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Delthia Ricks

@dricks.bsky.social
4.9K followers 2.3K following 3.3K posts

Science writer, author, essayist & avid gardener.

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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 19h
#Covid cases are rising in some states. Time for masks, shots, and most important, ignore everything stated or implied by RFKjr www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
COVID cases are rising in some states. See the map
An early fall increase in COVID-19 cases is being reported in several states. Maps show where activity is increasing.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth. Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected👇
nbcnews.com
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.
Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed 9 more children, bringing the death toll to nearly 1,100. The total number of suspected measles cases in the country so far this year is 188,041. As many as 166,310 suspected measles cases have been treated at Bangladesh hospitals since March 15 👇
tripuratimes.com
Bangladesh measles outbreak kills 9 more, toll nears 1,100
As Bangladesh grapples with an unprecedented measles outbreak, nine more children died from symptoms of the disease in the 24 hours until 8 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, raising the total number of con...
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
13 people have been sickened in a 9-state E. coli outbreak linked to cheese made from raw milk. 2 children under age 5 are among those who've become ill after consuming the cheese. 8 people have been hospitalized so far. The product is made by Sierra Nevada Graziers👇
the-independent.com
Children sickened in E. coli outbreak linked to recalled raw milk cheese
The warning came after two children under the age of five in San Diego County became sick
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A state of emergency has been declared in Hillsborough County Florida because locally acquired cases of dengue fever have reached 170. Declaring a state of emergency allows the county to take emergency measures to protect the community from the mosquito-borne viral infection 👇
thehill.com
Florida county declares state of emergency as dengue fever cases reach 170
Hillsborough County leads in the number of Florida dengue cases by a massive margin.
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27/09/2026
Four days ago, a scientist was surprised by the news that Anthropic discovered new virus genes for making DNA. He says he’s been studying them for years—and feeding his data to Anthropic’s AI as part of his own research. Coincidence? Here’s my story. nyti.ms/3VSWayc
nyti.ms
Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own? (Gift Article)
An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
#AlphaFold database of predicted structures for nearly every known protein on Earth is being upgraded to better represent some of the least-known and deadliest species: viruses www.nature.com/articles/d41... #biochemistry #virology #MicroSky
nature.com
AlphaFold ‘goes viral’: database adds protein complexes of common viruses
AI predictions could help with pandemic preparedness, but they will need experimental confirmation.
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
In-cell discovery & characterization of a non-canonical bacterial protein translocation-folding complex. Cryo‑ET & modeling reveal a Sec‑translocon–Mdp complex in M. pneumoniae, linking secretion to extracellular folding. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #Microbiology #MicroSky
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Single-cell visual proteomics of a minimal bacterium reveals structural coordination of gene expression machineries. Cryo‑ET maps reveal coordinated bacterial translation & transcription within native single cells. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #microbiology #MicroSky
Cryo‑electron tomographic visualization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae showing ribosomes, transcription‑translation assemblies, and membrane‑associated large subunits
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Plasma Gelsolin Attenuates Acute Tissue Inflammation and Modulates Monocyte Responses in Experimental Candidemia. Plasma gelsolin reduces #inflammation & boosts monocyte antifungal activity in candidemia www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #Candida #MicroSky
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Cath RN, PhD @headdoc35.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The seasonal Russian herpes has surfaced:
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth. Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected👇
nbcnews.com
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.
Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.
0139
Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
One of the most contagious diseases on the planet—measles—is having its worst U.S. epidemic since 1991. Prior to RFKjr, the US had one of the world's best vaccination records & lowest rates of measles www.statnews.com/2026/09/24/h...
statnews.com
One of the most contagious diseases on the planet is having its worst U.S. outbreak since 1991
The CDC has added a single measles death to its online counter. In the last few weeks, four unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania, according to state officials. But RFK Jr. has pu...
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Blood samples from multiple sclerosis—MS—patients showed Epstein-Barr virus lytic activity in immune cells ~3 months before MS relapse. Lytic activity means the process of EBV reactivating inside infected white blood cells, shifting from dormancy to assembling new viruses that break free of cells👇
nature.com
EBV reactivation priming of the peripheral immune system in multiple sclerosis relapse - Nature Medicine
Increased expression of EBV reactivation genes in B cells and MS risk genes targeted by the EBV protein EBNA-2 precedes MS attacks, linking EBV reactivation and genetic risk to the development of MS r...
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Carolannie @carolannie.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Asters and bugs...and more #Biodiversity #Ecology #USPrairies #Conservation #Restoration prairieecologist.com/2026/09/24/p...
prairieecologist.com
Photos of the Week – September 24, 2026
Tuesday of this week was a cloudy day but the clouds thinned a little in the afternoon and made it worth carrying my camera around at the Platte River Prairies. Here are a bunch of photos from Tues…
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David Ojcius @ojcius.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Why John Coltrane still matters. "Nearly 60 years after his last recording, trailblazing jazz saxophonist John Coltrane’s legacy remains as vital as ever." news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor... #jazz #Coltrane #JohnColtrane #music #MusicSky
news.harvard.edu
Why John Coltrane still matters — Harvard Gazette
Jazz experts, scholars detail how iconic saxophonist, who would have turned 100 this year, reshaped most American musical genre.
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A commensal-derived sugar protects against #obesity by regulating immunometabolism. Clostridium immunis sugar lowers IL‑22 to boost visceral fat burning and counter obesity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #microbiota #immunity #metabolism #MicroSky #ImmunoSky #MedSky
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Microbial signaling coordinates group oviposition and predator defense in migratory locusts. A bacterial 2,4,6‑trimethylpyridine signal synchronizes locust oviposition while repelling multiple soil predators. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #microbiology #entomology #MicroSky
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Dr Richard Pan, who's running for Congress, calls RFKjr "dangerous and Incompetent." Community health and vaccination rates are big issues for Dr Pan, a California pediatrician👇
medpagetoday.com
Doc Running for Congress Calls RFK Jr. 'Dangerous and Incompetent'
Community health and vaccination rates are big issues for California pediatrician
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Congo is running short of healthcare workers as a sweeping Ebola epidemic remains out of control, according to the World Health Organization. One treatment center alone requires roughly 300 healthcare professionals👇
medpagetoday.com
Congo Is Running Short of Health Workers as Ebola Remains Out of Control, WHO Says
One treatment center requires about 300 health professionals, said WHO representative
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The CDC is now recognizing "one" measles death amid confusion over measles mortality in Pennsylvania. The CDC previously wouldn't recognize 4 measles-related deaths reported in the state. The agency declined to say which death it's referring to or whether it even occurred in Pennsylvania👇
nbcnews.com
CDC reports first measles death amid confusion over Pennsylvania cases
The agency previously declined to recognize four measles-associated deaths the Pennsylvania Health Department reported over the last month.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The White House has dropped a plan to politicize awarding research grants. The Trump regime halted the planned executive order that would have put control of Nat'l Insttutes of Health research grants in the hands of political appointees. Embattled Republican Senator Susan Collins fought the idea👇
politico.com
Collins: White House drops effort to politicize health research grants
The White House halted a planned executive order that would have put control over NIH research grants in the hands of political appointees.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Interesting evolutionary change: Female mosquitoes transitioned from vegans to bloodsuckers. They shifted over time from focusing entirely on nectar to seeking out blood. An odor receptor that reacts to camphor was found to play a key role👇
phys.org
The mosquito's transition from vegan to bloodsucker explained
Scents govern most key events in the lives of mosquitoes, and there is extensive research on their sense of smell. A new study reveals how a young female mosquito shifts from focusing entirely on nect...
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Zika virus, the pathogen that caused a wave of pregnancy complications, birth defects as well as fetal & neonatal deaths a decade ago doesn't construct itself in human cells the way scientists thought. The new findings are paving the way for a novel Zika vaccine. By Delthia Ricks👇
phys.org
Zika virus assembles without protein segment long deemed essential
For years, scientists were certain that two factors were involved in the assembly of active, highly infectious Zika viruses in human cells: a specific viral protein in its entirety and a turncoat huma...
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Reposted by Delthia Ricks
Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There's an escalating standoff between the CDC & the state of Pennsylvania over measles deaths. Pennsylvania has reported 4 deaths associated w/ the infection, but the CDC has not included them in its national total — a conflict rarely seen in public health👇
nbcnews.com
The escalating standoff between the CDC and Pennsylvania over measles deaths
Pennsylvania has reported fourth deaths associated with measles, but the CDC has not included them in its national total — a conflict rarely seen in public health.
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Carolannie @carolannie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Plants that live off fungi! #Biology #Symbiosis #Parasitism #Biodiversity news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
news.mongabay.com
A ‘devil-like’ flower from Thailand is new to science — and critically endangered
Botanists in Thailand have identified a new-to-science species of “fairy lantern” — plants that live almost entirely buried under leaf litter, emerging aboveground only occasionally to flower. Researc...
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Interesting evolutionary change: Female mosquitoes transitioned from vegans to bloodsuckers. They shifted over time from focusing entirely on nectar to seeking out blood. An odor receptor that reacts to camphor was found to play a key role👇
phys.org
The mosquito's transition from vegan to bloodsucker explained
Scents govern most key events in the lives of mosquitoes, and there is extensive research on their sense of smell. A new study reveals how a young female mosquito shifts from focusing entirely on nect...
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Charles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
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Scott Dworkin @dworkin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Trump regime is secretly brokering a commercial land swap to hand public acreage at Yosemite to a luxury resort developer. This shatters 150 years of precedent to benefit well-connected political donors. Stop the privatization of our public lands: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org
Tell Congress: Stop Trump’s Yosemite Giveaway
Contact Congress today!
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Jonathan Howard @joho.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It’s good that he’s doing this, all things being equal. But people shouldn’t get credit for trying to solve problems they created.
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Miriam Rabkin @miriam2024.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
#impeachRFK
nytimes.com
Opinion | Kennedy’s Anti-Vaccine Legacy Will Outlast This Administration (Gift Article)
Four are dead in Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak. But the C.D.C. isn’t yet convinced.
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Biomedical Journal @biomedj.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Mononuclear Phagocyte System: A Dispersed Organ. Mononuclear phagocytes show broad organ roles and plasticity. This issue reviews their systemic functions beyond #immunity www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #immunology #ImmunoSky #MedSky
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Current Research in Microbial Sciences @microbesinfect.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Helicobacter & Herpesvirus detection patterns in pediatric gastric biopsies identify Epstein-Barr Virus as a correlate of gastric inflammation Pediatric gastric biopsies reveal diverse microbes. H. pylori & EBV show the strongest links to inflammation www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #MicroSky
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Pestilence @pestilence4all.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Even when you take the McConnell out of Schrödinger’s box it is neither alive nor dead. What gives?
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Cath RN, PhD @headdoc35.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I cannot keep up with the recalls. So, here’s a place you should bookmark to keep this current as possible:
foodsafetynews.com
Recalls - Food Safety News
Food recalls happen when products are found unsafe and removed from shelves to protect public health. We keep you informed about the latest recalls and safety alerts from the FDA, USDA, and industry l...
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Zika virus, the pathogen that caused a wave of pregnancy complications, birth defects as well as fetal & neonatal deaths a decade ago doesn't construct itself in human cells the way scientists thought. The new findings are paving the way for a novel Zika vaccine. By Delthia Ricks👇
phys.org
Zika virus assembles without protein segment long deemed essential
For years, scientists were certain that two factors were involved in the assembly of active, highly infectious Zika viruses in human cells: a specific viral protein in its entirety and a turncoat huma...
0106
Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There's an escalating standoff between the CDC & the state of Pennsylvania over measles deaths. Pennsylvania has reported 4 deaths associated w/ the infection, but the CDC has not included them in its national total — a conflict rarely seen in public health👇
nbcnews.com
The escalating standoff between the CDC and Pennsylvania over measles deaths
Pennsylvania has reported fourth deaths associated with measles, but the CDC has not included them in its national total — a conflict rarely seen in public health.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
RFKjr’s ‘medical freedom’ comes with a body count. Measles has been showing up in Pennsylvania children’s hospitals. RFKjr showed up at an anti-vax conference preaching his same old looney—and dangerous—lie that vaccines cause "injuries"👇
thebulwark.com
RFK Jr.’s ‘Medical Freedom’ Comes With a Body Count
Measles showed up at a children’s hospital. The health secretary showed up at an anti-vax conference.
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
America has a long and bizarre history of falling for hucksters & snake oil sellers. It seems that Americans love 'outlandish promises and that may explain why RFKjr has captured hearts & minds w/ his warped views on vaccines👇
medpagetoday.com
America's Long History of Falling for Hucksters and Their Outlandish Promises
One physician says there's a simple, poignant reason why: 'People really don't want to die'
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Pennsylvania's measles epidemic is being met with both defiance and a rush to vaccinate. As the epidemic grows to more than 700 confirmed cases, the largest in the country, some people remain opposed to vaccines & others are rushing to get the shots www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/u...
nytimes.com
Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Leads to an Increase in Vaccinations (Gift Article)
As the outbreak grows to more than 700 confirmed cases, the largest in the country, some people remain opposed to vaccines and others are rushing to get the shots.
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 21/09/2026
For more than a decade, US embassies and consulates around the world monitored air quality. Since this program’s end in 2025, air pollution levels have increased by 24–33% in 46 cities, especially in cities now without air-quality monitoring data. In PNAS: ow.ly/Qh9w50ZPI6r
An American flag outside the US embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Stock photo.
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Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
It's that time again!
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Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
For Earth 🌍 , Wind 🌪️, and Fire 🔥 Day—we never forget the 21st night of September—here is a depiction of the Four Elements in a manuscript from Bruges, 1470-1480, fr. 137, fol. 1r. (© BnF) : « Dieu Créateur et Ovide avec l’œuf » @labnf.bsky.social. See: journals.openedition.org/crmh/13890?l...
manuscrit fr. 137, fol. 1r.

(© BnF) : « Dieu Créateur et Ovide avec l’œuf »
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Join experts from academia, industry and the wider entomology community on 1 October for this exciting collaboration between the Royal Society and the Royal Entomological Society. 💻 Online attendance available via livestream registration. buff.ly/gD07Rst @royalsociety.org
buff.ly
Innovations In Entomology
From emerging technologies to real-world impact, #InnovationsInEntomology will showcase how research is driving advances across agriculture, biodiversity and public health.
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JCI insight @insight.jci.org · 21/09/2026
Shamseldin et al. discover Bordetella pertussis T-cell antigens that, in an experimental subunit vaccine, induced protective T cell responses and reduced respiratory bacterial burden in mice: doi.org/10.1172/jci....
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Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
“Information should come not only from pharmaceutical companies, but also from governments and research institutions,” she said. “People need to be able to access this information easily and make their own informed decisions.” www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09...
japantimes.co.jp
Clinical trials for Alzheimer’s treatment face global shortage of participants
The shortage of trial participants risks slowing progress in dementia therapies, Alzheimer’s Disease International warns.
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Vivek Mutalik @vivekmutalik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Some of the smallest 😎 viruses on Earth are all around us. Three or four genes 😍 each, in nearly every environment. We keep finding thousands by sequencing, yet don't know who they infect, can't easily isolate them, or even how the few we have infect a cell. Our new preprint takes this on 🧵👇
Schematics of how single strand RNA and DNA phages infect bacteria with F-pilus
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Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Pennsylvania's measles epidemic is being met with both defiance and a rush to vaccinate. As the epidemic grows to more than 700 confirmed cases, the largest in the country, some people remain opposed to vaccines & others are rushing to get the shots www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/u...
nytimes.com
Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Leads to an Increase in Vaccinations (Gift Article)
As the outbreak grows to more than 700 confirmed cases, the largest in the country, some people remain opposed to vaccines and others are rushing to get the shots.
0135
Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
America has a long and bizarre history of falling for hucksters & snake oil sellers. It seems that Americans love 'outlandish promises and that may explain why RFKjr has captured hearts & minds w/ his warped views on vaccines👇
medpagetoday.com
America's Long History of Falling for Hucksters and Their Outlandish Promises
One physician says there's a simple, poignant reason why: 'People really don't want to die'
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Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
“There are no navigation events or meetings that don’t acknowledge Dr. Freeman’s role in patient navigation,” Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, the interim chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society, said in an interview. “There wasn’t a patient navigation concept before him.”
nytimes.com
Harold Freeman, Who Helped Remove Barriers to Cancer Treatment, Dies at 93
He developed a program that became a model for hospitals around the world, making it easier for poor Black patients to navigate an onerous bureaucratic system.
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