Physician Editor Simon M. Helfgott, MD, is associate professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology, immunology and allergy at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He serves as director of education and fellowship training for the division and is actively involved in the curriculum redesign at the medical school.
The Friday night press release: When a politician or any public figure needs to disclose unfavorable news, chances are they will release it sometime on a late Friday afternoon or evening, hoping that nobody is paying attention. In fact, this behavior was coined “the take out the trash day” on the television political drama, The…
In the lead article, “Imaging in Ankylosing Spondylitis” (The Rheumatologist, April 2015), Dr. Pedersen states, “vertebral edges with MRI inflammation were three times as likely to develop new syndesmophytes than vertebral edges without inflammation (odds ratio [OR] 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5–7.4).” This statement is incorrect. An odds ratio of 3 does not imply that an…
Full disclosure: I am not a rabid fan of dogs. None rank among my best friends. Perhaps my antipathy stems from a memorable childhood event, when I was chased down the street where I lived by a neighbor’s large and not-so-friendly hound. He seemed to be twice my size, and this explains why I may…
It’s disheartening to stand by and watch helplessly as your patient dies a slow, painful death. In spring 1990, I had the misfortune of living through such a distressing experience. Strange happenings in New Mexico & Japan Ellen was a bookkeeper in her late 40s, living quietly in suburban Boston. For years, she hid a…
Tuesday, Jan. 20, a busy morning lay ahead for the staff of the cardiovascular surgery clinic. There were several new patients to see. No doubt, many of them were anxious to hear whether the skills of the surgeons they were going to meet could help them live another day. There were countless follow-up visits and…
High health insurance deductibles, physician charges, medication expenses spur patients to seek less costly lab testing, surgical procedures, prescription drugs
Chronic inflammation, cancer and autoimmunity are inextricably linked
Video streaming, interactive learning, flipped classrooms, self-study replacing class lectures
How tobacco companies tapped physicians to bolster hollow marketing claims to sell cigarettes
How the lack of clear, concise data has impacted opioid prescribing for chronic pain and is clouding the issue of medical recertification