March 7th, 2009 by Dr. Val Jones in Medblogger Shout Outs, Quackery Exposed
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Dean Ornish writes:
…let’s use science to evaluate ideas that might seem a little weird or offbeat, but deciding a priori that an idea is stupid or worthless just because it doesn’t fit the conventional paradigm is, in my humble opinion, the epitome of being unscientific.
Dr. Benway responds:
There’s weird and then there is weird.
Diet and excercise affecting cancer? Plausible.
Naturopathy? Weird.
Subluxations? Homeopathy? Delusional.
MDs selling self-branded supplements? Embarrassing.
Chelation and coffee enemas for kids with autism? Evil.
I believe you are the plausible wrapping paper surrounding a coalition of crazy, weird, embarrasing, and evil ideas that some want to “integrate” into the universal health care bill.
January 9th, 2009 by Stacy Stryer, M.D. in Quackery Exposed
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Not only am I welcoming in a new year, but also a new opportunity. This is my first blog on getbetterhealth.com, and I am very excited. I previously worked with Dr. Val at Revolution Health, where I was a pediatric consultant and blogger, and I now have the good fortune of working with her on her new health website.
I plan on blogging regularly and look forward to getting to know you better – your interests, questions, and goals. Actually, I would love to learn what you want from me and how I can best serve you. It might help if I first tell you about myself and my own interests. I am a pediatrician in private practice in Maryland. I am also a blogger, speaker and writer. I just finished my first book, “Anorexia,” for ABC-CLIO and recently wrote a story which will appear in a book about pediatricians, which is being edited by Dr. Perri Klass and published by Kaplan Publishing.
I love to teach. One of my favorite aspects of pediatrics is educating parents and kids, whether it’s about breastfeeding, asthma, puberty, or the latest clinical research. I love to travel and learn about new cultures. My late-husband and I spent three years working at the Kayenta Health Center on the Navajo Reservation, where we were constantly learning about health-related customs and decisions which were so different from our own.
And I love my children. I have two wonderful daughters (if I must say so myself), ages 13 and 10 years. I enjoy writing about them in my blogs occasionally. It hasn’t bothered them yet, but I assume I will soon have to be careful about what I divulge with regards to my teenager.
A very sad part of my life was the death of my incredible husband almost four years ago. He was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, on his 40th birthday, and died exactly one year later. His illness and death were not only difficult for obvious reasons, but also because the location of the tumor caused significant personality changes and the loss of his ability to do every day things which we take for granted, such as motivating himself to stand up from a sitting position. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the pitfalls of the health care system and how to look for clinical research trials. Since my husband became ill, I have been working on a book for children whose parents have cancer. I am determined to finish it.
I think that’s enough about me. Now I’d like to know about you. I want to know what your issues and concerns are, and what you would like me to discuss and blog about. Let’s make this year our best and most productive yet!
Stacy Beller Stryer, M.D., FAAP
