Private Practice Perspective
As large health systems dominate the landscape, two physicians in private practice share their thoughts on the pros and cons of today’s approaches to healthcare Patients have reasonable goals for their healthcare: sufficient time with their doctor, a skilled and respectful staff, ease when it comes to processing insurance claims and scheduling appointments. In this special […]
We Asked…
We asked readers on social media and in our weekly newsletter to share their thoughts about how gun violence has impacted them. Some respondents chose to remain anonymous because of the subject matter’s sensitivity; others said that even though they worry about it regularly, they chose not to share more because they felt other people […]
Play On
Chicago area flautist flouts the usual outcome of bow hunter’s syndrome Flautist Janice Frank, of Naperville, has a rare gift for woodwind instruments. She has played since age 7, has her master’s degree in music, and is the current secretary and past-president for the Chicago Flute Club. But a few years ago, when Frank was […]
Snow Sport Safety
Skiing and snowboarding offer a way to stay fit, and an adrenaline rush — but know your skill level to prevent injury Kirstin Brown started skiing when she joined her middle school ski club. School ski trips took her to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and other local resorts over the years. In high school, Brown began […]
How to Talk About Guns
Tough discussions with friends and family around gun safety Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When Bob Kristie’s daughter, Nell, would go to a friend’s house for a play date, there were three things he would always ask the other parent. “I’d say, ‘Let me see your smoke detectors, your carbon monoxide detectors, and where […]
How to Seek Help
Know the difference between types of care In an instant, everything can change — a sharp pain, an unexpected rash, or a child’s cry in the night can leave us scrambling to act. Navigating the healthcare system in these critical moments can feel like solving a puzzle. We must quickly decide: Is this a case […]
The Public Health Crisis of Gun Violence
For the first time in history, the United States Surgeon General in June 2024 declared gun violence a public health emergency. “Firearm violence is a public health crisis. Our failure to address it is a moral crisis,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, said in a public address. Murthy introduced a 39-page advisory, laying out an […]
Change Makers
The groups taking on gun violence directly — and how their efforts are evolving Chicago America’s weak gun control laws mean guns are everywhere. That’s where four unique local groups play a vital role. The groups operate separately and use different methodologies, but all four have the same fundamental goal: to stop violence from happening. […]
Aiming for More
Groups working in Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods try to reach people early on Fact checked by Derick Wilder The shooting happened in Uptown three and a half decades ago. Les Jenkins was carrying his daughter, taking her to kindergarten, when two men approached on a bicycle. Jenkins, who was 19 at the time, remembered […]
Ongoing Survival
After the nightmare of gun violence, survivors face difficult realities Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Andre Johnson was driving home from a basketball tournament, celebrating a victory, when carjackers opened fire without warning. Andre was shot four times; his best friend was killed. Andre describes what followed as a whirlwind. Overnight, he went from […]
The Role of Faith in Gun Violence Prevention
Fact checked by Derick Wilder Charnesha Collier knew she was hearing gunshots as soon as the pops started. Her mind jumped to the safety of the group of teens she had taken to work on a house in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Collier was the crew leader then with the River City Community Development Center […]
AI in Healthcare
How do medical institutions ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence? Fact checked by Derick Wilder Have you ever considered all the ways we use artificial intelligence (AI) that no one really thinks about anymore? (Here’s to you, Siri!) Once something becomes rote, it tends to fade from our consciousness. This is especially common […]
Soothing Sips
How cozying up with a warm cup of chai this winter can benefit your mental and physical health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks A warm cup of chai is soothing, but that’s not all. The black tea and spices used to prepare it offer many physical health benefits, too. Black tea itself can significantly […]
Sustainable Seafood
How to choose foods from the deep blue that balance nutrition and planetary health Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Seafood — also called blue food — comes from the oceans, rivers, and lakes. These foods include fish, shellfish, and seaweed. Blue foods are high on the list of foods that Americans should be eating […]
Baby, it’s Cold Outside
Maintaining a safe workout routine through winter’s ice, snow, and freezing temperatures Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Do you welcome the arrival of the winter months? Or do you dread the shorter days — the cold (sometimes bitterly so) temperatures and unpredictable snowfalls that Chicago winters can bring? Whether you revel in bracing the […]
Pedal to the Metal
Comparing the health benefits of standard bikes and e-bikes Fact checked by Derick Wilder Whether it’s older adults, work commuters, or kids behind the handlebars, there’s no doubt that e-bikes have taken the country by storm. Between 2019 and 2022, the e-bike market in the United States grew by 269%; as of 2023, the […]
The Lone Private Practice
The number of self-employed physicians has been declining for years — but why, and at what cost? Fact checked by Derick Wilder Farah Khan, MD, has been a private-practice physician for 19 years. At 52, she says most young doctors aren’t interested in running their own practice. By contrast, working in a hospital means […]
Health in Mind
Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook meets suburban youth where they are Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro At Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, therapy doesn’t always look like you’d typically imagine: the neutral-toned room, with a therapist’s chair facing a beige couch. Often, therapists turn to alternative approaches including play, music, and art. “The demand for specialized, […]
Visionary Ophthalmologist
Eye doctor and team from Loyola Medicine improve people’s sight in rural Guatemala Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Before a recent trip to Guatemala, Charles Bouchard, MD, current chair of Loyola Medicine’s ophthalmology department, went shopping. He went to a Dollar Tree store with a $300 donation from a patient and a purpose. “I […]
Ask the Doc
Cancer and Sex By Laura Farrington, DO and Ajaz Khan, MD Q: I’m being treated for cancer. How will that affect my ability to have sex? A: The impact on your sexual functions depends on what type of treatment you’re getting and what other health conditions might already be impacting your sexual function, among other things. If you are […]
Fear of Radiation
Advancements in radiation are changing the field, but many people remain worried about treatment Kevin Connor, a 51-year-old Chicago resident, faced a daunting decision this past year when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Despite a troubling family history and his own deep-seated fears, Connor was at first adamant about avoiding treatment. “I remember telling […]
Hands-on Hearts
3D printing provides physicians a crucial tool for cardiac care Maybe you already know that nearly half of all U.S. adults have cardiovascular disease. This includes people with coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. But would you have guessed that one of the latest weapons to help fight this battle is […]
Artists on Gun Violence
“Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s radical voice.” — Paul Robeson, American artist, athlete, and activist As the cumulative toll of gun violence in the U.S. continues its grim climb year after year, writers, visual artists, and composers have explored the issue in plays, collaborations, and music. They’re addressing gun violence’s impacts […]
A Reimbursement Blow to Anesthesiologists
In a controversial policy change, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) no longer reimburses anesthesiologists for physical status modifiers that classify the complexity of patients. The new policy went into effect in August 2024 for BCBS plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Complex patients typically have multiple or severe health conditions; they may require advanced […]
Table Tennis Offers Powerful Play for Parkinson’s
A novel program at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and Edgewater Fitness Center is helping people with Parkinson’s disease improve mobility and social connections: ping-pong, formally known as table tennis. The program began in late 2023 as a collaboration between Mike DeBartolo, who has had Parkinson’s for more than a decade, and Linda Egan, the Parkinson’s […]
Latest Options for Colon Cancer Screening
The second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. is actually highly treatable — when caught early. Of the 52,967 people who died from colon cancer in the U.S. in 2022, as many as 20% were not up-to-date with their screening. The gold standard of screening is a colonoscopy, which the American Cancer Society recommends […]
New Health Laws
Medical Debt Relief Effective January 2025 Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Medical Debt Relief Act in July, enabling the state to purchase medical debt from hospitals, healthcare providers, and collection agencies. This will then erase medical debt for an estimated 300,000 residents. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services will run the pilot program. […]
Long-Covid Apps Offer Connection and Hope
In the pandemic’s wake, many — perhaps more than 60 million worldwide — are still suffering from long Covid. The condition involves chronic symptoms such as brain fog and extreme fatigue that last for months or indefinitely. Long Covid’s newness means there isn’t yet a gold standard for treatment. This leaves people searching for appropriate […]
The Pursuit of Happiness
Our Founding Fathers’ gift of health and freedom Fact checked by Shannon Sparks The pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right — and not just because the Declaration of Independence says so. This health-inducing, prosperity-promoting tonic is available to all, limitless in supply, with the power to benefit us personally and globally. Happiness, according […]
Talking Guns with a First Grader
Fact checked by Derick Wilder When I was a kid, my parents had simple parenting fears. Dad was anxious for my brothers and me to find a career path that inspired us and afforded us the life we wanted. Mom, that we’d get cancer or die in a car crash. While those things concern me […]
Emergency Response
ER physicians battle on the frontlines of gun violence response Fact checked by Shannon Sparks When someone gets shot in Chicago, the effects echo far beyond the wounded person. They envelope the person’s family and friends, the first responders on the scene, and the physicians and medical teams who treat them in the hospital. […]
Hope in Sight
A new artificial intelligence tool helps identify diabetic retinopathy Fact checked by Shannon Sparks During an appointment with her primary care physician this past July, Amy Morrow, an executive assistant and patient at OSF HealthCare, learned she had prediabetes. Moments later, Morrow walked down the hall and placed her chin onto an artificial intelligence (AI) […]
