Medicine

‘Kind of awkward’: Doctors find themselves on a first-name basis

PIK Professor Jonathan Moreno recalls when it was unheard-of to call doctors by their first names, both in his own family and in the popular culture of the 1960s and ’70s.

Gene therapy helps those with rare form of blindness see better at night

A clinical trial at the Scheie Eye Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine finds that an experimental gene therapy can rapidly improve night vision in adults with a congenital form of childhood-onset blindness, featuring a quote from Artur Cideciyan.

Expert tips for curbing bad breath

Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine explains how to self-test for bad breath and how bacteria and gum disease can contribute to its presence.

Two hands holding a cotton swab in an X formation.

Quit removing wax from your ears

For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there’s no need to remove it—not only do cotton swabs not remove ear wax, but they can pose a risk of hearing loss.

The FDA authorizes omicron boosters for kids as young as 5 years old

On an episode of “All Things Considered,” Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there’s no evidence yet that the bivalent vaccine is any better than the original COVID vaccines.

Penn, Virtua give early look at South Jersey’s first proton therapy center

James Metz and Kevin Mahoney of the Perelman School of Medicine are quoted on the partnership to build South Jersey’s first proton therapy center.

After giving up on cancer vaccines, doctors start to find hope

Susan Domchek of the Perelman School of Medicine foresees a time when anyone with a precancerous condition or a predisposition to cancer can be vaccinated and protected.

Hospitalizations for opioid overdoses are increasing among Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians, study finds

Jeanmarie Perrone of the Perelman School of Medicine explains why a new study on opioid overdoses likely doesn’t reflect the full picture of hospitalizations for Pennsylvania.

How a roller derby team promotes community and kindness

Philly Roller Derby Juniors team, supported by a Penn Medicine CAREs grant, is all about lifting up its teammates and offering a supportive community.

A person holds a sign during a protest that reads WELL INFORMED NOT CONSENTING.

Misinformation about vaccine safety drives reluctance to vaccinate children

While 78% of U.S. adults are vaccinated against COVID-19, only 31% of children have been vaccinated. The discrepancy points to the acceptance of misinformation about the safety of vaccines in general and the COVID-19 vaccines in particular, according to a new study.

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