Health writer, cancer survivor/author of Having Children After Cancer, mom of three, theater junkie, passionate traveler, super liberal nerd. She/her.
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Articles by Gina Shaw
Proposed Federal Rule Would Let Political Appointees Overrule Peer Review of Grants
ARTICLE IN BRIEF: Neurologists warn that a change in how scientific peer review of grants is conducted would slow discovery in Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and stroke in addition to eroding decades of independent, merit-based review. The new priorities also run counter to the way the National Institutes of Health has always operated, one expert noted.
CGRP Inhibitor Use Linked to Lower Glaucoma Risk in Migraine
ARTICLE IN BRIEF: An analysis of people who used a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitor and others who used a commonly recommended non-CGRP preventive has revealed that over up to three years of follow-up, glaucoma occurred in 0.42 percent of the CGRP group and 0.61 percent of the other group. However, one expert cautioned that the results are not evidence that CGRP inhibitors actively protect against glaucoma.
Does Research Funding Need a Wider Map? How Spreading the Wealth Could Advance the Field of Neurology
ARTICLE IN BRIEF: While funding for neurology research tends to be concentrated among a small group of institutions and regions, expanding its distribution could better serve patients. And through new efforts, such as by forming partnerships with well-funded organizations, institutions in traditionally underserved areas are helping to make that growth possible. Geisinger Health System sits in rural central Pennsylvania, a three-hour drive from Philadelphia and five hours from Boston.
The Policy and Financial Pressures Reshaping Patient Access in 2026 and Beyond
Originally published by our sister publication Specialty Pharmacy Continuum By Gina Shaw About 1 in 4 patients admit that an out-of-pocket cost of just $50 to $100 may be enough to stop them from starting a newly prescribed therapy, according to the latest Peer Engagement Survey from Nuvera Life Science Consulting presented at InformaConnect Patient Assistance and Access Programs meeting, in Philadelphia, in March 2026.
Open-Source AI Framework Matches GPT-4.1 in Predicting Stroke Outcomes From Clinical Notes
A new artificial intelligence (AI) framework can predict 90-day stroke outcomes from discharge summaries as accurately as one of the most powerful commercial language models available—and do it on a hospital’s own servers, without sharing any patient data with an outside system.
Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Yields Genetic Diagnoses in Hospitalized Adults With Unexplained Neurologic Disease
Rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) identified a definitive or probable genetic diagnosis in approximately 25 percent of hospitalized adults with unexplained neurologic manifestations, according to an abstract presented in April at the 2026 AAN Annual Meeting in Chicago. The retrospective study included 58 adults (20 women and 38 men) with a mean age of 53 years who underwent rWGS as part of a hospital-wide program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, between June 2022 and September 2025.
For Older Adults With HIV, Extending “Healthspan” Is the New Frontier
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition People with HIV are living longer than ever before, but they are not necessarily living healthier for longer. Even with durable viral suppression, adults aging with HIV experience accelerated multimorbidity, earlier onset of geriatric syndromes, and widening gaps in “healthspan”—the years lived without functional decline or disability.
Fellows Seeking Academic Jobs Face a Market in Motion
ARTICLE IN BRIEF: Across the country, the availability of academic jobs for neurologists finishing their fellowships varies widely. While the leaders of some neurology departments say their hiring has not changed, others have put hiring freezes in place or limited the amount of positions they intend to fill. As neurology fellowship graduates pursue post-training faculty jobs, the signals can feel contradictory. Some departments are hiring at a brisk pace. Others are cautious.
Bluesight Report: Hospitals Step Up Diversion Surveillance
Hospitals are investing more deeply in both people and technology to combat controlled substance diversion, according to the Bluesight 2025 Diversion Trends Report, which analyzed more than 266 million controlled substance transactions across 1,159 hospitals (bit.ly/47LGBMn). The data show steady improvement in documentation compliance, with the share of controlled substance transactions containing variances dropping from 7% to 6% between 2023 and 2024.
C the Change: Six Innovations Reshaping Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment
Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) will require moving care beyond clinic walls and into the community spaces where patients live, work, and seek support. That’s the take-home message from a series of presentations at IDWeek 2025, in Atlanta, showcasing new strategies aimed at closing persistent gaps in HCV testing, linkage, and treatment, particularly for populations disproportionately disconnected from traditional care.
2 New ACIP Appointments, ACOG Exodus, and a Controversial Surgeon General Candidate
On Feb. 27, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the appointment of two new members to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): Sean G. Downing, MD, an internal medicine and pediatrics physician practicing concierge care in Sarasota, Florida, and Angelina Farella, MD, a pediatrician who owns a family health and wellness practice in Webster, Texas. Casey Means, MD. Source: Public Domain.
ACIP End HepB Birth Dose
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition On Dec.
Amazon Pharmacy Kiosks Concern
By Gina Shaw Amazon’s latest move into pharmacy—prescription-dispensing “kiosks,” rolling out first at several One Medical clinics in the Los Angeles area—has landed with skepticism and concern among community pharmacy leaders. ©McMahon Group Although Amazon frames the kiosks as a convenience advantage, enabling patients to collect certain medications “in minutes,” the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) warns that the model risks reducing pharmacy care to a commodity transaction.
Specialty Pharmacy Technology Advancements
If you don’t have prescription capture, you don’t have an optimally functioning specialty pharmacy, panelists cautioned during a session on technologies transforming health-system specialty pharmacies at the NASP 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo, in Denver. The panelists described how their institutions are leveraging automation, digital tools, and IT partnerships to capture prescriptions, streamline workflows, reduce leakage, and enhance patient access.
Specialty Pharmacies Innovation Challenges
Originally published by our sister publication Pharmacy Practice News For health-system specialty pharmacies (HSSPs), innovation is key to keeping their model and services viable amid shifting reimbursement and shrinking margins, the complexities of patient onboarding, site-of-care restrictions, and patient access challenges.
TrumpRx Pfizer Drug Pricing
The Trump administration’s newly unveiled “TrumpRx” initiative—a partnership with Pfizer framed as the first step toward applying most-favored-nation (MFN) drug pricing in the United States—is being touted as a game changer in making prescription drugs more affordable. But due to a lack of specifics on how the plan works, along with no mandate for widespread stakeholder participation, many health policy analysts argue its real-world value is limited. The
TrumpRx Pfizer Drug Pricing
Originally published by our sister publication Specialty Pharmacy Continuum The Trump administration’s newly unveiled “TrumpRx” initiative—a partnership with Pfizer framed as the first step toward applying most-favored-nation (MFN) drug pricing in the United States—is being touted as a game changer in making prescription drugs more affordable. But due to a lack of specifics on how the plan works, along with no mandate for widespread stakeholder
Virologic Rebounds Rare but Possible After Mpox Vaccination in People With HIV
Virologic rebounds following mpox vaccination appear to be uncommon in people living with HIV (PLWH), according to a new study presented by investigators with the Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, in Rome. The analysis, presented by Pierluigi Francesco Salvo, MD, at IDWeek 2025, in Atlanta, evaluated whether the modified vaccinia
ACIP’s New Direction Threatens Vaccine Progress, Experts Warn
A growing number of infectious disease experts are concerned with the state of public health in the United States following the latest meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held last week.
Pharmacist on ACIP Helps Defeat COVID-19 Vaccine Prescription Proposal
Originally published by our sister publication Pharmacy Practice News Hillary F. Blackburn, PharmD, MBA, the first pharmacist voting member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—a position that industry leaders had advocated for—wasted no time in making her mark on the committee. Participating in her first ACIP meeting on Sept. 19, just days after being named to the committee by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
ACIP Narrowly Rejects Prescription Requirement for COVID-19 Vaccines After Day of Heated Debate
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition By the narrowest of margins, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted down a controversial proposal that would have required patients to obtain a prescription before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The vote ended in a 6–6 tie, which meant that the “no” vote from Chair Martin Kulldorff, PhD, carried the day under the committee’s rules.
Breaking Longstanding Policy, ACIP Limits MMRV Vaccine in Young Children
This article was update 9/19/2025 at 9:52 am to reflect the revision for the Vaccines for Children vote. In a highly contentious Sept. 18 meeting, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to withdraw its longstanding recommendation for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine in children younger than 4 years of age. The panel’s 8-to-3 vote, with one abstention, reverses 15 years of policy.
ACIP Narrowly Rejects Prescription Requirement for COVID-19 Vaccines After Day of Heated Debate
By the narrowest of margins, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted down a controversial proposal that would have required patients to obtain a prescription before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The vote ended in a tie of 6–6, which meant that the “no” vote from Chair Martin Kulldorff, PhD, carried the day under the committee’s rules.
State Pharmacy Boards Navigate a Fractured Fed Vaccine Advisory System
By Gina Shaw With federal vaccine policymaking in turmoil, state boards of pharmacy are scrambling to respond. The purge of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) membership by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the appointment of new members—including a number of vaccine skeptics—has disrupted what was once a tightly aligned national vaccine framework.
Breaking Longstanding Policy, ACIP Limits MMRV Vaccine in Young Children
By Gina Shaw In a highly contentious Sept. 18 meeting, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to withdraw its longstanding recommendation for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine in children younger than 4 years of age. The panel’s 8 to 3 vote, with one abstention, reverses 15 years of policy.
Breaking Longstanding Policy, ACIP Limits MMRV Vaccine in Young Children
This article was update 9/19/2025 at 9:52 am to reflect the revision for the Vaccines for Children vote. By Gina Shaw In a highly contentious Sept. 18 meeting, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to withdraw its longstanding recommendation for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine in children younger than 4 years of age. The panel’s 8-to-3 vote, with one abstention, reverses 15 years of policy.
More States Establish Their Own Vaccine Policies as RFK Jr. Continues Anti-Vaccine Push
By Gina Shaw Pennsylvania, Colorado and Massachusetts became the latest states to break with the CDC’s vaccine recommendations this week, separately announcing their own policies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. The moves follow the Sept.
More States Establish Their Own Vaccine Policies as RFK Jr. Continues Anti-Vaccine Push
Pennsylvania, Colorado and Massachusetts became the latest states to break with the CDC’s vaccine recommendations this week, separately announcing their own policies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. The moves follow the Sept.
CVS Will Not Offer COVID-19 Vaccine in 16 States Until ACIP Meets
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition After two days of high-profile firings and forced resignations at the CDC, nationwide pharmacy chain CVS said it would be unable to offer this season’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine to any patients—even if they meet the FDA’s more stringent requirements for immunization—in 16 states and the District of Columbia where pharmacists are not permitted to administer vaccines that are not recommended by the Advisory...
CVS Will Not Offer COVID-19 Vaccine in 16 States Until ACIP Meets
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition By Gina Shaw After two days of high-profile firings and forced resignations at the CDC, nationwide pharmacy chain CVS said it would be unable to offer this season’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine to any patients—even if they meet the FDA’s more stringent requirements for immunization—in 16 states and the District of Columbia where pharmacists are not permitted to administer vaccines that are not recommended by...
Leadership Loss a Devasting Blow to America’s Health
Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition This is an evolving story. Look for a related story later today about the new acting CDC director. By Gina Shaw The week has been dominated by a literal and figural firestorm at the CDC with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. trying to force out the CDC director, other officials resigning in protest and a walkout; all of this followed a campus shooting that occurred earlier this month.
CVS Will Not Offer COVID-19 Vaccine in 16 States Until ACIP Meets
The following result is from the NPI Registry Public Search database. You can click on the NPI number to view detailed information and verify its accuracy. If your NPI is not found in this search, you can try searching again using the form below. If you have difficulty finding your NPI number please contact us at web@mcmahonmed.com First Name Last Name OR Organization/Institution State NPI Name Organization/ Institution State Zip Code Taxonomy Credential Select
Benefits, Workout Insights and Beginner Tips
Rock climbing is exactly what it sounds like. It's an activity where you climb on rocks or mountains outdoors, or on rock climbing walls indoors, for fun, adventure, or exercise. Climbing used to be a way for people to explore new areas. By the early 1900s, it had evolved into a fun activity, and it started gaining popularity by the end of the 20th century. Rock climbing is a good workout because it builds strength, improves endurance, and boosts flexibility.
What Are Epidermoid Cysts (Sebaceous Cysts)?
If you have a bump on your skin that’s not painful, it may be a skin cyst. There are two kinds of skin cysts: epidermoid and sebaceous cysts. Sometimes they’re thought to be the same, but they differ. An epidermoid cyst, which also is called an epidermal inclusion cyst, feels like a bump underneath your skin. These cysts are filled with the protein keratin. Sebaceous cysts, on the other hand, are filled with sebum.
Breakthrough Infection, Reinfection Rare but Possible After Mpox Infection or Vaccination
Although rare, mpox breakthrough infection or reinfection can occur whether the person was vaccinated or had the infection, according to two studies presented at CROI 2025, in San Francisco. However, experts noted that at this time, people with previous infection do not need vaccination.
Pharmacists Show Their Worth in Pediatric Penicillin Allergy Delabeling
Originally published by our sister publication Pharmacy Practice News By Gina Shaw A pharmacist-led penicillin allergy delabeling program for pediatric patients is safe, feasible and effective, with nearly all of the patients deemed eligible for the antibiotic class after oral challenge testing, according to new data reported at the ASHP Pharmacy Futures 2025 meeting, in Charlotte, N.C. “There is now data showing that you can safely test low-risk pediatric patients, those who did not have...
Purge of ACIP by R.F.K. Jr. Condemned by PharmDs, MDs and Others
Originally published by our sister publication Pharmacy Practice News By Gina Shaw Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s June 9 announcement that he had dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which guides the agency on vaccine recommendations, has been met with near-universal condemnation from top infectious disease experts and medical organizations.
Rapid Diagnostic Testing with BCID2 Panel Improves Time to Optimal Therapy
By Gina Shaw More than half of patients with positive cultures for bloodstream infections achieved optimal therapy within 48 hours using the Biofire Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2; bioMérieux) panel, a rapid multiplex polymerase chain reaction–based diagnostic platform, in a single-center retrospective cohort study presented at MAD-ID 2025, in Orlando, Fla.
Obesity Affects PKs of Newer Beta-Lactam Combinations
By Gina Shaw Obesity has been associated with treatment failure in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics, including novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Therefore, it is important that research is done to optimize therapy regimens.
Pemivibart Appears to Prevent COVID-19 Infection in CLL
By Gina Shaw The monoclonal antibody pemivibart (Pemgarda, Invivyd) is well tolerated and appears effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), who can be severely immunocompromised, according to a study reported at MAD-ID 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (abstract 96E).
Baby Nutrition in the First Year: What to Feed Your Baby Now
In addition to breast milk or baby formula, here are the solid foods you can introduce to your baby’s diet at each stage of development - or if your baby is ready. But remember, you can exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first 6 months. There is no evidence that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods, including peanuts, eggs, and fish, beyond 4 to 6 months prevents atopic disease. There is now evidence that early introduction of peanuts may prevent peanut allergy.
Feeding Baby: How to Avoid Food Allergies
Starting to feed a baby solid foods is an exciting milestone for parents. However, it comes with a lot of questions and concerns, especially about food allergies. What foods are most likely to cause allergies in babies? How do you avoid them? Emerging research has shown that introducing multiple foods together is safe, and may help the immune system have a lower risk of developing food allergies, but more studies are needed. Check with your doctor for what’s best for your baby.
Trump Administration Shuts Down CDC’s Top Infection Control Committee
By Gina Shaw The Trump administration has eliminated the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), a voluntary advisory committee, its members confirmed to Infectious Disease Special Edition. The explanation for its elimination was a citation of executive order 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.” Members received notification of their termination on Friday, May 2, and the committee’s web page has been archived.
Hyperautomation with Agentic Bots: Transforming Business Processes
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and streamline operations. Hyperautomation, as a transformative concept, integrates advanced technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) to automate end-to-end business workflows.
Overcoming Biosimilar Utilization Barriers
The successful implementation of an infliximab biosimilar at Boston Medical Center (BMC) was one of several lessons for overcoming operational challenges and stakeholder barriers to biosimilar adoption presented during a session at the ASHP Midyear 2024 Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, in New Orleans.
Survivorship Planning for Melanoma Patients
By Gina Shaw 3 Questions for Christina Davis, PharmD, Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Specialist, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora 1. How frequently do you see patients who have been on active treatment for melanoma once they complete their initial treatment phase? For high-risk melanoma patients who have completed treatment, we usually alternate our appointments with dermatology visits.
Fremanezumab Outperforms Placebo for Migraine Prevention in Pediatric, Adolescent Population : Neurology Today
Fremanezumab (Ajovy)—a calcitonin gene-related peptide agonist (CGRP)— is safe and effective for prevention of episodic migraine in children and adolescents as young as 6 years old, according to findings presented at the AAN 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, The multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 study—led by headache medicine specialist and child neurologist Andrew Hersey, MD, PhD, FAAN, endowed chair and director of the division of neurology at Cincinnati Children's...
Large Study Confirms Modern Hormonal Contraceptives Not Associated with Vascular Risk in Women With Migraine : Neurology Today
Modern hormonal contraceptives, which contain substantially lower doses of estrogen compared with earlier-generation high-dose combined oral contraceptives, are not associated with an increased risk of stroke and other vascular events in women with migraine, both with and without aura, according to findings presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in San Diego. The large study used data from a nationwide de-identified electronic health record database.
Over-the-Counter Analgesics Improve Symptoms, Recovery Time After Concussion : Neurology Today
Use of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics—including both acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) was significantly associated with improved concussion symptoms and recovery, according to new data presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in San Diego. The prospective cohort study of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and military cadets also found that the OTC drugs led to a quicker return to play.
Inebilizumab Improves Myasthenia Gravis Severity, Reduces Steroid Dependency : Neurology Today
Inebilizumab (Uplizna), a monoclonal antibody targeting CD19+ B-cells, significantly improves disease severity in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), according to new findings from the MINT phase 3 clinical trial presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in San Diego.
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