November 1st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements, Medblogger Shout Outs
Tags: Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Consumer Safety, Critical Thinking, Evidence Based Medicine, Fraud, Integrative Medicine, Science, Science Based Medicine, Truth
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Regular readers of my blog will know that health fraud, misleading product and treatment claims, and deception of vulnerable populations (snake oil for cancer patients, for example) really get under my skin. For this reason, I’ve teamed up with a group of scientists and physicians to create a blog devoted to medical accuracy, transparency, and integrity in health reporting. It’s called Science Based Medicine, and we offer daily exposés of misleading health claims and practices. It’s a great way to learn about how to think critically – and to apply a scientific approach (rather than subjective and anecdotal) to discerning truth from error.
My contribution to the blogging team is to highlight online health fraud, scams, deception and misguided attempts to help consumers “live healthier lives.” I post once a week, every Thursday morning. Please head on over and check it out. It’s a great team of bloggers – and they’re looking out for you!
Here is a list of my recent posts:
A Shruggie Awakening: One Physician’s Journey Toward Scientific Enlightenment
Disintegrating Integrative Medicine: Lessons From Baking
When Further Research Is Not Warranted: The Wisdom of Crowds Fallacy
Knowledge Vs. Expertise: The View From Consumer Land
October 30th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
Tags: Contest, Dr. Val Jones, ePocrates, Judge, Medgadget, Science Fiction
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Attention science fiction buffs… it’s time to put pen to paper (er… keys to keyboard) and create a fictional account of some aspect of the future of medicine. This is Medgadget’s third annual science fiction writing contest. You could win a Palm Tungsten E2 handheld with Epocrates loaded on it – and the glory that only this honor can bring. Please go to the Medgadget blog for contest rules. You have only 2 weeks to submit your entries. Good luck… I’m one of the judges this year!
October 30th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
Tags: Abyssinian Cat, Animals, Blogging, Dr. Val Jones, Personal, Poll, Twitter
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Alright, well a little melodrama never hurt anyone did it? I’m trying really hard to listen to my readers and adjust my blogging themes/topics/approach accordingly. I actually have no idea what you like to read – health policy, touching stories, humor, research explained, expert interviews, celebrity health initiatives, health tips… etc. So I’m asking. What would you like me to blog about? Please vote in my poll on the right hand side of this page. (Or if you’re viewing this message in a reader, well please come on over to my blog and vote.)
So far (my poll has a N=11, not a very high statistical power) you readers seem to be saying that you like personal stories about the blogger (I guess that means you want me to tell you about my cat – well there she is, featured in the top left-hand corner. Her name is “Ona” and she has an insatiable appetite for grilled asparagus.)
But I have this sneaking suspicion that you don’t really want to hear about ME, you’d like to hear about healthcare and medicine from a fresh perspective. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this should be a cat blog? Please do vote in my poll so you can water down the voices of those crazy people who are asking for more personal blogging. If you don’t… my only choice is to give the people what they want… and you may be doomed to read about kitties, etc. forever!
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Bizarre event of the day: I was voted as one the top 20 most influential health voices on Twitter. So go ahead and follow me there. My Twitter name is drval.
October 23rd, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
Tags: Cartoons And Cocktails 2008, Dr. Val Jones, Lynn Johnston, National Press Club, Obama, Personal, Political Cartoons, Politics
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I flew back from San Francisco just in time to get to the National Press Club’s annual “Cartoons & Cocktails” event. Two of my cartoons were auctioned off for charity – along with donations from many other artists. Lynn Johnston (the syndicated cartoonist behind “For Better Or Worse”) sent in two original cells, though political cartoons made up the bulk of the offerings (including a signed copy of the scandalous New Yorker cover about Senator Obama). It was truly an honor to have my work featured along with such talented peers.
Of course, I asked my husband to join me at the event to take pictures. I have a new iPhone – and its camera seems to have a bit of a learning curve. I was a little disappointed that my head was cut in half for most of the shots, and that my TV interview with an Indian political team was captured from behind my head. The Washington Examiner had its own photographer – so I might show up in the “social sightings” in one piece.
For your amusement, I offer my husband’s chronicles of the evening:
October 21st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
Tags: Blogging, conference, Dr. Val Jones, Health 2.0, San Francisco
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Dear friends of the blog – I’m going to San Francisco to the Health 2.0 conference, Oct 21-22 (I have to return to DC on the 23rd to attend the Cartoons & Cocktails event at the National Press Club. Some of my original artwork will be auctioned off for charity.)
Blogging may be light for 2-3 days, but stay tuned. And if you’re going to the Health 2.0 please stop by my booth. It’s #118.
