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...

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.

statnews.com

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...

Cardiology’s finally prioritizing prevention — but what will it look like?

Prevention is normally relegated to the periphery of national medical conferences. Not anymore.

statnews.com

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...

The FIFA World Cup Playoffs: a Preview

22 teams, 6 spots; who will make it to North America?

theworldcupexplained.substack.com

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.

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...

The Himsification of medicine

Welcome to the Himsification of medicine.

statnews.com

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...

The food nationalism of the new dietary guidelines

The new food pyramid quietly reasserts what kinds of food count as real.

statnews.com

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...

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.

statnews.com

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...

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.

statnews.com

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...

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.

statnews.com

Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.

AI could predict who will have a heart attack

Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.

technologyreview.com

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

AI could predict who will have a heart attack

Cardiologists often struggle to assess heart attack risk. New startups using AI could help.

ter.li

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...

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.

statnews.com

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...

Make statins available without a prescription

Many people who would benefit from statins don’t take them. Making them more accessible would help.

statnews.com

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!

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.

statnews.com

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...

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.

nytimes.com

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...

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.

newyorker.com

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.

Matthew Herper@matthewherper.bsky.social · 2y ago

A choice: Defy President Donald Trump’s order to immediately stop their operations or let up to 100 babies and toddlers die. They chose the children. www.propublica.org/article/trum...

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...

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.

npr.org

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...

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.

statnews.com

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.

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

dandiamond.substack.com

🔥 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:

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

billycarpenter.substack.com

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...

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.

statnews.com