Deborah J. Balthazar
@djbulbaczar.bsky.social
Science Writer @ Thomas Jefferson University | @nyu journalism grad #SHERP 40 | Formerly @statnews.bsky.social '23-24 Begley Fellow, intern @Sciencenews.bsky.social and @Scholastic, formerly @ TAPintoWestOrange
Reposted by Deborah J. Balthazar
I've seen claims recently that the FDA is no longer investigating microbial contamination of food. That's just not true. Yes, the agency is now desperately understaffed. But some dedicated scientists are still there, still trying. As you'll see in this outbreak investigation summary.
Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
The following is a list of outbreak and adverse event investigations primarily being managed by FDA’s CORE Response Teams.
www.fda.gov
August 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I've seen claims recently that the FDA is no longer investigating microbial contamination of food. That's just not true. Yes, the agency is now desperately understaffed. But some dedicated scientists are still there, still trying. As you'll see in this outbreak investigation summary.
Reposted by Deborah J. Balthazar
From a journalist friend: Just spreading the word. The CDC is purging data, so people should archive their favorite CDC datasets today, namely ones around race/ethnic diversity, LGBTQ, and reproductive health. Also health data involving climate. The youth risk behavior survey has already gone down.
January 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
From a journalist friend: Just spreading the word. The CDC is purging data, so people should archive their favorite CDC datasets today, namely ones around race/ethnic diversity, LGBTQ, and reproductive health. Also health data involving climate. The youth risk behavior survey has already gone down.
Reposted by Deborah J. Balthazar
News from me this morning. In what may come as a surprise to many in #healthequity, Dr. Aletha Maybank is stepping down from her post as chief health equity officer at the AMA where she brought in historic change. I spoke with Dr. Maybank about her next steps. www.statnews.com/2024/12/30/a...
Aletha Maybank to step down as AMA's chief health equity officer
Aletha Maybank, who became the American Medical Association’s first chief equity officer five and half years ago, is leaving the organization.
www.statnews.com
December 30, 2024 at 5:02 PM
News from me this morning. In what may come as a surprise to many in #healthequity, Dr. Aletha Maybank is stepping down from her post as chief health equity officer at the AMA where she brought in historic change. I spoke with Dr. Maybank about her next steps. www.statnews.com/2024/12/30/a...
I’m excited to share that I was recently interviewed for a @ahcj.bsky.social blog about a story I wrote on Placenta-on-a-chip during my time as a Sharon Begley Fellow!
Read how I explained how I wrote my #science explainer
Read how I explained how I wrote my #science explainer
Placenta-on-a-chip: How one STAT reporter clearly described this complicated tech
STAT reporter Deborah Balthazar tells AHCJ what inspired her story on "placenta-on-a-chip" and offers advice for lively tech writing.
healthjournalism.org
September 16, 2024 at 2:18 PM
I’m excited to share that I was recently interviewed for a @ahcj.bsky.social blog about a story I wrote on Placenta-on-a-chip during my time as a Sharon Begley Fellow!
Read how I explained how I wrote my #science explainer
Read how I explained how I wrote my #science explainer
Reposted by Deborah J. Balthazar
Advocates say a "Saturday Night Live" skit about new sickle cell gene therapies perpetuated falsehoods that have long harmed the community.
www.statnews.com/2023/12/20/s...
www.statnews.com/2023/12/20/s...
After ‘SNL’ skit on sickle cell CRISPR therapy, advocates cite errors and stereotypes
“Those two caricatures that they put on national TV is how people view us,” an advocate for people with sickle cell said about a "Saturday Night Live" skit.
www.statnews.com
December 20, 2023 at 5:32 PM
Advocates say a "Saturday Night Live" skit about new sickle cell gene therapies perpetuated falsehoods that have long harmed the community.
www.statnews.com/2023/12/20/s...
www.statnews.com/2023/12/20/s...
Reposted by Deborah J. Balthazar
What a fun & illuminating #sciwri23 we enjoyed in Boulder! Now is a good time to reshare my free doc of pitching lists & other resources for freelancers & staff & journalisalts on science & other beats. Pls let me know what to update: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Science media outlets to pitch etc.
Media outlets that publish science stories, mostly U.S. & Canada, mostly English-language [plus many additional science journalism resources] [Last updated: 10/12/23. This is a FREE public document m...
docs.google.com
October 12, 2023 at 1:15 PM
What a fun & illuminating #sciwri23 we enjoyed in Boulder! Now is a good time to reshare my free doc of pitching lists & other resources for freelancers & staff & journalisalts on science & other beats. Pls let me know what to update: docs.google.com/document/d/1...