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Author Archives: epihealth
Flu season 2012-2013 could be bad
The CDC influenza surveillance system indicates that seasonal flu (H3N2) has gotten off to an earlier start than usual, and the attack rates are higher than usual. Collaborating labs are reporting steadily increasing numbers of isolates. There is only one … Continue reading
Medical geography: a better name needed
The traditional “medical geography” has been replaced in discussions in the field of geography by “health geography.” Neither describe the field adequately. To me, the importance of medical geography is one of perspective and of methodology: a view of health … Continue reading
New SARS-like virus identified
I am back again after a long interval during which I had spine surgery. It was my first experience with an operation. I have seen over 500 of them from the OR side for a project on anesthesia and pain, … Continue reading
Are social determinants of health actually determinants?
There has obviously been a tremendous proliferation of research on what has long been labeled “social determinants of health.” The wording, however, is unfortunate. “Determinants” suggests determinism–a mechanistic set of influences that do not allow for the possible, for the … Continue reading
Public Health: Responsibility to whom?
In clinical medicine, responsibility is to the individual patient. I have often thought that in public health, our responsibility is to the population–to the group, the collective, the strange amalgam of “society.” As somebody put it, “the responsibility of physicians … Continue reading
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Jim Kim and his nomination to president, World Bank
Last week, Jim Kim (Jim Yong Kim) was nominated by Pres. Obama to serve as President, World Bank. This is a brilliant nomination. Before his Macarthur fellowship (incorrectly known as the “genius fellowship”), he was a Kellogg National Fellow, and … Continue reading
Contagion as a teaching tool
I am planning on showing “Contagion” today in my undergraduate disease ecology class. As my previous blog entry indicated, i think that the concepts that are illustrated in this excellent film include: disease spread and its elementary math; routes of … Continue reading
“Contagion”-movie with Matt Damon et al
We saw “Contagion” last night–as an official function of my position with the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (see astmh.org—and note that students can join and receive a top infectious disease journal for $5.00 per year). The film … Continue reading
Contagion; malaria vaccine
I am eagerly awaiting “Contagion”, starring Matt Damon, among others. It had two excellent science consultants–my high school classmate Dr. Ian Lipkin, who directs a center at Columbia (Mailman School of Public Health) and is a virologist and neurologist by … Continue reading
Assorted observations
The sun is setting on a warmish day in Seattle, and the fact that there was sun and that I can say “warmish” portends better weather ahead. Having just caught up on several issues of The Lancet, I reaffirm that … Continue reading
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