#lurie children's hospital

[blackjackkent]

Extra Life 24-Hour Stream TOMORROW! Nov 2-3 2024

The time has arrived! From 12pm Central Nov 2 - 11am Central Nov 3 (24 hours due to Daylight Savings Time time change), I will be livestreaming on my Twitch channel at http://www.twitch.tv/blackjack_kent, raising money for Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago!

This is my tenth year running a fundraiser for this excellent cause and I'm super excited to get rolling yet again. I've got a slate of new donation incentives this year - including, as always, the option to select a game for one hour of the stream for a $25 donation. :)

If you'd like to donate to my campaign for Lurie Children's, you can do so here:

Even if you can't donate, I'd very much appreciate you sharing this post and/or stopping by during the stream to help keep me hyped up! <3

Hope to see you there and thanks so much for your support!

[mindblowingscience]

Imagine your child has broken a bone. You head to the emergency department, but the doctors won't prescribe painkillers. This scenario is one that children of color in the U.S. are more likely to face than their white peers, according to new findings published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Researchers reviewed dozens of recent studies looking at the quality of care children receive across a wide spectrum of pediatric specialties. The inequities are widespread, says Nia Heard-Garris, a researcher at Northwestern University and a pediatrician at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, who oversaw the review.

Continue Reading.

[yourdailyqueer]

Superknova (Ellie Kim)

Gender: Transgender woman

Sexuality: Queer

DOB: N/A 

Ethnicity: Korean

Nationality: American

Occupation: Singer, songwriter, musician, music producer, audio engineer, activist, doctor

Note: Became the first physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital to publicly speak out against cosmetic, medically unnecessary surgeries performed on intersex infants without their consent. Result is that Lurie Children’s hospital formally changed their policy regarding intersex infant surgery and became the first hospital in the United States to do so.

[corvoda]

Throughout the week of November 4th, I'll be streaming a TON of strange games to raise money for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago! They saved my life when I was 5 years old, and every year I try to repay the favor!

Join me on My Twitch as we play a wide variety of strange things! Including such games as:

Mort the Chicken

Mario Drinks A Glass of Milk, the Trilogy

Pocket Dogs

Ninja Baseball Batman

Mario64, but Mario has a Shotgun

Rayman Brain Games

And many more!

Donation incentives! I'll take game suggestions! Gondal will return!

Hope to see you all there!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation:

Hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington D.C. said Thursday they have stopped providing healthcare for young transgender people. The actions follow President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for a ban on gender-related care for anyone under 19 years old, which it described as  “chemical or surgical mutilation.” Denver Health in Colorado has stopped providing gender-related surgeries for people under age 19, a spokesperson told the Associated Press on Thursday. It was unclear whether the hospital will continue providing hormone therapy and puberty blockers to young people, as Trump’s executive order targeted both for possible persecution. In Virginia, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond said medication and surgical procedures for trans youth have been “suspended.” In Washington D.C., Children’s National Hospital said it had “paused prescriptions of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to comply with the directives while we assess the situation further.” Children’s National does not provide gender-related surgery for minors, a spokesperson said. Trump’s order, signed Tuesday, directs agencies to review hospitals receiving federal research and education grants and halt funding for those not in compliance with the order. Other hospitals said they would continue providing care under threat from the Trump administration. “Our team will continue to advocate for access to medically necessary care, grounded in science and compassion for the patient-families we are so privileged to serve,” a statement from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago said. They added current practices would continue while hospital officials review the order and assess “any potential impact to the clinical services we offer to our patient families.”

At least a few hospitals in states where gender-affirming care is still legal are moronically obeying in advance to end gender-affirming care services for trans youths under 19 due to Donald Trump’s tyrannical executive order. Shame on these hospital for spitting on trans youths and their allies!

Hope most hospital systems get the hint and refuse to comply with Anti-Trans Bully 47’s hateful anti-GAC EO.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[strandnreyes]

30. The reluctant hug from someone who isn’t exactly a fan of physical affection. 

thanks for tagging me in your wip wednesday posts @whatsintheboxmh @heartstringsduet @thisbuildinghasfeelings @orchidscript @three-drink-amy @alrightbuckaroo @carlos-in-glasses @fallout-mars @theghostofashton @sanjuwrites @carlos-tk ! I have a published work on this Wednesday

As soon as TK’s clear to go, he beelines for the on-call room.

He has rounds to do and needs to check back in with his attending at some point, but right now he needs five minutes. Five minutes to breathe without the eyes of physicians he’s trying to impress on him. Or students who are looking up to him. Or the eyes of concerned parents that probably heard the sobs from down the hall. Or the haunted look of the parents TK just delivered the news to right before they collapsed back into their chairs, never to be the same again.

TK knows that patients die. It’s not his first one by a long shot, but it’s his first one as a resident at Lurie Children’s Hospital and he’s having a hard time grasping that the brave little girl who’d always gave him a picture she drew when he came by for rounds is gone.

read on ao3

[djosource]

a limited time shirt is available for the next 48 hours. all proceeds will be donated to the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Nemours Children's Health in Delaware

[lifeinkinder]

Surgery is Thursday and I don't know y'all. I feel all kinds of things.

Mostly scared and overwhelmed.

He's in the best hands. His surgeon recently moved from Cincinnati Children's which is ranked as the top pediatric hospital in the country and is in the top 10 for pediatric heart hospitals. So he's good good and Lurie is amazing.

But there's still that (marginal) risk of death. In addition to all the other risks (stroke, brain bleeds, vocal cord paralysis, damage to the electrical impulses in his heart requiring a pace marker, needing ECMO which has so many risks on its own, among many many other risks).

Plus I'm leaving Squish for who knows how long. Hopefully no more than a week. But she's 6 months old, it's going to feel like an eternity to her.

And I know, neither of them will remember any of this. It will all be mine. My memories, my trauma from this, but damn is it hard.

[duodaiki]

CHARITY STREAM! Watch me play games and do dumb things for a good cause. We'll be raising money for the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago! Twitch> twitch . tv / duodaiki

[mariacallous]

Talk about the promise and the peril of artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. But for many low-income families, communities of color, military veterans, people with disabilities, and immigrant communities, AI is a back-burner issue. Their day-to-day worries revolve around taking care of their health, navigating the economy, seeking educational opportunities, and upholding democracy. But their worries are also being amplified through advanced, persistent, and targeted cyberattacks.

Cyber operations are relentless, growing in scale, and exacerbate existing inequalities in health care, economic opportunities, education access, and democratic participation. And when these pillars of society become unstable, the consequences ripple through national and global communities. Collectively, cyberattacks have severe and long-term impacts on communities already on the margins of society. These attacks are not just a technological concern—they represent a growing civil rights crisis, disproportionately dismantling the safety and security for vulnerable groups and reinforcing systemic barriers of racism and classism. The United States currently lacks an assertive response to deter the continued weaponization of cyber operations and to secure digital access, equity, participation, and safety for marginalized communities.

Health Care

Cyberattacks on hospitals and health care organizations more than doubled in 2023, impacting over 39 million people in the first half of 2023. A late-November cyberattack at the Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, led to a system-wide shutdown, causing ambulances to reroute and life-saving surgeries to be canceled. These attacks impact patients' reliance and trust in health care systems, which may make them more hesitant to seek care, further endangering the health and safety of already vulnerable populations.

The scale and prevalence of these attacks weaken public trust—especially among communities of color who already have deep-rooted fears about our health care systems. The now-condemned Untreated Syphilis Study at Tuskegee, where researchers denied treatment to Black men without their knowledge or consent in order to observe the disease’s long-term effects, only ended 52 years ago. However, the study created a legacy of suspicion and mistrust of the medical community that continues today, leading to a decrease in the life expectancy of Black men and lower participation in medical research among Black Americans. The compounding fact that Black women are three to four times more likely, and American Indian and Alaska Native women are two times more likely, to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women only adds to mistrust.

Erosion of trust also extends to low-income people. Over a million young patients at Lurie Children's Surgical Foundation in Chicago had their names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth exposed in an August 2023 breach. The hospital treats more children insured by Medicaid—an economic hardship indicator—than any other hospital in Illinois. Once breached, a child’s personal data could be used to commit identity fraud, which severely damages credit, jeopardizes education financial aid, and denies employment opportunities. While difficult for anyone, children from financially insecure households are least equipped to absorb or overcome these economic setbacks.

Economic Opportunity

Identity theft is not the only way cyberattacks exploit hard times. Cyberattacks also go after financially vulnerable individuals—and they are getting more sophisticated. In Maryland, hackers targeted Electronic Benefits Transfer cards—used to provide public assistance funds for food—to steal more than $2 million in 2022 and the first months of 2023. That’s an increase of more than 2,100 percent compared to the $90,000 of EBT funds stolen in 2021. Maryland’s income limit to qualify for the government’s food assistance program is $39,000 for a family of four in 2024, and only if they have less than $2,001 in their bank account. Unlike a credit card, which legally protects against fraudulent charges, EBT cards don’t have fraud protections. Efforts to help the victims are riddled with red tape: reimbursements are capped at two months of stolen benefits, and only within a specific time period.

Cybercriminals also target vulnerable populations, especially within older age groups. Since the last reporting in 2019, 40 percent of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDAs) aged 50 and older have reported experiencing financial fraud, with one-third of those victims losing an average of $15,000. From 2018 through 2023, Chinese Embassy Scam robocalls delivered automated messages and combined caller ID spoofing, a method where scammers disguise their phone display information, targeting Chinese immigrant communities. This resulted in more than 350 victims across 27 US states and financial losses averaging $164,000 per victim for a total of $40 million. And for five years, this scam just kept going. As these scams evolve, groups now face increasingly sophisticated AI-assisted calls, where scammers use technology to convincingly mimic loved ones' voices, further exploiting vulnerabilities, particularly among older adults—many of whom live on fixed incomes or live with economic insecurity.

While social movements have fought to promote economic equity, cybercriminals undermine these efforts by exacerbating financial vulnerabilities. From the 1960s La Causa movement advocating for migrant worker rights to the Poor People’s Campaign mobilizing across racial lines, activists have worked to dismantle systemic barriers, end poverty, and push for fair wages. Current attacks on financial systems, however, often target the very groups these movements aim to empower—perpetuating the disparities that advocates have fought against. Digital scams and fraud incidents disproportionately impact those least equipped to recover—including natural disaster victims, people with disabilities, older adults, young adults, military veterans, immigrant communities, and lower-income families. By stealing essential resources, cybercriminals compound hardships for those already struggling to make ends meet or those experiencing some of the worst hardships of their lives—pushing groups deeper into the margins.

Education Access

Education is another area where cybercrime has soared. One of the worst hacks of 2023 exploited a flaw in a file transfer software called MOVEit that multiple government entities, nonprofits, and other organizations use to manage data across systems. This includes the National Student Clearinghouse, which serves 3,600 colleges, representing 97 percent of college students in the US, to provide verification information to academic institutions, student loan providers, and employers.

Attacks on educational systems are devastating at all levels. A top target for ransomware attacks last year was K-12 schools. While the complete data is not available yet, by August 2023 ransomware attacks (where hackers lock an organization’s data and demand payment for its release) hit at least 48 US school districts—three more than in all of 2022. Schools already have limited resources, and cybersecurity can be expensive, so many have few defenses against sophisticated cyberattacks.

The data compromised in attacks against educational institutions includes identifying information and deeply sensitive student records, such as incidents of sexual abuse, mental health records, and reports of abusive parents. This information can affect future opportunities, college admissions, employment, and the mental health of students. The impacts are especially magnified for students from marginalized backgrounds, who already face discrimination in academic and employment opportunities. In 1954, the US Supreme Court struck down segregated public schools as unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education to address disparities based on race, but today’s threats to equitable and accessible education are being jeopardized through digital attacks.

Democratic Participation

Another foundational pillar of our civil rights is also under attack: democracy itself. Since 2016, foreign state actors and state-linked criminals have increasingly used sophisticated cyber operations to suppress minority democratic participation worldwide. The early warnings for the 2024 global elections are clear: Influence and disinformation threats will likely escalate—now enabled by AI-powered cyber operations. Unlike humans, AI systems have few limitations—they can spread disinformation and divisive content to a vast, multilingual, global audience across countless mediums, simultaneously and without rest. Worse, they can do so in an individualized, highly targeted manner.

The undermining of democracy is also more insidious, less about pushing communities toward a specific candidate than sowing distrust in the system itself—which leads fewer people to vote and otherwise suppresses civic participation. The concentration of these attacks on racial and ethnic minority groups means communities of color, who historically have not been in positions of power, will remain marginalized and disenfranchised. Consider a 2022 cyberattack on Mississippi’s election information website on that year’s Election Day—a significant event in a state without modern early voting options. The 2022 elections included crucial midterm elections that decided congressional representation, and Mississippi has the second-highest Black population (39.2 percent) in the US, behind only the District of Columbia—a jurisdiction without voting rights in Congress. The disruption also extended to state judicial elections, where most judges are elected in a single day, due to a lack of judicial primaries. In Mississippi, 11 percent of adults and 16 percent of Black voters could not cast a ballot because of past felony convictions. With the compounded challenges in Mississippi—no early voting, no judicial primaries, and the high rate of disenfranchisement—coupled with the opportunity of a pivotal Black voting bloc, access to voting information is imperative for those who can vote.

Weaponizing cyber operations for any form of voter suppression leaves marginalized groups further aggrieved and isolated. Worse, it takes away our only ability to address systemic inequities in wealth, health, and education: democratic participation.

These compounding problems require a new perspective on cyberattacks that looks beyond lost dollars, breached files, or doomsday debates over generative AI tools like ChatGPT or artificial general intelligence. Marginalized communities are suffering now and civil rights advocates cannot take on these burdens alone. To quote civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer, “The only thing we can do is work together.” Cybersecurity analysts, developers, journalists, researchers, and policymakers ​​must incorporate civil rights into our work by building inclusive defenses, understanding demographic trends in cyber attacks, deterring misuse of AI, and utilizing diverse teams.

Cyber operations are being used to attack the foundation of civil rights, democracy, and dignity around the world, and that is a problem that affects everyone.

[blackjackkent]

Extra Life Charity 24-Hour Marathon Stream - Nov 2-3 2024!

Hiya! I’m Roz, aka BlackjackKent, and I am a Twitch variety gaming streamer. For my TENTH YEAR RUNNING, I am fundraising with Extra Life to raise money for Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL.

As part of my fundraising efforts, I’ll be participating in the Game Day events by livestreaming at http://www.twitch.tv/blackjack_kent for 24 hours straight from 12pm, Sat Nov 2 through 11am, Sun Nov 3 (Central Time) (a full 24 hours due to daylight savings time), playing all sorts of games!

As in past years, every $25 you donate allows you to pick a game for one hour of this marathon session, so bring your wackiest and wildest suggestions. In addition to viewer requests, I’ll also be playing Choice Chamber, Jackbox, Guild Wars 2, Dark Souls, and various other favorites.

Since this is my tenth anniversary of participating in Extra Life, I will be adding some brand new incentives for donations this year, which I will post further about as the stream draws near.

You can donate to this year’s campaign here:

Thanks for reading! Extra Life is always a super fun time for a good cause, and I'd love your help to make my tenth anniversary something special.

Please donate if you can, share this post around, or come by on stream day to help keep me hyped up! Hope to see you there! 💜

[shiroxix]

(terrible image for attenion)

Hello everyone! At 1 PM CST today (April 30th), I will be doing a charity stream to raise money for my local children's hospital, Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago!

All donations are appreciated even if you can't attend the stream, but for those that donate $5 or more, I will do a sketch of a character of your choice!!

Stream Link: twitch.tv/shiroxix

Donation Link:

[prerodinu]

Sent Profile of the Mues Pt. 2

Marcel Novák: Patchouli, Myrrh and Sandalwood. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Marcus Soika: Unusual: Roasted Coffee Beans and sugar. Vanilla and Orange Blossom and Cinnamon. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Mäsiar Novák: Orange Blossom, Cinnamon and Clove. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss, Cedar and Sandalwood. 

Matúš Strnád: Citrus: Lemon, Grapefruit and Bergemont. Cinnamon and Vanilla. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Maximilián Zdenako: Unusal: Swamp Water, Thick Haze and Ozone. Spice / Warmth, Cinnamon and Vanilla. Fruity, Pear and Apple. Woodsy, Oakmoss, Damp Earth and Cedar. 

Michal Petrov: Unusual: Blood and Cigarette Smoke. Spice, Pepper and Cinnamon. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Miroslava Repková: Unusual: Sparkling Lemonaide and Sunshine.Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss, Cedar Sandalwood and Myrrh. 

Nimuth Craeq'ak Olvut: Unusual: hospitals, cryo pods, galaxies and starlight. Lemon, Orange blossoms, Oakmoss Cedar, Musk and cinnamon.

Nyla Pivovarčová: Spice, Pepper, Musk, Cinnamon. Fruity, Peachy and Apple. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Rarlith Nax Xukvi Luri II: Unusual: Roalty, riches, crowns, galaxies and starlight. Pear, Apple, Musk, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar.

Oliva Vuk: Unusual: Hot Metal, Burning wood and Sparklers. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. Spice, Pepper and Cinnamon. 

Pandora Vysoká: Musk, Cinnamon and Vanilla. Fruity, Apple and Peach. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Petra Khomiakov: Floral, Jasmine, Vanilla and rose. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. Smoke.

Radovan Láska: Unusual: Blood and British tea. Fruity, Apple and Peach. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Sára Vukaxin: Spicy, Cinnamon / Pepper. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. Floral: Orange blossom, Jasmine.

Skuli Vukaxin: Unusual: Old books and Leather Cleaner. Warm, Cinnamon and Clove. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar

Sophia Vuk: Unusual: Film Developer and The Night Sky in Summer. Warmth, Cinnamon and and Pepper. Citrus: Orange Blossom, Grapefruit and Jasmine. Woodsy. Smoke, Cedar and Oakmoss. 

Stella Vuk: Warmth, Cinnamon, Vanilla and Nutmeg. Floral, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Rose. Fruity: Peach and Pear. Woodsy, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Tristian Ojdanic: Unusual: Fresh Dirt / Soil and Sunshine. Spice, Cinnamon, Clove and Musk. Floral, Lavendar, Rose, Sage and Jasmine. Woodsy, Oakmoss, Sandalwood and Cedar. 

Vali Vukaxin: Unusual: Motor Oil and Grease, Summer Nights. Warm, Cinnamon and Clove. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Valentín Roman Vuxakin: Unsual: deep sleep, soft blankets. Clove, Vanilla. Nutmeg and Orange blossom. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Vavrinac Vukaxin: Unusual: Rot / Decay, Blood and Screams of Children. Spice, Cinnamon, Clove and Pepper. Vanilla. Woodsy, Leather, Oakmoss and Cedar. 

Valéria Trajkovski: Unusual: VW Bus and 70′s pool party. Warm / Floral, Patchouli, Bergemont, Cinnamon, Violet and rose. Woodsy, Cedar, Sandalwood and Oakmoss. 

Vratislav Vuk: Unusal: Blood, Death and Cigarette Smoke. Spice, Pepper and Cinnamon. Woodsy. Smoke, Cedar and Oakmoss. 

Xikzil Xolkoin Iephih: Unusual: sword play, steel, starlight, galaxies. Leather, spice, Musk, black cherries, woodsy, oakmoss and cedar.

Žigmund Skalický: Unusal: warm blankets and hot coco. Warm / Floral, Jasmine, Vanilla, Cinnamon Clove and Lavender. Fruity: Blackberries and Raspberries. Woodsy, Oakmoss, Cedar and Leather. 

Zdenko Láska: Unusual: Blood and British tea. Spice, Pepper, Cinnamon, Vanilla Musk and Rose. Woodsy, Smoke, Ash, and Cedar.

Žofia Rázusová: Unusual: Death, Blood and Screams of Agony. Spice, Pepper, Cinnamon and Clove. Fruity: Peach and Apple. Woodsy, Smoke, Ash, and Cedar.

[corvoda]

Currently live with Day 3 of Extra Life! Playing weird games, and raising money for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago!

Today we're playing a weird card game! And later, Pocket Dogs!

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By New York Times Opinion

Perhaps never before has a nomination for health and human services secretary generated as much attention and divisiveness as that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Times Opinion invited experts and leaders across disciplines and ideologies to share questions they believe Mr. Kennedy must answer before serving in a role that oversees a $1.7 trillion budget and wields enormous influence over drug approvals, public health and the nation’s research agenda. The questions reveal the stakes surrounding his nomination and offer a view of the broader fault lines in American health policy.

Vaccines

1. In 2019, Samoa experienced a devastating measles epidemic, resulting in nearly 2,000 hospitalizations and 83 deaths, mostly among children under age 4. During this crisis, Mr. Kennedy, you visited Samoa, promoted anti-vaccine misinformation through your organization, Children’s Health Defense, and met with anti-vaccine activists, undermining trust in public health leaders. These actions contributed to declining vaccination rates and delays in lifesaving M.M.R. vaccinations.

If confirmed as health secretary, you will bear responsibility for protecting vulnerable communities in the United States. If a vaccine-preventable outbreak happened here, how would you respond? — Dr. Nadine Tenn Salle, pediatrician and chief medical officer of the 2019 Hawaii medical response team to Samoa

2. You recently said that “if vaccines are working for somebody, I’m not going to take them away.” However, as health secretary, you could appoint individuals who might try to change the childhood vaccine schedule or weaken recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group of experts that provides vaccine guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These recommendations shape insurance coverage and school entry requirements.

Will you now commit to not using this kind of soft recall where certain vaccines remain technically available but are no longer widely recommended or reimbursed by insurance, making them effectively inaccessible to much of the public? — Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the C.D.C. and current chief executive of Resolve to Save Lives

3. You have a long record of vaccine skepticism — including having said repeatedly and recently that there’s “no vaccine” that is “safe and effective.” But you also recently said that you’re “all for” the polio vaccine and won’t take away anyone’s vaccines. Is this true? Which vaccines do you now believe to be safe and effective and what evidence changed your mind? — Kathleen Sebelius, former secretary of health and human services

Infectious diseases

4. Most presidents since Gerald Ford have faced an infectious disease emergency. Research has shown that trust, including in the government, is important in how well countries fare. We are facing a potential pandemic of H5N1 and whatever other unknowns Mother Nature sends our way. And yet, you have said you will tell National Institutes of Health scientists to take “a break” from studying infectious diseases for about eight years. How will you help the country develop and have confidence to use effective countermeasures if they are needed to control a pandemic? — Dr.Nicole Lurie, former assistant secretary for preparedness and response at H.H.S. 5. In your book “The Real Anthony Fauci” and in a recent interview with New York magazine, you suggested that H.I.V. isn’t the most likely cause of AIDS. You have suggested that lifestyle choices and the use of amyl nitrate may instead be to blame for the disease and that AIDS drugs may have caused “mass murder.” These views are scientifically baseless and dangerous.

Do you promise to support increased funding for and reauthorization of programs in the United States and around the world, such as the Ryan White Care Act and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which have been critical in saving millions of lives and protecting millions of infants from H.I.V. infection? — Gregg Gonsalves, associate professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and longtime AIDS activist

Food

6. Ultraprocessed foods account for nearly 70 percent of the American diet and have been linked not only to weight gain but also to a variety of chronic diseases. You’ve voiced strong criticisms of ultraprocessed foods. As health secretary, what regulatory steps, if any, are you prepared to take in order to curb their ubiquity? And would you consider proposing a tax on them? — Michael Pollan, journalist and author of numerous books on food, including “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”

Global health security

7. The search for Covid-19’s origin has revealed low visibility and minimal tracking of research that can cause pandemics. The new U.S. government policy to put guardrails on such research still leaves the door open for experiments that can inadvertently cause a pathogen to become more transmissible or deadly. How will you ensure that the United States is not continuing to fund risky research that can cause pandemics? — Alina Chan, molecular biologist and co-author of “Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19”

8. The United States has always had a leadership role in global health and in the World Health Organization, whether it’s responding to outbreaks or developing and disseminating access to treatment or preventive measures like vaccines. If diseases are global, what is the United States supposed to do to protect its citizens without being a part of international organizations like the W.H.O.? — Dr. Helene D. Gayle, president emerita of Spelman College and former president and chief executive of the Chicago Community Trust

Health care

9. You’ve expressed skepticism over the use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Many people have found them enormously effective in helping them to lose weight when all else fails. Given that obesity can be a significant cause of chronic illness and early death, not to mention a huge financial burden on the health care system, this has been a welcome development. Unfortunately, it’s hard for many people to obtain these drugs. The drugs exemplify how high drug prices can drive unequal outcomes and strain the health system. What role do you see for emerging technologies in creating a more equitable and cost-effective health care system? — Dr. AaronCarroll, pediatrician and president of the health policy organization AcademyHealth

10. Subsidies to help patients afford premiums for insurance plans purchased on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces are set to expire at the end of 2025. Enacted during the pandemic by the Biden administration, they have helped millions afford insurance, generally capping premium payments at 8.5 percent of income. If those subsidies are allowed to expire, premiums will jump by an average of 75 percent and will double for many, making coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. Will the new administration work to renew those subsidies, and if not, how does it intend to help Americans afford health care? — Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, physician and health care journalist

Abortion

11. Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, federal health agencies have found themselves at the center of the debate around abortion and contraception access. Do you believe agencies under your purview should restrict access to drugs such as mifepristone in states with laws limiting access to abortion? — M. Anthony Mills, director of the Center for Technology, Science and Energy at the American Enterprise Institute

12. During your independent campaign to be elected president, you said you supported limits on abortion after fetal viability. But fetal viability has changed as our medicine has improved. Sixty years ago, doctors often struggled to save babies born at 34 weeks, like your cousin Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. Today, some hospitals specialize in saving children born at 22 weeks. Does viability really indicate something about the limits of fetal personhood or just the limits of our technology and our empathy? — Leah Libresco Sargeant, journalist and author of “The Dignity of Dependence”

Health disparities

13. Rural and urban Americans have stark differences in life expectancy, health and health care access. Rural Americans live significantly shorter lives than urban Americans, with higher rates of death from accidents, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Health conditions have consistently improved over the past 15 years in urban areas, but not in rural ones or among our tribal nations. This is often presented as a Republican versus Democratic issue — rural versus urban — but it’s really not about how Americans vote, but rather where they live.

What will you specifically do to address the health disparities of rural Americans, who for many diseases have survival rates as much as 15 percent to 30 percent lower than urban Americans? — Dr. Deborah Birx, former White House coronavirus response coordinator

[vapehk1]

If you’ve been following the news lately, it feels like vaping is constantly making headlines, doesn’t it? The FDA, politicians, and industry players are all locked in this ongoing tug-of-war, trying to figure out how to handle these controversial products. And honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming to keep track of it all. Recent Crackdowns: The FDA Steps Up Take the recent crackdown on unauthorized products, for instance. On October 30, the FDA went after companies selling these sneaky e-cigarettes that look like smart devices—phones, gaming gadgets, you name it. They even have flashy features like display screens and smartphone connectivity. Now, you’d think that’s tech-savvy, right? But no. The FDA is calling it what it is: a blatant ploy to attract kids. Brian King from the FDA even said, “There’s nothing smart about these products,” and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. They’re deceptive, and they’ve got to go. Then, just a few days later, on December 2, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi turned up the heat. He announced an investigation into Chinese manufacturers flooding the U.S. market with illicit vaping products, like the popular Elf Bar. Speaking at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, he didn’t mince words about how these colorful, youth-targeted vapes are a major public health issue. What stood out to me is how he called for federal resources to tackle the problem. This isn’t just a local issue—it’s global, and we need all hands on deck. And as if that wasn’t enough, on December 5, the FDA came back swinging again. They issued warnings to 115 retailers for selling unauthorized vapes like Geek Bar. What’s wild is that data from this year’s National Youth Tobacco Survey shows how popular these brands are with kids—Geek Bar alone was used by nearly 6% of young e-cigarette users. The FDA is now teaming up with states to crack down harder on this problem. It’s like watching a chess match, with regulators making one big move after another. Looking Back: Lessons from the Trump Era But here’s the thing: this fight over vaping isn’t new. You remember the chaos back in 2019, right? That was when President Trump faced mounting pressure to address the youth vaping epidemic. Instead of banning flavored vapes outright—something many people were pushing for—he took a more calculated approach. He banned flavored pods but left open-tank systems and vape juices untouched, recognizing that vaping helps many adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was pragmatic. It allowed the industry to survive without completely compromising public health efforts. Fast forward to today, and we’re facing the same tough questions, but now the stakes feel even higher. The FDA has only authorized 34 e-cigarette products to date. That’s it. Yet, shelves are flooded with unregulated, youth-friendly products. And let’s not even get started on disposable vapes and the environmental headache they’re causing. Did you hear about the UK planning to ban disposables in 2025 because of waste issues? It’s a similar conversation here in the U.S., and I’m not sure how it’ll play out. What makes this even trickier is that while regulators are tightening the noose, there’s also a need to keep adult smokers in mind. People forget that vaping started as a harm-reduction tool—a way for smokers to quit without going cold turkey. But when you see products disguised as gaming devices or candy-flavored vapes targeting kids, it’s hard not to feel like the industry brought some of this on itself. Learning from Europe: The TPD Model While the U.S. grapples with how to regulate vaping effectively, Europe’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) offers a framework worth studying. Since 2016, TPD compliance has set strict standards for e-cigarettes, ensuring products meet rigorous safety, packaging, and promotional guidelines. These measures help keep only high-quality, reliable devices on the market while protecting consumer safety. A great example of a TPD-compliant product is the ALD Combo Pack, which cleverly balances innovation with regulation. The device features a 2mL refillable pod—adhering to the TPD’s rule limiting tank sizes to 2mL—paired with an additional 10mL screw-on bottle. This combo achieves a total 12mL e-liquid capacity without violating TPD limits. This approach not only meets legal requirements but also enhances convenience for users. Adopting a similar model in the U.S. could help streamline the vaping market by filtering out unsafe and non-compliant products while still fostering innovation. With the right adaptations, the TPD’s mix of clear regulations and consumer protections could serve as a blueprint for a balanced regulatory environment in the U.S. The Path Forward: Balance and Collaboration So, where does this leave us? It seems like a delicate balancing act. The vaping industry needs to clean up its act, plain and simple. Stop targeting kids. Invest in sustainable practices. Work with regulators, not against them. At the same time, regulators need to be smart about this. Blanket bans don’t work. We’ve seen that before—they just push things underground. Instead, targeted actions, like going after illicit imports and deceptive marketing, seem like a better bet. And let’s not forget public perception. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about vaping. On one hand, you’ve got people who think it’s the devil, and on the other, people who think it’s completely harmless. The truth is somewhere in the middle, but we need clearer communication to help people make informed choices. So, yeah, it’s a mess. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching this play out, it’s that history matters. Trump’s 2019 decision showed us that balanced policies can work. If today’s leaders take that lesson to heart, maybe—just maybe—the vaping industry can weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side. But right now, it’s hard to say whether we’re on the path to progress or just stuck in an endless loop of crises. Time will tell, I guess. Read the full article