Patrick Skerrett

Most people volunteer, donate money or do other "prosocial" activities to help others. But it may also help the doers. I'm moderating panel on the topic at the @HarvardChanSPH Studio on December 5 from 1pm ET to 1:30 pm. Register here: hsph.me/altruism

Noah Lyles collapsed after running the 200-meter dash even though he knew he had Covid. That shouldn't have happened says bioethicist @ArthurCaplan in a First Opinion for @statnews statnews.com/2024/08/09/noa…

If you are a fan of @TheBearFX and work in medicine, or know someone who does, check out the First Opinion essay today in @statnews by @AbrahamNussbaum on how working in a hospital is like working in a restaurant. statnews.com/2024/08/06/res…

Biden and Trump have avoided official cognitive testing. If the moderators of the CNN debate do their jobs well, they could reveal "major cognitive and behavioral limitations," writes the past president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. statnews.com/2024/06/25/bid…

Does the NIH need to be restructured? Key chairs of two Republican House committees believe so, and offer a reform and restructuring plan statnews.com/2024/06/14/nih…

@statnews First Opinion Podcast turned 100 (episodes, that is). I spoke with Harvard medical students Kimia Heydari and Romila Santra abut their experiences as young caregivers and why more attention needs to be paid to this hidden population: statnews.com/2024/05/29/you…

On tax deadline day 2024, Johns Hopkins professor @MartyMakary makes the case in a @statnews First Opinion essay that nonprofit hospitals that make profits should pay taxes on them. He's got a point! statnews.com/2024/04/14/non…

In March 2023 I retired from @statnews and the 9-5 working world. But I'm back at First Opinion for a few months while the amazing Torie Bosch @thekibosch is out on leave. I'm on the lookout for strong op-eds focused on biotech, pharma, health care , and the life sciences.

@VikasReports @rickberke Much appreciated @VikasReports. I've had the good fortune to work with great material -- and people.

@rickberke @PJSkerrett @PJSkerrett is top class. His choice of words and scrutiny for details is a lesson for writers. First Opinion is a treasure. Best wishes Sir.

We're thrilled that Torie is joining STAT as First Opinion editor to build on the amazing achievements of the retiring @PJSkerrett

@thekibosch will do terrific things with First Opinion. STAT is so lucky to have her aboard.

Preterm births, maternal deaths, and C-section rates are far higher in the U.S. than they should be. One way to fix that: Call the #midwives @ACNMmidwives bit.ly/3MotuVd

Karen Quandt's son Ty died of a rare disease before he could finish a clinical trial testing a treatment for it. She argues that the FDA needs a different mindset for evaluating rare disease trials. bit.ly/3D7eFn9

In a few weeks, the U.S. will enter its third autumn with Covid-19. @statnews's @DrewQJoseph and @jaspar offer a look ahead. statnews.com/2022/09/01/a-t…

In a poignant First Opinion essay for @statnews, physician Christopher Hartnick explores the wrenching choice pregnant people sometimes have to make: Do I prioritize my baby's life or mine? bit.ly/3q2gBWp

Today's First Opinion, on the culture of silence surrounding errors in medicine, marks the 3,000th @statnews First Opinion 🎉 statnews.com/2022/08/17/med…

And that's before the Orange Line shutdown!

Calling all readers and listeners: If you have a minute to share with a good book or podcast related to medicine, biotech, or the life sciences writ large for the @statnews annual summer roundup, please drop it here. bit.ly/3y6Ketp

The Americans with Disabilities Act is being used to help reduce discrimination against people with substance use disorders, writes my colleague @DrewQJoseph in a special report for @statnews bit.ly/3OrczkM

“What’s painful is I wasn’t allowed to make that choice for myself, ... It was stolen from me.” A STAT investigation found that Black residents either leave or are terminated from training programs at far higher rates than white residents. buff.ly/3y6cihA

Vaccination against smallpox was an important advance in public health made possible in part by the exploitation of enslaved people, writes @jimdowns1 in a timely First Opinion essay. bit.ly/3QDQFN4