11/15
Medical Ethics
Catalyzing reform in health care payment
Penn’s Parity Center engages an interdisciplinary team of experts to collaborate with health insurers, health systems, physician practices and policymakers. Deputy director Austin S. Kilaru describes the Center’s mission, success, and future.
Killings of unarmed Black people and racial disparities in sleep health
Killings of unarmed Black people and racial disparities in sleep health
Penn Medicine research finds that Black adults across the U.S. suffer from sleep problems following exposure to news about unarmed Black individuals killed by police during police encounters.
Challenges and advances in brain-computer interfaces
Challenges and advances in brain-computer interfaces
Following FDA approval for tech startups to begin human clinical trials for brain-computer interfacing technologies, Penn Today met with Anna Wexler of the Perelman School of Medicine to discuss the promising possibilities and potential pitfalls of neurotechnology.
Home health is another care setting where workers use judgment language
Home health is another care setting where workers use judgment language
A first-of-its kind study from Penn LDI reveals that Black and Hispanic patients are described negatively, and have shorter visits.
Beyond the pipette and the stethoscope, students explore biology’s societal impacts
Beyond the pipette and the stethoscope, students explore biology’s societal impacts
The new Biology and Society course, supported by SNF Paideia, gave biology majors the chance to explore how scientists must contend with subjects such as health equity and vaccine hesitancy.
Tackling the ethical considerations of dementia research
Tackling the ethical considerations of dementia research
Alzheimer’s research poses tricky questions. Bedside-nurse-turned-bioethicist Emily Largent wants to answer them, and to improve the lives of Alzheimer’s patients.
Going beyond the binary in historical explorations of sex and gender
Going beyond the binary in historical explorations of sex and gender
Beans Velocci of the School of Arts & Sciences explores how sex and gender have been shaped and categorized through history—and the consequences of those constructions taking on the guise of scientific and medical fact.
Five from Penn elected to National Academy of Medicine
Five from Penn elected to National Academy of Medicine
Five Penn experts have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for their contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.
Abortion clinic websites may unwittingly aid patient prosecutions
Abortion clinic websites may unwittingly aid patient prosecutions
More than 99% of abortion clinic web pages studied included widely used code that transferred user data to external entities, which could sell the data or provide it to law enforcement, without the clinics knowledge.
Higher rates of chemical sedation among Black psychiatric patients points to inequities
Higher rates of chemical sedation among Black psychiatric patients points to inequities
Penn Medicine researchers also find that white patients are more likely to be chemically sedated in emergency departments at hospitals that treat high proportion Black patients, suggesting that hospital demographics can impact practice patterns.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Can ‘magic’ mushrooms help one of the most painful conditions?
Dominic Sisti of the Perelman School of Medicine says there’s compelling evidence that psilocybin is efficacious, safe, and seems to help people with cluster headaches.
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Stat
Being a patient can be a full-time job. This ICU nurse wants to make it easier
Michael Anne Kyle of the Perelman School of Medicine is linking survey data and medical records to determine exactly how administrative burdens impact health care.
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NBC News
Elder care costs are outpacing inflation. Americans want a lifeline
Shekinah Fashaw-Walters of the Perelman School of Medicine says that Black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries are less likely to access higher-quality home health agencies.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
When it comes to restaurant portions, size matters, Penn researcher says
Sophia Hua of the Perelman School of Medicine is analyzing how smaller portions at restaurants could make dining out healthier and could help combat obesity.
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Nature
Second brain implant by Elon Musk’s Neuralink: Will it fare better than the first?
Anna Wexler of the Perelman School of Medicine and Leonard Davis Institute says that Elon Musk’s predictions for Neuralink’s health care capabilities risk misleading potential study volunteers.
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The Washington Post
As Biden ends campaign, focus shifts to health for remainder of his term
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that the presidency is an administration with a team led by the president, not a one-man show.
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