Recent high-profile cases of mass shootings have renewed a vigorous debate about the causes of violent behavior. Judith G. Edersheim, HMS assistant clinical professor of psychiatry; Bruce H. Price, HMS associate professor of neurology; and Jordan W. Smoller, HMS associate professor of psychiatry, all of Massachusetts General Hospital, authored the piece.
A new book suggests that some traits of psychopaths, such as being action-oriented, can be beneficial for a career. Ronald Schouten, HMS associate professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, who co-authored a book released earlier this year called Almost a Psychopath, is quoted.
Three studies set to explore the use of experimental drugs that may become the first to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t looking to cure the illness. Their goal is to prevent it altogether. Reisa Sperling, HMS professor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, will lead one of the trials.
Expanding ties between the state’s two largest medical care providers, fast-growing Steward Health Care System has struck a deal with Partners HealthCare System to send its most severely injured patients from emergency rooms at Steward’s 10 community hospitals to Partners-owned Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s hospitals in Boston. Ann Prestipino, HMS teaching associate in anaesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital, is quoted.
A large federal study of whether diet and weight loss can prevent heart attacks and strokes in overweight and obese people with Type 2 diabetes has ended two years ahead of schedule because the intensive program did not help. David Nathan, HMS professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is quoted.
A panel discussion focused on Question 2, the measure on the state ballot that would allow terminally ill patients to ask a doctor to prescribe them life-ending drugs, organized by HMS students Ravi Parikh and Grant Smith, is featured. Dan Brock, the Frances Glessner Lee Professor of Legal Medicine, is also quoted.
Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) will collaborate on a large study aimed at finding the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Rudolph Tanzi, Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, will lead the project.
Several large Massachusetts hospitals have begun calling and sending letters to hundreds of cardiac patients advising them that they received a heart medication produced by the troubled Framingham specialty pharmacy linked to the national fungal meningitis outbreak. Elizabeth Mort, HMS instructor in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is quoted.
Harvard Magazine looks at the Boston area as a mecca of medicine, home to some of the most prestigious hospitals and medical schools, physicians and medical scientists in the world.
Edward Lowenstein, the Henry Isaiah Dorr Distinguished Professor of Research and Teaching in Anaesthetics and Anaesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital, was a guest on NPR’s On Point with Tom Ashbrook to discuss the Massachusetts ballot question about assisted suicide.
