cover story one
Artificial Intelligence in Medical Practice
Something is finally working
By Ryan McFarland, MD
As early as the 1960s, when a computer able to accomplish only fairly minimal tasks took up an entire room, early users figured they would develop applications for medical practice. The Mayo clinic started working on the concept of the electronic health record (EHR). As time went on, computers became smaller and could do more. Surely we could figure out how use them to store patient records, streamline billing and save time and money. By the 1990s the internet had left the realm of academia and the military to present even more potential benefit to health care. By 2009 EHR was a federally mandated part of health care delivery.
Cover story two
Cancer Care in 2025: Where we came from, where we are going
By Eric Lander, MD
To me, as a medical oncologist, the most common question I’m asked at family gatherings and social events after getting reacquainted is, “Eric, when are we going to find the cure to cancer?” The more that I learn and practice oncology, the more challenging the question becomes to answer. Most of my family and friends perceive oncology as it was 30 years ago: intensive chemotherapy pumps attached to patients in hospital beds for two to five days with associated vomiting that lasts well beyond hospital discharge.
Public Health
Forever Chemicals: What Physicians Need to Know
By Alexander Bogdan, PhD, and Mohamed Mohamed, MD
Forever chemicals are showing up in more than just the environment – they’re showing up in your patients. Per — and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used for decades in products from firefighting foam to nonstick cookware, are linked to a growing list of health concerns. As our understanding of PFAS grows, physicians are stepping into a vital role: helping patients make sense of emerging science, navigate uncertainties and take steps to reduce possible exposure.
Interview
Creating Positive Change
Sue Abderholden, MPH executive director, NAMI Minnesota
Public Health
Closing the Gap: Strengthening HPV Vaccine Confidence
By
Lauren Dybsand, MPH; Kylie Hall, MPH; Maeve Williams; and Tracie Newman, MD, MPH
Vaccines remain one of the greatest public health achievements of our time. Although most Americans support routine immunizations, the rise of falsehoods, politicization and distrust has made vaccine conversations increasingly difficult. Today’s health care providers are navigating more questions, more skepticism and more uncertainty than ever before.
