It’s OK to be Negative

the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Baltimore, MD
Who wants to hear negative news?  I’ve come to believe that physicians do and that we all should.  I’m talking about negative studies, which reporters of all stripes have a tendency to overlook in favor of a study with postive results.  I’ve heard it countless [...]

SABC: Choose Your Words Carefully

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Here’s a little lesson in semantics for physicians, courtesy of a breast cancer patient advocate.  During the Q and A session following one of the presentations in the main hall, a patient advocate went up to the mike and pointed out to the speaker and all of her colleagues in the [...]

SABC: What’s Up With the Badge Nazis?

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
I—and the other attendees of SABC—have been pestered over and over again by the badge nazis here in the convention center.  These are individuals employed to keep people without badges from the presentations, the posters, and the press room.  They are more polite than the Soup Nazi of Seinfeld fame but [...]

Supportive Oncology: Listening is Free

From the Fourth Annual Chicago Supportive Oncology Conference, Chicago, Ill.:
 
I’ve been covering oncology for a few years now, and usually go to the big, high-powered meetings like ASH and ASCO. This time, I’m covering supportive oncology. Unlike the “three ring circuses” I’m used to, this meeting is being held in one, albeit large, room. The [...]