#Breaking: The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11. www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...

If you're a first-year biomedical Ph.D. student, I'd like to hear how your first few months of grad school have been going. I'm a science journalist at @statnews.com and got my Ph.D. in immunology before going into journalism. You can reach me at [email protected]. #journorequest

Adam Hayden, a patient advocate and the subject of an earlier profile in STAT, has died at age 43. www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/a...

My 12-year-old niece just texted me out of the blue to ask me about the Backstreet Boys fan fiction I wrote when I was 14-16. Naturally I now a) have to go lie down and b) strongly believe no one should have a phone until they are 25. Oh and c) my brother/her father continues to ruin my life

Comms people, I'm begging you, skip the well-intentioned generic holiday e-cards. They just clog up my inbox.

Science is like "glimpsing God's mind": On the last episode of this season of the First Opinion Podcast, I talked to former NIH Director Francis Collins and Fox News' Marc Siegel, author of the new book The Miracles Among Us, about faith, medicine, and science: www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/f...

Never thought I'd say this, but: I miss work holiday parties.

It's that time of year! Writers, I'm begging you: If the submission isn't super time-sensitive/news-related, consider holding it until the new year.

Gilead’s trial participants outside the U.S. deserve more than to be studied. They deserve access to the drugs they helped make possible! In my first @statnews.com piece, I call for global equity regarding lenacapavir. Thanks @thekibosch.bsky.social for holding my story with care 🫶🏾 #IDSky

Access to vaccines is not a privilege — it is a human right. In @statnews.com today, Stefan Peterson and I write about using a human rights-based approach to deal with vaccine denialism and the return of measles, whooping cough and diphtheria www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/c...

“Remarkable man, a genius, a true genius, a giant — and with flaws that we can’t understand": I spoke with Nancy Hopkins about James Watson, the friend who urged her to get a Ph.D. in the 60s--but took a very troubling turn in the last 20 years of his life: www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/j...

I'm a very pro-vaccine physician. Last weekend, I went to the biggest gathering of anti-vaxxers. More of my public health colleagues should've been there. I explain why for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/c...

A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death. Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written." Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating. 🧪🧬🧫

I'm thinking about getting my 1-year-old a Ms. Rachel doll for Christmas and asked the Amazon AI what songs it sings. How amazing would this be?

Many physicians hadn’t seen #measles for years, now we’re seeing outbreaks again.’ @drsethberkley.bsky.social on @statnews.com pod with @thekibosch.bsky.social discussing how complacency and social media fuel vaccine hesitancy. www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/s...

FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f... from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social and @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social

On the @statnews.com First Opinion Podcast today, I spoke with Dr. Richard Besser, president of RWJF and former acting director of the CDC, about the "heartbreaking" CDC situation, anger at public health, and the necessity of engaging with people you disagree with. www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/r...

This might be my proudest professional accomplishment

We've updated the opinion submissiong uidelines on @statnews.com to give some more granular information about what we're looking for. You can find them here: www.statnews.com/first-opinio...

On this week's episode of the @statnews.com First Opinion Podcast, I spoke with Joy Lisi Rankin and Samyukta Mullangi about when cancer patients decline treatment--and the way oncologists should respond #STATOpinionPod www.statnews.com/2025/10/08/b...

The @statnews.com First Opinion Podcast is back, baby. For this season's premiere episode, I spoke with Morgan "Dr. Noc" McSweeney, who has become a science communication rockstar on social media. www.statnews.com/2025/10/01/d...

Today @statnews.com launches Neurotransmissions, a new opinion column by @pennmemorycenter.bsky.social's Jason Karlawish. Neurotransmissions will focus on the revolution in dementia diagnosis and treatment, and the questions it raises. Read the first column: www.statnews.com/2025/09/29/d...

& if you don't have access to any of the stories, we are running a promo for STAT+ subscriptions (ends this friday!!) bsky.app/profile/stat...

If you just cancelled Disney+ and you’re wondering what do to with that extra money, one option: STAT is running a big sale right now, you can get 10 months for $10 marketing.statnews.com/stat-10th-st...

I have feelings about the phrase "lived experience." Read more about them in the weekly First Opinion newsletter from @statnews.com www.statnews.com/signup/first...

On the Trump administration's cruel disbanding of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium: my op-ed @statnews.com My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. This research would have helped children like him www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/p...

Early career journalists, consider applying for Fulbright Germany's Berlin Capital Program. I did it back in 2011 and absolutely loved it. The program culminates with a weeklong trip to Germany in September 2026. Learn more here: fulbright.de/en/grants/pr...

My thoughts on the unpublished study unveiled at today’s hearing on the state of vaccine safety science. Big thanks to @thekibosch.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/09/09/a...

I'm so proud to be part of @STATNews, the definitive source for reporting (and dare I say opinion!) on health and medical news at a time when it is very much needed. Happy birthday, STAT!

RFK Jr’s “evidence” doesn’t support ending mRNA vaccine development. It makes the case for expanding it. Thanks to @thekibosch.bsky.social @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/08/13/r...

"Over 660 million pilgrims gathered at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, this past February, and I’m now seeing the downstream consequences in my California clinic." New piece I wrote. Big thanks to @thekibosch.bsky.social and @statnews.com. www.statnews.com/2025/07/03/m...

First was "You are Not Expected to Understand This," edited by @thekibosch.bsky.social. This collection provides an enjoyable, whirlwind introduction to different topics in computing history Full review: bookwyrm.social/user/bwaber/... (2/3)

Our A/C died last night, and now I keep thinking about how @rebeccaonion.bsky.social kept thinking about the first chapter of The Ministry for the Future: slate.com/technology/2...

If I owe you an email, I'm sorry. It's just that I worried it'd be weird if I responded too quickly, and now it's been too long, and now I have to disconnect from the internet forever

Thank you to @thekibosch.bsky.social for letting me highlight this aspect of the Medicaid debate in @statnews.com.

If you missed our event on polarization over science with Cary Funk, Emily Garner, M. Anthony Mills, @scipolguy.bsky.social, and @thekibosch.bsky.social, watch the recording (and read the live chat transcript) here: issues.org/event/how-di... ‬.

Actual notes a Fox censor sent The Simpsons: - “This Itchy & Scratchy cartoon goes too far. Please do not show a cat coughing up blood.” - “Obviously we do not want to show the intimate details of a bris.” slate.com/culture/2025...

On May 30, 1925, passersby were asked, "What is your opinion of the indictment of John T. Scopes for teaching the theory of evolution in the Tennessee public schools?" Would have loved to see Howard J. Meaney and Mrs. E. J. Novak Jr. debate www.reddit.com/r/100yearsag...

Starting soon! Register here: asu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

"Trust in science has emerged as a central dividing line in our society," says a recent @issuesinst.bsky.social piece. How did that happen, and what can we do about it? I'm moderating a panel tomorrow in which some very smart people will grapple with those questions. issues.org/event/how-di...

Tomorrow! How did science become so polarizing? At 3 p.m. ET, join us to talk about trust in science with Cary Funk, Emily Garner, M. Anthony Mills, and @scipolguy.bsky.social‬—moderated by @thekibosch.bsky.social‬. Register here: asu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

How did science become so polarizing? On Thursday, May 29, at 3 p.m. ET, join ISSUES for a conversation about trust in science with Cary Funk, Emily Garner, M. Anthony Mills, and @scipolguy.bsky.social‬—moderated by @thekibosch.bsky.social‬. Register here: asu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

What it’s like to have measles, mumps, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable illnesses www.statnews.com/2025/05/10/w... via @statnews.com @thekibosch.bsky.social

My story of getting whooping cough in the first month of graduate school (studying infectious diseases) is included in this compilation of personal stories. It is a miracle that these diseases are preventable through vaccination. We cannot take that for granted.

NEW: How RFK Jr. goes about solving the chronic disease epidemic depends on his top concerns. Here, we break down the nation's health into 9 "priorities" — using original data analysis you can't find elsewhere! — and let you choose yours. W/ @jaspar.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...

Some parents who never had #measles, never worried about #polio, who don't remember what life was like when kids caught these diseases, fear the vaccines that prevent them instead. @statnews.com's @thekibosch.bsky.social spoke to people who remember these foes. www.statnews.com/2025/05/10/w...

Back in April, Darius Lakdawalla and Dana P. Goldman of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics wrote that "most-favored nation" drug pricing "can’t undo the basic economics of the global drug marketplace" www.statnews.com/2025/04/14/m...

“I coughed so hard that I pulled a muscle in my rib.” “I remember being … placed on ice.” “Her torso became too weak to breathe.” The consequences of diseases that are now all thankfully vaccine preventable. Read experiences 👇

She is Deaf and has been her whole life. That reality shaped her life, my grandmother’s life, and mine as well. One infection -> three generations (or more) of impact. She was one of about 20,000 children born with CRS in that cohort. No vaccine at the time — now vaccine-preventable

My mother was born in the winter of ‘64, during a massive rubella epidemic in the US. She was born with congenital rubella syndrome. As far as CRS goes, she got out relatively ok — “just” heart defects, scarring behind her eyes, and permanent damage to hearing