banner
benjaminlinas.bsky.social
@benjaminlinas.bsky.social
Physician scientist focused on improving the health of all people. PI Syndemics Lab (https://www.syndemicslab.org), Medical Director Clinical Research Network, Boston Medical Center (https://tinyurl.com/yc5wvs6m). Prof. of Medicine and Epi BU
Reposted
📉 Medicaid cuts could strip opioid treatment from 150,000 people, LDI and @bostonu.bsky.social researchers warn.

A @nytimes.com editorial says this threatens the 25% drop in overdose deaths since 2023. Progress is fragile — and lives are at risk. Read the editorial: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/o...
Opinion | America Was Finally Turning a Corner on Opioids. Until Now.
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

This is: 1) A heinous human rights violation, 2) Horrible and wasteful policy that ignores 40 years of data, 3)Totally nihlist with no solutions proposed, only punishment, 4) A fascist power grab that provides a mechanism to imprison anyone deemed "unwell."
Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose and
www.whitehouse.gov
July 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I am having a Trump era nihilist moment of rage, indignation, depression, and fear. I HATE this feeling and I HATE the fact that it is the President of the United States creating it. I do not have the words to articulate this state of mind. Can a professional writer (or therapist) please help me…
May 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Can we all agree that the Pope smoke was the best marketing concept ever in the history of marketing? How many video cameras are trained on it 24 hours a day? It certainly captures my imagination - and I am Jewish! They could give the chimney a glow-up however…
May 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Pesach has never felt more contemporary and relevant to me than it does today. These are Jewish values, not arresting and deporting people with whom we disagree. Chag semeach to all.
April 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Nothing humble about this brag. I am very proud of this! But it is not really my accomplishment. This represents the commitment and passion of an exceptional group of people at MA community Engagement Alliance of the NIH and Boston Medical Center.
March 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is what makes America great - inclusive work and community that benefit from diverse perspectives and lived experience. We ALL have something to learn from each other and we all are a better version of ourselves when we share our stories.
March 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Here is a post with a change of pace from typical these days.... The Syndics lab is hiring! We seek an experienced (2-3 years) master degree level data analyst to help with our policy research. I like to think it is a good job and a supportive workplace.
bmc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/BMC/job/Bost...
Research Data Analyst II, Infectious Diseases Syndemics Lab
Position: Research Data Analyst II, Infectious Diseases Syndemics Lab Location: Boston, MA Schedule: 40 hours per week, Hybrid (On-site Mondays and Thursdays) ABOUT BMC: At Boston Medical Center (BMC)...
bmc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
March 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/u...

Yes, cutting funds to univ. is fascist hate-based policy that is making America suck all over. AND WTF “Universities.” You are sitting on tens of billions of $ in endowments, but cutting students rather than investing in them? Are you education institutions or not?
As Trump Goes After Universities, Students Are Now on the Chopping Block
Uncertainty about how much money colleges and universities stand to lose has led some schools to reduce the number of doctoral students, in some cases reneging on offers.
www.nytimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I found this in the office kitchen. No idea who left it there, but I bet it was a team leader, like me, who has a tendency to conflate talking in the meeting with “getting things done” and “leading.” I put this pen right in front of me in my last meeting…
February 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

We have work to do if we are going to eliminate HCV. Most women NOT screened for HCV, even when providers code their risk factors! Proud of my mentee, Rachel Epstein, and her mentee, Roshni Singh, for this work. FYI, join BU CHART and you could publish in JAMA too!
Hepatitis C Virus Screening in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women After Universal Screening Guidelines
This study examines whether hepatitis C virus screening differs among pregnant and nonpregnant women.
jamanetwork.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/w...

This could literally be the premise for a James Bond film. 007 disrupts the schemes of a corrupt U.S. leader, a Russian oligarch, and their petrostate implementation partner.
U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia Set to Go Beyond Ukraine
The two sides met in Saudi Arabia for their most extensive discussions in years. In addition to Ukraine, business ties are on the table.
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

"assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs"

Deep state now coming for our kids' mental health.
Establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.
www.whitehouse.gov
February 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...

“Over the next few years, Americans who hope for something better will have to go toe-to-toe with this administration, at all levels of government…”

❤️ you @gregggonsalves.bsky.social

My toes will be steel tipped and filed down.
Opinion | I Shudder to Imagine Kennedy Running Our Health Agencies.
We have to go toe-to-toe with this administration and resist its attacks on public health.
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 7:23 PM
If you are a person and are experiencing homelessness, where are you allowed to stand? Any time I see 2 people experiencing homelessness standing together, the next day I see a barricade in that spot. Are we saying that your very existence is a crime if you do not have a house?
February 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This is important work. Thank you. I would also comment that it is not simply that the majority believes that measles vaccine saves lives, it is that the majority understands that vaccines DO save lives. I believe the sky is blue - because it IS!!!!
Worth remembering that a large majority of the public still believes that measles vaccines save lives. There are groups asking that majority to speak up & prevent anti-vaccine policies, like this one immunizeusa.org/get-involved/
February 7, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It is poignant to read an old grant submission. Like discovering a professional time capsule. I am renewing our BU-CHART T32 and am reading the 2021 submission now. One faculty member tragically passed away. A few trainees are now famous faculty. It is surprisingly emotional work.
February 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted
Where is the fierce, vocal, widespread OPPOSITION from our medical orgs?
Where are the AMA, ABIM, AAP, ACS etc?
CDC websites, datasets taken down as agency complies with Trump executive order | CNN
Several US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites and datasets related to HIV, LGBTQ people, youth health behaviors and more have been removed after the agency was directed to comply with...
www.cnn.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Thank you for this important statement. It is critical that our #HIV research community react, and resist this censorship. It is more than unfortunate. It does more than create gaps. It makes it impossible to effectively do the work of ending the HIV epidemic.
The removal of #HIV- and #LGBTQ-related resources from the websites of CDC and other health agencies is deeply concerning.

Access to this information is crucial for ID and HIV health care professionals.

Our full statement: https://buff.ly/42AO8LI
January 31, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Over the last hour I wrote - and then deleted without posting - two posts about developments I think are important and want to share, but worried could bring harm to colleagues and my community if the wrong people saw them. Are we in the deep state yet? Tell me one way this differs from fascism.
January 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The last two candies from the office post-Halloween candy drawer. I would generally say these are the evidence-based two “worst” candies. But maybe there is bias introduced by the fact that we are in office and both of these are a little messy and sticky? Please design causal inference evaluation!
January 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted
Yes. Yes she is.
Sen. Warren asks Kennedy to commit to not accepting lawsuit kickbacks from litigation against drug companies as secretary and for a 4 year period after.

Kennedy: "You are making me sound like a shill."
January 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM
One survival strategy for me is allowing myself small indulgences to make the day even a tiny bit better. Today, it is a full-onMcDonald’s lunch! …and yes, I can see the irony, but F those MFers.
January 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted
If you want to work with my amazing research team, we have a job opening for a senior research administrator at University of Pittsburgh. Need someone enthusiastic and experienced. cfopitt.taleo.net/careersectio...
Manager - Clinical Research Operations
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
cfopitt.taleo.net
January 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Inclusive clinical trial enrollment is important to ensure the generalizability of discovery. Without it, our science is crap and we are wasting money. This makes no sense, even if you hate DEIB initiatives.
US FDA drops web pages on improving clinical trial diversity
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has pulled draft guidance from its website requiring companies to test medicines and devices in diverse populations as part of a purge of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at U.S. health agencies.
www.reuters.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:08 PM