Category: Policy

The economic argument for saving lives

The COVID-19 narrative is strong and pervasive: we must sacrifice either jobs or lives.  This debate has seemingly polarized our society on moral and ethical grounds. For many healthcare professionals, the intrinsic value of life is self-evident.  No p…

It is our job to change the rhetoric on who physicians are

A colleague of mine once asked me a question that haunts me to this day: “If you care about social justice this much, why are you in medical school?” I was stunned, and I had no response to offer them. That day, I walked away to preserve my peace, but …

A medical student perspective on George Floyd’s murder

Recently in Minneapolis, George Floyd was killed by Officer Derek Chauvin, who held his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, including almost three minutes after Floyd was unresponsive. This senseless murder is now added to an already long…

The COVID-19 pandemic is a catalyst for reimagining future health care delivery

Coronavirus has overwhelmed hospitals, staff, and supply chains, stripped many Americans of health care coverage along with their jobs, and affected billions of people worldwide with mounting fatalities. Despite its massive human toll, the pandemic off…

Breaking the silence within the medical profession

The stereotypical orthopedic residency class looks like a construction scene from the Flintstones, a few burly white men playing with tools. I can spend time here listing off different statistics and percentages showcasing why orthopedic surgery is the…

UnitedHealth Group Boosts Housing Investments To $500M To Address Social Determinants

UnitedHealth Group will increase investments in affordable housing to $500 million to address social determinants of health as insurers intensify strategies to reduce costs and improve outcomes beyond covering traditional medical treatments.

An oath to Darnella Frazier

Strangulation and traumatic asphyxia. Not even a few days ago, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, that is what likely killed George Floyd. Later, they decided it was neither and instead of corroborating what America watched an officer d…

Medicine vs. racism: white coats for black lives

Six years ago, Michael Brown was murdered in Ferguson, MO, igniting the White Coats For Black Lives movement. I was a medical student at the time. As we prepared for a die-in in protest of Michael Brown’s death and the officer’s acquittal, my medical s…

Blue Cross Domination Of Obamacare Markets May Not Last In Pandemic

Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans dominate the enrollment of individual Americans in health plans purchased on exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, but that could change given the pandemic and historic unemployment.

Fauci: Moderna’s Phase 3 Covid-19 Vaccine Trial Of 30,000 Individuals Will Begin In July

Dr. Anthony Fauci Tuesday said the Phase 3 trial of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine will begin in July and include study of 30,000 patients.