicine students perform at open mic

Members of the Stanford Medicine community gather at the first open mic of the quarter, for a night filled with comedy, instruments, dancing, and improvisation.

Associated Press, 11/27/18

--Q&A on scientist’s bombshell claim of gene-edited babies
A scientist in China announced that he had created the world’s first genetically edited babies, twin girls who were born this month. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, provides comment in this Q&A. 

Los Angeles Times, 11/26/18

--Why geneticists say it’s wrong to edit the DNA of embryos to protect them against HIV
This Q&A with Michael Snyder, the Stanford W. Ascherman, MD, FACS, Professor and chair of genetics, explores the science and ethics of editing DNA in human embryos following reports of the first genetically modified humans in China. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, also provides comment on the subject in a CNBC piece. 

Reuters, 11/20/18

--BioMarin sets stage early for hemophilia cure off-Broadway
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. is turning to the theater to establish its name with hemophilia patients, long before its experimental cure for the bleeding disorder could reach the market. Alyssa Burgart, pediatric anesthesiologist and bioethicist, is quoted here. 

Scope, 11/20/18

--Proposal to include the price of drugs in television ads is flawed, Stanford scholar writes
A proposed federal rule to require direct-to-consumer television ads for prescription drugs to include pricing information could dissuade patients from seeking care after they see high prices and the prices may not accurately reflect how much they would pay. Michelle Mello, professor of law and health research and policy, is a co-author of a perspective piece here. 

Shots (NPR), 11/15/18

--Startup offers to sequence your genome free of charge, then let you profit from it
A new company allows customers to retain full ownership of their genome after it’s sequenced. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, offers insights.

Scope, 11/15/18

--In the Spotlight: At the intersection of tech, health and ethics

This In the Spotlight features Nicole Martinez-Martin, a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical ethics, who is investigating industry standards for digital phenotyping, or using information from smartphones or other devices to make health assessments. 

New York Times, 11/12/18

--Something happened to U.S. drug costs in the 1990s

Michelle Mello, professor of law and of health research and policy, is quoted in this piece on U.S. prescription drug spending.

Scope, 11/01/18

--Understanding AFib: Drugs and procedures to help restore a normal rhythm

In the latest installment in the series Understanding AFib, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, explains how medications, procedures and pacemakers can be used for atrial fibrillation.

Nature, 12/19/18

--Data mining for health: staking out the ethical territory of digital phenotyping

Digital phenotyping uses smartphone and wearable signals to measure cognition, mood, and behavior. This promising new approach has been developed as an objective, passive assessment tool for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.This paper addresses four major areas where guidelines and best practices will be helpful: transparency, informed consent, privacy, and accountability. Nicole Martinez-Martin, a postdoctoral scholar, and Mildred Cho, a professor of pediatrics, are both contributors.

Scope, 12/19/18

--Cholera and starvation in Yemen are preventable, Stanford pediatrician says

Paul Wise, the Richard E. Behrman Professor in Child Health and a professor of pediatrics, was the co-author of a recent report on the cholera epidemic in Yemen. Here he discusses the epidemic and the widespread starvation that accompanies it. 

Shots (NPR), 12/13/18

--Scientists say gene-edited babies claim is 'wake-up call' for world

Presidents of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences wrote an editorial this week calling for an international effort to prevent the creation of gene-edited babies without approval. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, is quoted here. 

Scope, 12/12/18

--Can artificial intelligence help doctors with the human side of medicine?

Abraham Verghese and Sonoo Thadaney Israni explore how AI could help doctors remain caring and generous in a recent essay and podcast. Verghese is the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor; Israni is the executive director of Presence and of the Program in Bedside Medicine/Stanford 25. 

Popular Science, 12/06/18

--The gene-edited Chinese twins represent a multi-generational ethical quandary

This piece explores whether the parents of the twins reportedly created using CRISPR were appropriately advised of the risks of the undertaking. Kelly Ormond, professor of genetics, is included here.

Vox, 01/31/17

--Peter Thiel vs. the FDA
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is quoted in this article about innovative development and FDA approval of pharmaceutical drugs.

STAT News, 01/26/17

--First human-pig chimeras created, sparking hopes for transplantable organs – and debate
According to a new study, pig embryos that were injected with human stem cells began to grow organs containing human cells. Sean Wu, associate professor of medicine, and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, who were not involved in the study, provide comment in this article.

Science, 01/18/17

--Update: U.S. abandons controversial consent proposal on using human research samples
The Department of Health and Human Services has dropped a controversial plan that would impose new rules on the use of unidentified specimen samples in research. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment here.

Sacramento Bee, 01/17/17

--California’s stem cell agency will run out of money in three years. Should voters OK spending more?
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this article about the future of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state's stem-cell research program.

STAT News, 01/10/17

--A supplement maker tried to silence this Harvard doctor – and put academic freedom on trial
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this story about lawsuits towards academics for research that brings attention to public health and scrutinizes pharmaceutical companies.

Scope, 02/27/17

--“It renewed my energy”: A look at medical students using art to contribute to medicine
This post highlights an article in the winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine about medical students who use art to heal others and channel their creative energies. The article references Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and founder and director of Stanford's Medicine and the Muse program; Nick Love, medical student; Amrapali Maitra, medical student; Ben Robison, medical student; Matthew Wetschler, resident in emergency medicine; and Michael Nedelman, medical student.

The Economist (U.K.), 02/18/17

--Hello again, Dolly
This piece examines the ongoing ramifications of the ability to create clones, such as the sheep called Dolly in 1996. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment.

Scope, 02/23/17

--Stanford doctor urges the medical humanities are a "must-have"
This blog post highlights a first-person piece in the winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine, in which anesthesiologist and poet Audrey Shafer argues that the medical humanities are a necessary discipline of modern medicine. Shafer is a professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and founder and director of Stanford's Medicine and the Muse program.

Stanford Medicine press release, 02/21/17

--Stanford Medicine magazine looks at what arts, humanities bring to medicine
The winter issue of Stanford Medicine magazine, which focuses on arts and humanities in medicine, is now available. The magazine features an article on Dance for PD, a program that offers dance classes to people with Parkinson’s disease. It also includes an essay by Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, on including arts and humanities in medical education, and a Q&A with a world-class photographer with a medical degree.

San Francisco Chronicle, 03/27/17

--I am a refugee, an immigrant and an American
In this opinion piece, Bela Fishbeyn writes about her experiences as an American, an immigrant, and a refugee. Fishbeyn is executive managing editor of the American Journal of Bioethics at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.

New York Times, 03/21/17

--A new form of stem-cell engineering raises ethical questions
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this story on the ethics of synthetic human embryos. 

Scope, 03/13/17

--The future of baby-making: Stanford’s Russ Altman hosts a discussion
In a recent segment on Stanford Radio, Russ Altman discussed the future of conceiving children with Hank Greely. Altman is the Kenneth Fong Professor and professor of bioengineering, of genetics and of medicine; Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is the author of The End of Sex and the Future of Reproduction.

NPR, 04/16/17 

--The Poetic Intimacy Of Administering Anesthesia
In this piece, Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and founder and director of Stanford's Medicine and the Muse program, discusses art and medicine and shares a poem she authored.   

Nature, 04/06/17

--23andMe given green-light to sell DNA tests for 10 diseases
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home genetic test that can help determine a person’s risk of developing certain diseases. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this piece.

Medscape, 06/27/17

--Whole-genome sequencing possible in clinic, but value unclear  (subscription required; please contact Margarita Gallardo at mjgallardo@stanford.edu for a copy)
One in five apparently healthy primary care patients carry a genetic variant expected to cause a rare disease, according to results of a pilot study. Holly Tabor, associate professor of medicine and assistant director of the Stanford Center for Bioethics, provides comment in this article.

The Atlantic, 06/27/17

--Making babies, no sex, necessary
This piece discusses the future of conceiving children. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and author of The End of Sex and the Future of Reproduction, provides comment here.

Sacramento Bee, 06/21/17

--New tests can tell more about health of fetuses. What should parents do with results?
Genetic testing during pregnancy is becoming more accurate and accessible, raising ethical questions about whatparents should do with the information. Holly Tabor, associate professor of medicine, provides comment in this story.

Scope, 06/09/17

--"The Still Point" — A performance inspired by pain and love
This post chronicles a recent interactive performance on campus featuring music, art, storytelling and sound painting. Performers included Benjamin Robison, a medical student, and Matthew Wetschler, who is on leave from his residency in emergency medicine.  

Observations (ScientificAmerican.com) 07/28/17

--About that “first gene-edited human embryos” story…..
MIT Technology Review has reported that researchers from Oregon Health and Science University have edited viable human embryos using CRISPR. However, results are pending publication next month. This piece written by Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, address the future, safety and ethics of genetically modifying human embryos. Greely is also quoted in articles from the Associated Press, CNN.com, STAT News, The Verge and Wired.

San Francisco Chronicle, 07/24/17

--Jahi McMath’s family wins backing for argument that she’s alive (subscription required; for a copy of the article, please e-mail mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
It’s been three years since 13-year-old Jahi McMath was declared brain-dead following throat surgery. Her family has kept her on life support and is fighting to have her death certificate overturned. David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor, professor of pediatrics and director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, who is not involved in Jahi’s case, provides comment in this article.

STAT News, 07/20/17

--Mice show signs of mental disorder after brains injected with cells from schizophrenic human
A new study found that mice injected with cells from schizophrenia patients began to show signs of the mental disorder. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, who was not involved in the study, provides comment in this article.

Scope, 07/10/17

--Stanford medical student juggles his studies, graphic art, and numerous extracurricularsIn this Q&A, medical student Ryan Brewster discusses his career in medicine and training in the arts. Sam Rodriguez, clinical assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine; Audrey Shafer, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine; and James Lock, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are referenced here.

The Verge, 08/03/17

--Editing human embryos is okay – but don’t turn them into people yet
A team of genetics experts has issued a policy statement recommending that research on editing human genes in eggs, sperm, and early embryos continue, but only if the ethical issues are addressed and if the work does not result in a human pregnancy. Co-lead author Kelly Ormond, professor of genetics, is quoted here, in articles from the Daily Mail (U.K.), Genome Web, The Sun (U.K.) and a piece from Inside Stanford Medicine.

STAT News, 08/07/17

--The creator of the pig-human chimera keeps proving other scientists wrong
This piece profiles Salk Institute’s Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, whose lab last year announced it had created pig-human chimeras — fetal pigs with human cells mixed in. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, professor of genetics, and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, are quoted here.

CNN.com, 08/07/17

--FDA warns '3-parent' baby fertility doctor over marketing
The FDA has told a fertility doctor to stop marketing a controversial three-parent fertility treatment, which makes it possible for babies to be made from the genes of two women and a man. Hank Greely provides comment in this article.

The Globe and Mail (Canada), 08/07/17

--Modification of genes in human embryos could mark turning point in human evolution
Following the announcement that a team of researchers has edited genes in a viable human embryo, debate continues over the potential ramifications of the work. Kelly Ormond, professor of genetics, was the co-lead author of a recent policy statement recommending that research on editing human genes in eggs, sperm, and early embryos continue, but only if the ethical issues are addressed and if the work does not result in a human pregnancy. She is quoted in this article.

New York Times, 08/04/17

--In breakthrough, scientists edit a dangerous mutation from genes in human embryos
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this piece about the future, safety and ethics of genetically modifying human embryos. Greely was also featured in a segment from Bloomberg.

Mother Jones, 09/2017

--A future of genetically engineered children is closer than you’d think
Drew Endy, associate professor of bioengineering, and Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, address the future, safety and ethics of genetically modifying human embryos in this piece.

STAT News, 10/12/17

--An anarchist takes on the drug industry – by teaching patients to make their own meds
Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this article about a do-it-yourself pharmaceuticals movement that teaches patients to make their own medicines.

Scope, 11/30/17

--On the road to diabetes: A look at what’s happening inside the body
This post, written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, examines the early signs of pre-diabetes. This is the first piece in a series of blogs on pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

NBCNews.com, 11/29/17

--What you’re giving away with those home DNA tests
This story discusses consumer genetic tests and quotes Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.

Inside Stanford Medicine, 11/16/17

--5 Questions: Randall Stafford on new blood pressure guidelines
In this Q&A, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices at Stanford, discusses the new, redefined guidelines for high blood pressure.

Associated Press, 11/15/17

—U.S. scientists try 1st gene editing in the body
Scientists for the first time have tried editing a gene inside the human body as an attempt to permanently change a person’s DNA to cure a disease. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment here.

General Surgery News, 11/09/17

--Avoiding malpractice for breast surgeons
Michelle Mello, professor of health research and policy and of law, provides comment in this piece about reconciling adverse events with patients and family members as a way to avoid malpractice claims.

STAT News, 11/06/17

--Tiny human brain organoids implanted into rodents, triggering ethical concerns
Scientists have implanted tiny human brain organoids into lab rats and mice, raising ethical concerns. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, is quoted in this piece.

Scope, 11/02/17

--Too high: Current blood pressure targets may not be low enough
In the final piece in a five-part series, “Too High,” created for those with high blood pressure and their family and friends, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, writes about determining the appropriate blood pressure target.

Newsweek, 12/18/17 

--Brain injuries may be a hidden cause of criminal behavior
This story discusses a study examining a possible connection between brain damage and violent crime. Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and director of the Stanford Program in Neuroscience and Society, provides comment.

Scope, 12/14/17

--Breaking down diabetes: Top priorities for patients and their doctors
This post written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, looks at ways to improve diabetes treatment, an effort that requires strong commitment from both patients and their doctors. This is the third in a series of blog posts discussing pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Inside Stanford Medicine, 12/11/17

--Drug for spinal muscular atrophy prompts ethical dilemmas
Medical experts at Stanford and their colleagues at several other universities have raised ethical questions about the way a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy is being used.

Inside Stanford Medicine, 12/11/17

--5 Questions: Michelle Mello on ranking clinical trial reporting of pharmaceutical companies
In this Q&A, Michelle Mello, professor of law and of health research and policy, discusses the ranking of large pharmaceutical companies based on their sharing of clinical trial information with the public.

Washington Post, 12/11/17

--We need to talk about genetically modifying animals
In this piece, Hank Greely, with the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, discusses the need to strengthen regulations governing the genetic modification of animals.

Newsweek, 12/11/17

--Is health care a right? Spinal muscular atrophy drug with outrageous price tag cuts to heart of ethical dilemma
Medical experts at Stanford and their colleagues at several other universities have raised ethical questions about the way a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy is being used. Lead author Alyssa Burgart, assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and medical director of clinical ethics at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, is quoted in this article. The study is also highlighted in a Stanford Medicine press release and quotes co-authors David Magnus, the Thomas A. Raffin Professor and director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and professor of medicine and of biomedical ethics, and Holly Tabor, associate professor of medicine and assistant director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics (SCBE); and John Day, professor of neurology and neurological sciences and of pediatrics.

Scope, 12/08/17

--New report provides recommendations to reduce the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S.
In an effort to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible for people living in the U.S., the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines, recently published a report that makes recommendations on key issues affecting drug prices. The report co-authored Michelle Mello discusses the study in a recent Q&A on the Stanford Law School blog.

Scope, 12/07/17

--On the road to diabetes: How to halt disease progression and turn back to health
This post written by Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, discusses pre-diabetes prevention strategies. This is the second piece in a series of blog on pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Newsweek, 12/05/17

--Is it a crime to avoid vaccines? People who refuse are being punished with jail and job loss
Michelle Mello, professor of health research and policy and of law, provides comment in this piece about punitive measures against parents who do not vaccinate their children.

Healthline, 12/03/17

--Can a brain scan tell if you’re lying?
In the final piece in a five-part series, “Too High,” created for those with high blood pressure and their family and friends, Randall Stafford, professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, writes about determining the appropriate blood pressure target.