Who, What, Why: Katelyn Candido on improving surgical procedures and keeping health care human-first Katelyn Candido, a second-year medical student at PSOM and aspiring neurosurgeon, researches a novel tool’s utility for improving surgical precision. Informed by experiences as a first-generation Hispanic student, Candido also deeply values the human-centered side of medicine, helping drive equitable care in Philadelphia and beyond.nocred Who, What, Why Who, What, Why: Katelyn Candido on improving surgical procedures and keeping health care human-first Second-year medical student Katelyn Candido shares insight into her research project on a promising tool for improving surgical precision and efficiency, and why she aims to drive equitable patient care through a career in neurosurgery. 3 min. read
She helps patients find their words to cast a spell on cancer Deborah Burnham has led the Writing a Life group since 2015.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) She helps patients find their words to cast a spell on cancer Even before she experienced cancer herself, Deborah Burnham had a knack for “magical” prompts to help patients write through their illness at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. 2 min. read
Connecting patients to public benefits works better with texts than paper flyers Connecting patients to public benefits works better with texts than paper flyers New research from Penn Medicine finds that automated texts in the 14 days following emergency department discharge leads to higher enrollment in programs like SNAP and energy assistance. 2 min. read
Novel plant-based approach to a better, cheaper GLP-1 delivery system Researchers, including Rahul Singh (left), in the Daniell lab’s greenhouse where the production of clinical grade transgenic lettuce occurs.(Image: Henry Daniell) Novel plant-based approach to a better, cheaper GLP-1 delivery system Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell investigates the use of a lettuce-based, plant-encapsulated delivery platform as a new oral delivery of two GLP-1 drugs previously approved by the FDA in injectable form. 3 min. read
ADA Living Guideline Program releases first set of recommendations on early oral cancer detection ADA Living Guideline Program releases first set of recommendations on early oral cancer detection The living guideline on the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma is produced through a collaboration between the American Dental Association and Penn Dental Medicine’s Center for Integrative Global Oral Health.
$10M gift establishes the King Center for Lynch Syndrome at Penn Medicine $10M gift establishes the King Center for Lynch Syndrome at Penn Medicine The gift from Jeffery and Cynthia King and Jason and Julie Borrelli creates a comprehensive center at Penn Medicine for one of the most common genetic conditions that increases the risk of developing cancer.
First CRISPR-based platform to pinpoint leukemia drivers Image: Alena Butusava via Getty Images First CRISPR-based platform to pinpoint leukemia drivers The new toolkit, developed by Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, allows researchers to test potential cancer targets directly in patient leukemia cells. 2 min. read
Cancer care for the mind and spirit Patients are 10 times more likely to engage in mental health services when the therapy is integrated in a medical clinic, says Rebecca Boswell, center, with therapists at the Psychosocial Oncology Clinic.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) Cancer care for the mind and spirit A psychosocial oncology program is a part of a revolution in cancer care at Penn Medicine to address a wider range of cancer patients’ experiences, and includes specially-trained psychotherapists at no cost. 2 min. read
Understanding GLP-1 signaling: A path to better therapies Image: seb_ra via Getty Images Understanding GLP-1 signaling: A path to better therapies A collaborative study led by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Penn’s School of Nursing and Perelman School of Medicine found that a novel GLP-1 drug shows promise for reducing nausea and vomiting while maintaining blood sugar. 2 min. read
Could ‘cyborg’ transplants replace pancreatic tissue damaged by diabetes? The researchers grew pancreatic tissue (above) so it incorporated a mesh-like electronic network (red). Cells within the tissue produce insulin (green), the blood-sugar-lowering hormone lost in type 1 diabetes.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine) Could ‘cyborg’ transplants replace pancreatic tissue damaged by diabetes? A new electronic implant system developed by Penn Medicine researchers prompts lab-grown pancreatic cells to mature, and suggests a new way to treat diabetes. 2 min. read