Roni Robbins
Verified- Freelance Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Freelance Reporter, Medscape
- Editor, Writer and Reporter, Freelance
Atlanta
Award-winning author Hands of Gold, Amsterdam Publishers, 2023 Int'l Book Award, Global Book Award, Freelance writer AJC, Medscape/WebMD, former editor Medscape
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Roni Robbins
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure unites Atlanta breast cancer survivors
Just months after finishing her breast cancer treatment, Alecia Robinson walked in her first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in 2023 with a new mission: to help other woman facing the disease. “I knew I was going to do something after I’d gone through that experience,” said Robinson, 59. She was diagnosed in 2022 with stage 1 triple-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. Her treatment included a double mastectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy and a year of medical infusions.
Breast cancer brought these Georgia moms together. Now they have a podcast.
They didn’t know each other at the time, but two young Georgia moms in their early 30s were getting double mastectomies at the same hospital on the same day to remove the cancer in their breasts. In 2023, 32-year old Lauren Norris felt pain while nursing her youngest of three children. Soon afterward, her OB-GYN found a lump in her right breast during a routine breast exam. Meanwhile, 13 miles away, 34-year-old Brittney Powell also discovered a lump in her right breast during a self-exam.
They thought they were too young for breast cancer. Then came the diagnosis.
Although breast cancer remains more common among women over 50, diagnoses for younger women are rising, with the rate increasing slightly faster than it is among older women, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recognized the trend and lowered the recommended age for women to have mammogram screenings from 50 to 40, citing updated evidence on the benefits of screening.
Georgia breast cancer care: How mobile mammography expands access
For breast cancer survivors like Faridah Thomas of Conyers, beating the disease is only part of the battle. Getting a diagnosis, navigating treatment and paying for care can present obstacles of their own, particularly for patients who face gaps in access to healthcare. Thomas was 38 when she discovered a lump in her breast.
No family history of breast cancer? Most women with the disease didn’t either.
Breast surgeon Laura Pearson wants more Georgia women to understand something important about breast cancer: Your screening schedule may need to be different from someone else’s. For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends starting mammograms at age 40 and getting screened every other year through age 74. But those guidelines don’t necessarily apply to women with factors that increase their risk, Pearson said.
How much coffee is good for you? Here’s what new research says.
Like many coffee drinkers, Dr. Sarah Dupont enjoys her daily cup of joe. The good news? Recent studies suggest that ritual may do more than provide an energy boost. It may also support heart, liver and brain health. “It’s encouraging evidence that there’s something about natural sources of caffeine, like in coffee and tea, that’s associated with better health,” said Dupont, an assistant professor of family and preventive medicine at Emory University School of Medicine.
Atlanta becomes first city to offer free smart bassinets to employees
Like most expectant parents, Briana Faucette heard the typical warnings about sleepless nights. Despite the cautions, the 39-year-old South Fulton mom had the rare distinction among new parents of getting a full nights rest soon after her son, Asher, was born. “That was the thing that really did scare me about motherhood. I’m like oh, ‘I’m just going to be tired all the time’ and that just wasn’t the case,” recalled the Atlanta business manager and first-time mom.
Children’s Healthcare drives $6 billion economic impact, new report finds
Health News The Atlanta health system plans additional expansions to meet Georgia’s growing pediatric needs. Despite living more than three hours from Atlanta, the Tarrant family chose Children's Healthcare of Atlanta treatment of their children's medical conditions. (Courtesy of the Tarrant family) Jocelyn Tarrant has spent countless hours on the road to ensure her children receive the specialized care they need.
Two new nursing schools aim to ease Georgia’s nursing shortage
At 15 years old, Catherine Costner watched her family spend months searching for hospice care for her grandfather. When they finally found a nurse to take the position, the experience left a lasting impression, inspiring Costner to pursue a career in nursing herself. “I loved her. She was so especially nice to our family in his final moments and that kind of stuck with me and that’s where I started going down the pre-nursing track because I was like, I want to be her.
Georgia hospitals test ‘game-changer’ pancreatic cancer drugs
More than a year after receiving an experimental pill hailed as a “miracle drug,” retired Atlanta attorney David Stockton is walking up to five miles a day, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and spending time with family despite having the nation’s third-deadliest form of cancer. The new drug is called daraxonrasib.
Atlanta Braves launch new health initiative, spotlighting heart disease risk
Health News ‘Playing with Heart’ emphasizes prevention, awareness and early detection of heart disease. Former Atlanta Braves catcher Javy Lopez speaks with fans about heart disease risks as part of the “Playing with Heart” initiative. (Courtesy of the Atlanta Braves) When Kimbrooke Pavlich was diagnosed with high cholesterol as a teen, doctors prescribed traditional statins. But the medication didn’t work, so she stopped taking it and was labeled noncompliant, overweight and inactive.
How Georgia’s hospitals are adapting to treat their youngest patients
Health News A growing number of medical centers are meeting state standards for neonatal intensive care and pediatric readiness. Dr. Brad Buckler examines Tianna Nunnally’s baby, Sky, at the Memorial Health University Medical Center’s Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit in Savannah.
How birth alert bracelets are improving maternal care in Georgia
Health News 2 Georgia health systems give free wristbands to expectant mothers facing childbirth complications. Metria Cauthen shows off her baby bump (and her birth alert bracelet) with husband, Armand Cauthen, and 3-year-old daughter, Autumn. (Aaron Moon/Courtesy Wellstar Cobb Medical Center) As she prepares to welcome her second child this month, 40-year-old Metria Cauthen is comforted by a purple silicon wristband featuring a stork.
Sportscaster Taylor Rooks relieves $2.1M in medical debt for Gwinnett residents
Health News The Georgia native is helping families in the community that shaped her. Taylor Rooks looks on from the set of the “NBA on Prime” halftime show at Amazon Studios on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Culver City, Calif. The Georgia native is building on personal experiences to support families facing financial hardship.
From loss to innovation: Georgia dad creates app to ease prenatal anxiety
Health News A Georgia Tech professor and his team are determined to give parents clearer reassurance between doctor visits. Elise Adams' miscarriages inspired husband Alex (holding son Liam) to create an app that helps pregnant women become less anxious about their unborn child. (Courtesy of Alex Adams) After two miscarriages, Elise Adams approached her third pregnancy with caution, closely watching for any sign of change between doctor visits.
These ‘smart fabric’ sheets could revolutionize how hospitals prevent bedsores
Health News Georgia Tech pilots sensor-embedded sheets at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Dr. Jana Stockwell (left) and researcher Sundaresan Jayaraman discuss pilot testing a new pressure injury prevention system, using "smart" bedsheets. (Courtesy of Georgia Tech) Spending hours in one position can do more than cause discomfort. It can lead to chafing, irritation and skin sores, whether in a hospital bed or at home.
Former NFL players face their health head-on at Atlanta event
Health News Wellstar partnered with the Living Heart Foundation to offer retired players free checkups. Dr. Connor O'Sullivan examines former Atlanta Falcons player and NFL retiree Philip McKinnely at NFL health screening in Atlanta on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Courtesy of Wellstar Health System) More than a decade of tackles, blocks and pileups has taken a toll on many former professional football players, something former Atlanta Falcons lineman Phil McKinnely knows all too well.
New robotic tech at Emory offers alternative to surgeries
Wellness A joystick-like device helps patients avoid more invasive procedures. Emory interventional radiologists use a controller that looks like a video game operator to treat medical conditions. (Courtesy of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University) For years, Ronnie Kite planned his days around bathroom breaks and endured nights of interrupted sleep because of an enlarged prostate.
New robotic tech at Emory unblocks blood vessels with a pinprick
Wellness A joystick-like device offers an alternative to surgery. Emory interventional radiologists use a controller to treat medical conditions that looks like a videogame operator. (Courtesy of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University) By Roni Robbins – For the AJC 8 minutes ago For years, Ronnie Kite planned his days around bathroom breaks and endured nights of interrupted sleep because of an enlarged prostate.
Start earlier to lower your cholesterol for a healthy heart
Health News Atlanta cardiologists say ‘aggressive’ new guidance on managing lipids calls for screening as early as 30. Following new guidance from the nation’s top heart authorities, Atlanta cardiologists are starting to screen for risk factors that lead to cardiovascular or heart disease in patients as young as 30.
What your body fat says about your cancer risk
Health News Losing more than 10% of body weight may help reduce cancer risk tied to obesity, Emory-led study reveals. A nurse and a breast imaging technician conduct a mammogram at a Winship Cancer Institute breast imaging center. Breast and other obesity-related cancers are increasing at a faster rate among adults ages 25 to 49. (Courtesy of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University) If you’re concerned about your cancer risk, experts say it’s worth asking your doctor about your body fat.
Georgia teen is thriving at home without a heart
Health News Pioneering surgery using mechanical pumps gives 19-year-old Andrew Miles a chance at a transplant. A scan of Andrew Miles' chest showing his implanted artificial heart device. (Courtesy of Emory Healthcare) At just 19 years old, Andrew Miles is living at home without a human heart, relying instead on an innovative artificial heart procedure developed by an Emory Healthcare surgeon.
Music therapy helps a young Georgia patient find her voice
Health News For 7-year-old Grace, music has become more than a creative outlet. It’s a lifeline, helping her cope while awaiting a heart transplant. The staff at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta had an "album release party" for Myliyah “Grace” Leitzsey after she recorded her song at Seacrest Studio.
Med School Enrollment Rebounds From 3-Year Dip Post-COVID
For Jielu Yu, a first-generation and first-year medical student, the path to med school took a circuitous route, sidelined by the COVID pandemic. Starting college when the pandemic hit meant Yu had to delay pre-med shadowing opportunities until it was safe to do so in her junior year, when she would also have been applying to med school and studying for the MCAT.
Georgia diet advisers weigh in on America’s new ‘real food’ approach
Health News New guidelines shift the focus to protein and healthy fats, but nutrition experts urge moderation and balance. Milk, yogurt, and cheese contribute protein, along with other nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. (Courtesy of Sprouts Farmers Market) Steak, cheese and butter are in. Highly processed foods and sugars are officially on notice.
Cancer survivor represents Atlanta hospital in Rose Parade
Health News Tyler Blue, a City of Hope volunteer, advocates for individuals who communicate using electronic voice devices. City of Hope chose Tyler Blue (right) to represent the cancer center on its Rose Parade float on New Year's Day. Also pictured, from left, are Dr. Beomjune Kim, one of Tyler's doctors from City of Hope Atlanta, and Jodi Cruz, a patient from City of Hope Duarte in Los Angeles.
Roni Robbins' Chanukah Message for 2025
The Value of Multicultural Unity One would think growing up in New York I’d have many Jewish friends. But we lived in an area of Long Island where we were the only Jews in our neighborhood, surrounded by Catholic families. My best childhood friend was (is) Catholic, and I was often at her home during Christmastime. Admittedly jealous of the mountains of gifts, the festive food, music and lights, I still learned about Christianity through her family.
Georgia Tech student builds app to help young diabetes patients with their care
Wellness Drew Mendelow, a Georgia Tech freshman, is helping young patients manage their diabetes with his popular app. Drew Mendelow created an app for diabetes management when he was 13 that gained global support and marketing approval before he entered Georgia Tech. (Courtesy of Jack Mendelow) Drew Mendelow was 13 when he learned he had Type 1 diabetes and almost immediately began thinking of a way to better manage the condition.
Georgia’s Wellstar expands breast cancer screenings for women in 20s, 30s
Health News A new partnership helps younger women evaluate risk before standard diagnosis age. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 20 to 49 in the U.S., and women under 40 are nearly 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than older women, the Cancer Research Foundation recently reported.
For Some Med Students, an MD Isn’t Enough
When Austin Flitton was applying to medical school, he realized he wanted to have a broader impact on societal challenges, such as reducing the barriers to healthcare services that immigrants face. “I speak Spanish and talked to a lot of immigrants that come over from Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, and they lack access to basic needs that I think we have access to as citizens and people that are assimilated to this culture,” Flitton said.
Pacientes podem não reconhecer alimentos ultraprocessados
À medida que os principais líderes da área da saúde nos Estados Unidos discutem como definir o que são alimentos ultraprocessados, uma buscou compreender o que adultos estadunidenses entendem pelos termos e se acreditam que todos os alimentos processados são nocivos à saúde.
Georgia girl with prosthetic limb pens book to show she’s ‘just like you’
Health News Cree James uses an artificial limb, but she doesn’t let it slow her down. Cree James doesn't let her disabilities stop her from sports and tackling challenging tasks. She released a book inspired by her own life to share a powerful message. (Courtesy of Latara Robbins) Twelve-year-old Cree James is naturally athletic. She swims, skates, dances, cheers, rides a bike, plays flag football, and has even participated in gymnastics.
Große Wissenslücken bei Ärzten
Zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum von Medscape werfen führende Köpfe aus Wissenschaft, Technologie und Praxis einen Blick in die Zukunft: Wie wird die Medizin im Jahr 2050 aussehen? Ab wann gilt eigentlich ein stark verändertes Lebensmittel als „ungesund“? Diese scheinbar einfache Frage sorgt nicht nur bei Verbrauchern, sondern auch in der medizinischne Fachwelt für Verwirrung.
How to avoid ultraprocessed foods for better health
Nearly 90% of the patients Atlanta family medicine doctor Belinda Brown-Saddler sees each day suffer from chronic conditions. She said poor eating habits, including diets heavily dependent on ultraprocessed foods, are partly to blame. “Most of (the patients) have high blood pressure. They have high cholesterol, diabetes or prediabetes. Those are most of the conditions I see on a daily basis, and they are preventable,” said Brown-Saddler with Piedmont Physicians Concierge Atlanta.
Your Patients May Not Know Which Foods Are Ultraprocessed
As the nation’s top healthcare leaders consider how to define ultraprocessed foods, a new survey of consumer views on processed foods sought to learn what American adults thought the terms meant and whether they believed all processed foods are unhealthy. The recent survey by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PRCM) found that among a representative sample of Americans of ages 18 to 92, consumers are equally divided about whether all processed foods are unhealthy.
Gene therapy transplant helps Georgia teen avoid lifetime of transfusions
For as long as he can remember, Josh Dri’s life has revolved around blood transfusions every three weeks and a strict regimen of medication three times a day. He lives with a rare genetic blood disorder that causes severe anemia — a condition that, without treatment, can lead to heart failure.
Bajar de peso antes se relaciona con un embarazo fácil y menos diabetes gestacional
Una pérdida de peso de 10 % a 25 % puede ayudar a las mujeres con sobrepeso u obesidad a quedar embarazadas, incluso si no estaban intentando concebir, y reducir el riesgo de sufrir algunas afecciones y complicaciones relacionadas con el embarazo, según un nuevo estudio sobre reproducción.[1] El trabajo incluyó datos de casi 250.000 mujeres del Reino Unido de entre 18 y 40 años con un índice de masa corporal ≥ 25 kg/m2, considerado sobrepeso.
Can Weight Loss Boost Pregnancy Rates?
A 10%-25% weight loss can help women considered overweight or having obesity become pregnant — even if they weren’t trying to conceive — and reduce their chances for some pregnancy-related conditions and complications, according to a new study on reproduction. The study included patient data from nearly 250,000 women in the UK aged 18-40 years who had a BMI ≥ 25, which is considered overweight. BMI measures an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.
Können KI-Modelle Entlassberichte so gut verfassen wie Ärzte?
Für die Internistin Dr. Gigi Liu ist es Routine – und dennoch zeitaufwendig: Einen Entlassbericht für einen Patienten, den sie mehrere Tage im Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore betreut hat, schreibt sie in etwa 20 Minuten. Bleibe die Person jedoch länger im Krankenhaus, „kann das leicht eine ganze Stunde dauern“, erzählt sie. Akkurate Berichte seien wichtig, um die weitere Versorgung nach dem Klinikaufenthalt zu steuern.
Consejos para ayudar a sus pacientes a controlar la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica
Sus pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica pueden necesitar ayuda no solo para sobrellevar su afección, sino también para controlarla en el lugar de trabajo.
Como orientar pacientes com DPOC a controlar a doença no ambiente de trabalho?
Pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) podem precisar de ajuda não apenas para lidar com a doença, mas também para mantê-la sob controle no local de trabalho. Os sintomas da DPOC, uma doença pulmonar e das vias aéreas que causa dispneia, fadiga e tosse persistente, podem interferir em algumas responsabilidades profissionais, de acordo com vários pneumologistas consultados pelo Medscape e estudos publicados nos últimos anos sobre a doença no contexto ocupacional.
Can AI Draft Discharge Summaries as Well as Hospitalists?
As a cell phone expert, these are the 5 carriers I don't recommend I often get asked about these providers and why I don't recommend them. Let's dig in. I’ve spent a significant portion of the past few years reporting on and testing various wireless service providers operating in the US market. As you might imagine, this has allowed me to form clear recommendations …
Can AI Draft Discharge Summaries as Well as Hospitalists?
If she’s especially efficient, Hospitalist Gigi Liu, MD, can complete a discharge summary in 20 minutes for a patient she treated for a few days at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. But summarizing visits with patients who stay longer at the Baltimore hospital “can suck up a whole hour,” she said. The summaries help guide patients’ care once they leave the hospital. “Thirty minutes to an hour [of paperwork] is enough time for me to see another patient,” Liu said.
Helping Your Patients Manage COPD in the Workplace
Your patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may need help not just coping with their condition but also managing it in their workplace. The symptoms of COPD, a lung and airway condition that causes shortness of breath, fatigue, and persistent cough, may interfere with some job responsibilities, according to several pulmonologists Medscape Medical News consulted as well as studies published in the past few years about COPD in the workplace.
Time is critical when treating a stroke, Atlanta doctors say
Time is critical when it comes to preventing strokes from becoming severely debilitating, two Atlanta doctors explained. “Every minute counts to save brain tissue,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Martinez Gutierrez, a vascular and interventional neurologist with Wellstar Health System. The most common symptoms are a drooping face, arm or leg weakness, or speech difficulties. Once noticing any of the signs, quick action can increase the likelihood of qualifying for the best treatments.
Why more young adults are having strokes
Georgia is considered part of the “stroke belt,” an area in the southeastern U.S. with stroke death rates about 30% higher than the rest of the nation, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Now, two new studies by the American Heart Association are showing a connection between stroke and younger patients. The more recent study showed that increased alcohol use contributes to cardiovascular disease, including stroke.
Quick thinking saved this Georgia mother’s life
Michelle Hughes was on vacation in Florida when she started having vision problems similar to what she previously experienced with migraine headaches. But the Decatur mom, 38 at the time, didn’t consider it to be a sign of a larger health concern.
Harassed in Med School
Medical school is a fast-paced, high-pressure environment where students are expected to excel. As part of their training, they learn to navigate tense interactions with faculty, residents, peers, and patients. But what happens when those interactions cross a line and students feel harassed, mistreated, or humiliated?
ACS Guidance Makes Hospitalists’ Cardiac Decisions Easier
Hospitalist Arti Tewari, MD, no longer has to second-guess some of her decisions about the best treatment for managing patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). New ACS clinical practice guidelines she refers to as “groundbreaking” help her more confidently care for her cardiac patients at UChicago Medicine to improve their health and safety, she said.
More Hospitals Turning to Nurse Practitioners. Here’s Why
Every evening, nurse practitioner (NP) Arnold Facklam arrives at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia, an hour before his two physician counterparts. As an NP nocturnist, a hospitalist who works overnight, Facklam’s role is to supplement the care provided by the physicians on his team.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Roni
Contact Roni, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack