 Artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare? The future is now -- with AI and data analytics transforming how doctors diagnose and treat their patients; enabling researchers to make unexpected, and sometimes life-saving, correlations; and helping medical facilities to streamline care for improved health outcomes. See my story on pg. 15 in the new issue of WebMD Magazine.
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 Life goals may be easier to attain if you share them with your physician. To learn why, check out my story in the March/April issue of WebMD Magazine. See pg. 19.
 Today I'm prepping to interview the former first lady of Massachusetts, Ann Romney. And while I'll be sorely tempted to talk politics with the spouse of a new U.S. senator, my focus instead will be on her multiple sclerosis (MS). And the innovative research her foundation is funding to advance new treatments for that disease and other, related neurologic disorders including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS. Watch this space.
   This month's issue of WebMD Magazine features three of my stories. The first pragmatically tackles the realities of gun ownership in America: gun violence is the third-leading cause of death among kids 17 and under in this country. What can parents do to keep their kids safe? The second is my Q&A with actor and All American star Taye Diggs. And the third covers the rising trend of Millennial adults who are moving back in with their parents. Temporary detour or parent trap? Read all in the digital edition, featuring cover star Lin-Manual Miranda.
 Prepping to interview this funny, thoughtful man, one of a handful of comedians who has kept me sane since the 2016 election. He's got a new memoir coming out—it'll be tough to top his #1 best-selling first offering, Born a Crime, or his Netflix comedy specials, which I've been devouring! Watch this space!
 Pleased to share my second cover this year on comedy duo Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan! (The first was for WebMD Magazine.) We spoke at length again about her shocking diagnosis of a large brain stem tumor, but this time focused on her arduous recovery—which she's still going through—after an April 2017 surgery. From Jim's hilarious "Feeding Frenzy" videos (a YouTube series he created to make his wife laugh when she could only eat through a feeding PEG), to her ongoing speech and swallow therapy, and his role as 24/7 caretaker and parent (see their new Tylenol campaign that honors caregivers everywhere), this couple never stopped smiling through it all. READ MORE in the December issue of Brain & Life (formerly Neurology Now).
 The stigma associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease may actually hinder the development of its cure. When we refrain from sharing our symptoms with others out of fear of discrimination, we lose valuable planning time — and the possibility of joining, or benefiting from, clinical trials. See my story on pg. 14 in the Nov/Dec issue of WebMD Magazine.
 When young people restrict calories to stay thin while getting the maximum buzz from booze, that's called drunkorexia. And this dual eating-drinking disorder is a growing problem on college campuses. See p. 30 in the October issue of WebMD Magazine. READ MORE.
 When our family first met Mary nearly four years ago, our hearts were still bruised and healing from losing our beloved Ruby. We weren’t sure we were ready. So I sent a photo of the nervously pacing animal from the shelter to Ben. I’m a dumb sucker for the shy ones, for the pups deemed too damaged or simply too much trouble—for whatever reason, those are the dogs that speak to me. After a short spell of silence, which I knew was lingering grief, he texted back, “OK. But only if I get to name her.” A deal was struck, although I don’t know how much our long-deceased grandmothers (on both sides) appreciated a canine namesake, even if she was a great beauty.
It was immediately clear that Mary was not like other dogs.  Here is my discussion with Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris, a pediatrician with a new book that explains how adverse childhood experiences (ACE) can trigger a toxic stress response in our immune, central nervous and cardiovascular systems, which leads to poor health outcomes in adulthood. The direct correlation between neglect, abuse, and emotionally scarring events when we're young and higher rates of the most prevalent diseases and conditions that kill us is both sobering and shocking. Research shows that the higher your ACE score, the more likely you are to develop cancer, fight addictions, have heart disease, and battle depression. READ MORE on pg. 25 in October's digital issue of WebMD Magazine.
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