Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
@andrewlea.bsky.social
physician-historian professing at the university of rochester. book: DIGITIZING DIAGNOSIS (jhu press), order: https://bit.ly/diagnosis-lea. working on next book, AID TO THOUGHT, a history of the peripheral brain in medicine.
Pinned
Centering the Peripheral Brain — The History of Reference Tools in Medicine | NEJM
Physicians have relied on reference tools for centuries. Such tools have had an enduring
yet evolving influence on physician identity, thinking, and practice.
www.nejm.org
Delighted to share the first article from my research project on the history of the "peripheral brain" in medicine, exploring how reference tools are shaped and how they shape us in turn. Check out the piece, co-authored with Scott Podolsky, in the coming NEJM issue:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Click here to listen to a *phenomenal* interview from Marsha Wittink on med-psych units, patient perspectives, and the health humanities. Co-hosted with our med student and hist med PhD Michael Healey
Second episode of the this season of "In the Same Vein" now live!
open.spotify.com/episode/7EZO...
Second episode of the this season of "In the Same Vein" now live!
open.spotify.com/episode/7EZO...
S2 Ep2: On Med-Psych Units with Marsha Wittink, MD, MBE
open.spotify.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Click here to listen to a *phenomenal* interview from Marsha Wittink on med-psych units, patient perspectives, and the health humanities. Co-hosted with our med student and hist med PhD Michael Healey
Second episode of the this season of "In the Same Vein" now live!
open.spotify.com/episode/7EZO...
Second episode of the this season of "In the Same Vein" now live!
open.spotify.com/episode/7EZO...
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Shared courtesy of my Penn History colleague, Ben Nathans
October 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Shared courtesy of my Penn History colleague, Ben Nathans
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
We are hiring! Prospective PhD students in environmental history, history of science, history of technology and STS interested in the climate and environmental impacts of AI look here. Please share in your networks. #envhist #histsci #AI #anthropcoene
Open PhD position at KTH: "AI Planetary Futures: Climate and environment in Silicon Valley's AI paradigm". Apply by Oct 23! lnkd.in/dCs8eZjb
The project analyzes the climate and environmental aspects of Silicon Valley-based general-purpose AI systems developed by Big Tech companies.
The project analyzes the climate and environmental aspects of Silicon Valley-based general-purpose AI systems developed by Big Tech companies.
October 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We are hiring! Prospective PhD students in environmental history, history of science, history of technology and STS interested in the climate and environmental impacts of AI look here. Please share in your networks. #envhist #histsci #AI #anthropcoene
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
#Job #PhilSci #HPS
Fully funded PhD-position at Bielefeld University, Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences), deadline Oct 30, 2025
Job ad: uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org/job/view/451...
On the program: blogs.uni-bielefeld.de/blog/isosnew...
Fully funded PhD-position at Bielefeld University, Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences), deadline Oct 30, 2025
Job ad: uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org/job/view/451...
On the program: blogs.uni-bielefeld.de/blog/isosnew...
Doctoral Researcher in Philosophy of the Medical S...
The History and Philosophy of Medicine Group, led by Prof. Lara Keuck, is looking for a highly motivated candidate for a three-year PhD project in phi...
uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org
October 2, 2025 at 4:12 PM
#Job #PhilSci #HPS
Fully funded PhD-position at Bielefeld University, Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences), deadline Oct 30, 2025
Job ad: uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org/job/view/451...
On the program: blogs.uni-bielefeld.de/blog/isosnew...
Fully funded PhD-position at Bielefeld University, Philosophy of the Biomedical Sciences), deadline Oct 30, 2025
Job ad: uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org/job/view/451...
On the program: blogs.uni-bielefeld.de/blog/isosnew...
Curious policy for a store where the average pharmacy pickup time seems to exceed 30 minutes…
September 12, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Curious policy for a store where the average pharmacy pickup time seems to exceed 30 minutes…
Thanks to @renfro.bsky.social for a wonderful discussion of his new book THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RYAN WHITE (@uncpress.bsky.social) at the Corner Society for the History of Medicine & Rochester Academy of Medicine!
September 11, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Thanks to @renfro.bsky.social for a wonderful discussion of his new book THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RYAN WHITE (@uncpress.bsky.social) at the Corner Society for the History of Medicine & Rochester Academy of Medicine!
Excited to be giving Grand Rounds at URMC on Sep 9! I'll be discussing the evolving tools doctors have used to grapple with information overload in medicine: from pocket guide to artificial intelligence. Come by the Class of 62 Auditorium if you're in Rochester, or tune in via Zoom if you're not.
September 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Excited to be giving Grand Rounds at URMC on Sep 9! I'll be discussing the evolving tools doctors have used to grapple with information overload in medicine: from pocket guide to artificial intelligence. Come by the Class of 62 Auditorium if you're in Rochester, or tune in via Zoom if you're not.
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Just Code, just published!!! Open Access of full book is now freely available, see link below, made possible by @sloanfoundation.bsky.social grant to CBI! Am so honored to partner w Con & work alongside 19 stellar, fellow interdisciplinary authors on this book! #histtech
cse.umn.edu/cbi/just-cod...
cse.umn.edu/cbi/just-cod...
August 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Just Code, just published!!! Open Access of full book is now freely available, see link below, made possible by @sloanfoundation.bsky.social grant to CBI! Am so honored to partner w Con & work alongside 19 stellar, fellow interdisciplinary authors on this book! #histtech
cse.umn.edu/cbi/just-cod...
cse.umn.edu/cbi/just-cod...
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
1. "'Trusting the experts is not a feature of either a science or democracy," Kennedy said."
It's literally a vital feature of both science and of representative democracy.
I've written a fair bit about trust in expertise as a vital mechanism in the collective epistemology of science.
It's literally a vital feature of both science and of representative democracy.
I've written a fair bit about trust in expertise as a vital mechanism in the collective epistemology of science.
RFK Jr. in interview with Scripps News: ‘Trusting the experts is not science’
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. sat down with Scripps News for a wide-ranging interview, discussing mRNA vaccine funding policy changes and a recent shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.scrippsnews.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
1. "'Trusting the experts is not a feature of either a science or democracy," Kennedy said."
It's literally a vital feature of both science and of representative democracy.
I've written a fair bit about trust in expertise as a vital mechanism in the collective epistemology of science.
It's literally a vital feature of both science and of representative democracy.
I've written a fair bit about trust in expertise as a vital mechanism in the collective epistemology of science.
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
I increasingly believe that having that much money distorts one's human interactions such that billionaires are in a constant state of progressive moral decay. The option to avoid this fate by philanthropically disposing of your gross excess assets is permanently available yet rarely exercised.
i do not believe that billionaires should be able to set the conditions under which democracies are permitted to govern, and therefore should not exist.
Want to use rich people like me to your advantage? Incent us to help those who need it the most. Lower corp taxes for comps that pay a min of $25 per hour. Lower corp taxes if employees get stock at the same pct as the CEO.
Bottom up incentives work. Dems never innovate. They bitch
Bottom up incentives work. Dems never innovate. They bitch
August 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I increasingly believe that having that much money distorts one's human interactions such that billionaires are in a constant state of progressive moral decay. The option to avoid this fate by philanthropically disposing of your gross excess assets is permanently available yet rarely exercised.
When I say "technology" I mean the textual means by which experimentalists create virtual witnessing (h/t Steven Shapin).
When I say “technology” I mean the codex
it annoys me so much that nowadays when people say "technology" they mean "another website" rather than, say, the interface between steel wheel and steel rail
the tech industry (can we rename it please?) has turned everyone's brain into soup
the tech industry (can we rename it please?) has turned everyone's brain into soup
August 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
When I say "technology" I mean the textual means by which experimentalists create virtual witnessing (h/t Steven Shapin).
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
When I say “technology” I mean the codex
it annoys me so much that nowadays when people say "technology" they mean "another website" rather than, say, the interface between steel wheel and steel rail
the tech industry (can we rename it please?) has turned everyone's brain into soup
the tech industry (can we rename it please?) has turned everyone's brain into soup
August 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When I say “technology” I mean the codex
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Well, everyone, I've found it: the academic paper with the worst pun title possible. The search can finally end. This cannot be beat.
August 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Well, everyone, I've found it: the academic paper with the worst pun title possible. The search can finally end. This cannot be beat.
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Our first Corner Society lecture is taking place on Wednesday, September 10, at 5:30 pm at the Rochester Academy of Medicine!
@renfro.bsky.social will be giving a talk titled "Ryan White, Hemophilia, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic"
You can register here: www.raom.org/event-6257176
@renfro.bsky.social will be giving a talk titled "Ryan White, Hemophilia, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic"
You can register here: www.raom.org/event-6257176
August 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Our first Corner Society lecture is taking place on Wednesday, September 10, at 5:30 pm at the Rochester Academy of Medicine!
@renfro.bsky.social will be giving a talk titled "Ryan White, Hemophilia, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic"
You can register here: www.raom.org/event-6257176
@renfro.bsky.social will be giving a talk titled "Ryan White, Hemophilia, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic"
You can register here: www.raom.org/event-6257176
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
The new Corner Society schedule is live!
I'm so pleased to be able to welcome exciting history of medicine scholars to Rochester during this academic year.
Even if you're not in Rochester, each of these lectures will be available via Zoom (with free registration).
I'm so pleased to be able to welcome exciting history of medicine scholars to Rochester during this academic year.
Even if you're not in Rochester, each of these lectures will be available via Zoom (with free registration).
August 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The new Corner Society schedule is live!
I'm so pleased to be able to welcome exciting history of medicine scholars to Rochester during this academic year.
Even if you're not in Rochester, each of these lectures will be available via Zoom (with free registration).
I'm so pleased to be able to welcome exciting history of medicine scholars to Rochester during this academic year.
Even if you're not in Rochester, each of these lectures will be available via Zoom (with free registration).
Friends don't let friends wear white-soled dress shoes. This fad cannot die out soon enough.
July 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Friends don't let friends wear white-soled dress shoes. This fad cannot die out soon enough.
in which disciplines is the all-lower-case-email most prevalent?
July 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
in which disciplines is the all-lower-case-email most prevalent?
Can someone tell him that by "War on Cancer" we don't mean a war on its behalf?
RFK Jr. has now officially stated that he will dismantle the United States Preventive ServicesTask Force (USPSTF).
This is an independent body of expert scientists who volunteer their time to review data and provide guidance to Americans on important things like cancer screenings.
This is an independent body of expert scientists who volunteer their time to review data and provide guidance to Americans on important things like cancer screenings.
Exclusive | RFK Jr. to Oust Advisory Panel on Cancer Screenings, HIV Prevention Drugs
The task force determines which preventive services insurers must cover at no cost to patients.
www.wsj.com
July 26, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Can someone tell him that by "War on Cancer" we don't mean a war on its behalf?
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
As a historian of injuries and product safety, this one feels personal.
The CPSC can’t do its job without independent commissioners.
Let’s review some of the cases that led to the establishment of the agency in the first place:
The CPSC can’t do its job without independent commissioners.
Let’s review some of the cases that led to the establishment of the agency in the first place:
Supreme Court allows Trump to fire members of product safety agency
A judge had reinstated three members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal agency set up by Congress to be independent of political pressure.
www.nbcnews.com
July 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
As a historian of injuries and product safety, this one feels personal.
The CPSC can’t do its job without independent commissioners.
Let’s review some of the cases that led to the establishment of the agency in the first place:
The CPSC can’t do its job without independent commissioners.
Let’s review some of the cases that led to the establishment of the agency in the first place:
With bad-faith political attacks on science and medicine mounting, the editors-in-chief of @nejm.org and @jama.com team up in @washingtonpost.com to defend the importance--and independence--of medical journals.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | This system is critical to Americans’ health. We must defend it.
Medical progress depends on independent journals to advance science without political interference.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
With bad-faith political attacks on science and medicine mounting, the editors-in-chief of @nejm.org and @jama.com team up in @washingtonpost.com to defend the importance--and independence--of medical journals.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Andrew Lea, MD, PhD
Everyone who thinks that AI will provide magic answers to all our medical problems should read Andrew Lea’s excellent book.
www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
Digitizing Diagnosis
Medicine, Minds, and Machines in Twentieth-Century America
www.press.jhu.edu
July 19, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Everyone who thinks that AI will provide magic answers to all our medical problems should read Andrew Lea’s excellent book.
www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
The liberal justices may as well self-immolate on the Supreme Court steps at this point.
July 14, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The liberal justices may as well self-immolate on the Supreme Court steps at this point.