Medicine

It sounds like a simple concept: the idea that we can actually stop our busy, racing minds (“monkey minds,” as they’re called in Buddhism) for short periods of time and actually pay attention to the present moment. In reality, though—at least in our high-pressure, go-go-go culture—so-called mindfulness is a skill that eludes most of us Read more

“Doctor, this is unbelievable,” the expectant father exclaimed. “You have figured out why everyone in my family has high blood pressure!” “Well, it’s a little bit more complicated than that,” I explained to him. His wife had just had an invasive prenatal procedure and consented to have a microarray test. Chromosomal microarray technology, on which Read more

Before heading to work recently I was watching The Today Show, and Dr. Mehmet Oz (everyone’s favorite health guru) did a segment on ways to stay healthy during the holiday period. I found it curious that Dr. Oz’s approach to “staying healthy” involved promoting several screening tests (memory, vision, fitness)—but it was when he began Read more

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. Sun protection should really begin on day one. So while babies under the age of 6 months should not have sunscreens applied to their skin, protective measures such as seeking shade and dressing the infants in appropriate clothing are a must. Above 6 months Read more

What are the public health lessons learned in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation on New York City? What went wrong? What went right? In an opinion piece published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Einstein and Montefiore’s Tia Powell, M.D., discusses the process that led three New York City hospitals to reach different decisions Read more