Category: health care

  • Dept of Health & Human Services to Reconstitute CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

    Dept of Health & Human Services to Reconstitute CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

    HHS announced the removal and replacement of the current members of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in a press release today. The CDC ACIP meeting for vaccine recommendations is still scheduled for June 25-27. According to the Federal Register announcement under Supplementary Information: “SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is…

  • The Wild West Sandbox of AI Enhancement in Psychiatry!

    The Wild West Sandbox of AI Enhancement in Psychiatry!

    I always find Dr. Moffic’s articles in Psychiatric Times thought-provoking and his latest essay, “Enhancement Psychiatry” is fascinating, especially the part about Artificial Intelligence (AI). I liked the link to the video of Dr. John Luo’s take on AI in psychiatry. That was fascinating. I have my own concerns about AI and dabbled with “talking”…

  • Reasons to Be Proud and Hopeful for the Future

    Reasons to Be Proud and Hopeful for the Future

    As the month of May Mental Health Awareness draws to a close, I reflect a little on the Make It OK calendar items that are salient for me: 3 things I’ve done that I’m most proud of and 3 reasons I’m hopeful for the future. I’ll keep it short. One thing I’m most proud of…

  • So, I Got the Covid-19 Booster Today

    So, I Got the Covid-19 Booster Today

    After giving the Covid-19 summer booster a lot of thought, I got it today. What the heck. I’m an old guy and the experts all agree that the summer surge is real, including the current leaders of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (Vinay Prasad, M.D., M.P.H and Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H.).  I read their article…

  • An Anecdote About “Supportive” Psychotherapy

    An Anecdote About “Supportive” Psychotherapy

    I just read Dr. George Dawson’s excellent blog post on supportive psychotherapy (“Supportive Psychotherapy—The Clinical Language of Psychiatry.” If you’re looking for an erudite and humanistic explanation of supportive psychotherapy, I think you’re unlikely to find anything superior to Dr. Dawson’s essay. Now, about my take on “supportive” psychotherapy—there’s a reason why the word supportive…

  • The FDA VRBPAC  Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccines for 2025-26

    The FDA VRBPAC  Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccines for 2025-26

    The FDA VRBPAC meeting today on the Covid-19 vaccines for 2025-26 is so far leading me to believe that the best choice for the voting question- Based on the evidence presented, please discuss considerations for the selection of JN.1 and/or a specific JN.1-lineage strain for COVID-19 vaccines (2025-2026 Formula) to be used in the U.S.…

  • FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting May 22, 2025

    FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting May 22, 2025

    The meeting of the FDA VRBPAC on the composition of Covid-19 vaccines will be tomorrow, May 22, 2025 at 8:30 am-4:30 pm EST. Some materials have recently become available on the FDA website. The briefing document indicates that there will be a discussion of the most recent Covid-19 variants and whether the current vaccine needs…

  • FDA VRBPAC Meeting to Discuss Covid-19 Vaccines

    FDA VRBPAC Meeting to Discuss Covid-19 Vaccines

    The FDA VRBPAC meeting to discuss Covid–19 vaccines is scheduled for May 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET. The committee will meet in open session to discuss and make recommendations on the selection of the 2025-2026 Formula for COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States. The meeting presentations will be heard, viewed,…

  • May Mental Health Awareness Month Calendar and Checklist (look below this sticky post for other new posts)
  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

    This is May and it’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I just found out about something exciting and it’s the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative. See the Calendar of Events and the Checklist.