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FDA VRBPAC Discussion Topics Today
The FDA VRBPAC 178th annual meeting on future Covid-19 vaccine regimens includes two main discussion topics: “Future periodic vaccination campaigns:Simplification of COVID-19 vaccine use: Among the members attending the web conference is University of Iowa Professor Stanley Perlman, MD, PhD, Departments of Microbiology andImmunology, Professor of Pediatrics, Mark Stinski Chair in Virology. The meeting is…
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Today is National Opposite Day!
As we were listening to the Mike Waters Wake Up Call radio show on KOKZ, we were disoriented when he gave the temperature as “83” degrees and that it’s “Wednesday evening”. The more he talked, the more bizarre he began to sound and I wondered if KOKZ was for whatever reason broadcasting a past recording…
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Some Robins Can Be Sunbirds…Sort of
We always thought of Robins as birds who are the harbingers of spring. On the other hand, we’ve seen Robins in the middle of winter. We saw them today. I realize that you technically can’t call a Robin a Sunbird. There is a species of Sunbird. It’s a small tropical forest bird. And you could…
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Exercise or Weaponize My Privilege?
Back in November 2022, while on our way to the Stanley Museum of Art, we saw the two murals on the East Burlington Street Parking Ramp. It was the first time we saw them in person although photos were available last fall. The Little Village article published an article about them on September 30, 2021.…
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More Thoughts on Physicians Going on Strike
I noticed Dr. H. Steven Moffic, MD had written another article in Psychiatric Times asking whether it’s time for psychiatrists to consider going on strike. Often the issue triggering discussions about this is the rising prevalence of physician burnout. I’ve already given my personal opinion about physicians going on strike and the short answer is…
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MLK Week Redux for the New University of Iowa Psychiatry Fellows
I discovered the University of Iowa Dept of Psychiatry had a very successful match, filling key residency slots in Child Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Consultation-Liaison fellowships. Congratulations! That’s a big reason to celebrate. This reminds me of my role as a teacher. I retired from the department two and a half years ago. But I’ll…
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Bivalent Covid-19 Booster Protects Us
University of Iowa Health Care participated in research which demonstrates that people over age 65 who got the updated bivalent Covid-19 vaccine booster:
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Amaryllis and Zygocactus Repotting
Remember that gorgeous Christmas Amaryllis flower? After it leaned over so far, we had to retire it, so to speak. We didn’t throw it out, but Sena kept it and performed some kind of miracle. Apparently, she resurrected it by giving it a little water. A couple of new leaves grew a few inches overnight.…
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An Old Post on Breaking Bad News
I’m reposting a piece about a sense of humor and breaking bad news to patients I first wrote for my old blog, The Practical Psychosomaticist about a dozen years ago. I still believe it’s relevant today. The excerpt from Mark Twain is priceless. Because it was published before 1923 (See Mark Twain’s Sketches, published in…
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Birds Nipping the Frost
We woke up this morning to hoarfrost decorating the trees. Backyard birds seemed to be after the water.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 