Read article—Quotes Roy Herbst, the incoming director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center, in an article about China’s ascendance as a powerhouse in drug development.
In the News
The Next Pandemic Will Come From A Conflict Zone—Foreign Policy
Read article—An op-ed co-authored by Daniel Lucey, a clinical professor of medicine, argues that the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda exposes major weaknesses in the global pandemic preparedness system, particularly in conflict zones. “These emergencies persist not because the world lacks scientific knowledge, but because conflict, inequity, collapsing vaccination systems, and political fragility continue to erode the foundations of public health,” the co-authors write. (Similar coverage in World Socialist Web Site.)
Valley Parents column: Give children the freedom to play—Valley News
Read article—A parenting column by Miriam Voran, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, discusses the importance of unstructured play in children’s emotional and social development, including for their mental health. “Through play, children practice emotion regulation, self-control, social skills and problem-solving,” says Voran. “Play is a child’s work; it’s their path to growth.”
Skin Cancer: Know the Risks, Types and Treatments—New Hampshire Union Leader
Read article—Quotes Shane Chapman, Matthew Davis, and Matthew LeBoeuf, faculty in the Department of Dermatology, in a three-part series on preventing and treating melanoma and other forms of skin cancer as summer approaches. New Hampshire’s older population, lighter skin and hair types, and concentrated sun exposure contribute to elevated skin cancer risk, Chapman said. Additional stories in this series are here and here.
Many People Now Trust AI With Their Feelings. And Therapists Want to Talk About It—WBUR
Read article—Features Nick Jacobson, an associate professor of biomedical data science and psychiatry, discussing the development of an AI therapy chatbot designed to support mental health care. “One of the things that’s exciting about this type of generative AI… is that it’s accessible all the time,” Jacobson said.
As Kratom and 7-OH Use Grows, Clinicians Are Developing Protocols for Addiction Treatment—WHYY
Read article—Features Corneliu Stanciu, an assistant professor of psychiatry, discussing the health risks and treatment challenges associated with kratom and its synthetic derivative, 7-OH, which are marketed as herbal supplements but function like opioids. “The problem is that there’s no standard when it comes to testing,” Stanciu said.
Medicaid Work Requirements: What Emergency Docs Should Know—ACEP Now
Read article—Nicholas Cochran-Caggiano, a professor of emergency medicine, co-authors an article examining how new federal Medicaid work requirements could threaten patients’ access to care and the financial stability of emergency departments nationwide. “The experiences of Arkansas and Georgia serve as cautionary tales, highlighting that bureaucratic barriers, not lack of effort, often drive disenrollment,” the co-authors wrote.
Granite Geek: It’s Not All Doom-And-Gloom On The Antivaxx Front (Although There’s A Lot Of Doom And Gloom)—Concord Monitor
Read article—Features research from Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock examining vaccine hesitancy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, finding stable uptake of TDAP vaccines but declines in HPV vaccination. “We are now seeing that there’s an absolute meteoric rise in oral cancers, especially HPV-associated,” says Ilana Cass, Guarini ’24, professor of obstetrics and gynecology.
Alpha-Gal Screening in Asymptomatic Patients Not Cost-Effective—Healio
Read article—Features a study by Marcus Shaker, a professor of pediatrics and medicine, that finds routine screening for alpha-gal syndrome—a life-threatening allergy to red meat and other mammal products—in asymptomatic patients is generally not cost-effective. “The central issue is that the test may be sensitive but not always very specific, and a nonspecific test can generate worry and harm without adding benefit,” Shaker said.
Dartmouth Health Research Suggests Increased Hesitancy in Post-Covid Era Toward Standard Childhood Vaccinations—Union Leader
Read article—Outlines research by Ilana Cass, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and PhD candidate Elizabeth Anderson that shows an association between declining human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) rates and the release of the COVID-19 vaccine.