Ian Weissman, DO

Nursing Groups, Colleagues Speak Out on Killing of ICU Nurse in Minnesota 'We are all Alex Pretti'

"Nurses play a vital role in their communities not only within the hospital, but anywhere someone needs help. We always try to do what's right for others, using our clinical expertise to show up and care for people, even beyond the stretcherside."
www.medpagetoday.com/nursing/nurs...

Health threat of global plastics projected to soar The threat posed by plastic production, usage and disposal to human health will skyrocket in the coming years unless the world does something to address this global crisis, researchers warned Tuesday.

The threat posed by plastic production, usage and disposal to human health will skyrocket in the coming years unless the world does something to address this global crisis.
www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/art...

Dozens of CDC databases are not being updated — most related to vaccines, study finds The agency plays a key role in tracking disease spread and vaccination rates. Last year, it seemed to back away from some of that work, according to new research.

Without current information from these databases,public health experts say, it is more difficult to know what vaccination coverage looks like on the national or regional level — which makes it harder to deal with new infectious disease outbreaks.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

What to know about breast self-awareness and how it fits into cancer prevention Breast self-awareness is a more flexible approach to preventing breast cancer that goes along with other essential screening measures.

"The point of breast self-awareness is to know what your breasts normally look and feel like. And if something changes, like a new lump, you should bring it to a doctor’s attention.”
apnews.com/article/brea...

Here's Why You Shouldn't Let AI Run Your Social Life People increasingly consult LLMs for their most personal moments. That's not always a good thing.

“I wholeheartedly believe that AI is shifting the relational bedrock of society. Instead of the conversations we used to have—with neighbors or at clubs or in our hobbies or our faith communities—those conversations are being rerouted into chatbots.”
time.com/7357217/ai-s...

UK loses measles elimination status Decision made after outbreaks in 2024, when there were nearly 3,000 cases in England and Wales.

The move is also a reflection of the fact that vaccination rates are now below the 95% threshold required to achieve herd immunity (when enough people in a community are vaccinated against a disease, making it hard for the pathogen to spread).
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Alex Pretti remembered by health care workers at a Minneapolis vigil as a ‘stand-up guy’ Health care workers brought flowers and wreaths, lit candles, and draped stethoscopes over a wooden cross as a makeshift memorial to nurse Alex Pretti.

Alex Pretti remembered by health care workers at a Minneapolis vigil as a ‘stand-up guy’. The VA ICU nurse had left a lab position to be closer to the frontlines to help people.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/a...

Your brain can be trained, much like your muscles – a neurologist explains how to boost your brain health Challenging the brain by exposing it to new situations, tasks and skills can improve its efficiency, much like strength training does for our muscles. But maximum efficiency requires optimal rest.

"You do not need expensive brain training programs or radical lifestyle changes. Small, consistent habits matter more. Try something unfamiliar. Vary your routines. Take breaks before exhaustion sets in. Move your body. Treat sleep as nonnegotiable."
theconversation.com/your-brain-c...

Why does chocolate turn white? It's not mold. No need to worry—some molecules just moved around.

"Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold.
No need to worry—some molecules just moved around."
www.popsci.com/science/why-...

Here's how 'shared decision making' for childhood vaccines could limit access Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new approach to six shots that were formerly given routinely will introduce new hurdles for getting kids immunized. And it could have a chilling effect on doctors.

"The problem with shared decision making in this context, is you're suggesting that both options are equally valid. And the fact is: Not getting vaccinated puts your own child at risk, puts you at risk and puts your community at risk. So it's not an equal decision."
www.npr.org/2026/01/25/n...

You’re at risk of frostbite in this bitterly cold weather. Here’s what to know As bitterly cold temperatures plunge much of the country into a deep freeze, emergency doctors and public health experts are warning people to protect themselves from frostbite.

"You’re at risk of frostbite in this bitterly cold weather. Here’s what to know."
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...

Public health giant William Foege, who helped eradicate smallpox, has died at 89 ‘I wish we could have spared him from seeing that’: Friends of Bill Foege on his legacy, and his anger over anti-vaccination.

Dr. Foege, credited by many for shepherding the smallpox eradication effort to completion, died Saturday at the age of 89. He epitomized all that was positive about an era of public health that saw enormous gains made both in the United States and abroad.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/25/w...

Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows Ultraprocessed food makes up about half the calories of a typical American diet.

Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging. Ultraprocessed food makes up about half of the calories of a typical American diet.
www.popsci.com/health/eatin...

US vaccine panel head questions polio recommendation The chair of a U.S. government vaccine advisory panel questioned broad vaccine recommendations for polio and other childhood diseases and said promoting individual choice, not public health, is the ke...

The chair of a U.S. government vaccine advisory panel questioned broad vaccine recommendations for polio and other childhood diseases drawing rebuke from the nation's top doctors group.
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

More parents are refusing vitamin K shots for newborns, doctors say. Here's why that could be dangerous Doctors say more parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, potentially putting babies at risk of severe bleeding.

For more than 60 years, doctors have recommended that babies receive a vitamin K shot at birth to protect them from severe bleeding in early life. Without this injection at birth, babies are over 80 times more likely to develop severe bleeding.
abcnews.go.com/Health/paren...

Physician-Produced Videos on Internet Flunk Evidence Test Two-thirds of more than 300 videos on cancer or diabetes have poor supporting evidence

"The proliferation of physician-generated content lacking evidence standards threatens both individual patient care and broader public health outcomes."
www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/...

Combining exercise with volunteering works out for members of a UK alternative to gyms A nonprofit organization in the United Kingdom has attracted thousands of members by encouraging residents to “get fit by doing good.”

Combining exercise with community service is the mission of GoodGym, an organization that encourages residents to “get fit by doing good.” There’s no expensive gym membership, treadmills or weights.
apnews.com/article/good...

'Devastating' Flesh-Eating Parasite Is Spreading Toward The US, CDC Warns An outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has killed seven people and infected at least 1,190 more across Mexico and South America, and now the US Centers for Disea...

An outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm has killed seven people and infected at least 1,190 more across Mexico and South America, and now the CDC is alerting health workers of its northward spread.
www.sciencealert.com/devastating-...

Danone recalls certain baby formula batches produced in Ireland as toxin scare widens French food and beverage maker Danone said on Friday it was recalling specific baby formula batches in targeted markets, as a toxin contamination scare that started with Nestle products continued to s...

French food and beverage maker Danone said on Friday it was recalling specific baby formula batches in targeted markets, as a toxin contamination scare that started with Nestle products continued to spread.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Flu activity nationwide declines but ER visits for school-aged kids increasing: CDC Fu activity is starting to decline, in some parts of the U.S., according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least 12 flu-associated deaths were reported among children this week, for a total of 44 pediatric deaths this season. Last season saw a record-breaking 289 children die from flu, the highest since the CDC began tracking in 2004.
abcnews.go.com/Health/flu-a...

Longevity: Can the shingles vaccine help slow down aging? Older adults vaccinated against shingles appear to experience slower biological aging, according to a new study.

Over the last few years, there has been more talk about how people can slow down or improve their biological age. A new study says the shingles vaccine may help slow biological aging in older adults.
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/shi...

Manitoba recruits 13 U.S.-trained doctors to work across province The Manitoba government has recruited 13 U.S.-trained physicians to work across the province as of January 2026.

"At this time in the world, everybody sees what’s going on in the United States, and we’re very proud in Manitoba to accept people as they are, to celebrate inclusion and diversity and to keep our doors open to the world.”
www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/art...

Map: Track the spread of measles in the U.S. Measles case counts soared to a 34-year high in 2025. NBC News will continue to track totals this year.

Childhood vaccination rates have been backsliding, leaving communities vulnerable. The measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, marking a turning point for the contagious disease, which used to infect hundreds of thousands and kill thousands in the country every year.
www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...

Heart disease deaths declined. And here's how to reduce your risk of the #1 killer An annual report from the American Heart Association shows deaths from heart disease and stroke are down, encouraging news after the rate went up in the early years of the pandemic.

"Almost 50% of Americans have the diagnosis of hypertension. And aside from quitting tobacco, it's the most modifiable risk that we have. Many people don't realize they have high blood pressure. That's why check-ups are important."
www.npr.org/2026/01/22/n...

Focus: Vaccine makers feel a chill as US Health Secretary Kennedy's rhetoric becomes reality The unprecedented changes have led to diminished vaccine usage, and created a drag that will likely dent revenues.

The impact of Kennedy's policies will be hard to reverse, echoing public health experts' worries, who also said they will lead to preventable illnesses and deaths.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Colon Cancer Now Leading Cause of Cancer Death in Younger People Meanwhile, mortality from other leading cancers is declining

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cancer death for males and females combined. Researchers emphasized the need for timely colorectal cancer screening, which is recommended to begin at age 45 for people at average risk.
www.medpagetoday.com/oncology/col...

The U.S. Has Pulled Out of the WHO. Here’s What That Means for Public Health As the U.S.’s withdrawal from the WHO becomes official, the consequences for the world’s health could be serious.

One of the first things that could change for U.S. scientists is their access to databases that are important for monitoring infectious diseases like influenza, as well as emerging threats that could affect the health of Americans, such as COVID.
time.com/7357180/us-w...

Measles cases surge in South Carolina as US risks losing elimination status State health officials say over 500 people and students in 15 schools are in quarantine after being exposed to the measles.

State health officials say people and students in 15 schools are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases, spreading through the air with up to 90% of unvaccinated people getting infected if exposed.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Top CDC vaccine adviser questions need for polio shot, other longstanding recommendations The chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee in a podcast released Thursday, questioning longstanding recommendations.

The chair of the federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee suggesting that the public might want to reconsider the use of polio vaccines while he downplayed the established science.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/v...

Measles elimination status ‘not really’ a concern, CDC official says | CNN Ongoing measles outbreaks in multiple parts of the country are threatening the United States’ status as a nation that has eliminated the virus’ spread, but a CDC leader said Tuesday that the potential...

Ongoing measles outbreaks in multiple parts of the country are threatening the United States’ status as a nation that has eliminated the virus’ spread, but a newly appointed public health leader said Tuesday that the potential change is not a big concern.
www.cnn.com/2026/01/20/h...