Rush on the Mind
A focus on mental illness was a constant throughout the multi-faceted career of Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, prolific writer, longtime Penn faculty member, and the most prominent—and controversial—physician of his day.
End Stage
“I will soon be with my son. I am fine.”
Phantom Concussions
Here’s what may have afflicted US diplomats in Cuba.
The Legend of Frances Houston
James Widerman C’66 shares a touching memory of how biomedical librarian Frances Houston helped his father, Arnold H. Widerman C’33 M’37, obtain books for his classes.
Hope for Katherine Belle
How one family’s journey through the realm of rare disease led them to the newest frontier of precision genetic medicine.
FDA Approves First Gene Therapy for Cancer
FDA approval for Penn-developed gene therapy for cancer.
Science and Error
A history of unripe findings and unintended consequences.
Strange Brotherhood
The hidden chapter of wartime human experimentation in the DKE house.
UV versus C. Diff
Finding: UV light can reduce C. diff infections.
States Worse Than Death
Patient preferences diverge from standard measures of care quality.
Chasing Miracles
The author wanted to know why the stem-cell treatments that worked so well for her hobbled dog aren’t being used to put the spring back in humans’ steps. Researchers at Penn’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine explained—and shared some of their own, measured, progress toward successful therapies.
A $2 Genetic Test for Zika
Penn researchers develop a $2 genetic test for Zika virus.
New Center for Personalized Immunotherapies
Unveiled: Penn-Novartis Center for Advanced Cellular Therapeutics.
How To Change Your Mind
“Enlightenment is for anyone.”
Our Labs, Our Health?
In Risky Medicine, History and Sociology of Science Professor Robert Aronowitz argues that today’s fixation on diagnosing and managing risk factors rather than treating diseases leads to anxiety and stress, over-diagnosis of conditions and overuse of drugs, and radical treatments that are unnecessary or harmful.
Pulling Weeds
David Casarett used to just say No when his hospice and palliative-care patients asked about using medical marijuana as a treatment or to relieve their symptoms. After researching and writing his new book, Stoned, his answer is “a lot more nuanced.”