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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc

@vishalkhetpal.bsky.social
99 followers 148 following 19 posts

Preventive cardiologist 🫀. Author of the Workup 🩺 at STAT News, writing on how medicine really works (and doesn’t). Views expressed are my own. Website: vishalkhetpal.com

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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Enlicitide is an impressive scientific achievement. But is the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor really a game-changer — or another example of how prevention rewards novelty over implementation? My latest for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2026/07/22/l...
statnews.com
I’m a cardiologist. I’m not sure the new cholesterol drug enlicitide is a game-changer
“In truth, I don’t anticipate prescribing patterns changing immediately,” cardiologist Vishal Khetpal writes of the new cholesterol drug Lipfendra.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Prevention had its Expo Hall moment at #ACC26. PCKS9 inhibitors and AI retinal scans were presented alongside food-as-medicine interventions. All labeled prevention. All pointing to different futures. My latest for @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2026/04/02/c...
statnews.com
Cardiology’s finally prioritizing prevention — but what will it look like?
Prevention is normally relegated to the periphery of national medical conferences. Not anymore.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Been working on a side project modeling the World Cup—building a kind of “field guide” to the tournament. The playoffs start this week (22 teams for 6 spots), and it’s much more chaotic than it looks. Expect some upsets. Wrote a breakdown here: theworldcupexplained.substack.com/p/the-fifa-w...
theworldcupexplained.substack.com
The FIFA World Cup Playoffs: a Preview
22 teams, 6 spots; who will make it to North America?
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
The new lipid guidelines came out from @accintouch.bsky.social and others; more to come on what they mean but this was an interesting find to me on first pass. Coronary calcium detected by AI now has a class I indication (strongest evidence) to inform starting a statin.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Hims has 2 million users, just settled with Novo Nordisk, and has RFK Jr. in its corner on peptide access. I've started thinking about this less as a drug pricing story and more as a symptom of something larger: the Himsification of medicine. For @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2026/03/10/h...
statnews.com
The Himsification of medicine
Welcome to the Himsification of medicine.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
The federal dietary guidelines aren’t just about macronutrients. They’re also about whose food counts as “real”. I wrote about that tension here for @statnews.com. Thank you @thekibosch.bsky.social for publishing! www.statnews.com/2026/01/30/n...
statnews.com
The food nationalism of the new dietary guidelines
The new food pyramid quietly reasserts what kinds of food count as real.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Innovation models are how Medicare quietly reshapes clinical practice. MAHA ELEVATE is great in theory, but deserves more scrutiny than it’s getting. For @statnews.com, I take a closer look. www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/c...
statnews.com
CMS’ new MAHA ELEVATE innovation model has a fundamental flaw
CMS’ new MAHA ELEVATE innovation model has a fundamental flaw, The Workup columnist Vishal Khetpal writes.
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
STAT @statnews.com · 19/11/2025
Every physician needs to have a basic level of AI literacy now. That might require some sort of licensing exam. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/d...
statnews.com
Every doctor needs a basic level of AI literacy
Every physician needs to have a basic level of AI literacy now. That might require some sort of licensing exam.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
AI tools often use a human-in-the-loop approach, counting on doctors as a backstop. Our training, however, doesn’t prepare us for this role. For @statnews.com, I argue that doctors should pass a driver’s license test for AI, to use it safely and effectively. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/d...
statnews.com
Every doctor needs a basic level of AI literacy
Every physician needs to have a basic level of AI literacy now. That might require some sort of licensing exam.
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
MIT Technology Review @technologyreview.com · 20/10/2025
Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.
technologyreview.com
AI could predict who will have a heart attack
Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
For @technologyreview.com, I wrote about AI-derived coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores—potentially a public health breakthrough, but with thorny ethical and financial implications. Special thanks to @adamrodmanmd.bsky.social ter.li/VishalK
ter.li
AI could predict who will have a heart attack
Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Apple’s new “Hypertension Notifications” may be slick — but I see more caveats than headlines. My latest column for @statnews.com explores how this sits uncomfortably between wellness and medicine. Thanks @thekibosch.bsky.social for editing and publishing! www.statnews.com/2025/10/13/a...
statnews.com
Why this cardiologist is cautious about the Apple Watch’s blood pressure feature
“Hypertension notifications, alongside the growing suite of health metrics in the Apple ecosystem, are not population health tools,” a cardiologist writes.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
For a generation, statins have been among the most powerful tools we have to prevent heart disease. But too few people take them. In my first column for @statnews.com, I argue for an overdue step: making them available over the counter. www.statnews.com/2025/09/02/s...
statnews.com
Make statins available without a prescription
Many people who would benefit from statins don’t take them. Making them more accessible would help.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Healthy eating is already too expensive—now with tariffs, it’s about to get much worse. My latest for @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2025/03/10/t... Thanks @thekibosch.bsky.social for publishing!
statnews.com
Tariffs will make it even more expensive for Americans to eat healthy
Mexican and Canadian fruits and vegetables are ubiquitous in American grocery stores. Tariffs will put them further out of reach for many Americans.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Maybe a more controversial take: it's legitimate for the new admin to consider taking a different approach to American global health involvement. But to implement a haphazard 'pause' in this way belies an understanding of how this work, and will kill people. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/h...
nytimes.com
Health Programs Shutter Around the World After Trump Pauses Foreign Aid
Lifesaving treatment and prevention programs for tuberculosis, malaria, H.I.V. and other diseases cannot access funds to continue work.
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
My @newyorker.com piece on the ongoing, likely unconstitutional funding freeze at USAID now imperiling millions: “This is not a pause. It is a destruction.” USAID is also where the Administration is testing out its playbook for eviscerating other agencies. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
newyorker.com
Behind the Chaotic Attempt to Freeze Federal Assistance
The potential for devastation is made plain by another order, concerning the crucial work of U.S.A.I.D.
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
Natasha Loder @natashaloder.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
This is a tragic and must-read article about the total devastation that the 90 day stop work order is causing internationally. In that time for example an estimated 136,000 babies could acquire HIV.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Leaving the WHO, freezing PEPFAR and the USAID... the US is abandoning it's global health leadership, leaving the world a less safe place and creating a vacuum for China and other actors to fill www.npr.org/sections/goa...
npr.org
PEPFAR, the acclaimed anti-HIV program, faces loss of funds as part of U.S. aid pause
On Friday, a memorandum signed by Marco Rubio called for a 90-day cessation of foreign aid. That would likely put on hold the work of PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
RIP Jimmy Carter, whose global health efforts, as @helenbranswell.bsky.social writes, articulated the art of the possible. He, and the Carter Center, arguably forged a model of the outward-looking post-presidential activities continuing to do so much good today. www.statnews.com/2024/12/29/h...
statnews.com
How Jimmy Carter's global health efforts elevated 'the art of the possible'
Former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, gave visibility to devastating health problems that are often invisible.
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Seven months ago, I stood in a Senate hearing room and watched protesters yell at UnitedHealth’s CEO about care denials. It’s a moment I couldn’t get out my head this week. Been reflecting on that and other reactions in the wake of Brian Thompson’s shocking death — what it means and where it goes.
dandiamond.substack.com
A few thoughts on the shock killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO - and the fallout
Reflecting on a divisive moment in America and what comes next
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Reposted by Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc
Billy Carpenter @billycarpy.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
🔥 This week's Arsenal long-read is up. Observations, stats, and diagrams on: the Inswinger Era, Saka's levels, Jorginho's anticipation, Ødegaard's movement, Rice's legs, why that first half felt static, Saliba!, Raya's distribution, and a lot more. 6,000+ words, just for you:
billycarpenter.substack.com
It's Jover
The Inswinger Era, Saka's levels, Jorginho's anticipation, Ødegaard's movement, Rice's legs, why that first half felt static, Saliba!, Raya's distribution, and a lot more
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Vishal Khetpal, MD, MSc @vishalkhetpal.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
For @statnews.bsky.social, I wrote about RFK Jr.’s nomination, his disqualifying views, the MAHA movement, and why America needs a Marshall Plan for obesity—not wellness conspiracies. Thanks @thekibosch.bsky.social for publishing! www.statnews.com/2024/11/25/r...
statnews.com
RFK Jr. and MAHA should champion a Marshall Plan for obesity
Opinion: RFK Jr. should look to what his uncle might have done: a large-scale public health program meeting people where they are.
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