Medicine

How a voice from the past resonated with a Black woman medical student

Med student Jasmine Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine will be joined by alumna Arlene Bennett and Perelman’s Eve Higginbotham to discuss her upcoming book “Twice as Hard,” which recounts the stories of Black women who fought to become physicians.

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. hospitalized patients experience harmful events, study finds

Linda Aiken of the School of Nursing says that the heart of the patient safety issue in hospitals is insufficient staffing.

Penn scientists are honored for mRNA research used in COVID vaccines

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine have been named to the National Inventors Hall of Fame for their research on mRNA vaccines.

Huge genomic study shows varicose veins’ links to height and weight

A study by Michael Levin of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues found that genomic regions associated with height and obesity were linked to high risk of varicose veins.

Black and Hispanic patients with terminal cancer receive fewer opioids for pain, new study finds

Salima Meghani of the School of Nursing says that wide misapplication of CDC opioid guidelines has led to significant opioid access issues and race-based disparities for people with chronic pain.

Three therapy dogs in a room at Chester County Hospital with medical personnel.

Fostering a therapy dog means welcoming strangers and petting

Foster families and therapy dogs in training learn their roles together. Studies show pet therapy in hospitals significantly decreases pain, calms breathing, and boosts mood and perceived energy levels in patients.

As alcohol-related liver disease rises in the U.S., a clinic takes a new approach to treatment

Henry Kranzler of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the message to quit drinking becomes more powerful when accompanied by tangible evidence like liver scans, rather than vague statements.

A postnatal nurse with a new mother in a maternity ward tending to a newborn.

An active research team brings better health care for postnatal patients

Katie Luzi Costantini and Chester County Hospital’s research department have worked out how obstetrics providers can better meet the needs of patients after giving birth and throughout the “fourth trimester.”

The FDA approved the first Alzheimer’s drug that may really work. A Penn physician explains why you probably can’t get it, yet

David Wolk of the Perelman School of Medicine outlines the key takeaways of new Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab.

Alzheimer’s drug that slows cognitive decline gets FDA approval

Holly Fernandez Lynch of the Perelman School of Medicine and the Leonard Davis Institute says that the debate over Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab underscores the complicated risk-benefit calculation for patients.

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