Sunflowers have always been my favorite flower and now I know why: They turn to each other for help. Image: My backyard sunflower patch at its midsummer height (I gave up on growing vegetables this year and reaped a crop of beauty instead).
Why should anyone care about health data interoperability?
A question I hear quite often, sometimes whispered, is: Why should anyone care about health data interoperability? It sounds pretty technical and boring. If I’m talking with a “civilian” (in my world, someone not obsessed with health care and technology) I point out that interoperable health data can help people care for themselves and their families […]
Chasing cures
Years ago, I met a mom of a child with a rare disease who matter-of-factly shared her story, which included as many twists and close calls as any blockbuster summer movie. I marveled at her heroism and she said no, she rejects that description. “I’m not a hero,” she insisted. “I’m a typical mom. You […]
A helping hand, just in time
Some years ago a few colleagues and I got stuck at Logan Airport and we started telling stories to pass the time. One tale has come back to me over and over again, particularly as I cared for my dad during his last year of life, because it reminded me to be open to the possibility […]
Assessing the quality of peer health advice
“Can you really trust what you read online?” is a frequent (and valid) question about online health information, particularly peer to peer advice. People who are part of healthy peer communities sometimes scoff at the question since they see so much good coming from the opportunity to connect and share information. But how might we […]
Public Q&A: Acronyms, protocol, and other lessons learned from switching fields
If you have switched career tracks, what lessons did you learn? What advice would you have for someone entering a new company, organization, or even a new culture? Here’s an excerpt from my 2016 interview with The Public Manager about working for the U.S. government: Most of your career was outside of the federal government. What have […]
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