View story – As a guest on “The Exchange,” Margaret Karagas, chair and professor of epidemiology, discusses the most prevalent cancers in New Hampshire and examines who appears to be most susceptible to these cancers and how genetics, lifestyle, or environmental causes might be contributing factors in the incidence of cancer in the state.

Read article – Quotes Lisa Schwartz, professor of medicine, community and family medicine, and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, about the world of illness inflation and how the eight common conditions that were not part of mainstream medicine 20 years ago are now said to affect more than 180 million Americans. “The formula is you have to convince people there is an incredibly prevalent problem that has been totally ignored and now, all of a sudden, we are on the verge of developing miracle treatments to fix it,” says Schwartz.

Read article – An opinion piece by Cassie Kosarek, Geisel ’20, about how students taking a gap year before medical school could save more money – but they might lose good study habits. “Mixed opinions on the gap year abound, with some arguing that there is little point in delaying the plunge into medical training. Others counter that the gap year allows students to recharge and determine whether medicine is truly right for them,” says Kosarek.

Read article – Cites a book by H. Gilbert Welch, professor of medicine, community and family medicine, and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, where he talks about the problem of cancer over-diagnosis and how not all cancers are fast running rabbits that need to be caught, but some are like turtles that were never going to hurt you anyway. The article also cites a Geisel School of Medicine study that found most people survive thyroid cancer, regardless of whether they have their thyroid out.

View story – As a guest on “Morning Report,” Ellen Meara, professor of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and adjunct professor of economics, discusses how the different laws aimed at curbing opioid abuse over the last seven years have not helped to slow overdoses.

Read article – Quotes Julie Bynum, associate professor of medicine and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, about a new study that shows those on Medicare who have two chronic conditions come in contact with the health care system an average of 33 days per year. She argues all that time in the system might not be necessary. “What’s the difference in places that are using a lot more [days]?” asks Bynum.