Studies have shown that the H.I.V. treatment “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” or PrEP for short, has been effective, but adoption of the drug has been slow. Ken Mayer, HMS professor of medicine, is quoted.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary have devised a way of using the phones to perform fundus photography, which is the photographing of the retina. Shizuo Mukai, HMS associate professor of ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, is the senior author.
The Food and Drug Administration, in an attempt to ensure the safety of popular medicines, is partnering with one of the most prominent medical insurers in Massachusetts. It has awarded a contract for up to $150 million to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute a collaboration between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School to spearhead a program that sifts through billions of prescriptions and other electronic health care data to investigate issues with FDA-approved drugs. Richard Platt, head of the Department of Population Medicine and professor of population medicine, is quoted.
Harvard College Alzheimer’s Buddies organized the first Harvard Alzheimer’s Symposium, which attracted a range of speakers to promote greater collaboration and dialogue amongst those impacted by the disease, according to the group’s website. Ruth Kandel, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Hebrew SeniorLife; Brendon P. Boot, HMS instructor in neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and Jeffrey M. Robbins, HMS teaching associate in neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, are quoted.
Researchers who analyzed records of more than 730,000 cancer patients found that married patients did significantly better than single people. They lived longer, received better treatment and were more likely to be diagnosed before metastatic cancers developed. Ayal Aizer, HMS clinical fellow in radiation oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is the lead author.
U.S. medical education is based on a century-old structure. Leading physicians are calling to streamline medical school to three years. How long does it take to make a doctor? An article by Richard Schwartzstein, the Ellen and Melvin Gordon Professor of Medical Education and director of the Academy at HMS, is featured.
Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, HMS lecturer on medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, authored this opinion piece about the ethical issues surrounding the use of Big Data.
The ancient Chinese practice of qigong shows promise in helping ease hypertension and depression. A study by Albert Yeung, HMS associate professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, is cited.
Malala Yousafzai, at 16 years old, was presented with the Harvard Foundation’s annual humanitarian award on Friday at Sanders Theatre. S. Allen Counter, HMS clinical professor of neurology, is the director of the foundation. Paula Johnson, HMS professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is also quoted.
The Tour for Diversity in Medicine, a national nonprofit group started by two minority physicians who wanted to encourage, inform and inspire young people who are interested in health sciences — but might not know how best to pursue their goals, has organized a bus tour to expose students to medical careers. Alden Landry, HMS instructor in medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is a co-director of the group.
