Health Innovators Fellowship

I have advanced cancer. Stage 4 lung cancer, to be exact, even though I have never smoked, and I am only 48 years old. Cancer is scary enough, but now I am in a real unknown, with so many others like ...

by Sarah Hallberg
July 5, 2020

A study commissioned by the Congressional Black Caucus shows in recent years self-reported suicide attempts by Black teens increased by 73 percent. The rate decreased for white teens. Black children younger than 13 were twice as likely to die by suicide than white children.

by Dr. Michael Lindsey
June 22, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic elevated a crisis for the U.S.: we do not share the data and information needed to prevent death and suffering. Scientists, health workers and businesses possess the skills, passion, work ethic and ingenuity to meet serious challenges. However, the government has not implemented the data interoperability standards needed to empower private and public institutions.

by Kirsten Axelsen, Jason Grinstead & Michael O’Neil
May 27, 2020

The coronavirus crisis has underscored the need for comprehensive health insurance coverage in the United States. Every individual needs affordable and consistent access to a medical provider, hospital, diagnostic tools, vaccines and medicines, both for that person’s health and for all of society.

by Kristen Axelsen and Peter Carmel
May 26, 2020

For those who believe that a vaccine for Covid-19 will end or largely contain this pandemic or who hope that new drugs will be discovered to combat its effects, there is plenty cause for concern. Instead of working together to craft and implement a global strategy, a growing number of countries are taking a “my nation first” approach to developing and distributing potential vaccines or other pharmaceutical treatments.

by Rebecca Weintraub, Asaf Bitton and Mark L. Rosenberg
May 22, 2020

After two months of various flavors of “stay at home” orders across the country, we are finally seeing signs of returning to normalcy. In many states people are returning (albeit slowly) to salons, shops, churches and restaurants and, increasingly, schools are announcing plans to reopen (though in a modified way) this fall.

by Rushika Fernandopulle
May 21, 2020

Biopharmaceutical companies are racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Blueprints for re-opening the US economy hinge on testing, treatment, and vaccination. While we wait for a vaccine, we can gain a better understanding of the behavioral and financial incentives that could achieve higher rates of vaccination.

by Kristen Axelsen and Dr. Benson Hsu
May 14, 2020

We are in the midst of a public health emergency, and it has become clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is not going away in the coming weeks, or maybe even months.

by Dr. Carmen Peralta
April 28, 2020

“Stay home.” That’s the message public health experts and political leaders have foisted onto Americans in recent weeks, and that was the message ringing in Alan Phenix’s mind when the pain crept into his abdomen earlier this month.

by Dr. Jay Bhatt
April 23, 2020

Health insurers are missing the chance that COVID-19 presents them to reset the narrative on their unpopular industry.

by Deborah D. Gordon
April 22, 2020

A virus that many once believed would impact only a small group of international travelers has infected nearly 750,000 Americans and killed another 39,000.

by Dr. Jay Bhatt
April 20, 2020

NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Massachusetts General Hospital's Dr. Joseph Betancourt about how health disparities cause minorities to be more susceptible to the coronavirus.

Featuring Dr. Joseph Betancourt
April 15, 2020

There are about 300,000 births every month in the United States. That won’t change as COVID-19 continues its march across the country.

by Laurie Zephyrin
April 10, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a new phrase—“We are all in this together.” The first time I saw the phrase I thought about the 48 million Americans living below the poverty line and tens of millions more who are one paycheck away from it.

by Lisa Fitzpatrick
April 2, 2020

With the development of potential vaccines for COVID-19 progressing quickly, we need to invest now in infrastructure for distributing a vaccine globally on an equitable basis as soon as it is proven safe and effective.

by Rebecca Weintraub, Prashant Yadav and Seth Berkley
April 2, 2020

Under normal circumstances, you might tolerate the risk of being temporarily uninsured in between jobs. This is not the time to go without health insurance if you can avoid it. COVID-19 amplifies both your risk of needing health care and of having challenges paying for that care.

by Deborah D. Gordon
March 25, 2020

As I write this, I am on my way home to Washington, D.C. from Aspen, CO, where I spent the past five days attending the Aspen Institute Executive Seminar with leaders from healthcare, education, and civil society fellowships.

by Michael O’Neil
March 15, 2020