Tom Pollard
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Articles by Tom Pollard
MIMIC-IV-Echo: An Echocardiography Dataset Integrated with the MIMIC-IV Ecosystem
Abstract MIMIC-IV-Echo is a publicly available dataset of echocardiographic imaging and structured quantitative measurements linked to the MIMIC-IV clinical database. The module includes more than 7,000 transthoracic echocardiogram studies in DICOM format acquired between 2017 and 2019, accompanied by over 200,000 structured measurement studies spanning transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress echocardiography from 2008 through 2022.
AI-assisted scoping review of code sharing in clinical prediction model research
Abstract Clinical prediction models are increasingly deployed to support diagnostic and prognostic decisions, making reproducibility essential for assessing their reliability and generalizability. Analytical code supports independent assessment of these processes, yet its availability in the literature remains limited.
Definition and recommendations for trial methods for evaluating dentin hypersensitivity: A hybrid AI-assisted scoping review and Delphi consensus process
1 INTRODUCTION Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a common and often underdiagnosed condition that significantly impacts oral health and quality of life.1, 2 It is typically described as a short, sharp, arresting pain when exposed dentin on the crown or root of a healthy, vital tooth is stimulated by naturally occurring triggers such as thermal, evaporative, tactile, osmotic, or chemical stimuli.
PhysioNet as a global platform for biomedical research
Twenty-five years after its first public repository was established, the PhysioNet resource for biomedical and clinical data has enabled tens of thousands of research papers. Further efforts are ongoing to advance secure data sharing, community engagement and scalable research infrastructure.
Organ retrieval and collection of health information for donation: The ORCHID dataset - Scientific Data
Abstract Organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with advanced diseases. However, the demand for transplants far exceeds the supply of donated organs, and there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a transplant in the United States. The lives of these patients depend on the efficacy of organ procurement organizations (OPOs), which coordinate the recovery of organs from deceased donors.
Increasing voluntary engagement with employment support
Publications Findings from a test and learn pilot led by Camden council Download the report Between March and May 2025, Camden Council and the New Economics Foundation (NEF) collaborated on a 12-week test and learn pilot to explore how to engage more Camden residents who are out of work due to disabilities and poor health with an offer of a call to discuss support available in the borough, including around employment.
The Universal Family Childcare Promise
Publications Guaranteeing support for parents and children Download the report From September 2025, the full rollout of the current model of funded hours for accessing childcare provision in England will be complete. This will mean that children in families where all parents work at least 16 hours per week will have access to 30 hours of funded childcare from nine months to four years old.
Raising awareness of potential biases in medical machine learning: Experience from a Datathon
Discussion Despite significant awareness of the potential challenges and harms associated with inappropriately-biased medical AI/ML models, appropriate strategies for identifying and addressing bias are not as well understood.
The true scale and impact of benefit cuts for ill and disabled people
Blog NEF analysis shows the cuts will hit ill and disabled people by almost £2bn more than what has been widely reported Documents published alongside the spring statement last week, revealed the true scale and impact of the government’s benefit cuts for ill and disabled people — but only if you knew to look beyond the headline figures. The widely reported numbers were concerning enough — £4.8bn of cuts would lead to 250,000 people being pushed into poverty, including 50,000 children.
The true scale and impact of benefit cuts for ill and disabled people
Blog NEF analysis shows the cuts will hit ill and disabled people by almost £2bn more than what has been widely reported Documents published alongside the spring statement last week, revealed the true scale and impact of the government’s benefit cuts for ill and disabled people — but only if you knew to look beyond the headline figures. The widely reported numbers were concerning enough — £4.8bn of cuts would lead to 250,000 people being pushed into poverty, including 50,000 children.
Billy Ray Goff – An Interview with the UFC Welterweight Knockout Artist | MMA UK
The most infamous fighters in history generally fall into one of 2 categories: great records or entertaining fights. Billy Ray Goff is a UFC fighter who could have a career that falls into either category. Boasting a 9-3 professional record with 7 wins by knockout, a forgettable fight is not in Billy’s vocabulary.
Gable Steveson – Imminent Dominance or Unfulfilled Potential? | MMA UK
It has been proven time and time again: Olympic medalist = Success in the UFC. Ronda Rousey, Kayla Harrison and Henry Cejudo have all hung up their olympic medals for MMA gold. We have also seen the transition from NCAA wrestler to UFC contender. Brock Lesnar and Daniel Cormier used their skills honed in the NCAA to capture UFC gold and despite his somewhat underwhelming fight against Paul Craig, Bo Nickal has still been tipped to be a UFC champion by the aforementioned Cormier.
Raising awareness of potential biases in medical machine learning: Experience from a Datathon
The authors have declared no competing interest. CMH and HH are supported by NIH Grant 5R01NS118716-03. CMH is also supported by 5K23HD099331. TP and LAC are supported by Nationals Institute of Health Grant OT2OD032701. LAC is also funded by NIH Grants R01 EB017205 and DS-I Africa U54 TW012043-01 and the National Science Foundation through ITEST \#2148451. EPC is supported by NLM Training Grant T15LM007059.
What working in mental health services has taught me about reforming social security
Tom Pollard Back in 2018, I finished up an 18-month secondment at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and decided to retrain as a mental health social worker. After a decade of policy work, I wanted to take a break and gain some frontline experience. I was also deeply frustrated by the lack of progress I had been able to make during my time at the department on issues around benefits and employment support for ill and disabled people.
Better engagement for better outcomes
Publications Taking a rapid test and learn approach to engagement with people out of work due to disabilities and poor health Download the report This briefing sets out a proposal for a new Engagement Innovation Unit within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver a rapid test and learn approach to improving voluntary engagement with employment support for people who are currently exempt from conditionality due to disabilities and poor health.
Victory In Defeat? – What Can Be Gained From A Loss? | MMA UK
Everyone loves an undefeated record. To be considered the greatest you must have a great win to loss ratio. But when the fight is over and you aren’t the one getting your hand raised, it’s not always such a big problem. After Dan Ige infamously stepped in to fight Diego Lopes, his stock amongst fans and the UFC company drastically rose, despite him taking the loss.
Ring Rust: The ultimate equaliser or easy excuse?
On March 4th 2023, Jon Jones returned after over 3 years to debut in a new weight class and despatched the #1 contender Cyril Gane within a single round to claim the vacant heavyweight championship. A triumphant return after 1120 days of absence in the UFC. Conversely, Henry Cejudo retired after his Dominic Cruz victory on May 9 2020. He returned 3 years later with a losing effort to Aljamain Sterling. Total days absent: 1092.
Terms of engagement
Publications Rethinking conditionality to support more people into better jobs Download the report Conditionality – the requirements placed on people on work-related benefits – is often presented as both necessary, to limit the time people spend on benefits, and popular with the public. This report, however, argues that increasingly strict and prescriptive conditionality is driving perverse outcomes and is neither understood by the public nor aligned with how they think people should be treated.
Zambelli Fireworks
Many immigrants to the U.S. brought recipes with them from the Old Country, but Antonio Zambelli was a bit different. He brought his family’s recipes for creating fireworks. Italians enjoy celebrating holidays and festivals with fireworks, and Zambelli brought that love of pyrotechnics with him. Thank goodness he did so, otherwise our skies for the past one hundred plus years would have been a lot less colorful and our celebrations less jubilant.
Conor McGregor: The One and Only?
If you haven’t said it yourself, you will have heard the phrase ‘He’s the next Conor McGregor’. Ian Garry, Paddy Pimblett, Payton Talbott, Khamzat Chimaev. The list goes on. Each possesses some level of what Conor has in abundance: Aura. However, Is the ageless adage true? Often Imitated, never replicated. Let’s start with some statistics: 22-6 professional MMA record, 9 UFC PPV main events, 8 of which are in UFC history’s top 10 biggest buy rates.
INSPIRE, a publicly available research dataset for perioperative medicine - Scientific Data
Abstract We present the INSPIRE dataset, a publicly available research dataset in perioperative medicine, which includes approximately 130,000 surgical operations at an academic institution in South Korea over a ten-year period between 2011 and 2020. This comprehensive dataset includes patient characteristics such as age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, diagnosis, surgical procedure code, department, and type of anaesthesia.
The Politics of "Welfare" has Distorted Public Perceptions of Social Security
When general elections come around, the question people often ask themselves is whether they feel better off than they did last time they voted. Alongside people’s experiences of public services and the general state of where they live, many will be mindful of how their level of disposable income has changed, particularly given the cost of living crisis we’ve all lived through in the last few years. This is the first parliament on record to see a reduction in living standards.
The politics of "welfare" has distorted public perceptions of social security
Blog New polling commissioned by NEF suggests that most people don’t have a clear sense of the level of support people currently receive When general elections come around, the question people often ask themselves is whether they feel better off than they did last time they voted.
Childcare deserts: the reality of access to early years education
Blog How the current approach fails to support more low-income households to access care There has been intense media scrutiny over recent weeks of the government’s roll-out of additional ‘free hours’ of childcare for working parents in England. Critics are concerned if the government is providing enough funding to providers to cover these hours of care and whether there is a sufficient workforce to deliver them.
13 September 2023 - Benefit levels in the UK - Oral evidence
Skip to main content Committee Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry Benefit levels in the UK Sep 13 2023 Wednesday 13 September 2023 Start times: 9:15am (private) 9:25am (public) Add to calendar Benefit levels in the UK: Work and Pensions Committee to examine health-related benefits and deductions policy The penultimate session of the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry looking at the adequacy of benefit levels in the UK will first examine issues related to benefits for people with health...
Poll suggests jobcentre staff focus on sanctions over support
For those polled with a health condition or disability, the proportion rose to 69%, with 7% disagreeing. The findings from polling of 768 claimants, which was commissioned by think tank the New Economics Foundation (NEF), emerged as the Government is set to increase earnings thresholds to include more claimants in the intensive work search (IWS) regime for the lowest earners.
From compliance to engagement
Publications Rethinking the use of conditionality in our social security system Download the report There has been growing political concern and criticism about benefits sanctions in recent years. As well as causing severe hardship for those affected, driving many to rely on emergency support such as food banks, sanctions are rightly seen to epitomise the often punitive nature of our social security system.
Organ Retrieval and Collection of Health Information for Donation (ORCHID)
Database , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Published: July 25, 2023. Version: 1.0.0 When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Adam, H., Suriyakumar, V., Pollard, T., Moody, B., Erickson, J., Segal, G., Adams, B., Brockmeier, D., Lee, K., McBride, G., Ranum, K., Wadsworth, M., Whaley, J., Wilson, A., & Ghassemi, M. (2023). Organ Retrieval and Collection of Health Information for Donation (ORCHID) (version 1.0.0). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/eytj-4f29. MLA Adam, Hammaad, et al.
For voters, the cost of living is front of mind
In the aftermath of last week’s local elections, despite party spin-doctors pushing competing interpretations of the results, there was a consensus that the rising cost of living was at the forefront of voters’ minds. With a general election now looming into view, it seems likely that the squeeze on incomes and living standards will continue to be the defining political issue.
MIMIC-IV v2.2
Database Credentialed Access Alistair Johnson , Lucas Bulgarelli , Tom Pollard , Steven Horng , Leo Anthony Celi , Roger Mark Published: Jan. 6, 2023. Version: 2.2 When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Johnson, A., Bulgarelli, L., Pollard, T., Horng, S., Celi, L. A., & Mark, R. (2023). MIMIC-IV (version 2.2). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/6mm1-ek67. MLA Johnson, Alistair, et al. "MIMIC-IV" (version 2.2). PhysioNet (2023), https://doi.org/10.13026/6mm1-ek67.
MIMIC-IV-Note: Deidentified free-text clinical notes
Database Credentialed Access Alistair Johnson , Tom Pollard , Steven Horng , Leo Anthony Celi , Roger Mark Published: Jan. 6, 2023. Version: 2.2 When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Johnson, A., Pollard, T., Horng, S., Celi, L. A., & Mark, R. (2023). MIMIC-IV-Note: Deidentified free-text clinical notes (version 2.2). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/1n74-ne17. MLA Johnson, Alistair, et al. "MIMIC-IV-Note: Deidentified free-text clinical notes" (version 2.2).
MIMIC-IV-ED v2.2
When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Johnson, A., Bulgarelli, L., Pollard, T., Celi, L. A., Mark, R., & Horng, S. (2023). MIMIC-IV-ED (version 2.2). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/5ntk-km72. MLA Johnson, Alistair, et al. "MIMIC-IV-ED" (version 2.2). PhysioNet (2023), https://doi.org/10.13026/5ntk-km72. APA Johnson, A., Bulgarelli, L., Pollard, T., Celi, L. A., Mark, R., & Horng, S. (2023). MIMIC-IV-ED (version 2.2). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/5ntk-km72.
MIMIC-IV, a freely accessible electronic health record dataset - Scientific Data
Abstract Digital data collection during routine clinical practice is now ubiquitous within hospitals. The data contains valuable information on the care of patients and their response to treatments, offering exciting opportunities for research. Typically, data are stored within archival systems that are not intended to support research. These systems are often inaccessible to researchers and structured for optimal storage, rather than interpretability and analysis.
A Labour government must shield the welfare state from future Tory attacks – LabourList
The exasperated cry of “is that it?!” from Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth in response to Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement captured the sense of disbelief many of us felt at the lack of meaningful new support for those struggling on the lowest incomes.
Food bank use is a canary in the coal mine for mental health services
Tom Pollard, mental health social worker NHS The NHS Confederation recently warned of a “second pandemic” of mental health problems in the wake of covid-19.1 Alongside the direct psychological impact of the last two years and the capacity of overstretched NHS services to respond, economic circumstances in the aftermath of the pandemic will play a key role in shaping the mental health fallout.
Social security for all
Download the report The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in millions more people needing to turn to the social security system for support. During 2020, the number of people on universal credit more than doubled, and remained at these unprecedented levels throughout 2021. Although the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was rightly praised for managing this massive surge in demand, many people still struggled to access sufficient support during this period.
Boris Johnson cannot disown the mental health impact of the Universal Credit cut
'I’ve seen how policy is developed at the highest levels of government, but also how it plays out in the day-to-day lives of people at the margins of our society. Decisions made in the abstract at the top have painfully real consequences at the bottom.' Tom is a freelance writer and policy expert on mental health and social security.
Within DWP, is anyone asking if benefits are adequate?
Pending a last-minute U-turn, the government is set to cut universal credit by £20 a week from October, as the uplift put in place in response to the covid pandemic comes to an end. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has declared this ‘the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since the foundation of the modern welfare state’.
A note on a change of name
Earlier this week we received some criticism, sent in private, about the use of the word ‘madness’ in the title of the podcast. It raised valid concerns that we take very seriously, particularly as they came from someone with lived experience of mental health problems.
Notes on the Mind
We talk to Steve Gilbert about how his mental health problems emerged as a teenager and developed in his early 20s, culminating in his detention in hospital under the Mental Health Act. We explore how experiences of racism, both in and out of healthcare, contribute to and perpetuate mental health difficulties and the work that Steve has been doing to challenge discrimination in the mental health system.
Notes on Madness
In our first episode we talk to Social Worker and "psychosis survivor" Ian about his experience of being detained under section after an episode of mania. We discuss how his past led him to this experience, what it was like being held in a psychiatric hospital, and a visit from Dynamo the magician.
VitalDB: fostering collaboration in anaesthesia research
In this issue of British Journal of Anaesthesia, Lee and colleagues report the development and validation of deep learning models for the prediction of intraoperative hypotension. The authors developed an algorithm that, unlike marketed algorithms, 2 Hatib F. Jian Z. Buddi S. et al. Machine-learning algorithm to predict hypotension based on high-fidelity arterial pressure waveform analysis. Anesthesiology. 2018; 129: 663-674 , 3 Davies S.J. Vistisen S.T. Jian Z. Hatib F.
MIMIC-IV v0.4
When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Johnson, A., Bulgarelli, L., Pollard, T., Horng, S., Celi, L. A., & Mark, R. (2020). MIMIC-IV (version 0.4). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/a3wn-hq05. MLA Johnson, Alistair, et al. "MIMIC-IV" (version 0.4). PhysioNet (2020), https://doi.org/10.13026/a3wn-hq05. APA Johnson, A., Bulgarelli, L., Pollard, T., Horng, S., Celi, L. A., & Mark, R. (2020). MIMIC-IV (version 0.4). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/a3wn-hq05.
“Yes, but will it work for my patients?” Driving clinically relevant research with benchmark datasets
Abstract Benchmark datasets have a powerful normative influence: by determining how the real world is represented in data, they define which problems will first be solved by algorithms built using the datasets and, by extension, who these algorithms will work for.
Hydrogen fuelling in a green environment
We often hear the phrase “It’s not rocket science” but in the case of hydrogen, it really is. Hydrogen, the most abundant chemical in the universe powered the first space shuttle into orbit and has continued powering space exploration ever since. Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, it is making inroads in a number of areas due to its many advantages as a fuel. Hydrogen has the ability to produce energy with no emissions other than water.
Hollywood 9/11: Superheroes, Supervillains, and Super Disasters|NOOK Book
Table of Contents Preface and Acknowledgments ix 1 Shock 1 December 7, 1941 3 Violence 4 Post-9/11 Emotions 5 Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome 7 Hollywood's Initial Reactions 8 2 Grief 13 Television Films and Documentaries 16 Conspiracy Theories 20 War on Terror 22 Satire 29 3 Horror 33 Early Horror Films 36 Post-9/11 Horror 37 Vampires 48 Horror at the Box Office 56 4 Rage 59 World War II: The Good War 60 Vietnam: The Bad War 62 Post-9/11 Vietnam 63 Afghanistan 65 Distant Wars 67 Ancient Rage...
MIMIC-CXR Database
When using this resource, please cite: (show more options) Johnson, A., Pollard, T., Mark, R., Berkowitz, S., & Horng, S. (2019). MIMIC-CXR Database (version 2.0.0). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/C2JT1Q. MLA Johnson, Alistair, et al. "MIMIC-CXR Database" (version 2.0.0). PhysioNet (2019), https://doi.org/10.13026/C2JT1Q. APA Johnson, A., Pollard, T., Mark, R., Berkowitz, S., & Horng, S. (2019). MIMIC-CXR Database (version 2.0.0). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/C2JT1Q.
Careening towards adulthood in a Delta 737
I remember two key things about my first airplane ride. 1. I was five years old. 2. I was terrified. My fear of the unknown and my fear of unfamiliar situations combine to produce less-than-stellar results. I remember thrashing about like a dying octopus — yanking my seatbelt, kicking my feet and sobbing. My parents tried to calm me down but to no avail. When the plane took off, I buried my runny face in my dinosaur shirt, waiting for the steel coffin to plunge us all into the ocean.
The welfare state is broken - but not in the way you think
Rebuilding the system won't cut it, says mental health policy advisor Tom Pollard Labour’s consultation on ‘Rebuilding a Just Social Security System’ came to a close on Sunday. This is an area of policy that always forms a central plank of any party’s programme for Government, and it will be vital for Labour to develop some ‘big ideas’ in this space if it is to offer a truly transformative vision at the assumed-to-be-looming general election.
The vast and untamed wasteland of my backpack’s side compartment
Organization isn’t easy. Or at least, organization isn’t easy for me. I’ve never been the type who owns colored highlighters or labeled folders. I’m the type who — at the end of my second year of college — still forgets to make exam schedules. I’m the type who still has datebooks from last year I’ve never opened. I’m the type who still isn’t sure what color his desk is under an endless detritus of stray papers. In short, I’m not orderly.
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