Jacalyn Duffin

@drugshortage.bsky.social

110 followers 240 following 36 posts

hematologist, historian, and drug shortage activist

Jacalyn M. Duffin is a Canadian medical historian and hematologist. She held the Hannah Chair, History of Medicine at Queen's University from 1988 until 2017. Formerly, she was president of the American Association for the History of Medicine and Canadian Society for the History of Medicine. From 1993 to 1995 she was Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies and Education at Queen's University. She is most well known for her testimony which led to the canonization of Marie-Marguerite d'Youville. As of 2010, she has published eight books on the history of medicine and has written numerous articles on various subjects relating to the history of medicine, miracles, and hematology. In 2019, Duffin was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. .. more

History 40%

Psychology 16%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Matthew Smith @healthhistory.bsky.social · 4d

I logged in to write another blog for 'A Short History of Mental Health' (Psychology Today ) and realized that I've written 50 of these things! Here they are:
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/shor...

A Short History of Mental Health

Looking backward to move forward

www.psychologytoday.com

Reposted by Jesse M. Shapiro, Jacalyn Duffin, E. Richard Gold , and 2 more Jesse M. Shapiro, Jacalyn Duffin, E. Richard Gold, Julia M. Wright, Lisa A. Kramer

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 6d

How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think. A parliamentary committee is asking for researchers' personal information in what seems like an anti-DEI crusade, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com

Opinion: How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think

A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade

www.theglobeandmail.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Philipp Osten @osten.bsky.social · 7d

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/h...

Marthe Gautier, 96, Dies; Had Key Role in Down Syndrome Breakthrough

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Jacalyn Duffin, Margot C. Finn , and 2 more Lesley A. Hall, Jacalyn Duffin, Margot C. Finn, Pauline Stafford, Kathleen Kennedy

Prof. Ben Pohl @benpohl.bsky.social · 9d

I think it’s even worse: the lack of recognition that there even *is* such a thing as professional training in historical research!

NPR @npr.org · 11d

The White House plans to bar hospitals that treat transgender children and youth from getting any Medicare and Medicaid payments. The move would affect trans youth who have private insurance, too. n.pr/4qFa1mY

Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally

The White House plans to bar hospitals that treat transgender children and youth from getting any Medicare and Medicaid payments. The move would affect trans youth who have private insurance, too.

n.pr

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · 11d

Trump effect by historians in Switzerland
www.letemps.ch/articles/tru...

Trump «annule» les savoirs (en santé), produisons-en! - Le Temps

OPINION. Les attaques répétées de l’administration Trump sur les données et les productions scientifiques ne seront pas sans conséquences, notamment sur la santé. Elles affectent déjà nos propres rech...

www.letemps.ch

Reposted by Robert Wolfe

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · 12d

A cruel and unnecessary cause of drug shortages: Russian bombs.
empr.media/news/war/rus...

Russia Destroys One-Fifth of Ukraine’s Monthly Medicine Supply

Russian forces destroyed Optima-Pharm’s central warehouse, wiping out 20% of Ukraine’s monthly medicine supply, causing temporary shortages but regional

empr.media

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Alexandre Klein @alexandreklein.bsky.social · 14d

Il est là, il existe 😍
En librairie dès la semaine prochaine !

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Oct 8

An obligation for storage can reduce drug shortages.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Can a national storage obligation for medicines prevent shortages? Evidence from the Finnish experience

Since 1984, Finland has used storage obligations for essential medicines, requiring manufacturers and importers to maintain storage of certain medicin…

www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Robert Wolfe

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · Oct 2

Dr. Balfour Mount, who coined the term "palliative care" and whose profound empathy helped revolutionize health-care in North America, died peacefully at the palliative care unit that bears his name. He was 86. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca

Balfour Mount, who revolutionized end-of-life care, died at palliative unit named in his honour | CBC News

Mount devoted his life to caring for others and alleviating suffering. In interviews, his family and colleagues remembered him as both deeply compassionate and as a fierce advocate for the humanity of...

www.cbc.ca

Reposted by Robert Wolfe

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Sep 29

What causes drug shortages? Sometimes it is obvious.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

‘Most people are just toughing it out’: shortage of drugs leaves Gaza’s wounded without pain relief

Operations are being carried out without proper anaesthetics and what painkillers there are have to be rationed, say doctors

www.theguardian.com

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Sep 27

Increased demand= shortage.
tribune.com.pk/story/256895...

Conjunctivitis outbreak sparks drug shortage | The Express Tribune

Nearly 3,000 patients visit major eye hospitals in just three days

tribune.com.pk

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Sep 25

What happens to drug use after shortages?...New study examining 2010 to 2024 in multiple countries of Europe and North America
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Reposted by Robert Wolfe

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Sep 24

Leucovorin...far be it from historians to predict the future, but can we not forsee yet another shortage coming that will impact cancer patients everywhere?
theconversation.com/what-is-leuc....

What is leucovorin, the drug the Trump administration says can treat autism?

Could a cancer drug really treat autism? The evidence is far from certain. Here’s what we know so far.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Robert Wolfe

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Sep 19

Former student (Qmeds 1995) serving in Gaza. 6 min BBC interview.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x8mow...

www.dropbox.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · Sep 17

“Tests by two foreign laboratories show that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned before his death in an Arctic penal colony last year, his wife said”

www.nbcnews.com/world/russia...

Lab tests show Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned, his wife says

Russian authorities said Navalny died last year after feeling unwell following a walk around the high-security Arctic penal colony where he was serving a combined 30 ½-year jail sentence.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Daniel S. Goldberg

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · Sep 13

Very informative reporting on the resurgence of Typhus is Texas. All infectious diseases seem to have sensed the abandonment of science and public health measures and are seizing the moment. This is not the type of job secure I want 🫠
www.npr.org/2025/09/12/n...

Typhus, a disease once nearly eradicated in the U.S., is on the rise in Texas

Texas is seeing an explosion of cases of typhus, a disease that – if untreated – can be fatal. Typhus was almost eradicated from the United States, but now it's making a comeback.

www.npr.org

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Robert Wolfe

International Institute for Sustainable Development @iisd.org · Sep 12

Gov'ts still pour 💵 into policies that undermine sustainable development. Can this ever be reversed?

For Mark Halle, who launched the Global Subsidies Initiative, change often feels impossible—until, suddenly, it isn’t.

🔎 https://bit.ly/4pchV6l

#20YearsGSI

A man speaks into a microphone at a podium. Overlaid text reads, "New Explainer. Mind Your Own Business: Mark Halle talks tough politics of subsidy reform."

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, David Murakami Wood

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · Sep 9

In Ontario, criminal vigilantism works and will influence gov't policy.

Keep that in mind.

‘Get rid of the speed cameras,’ Doug Ford warns municipalities after several cut down in Toronto overnight

Premier Doug Ford says he plans to take matters into his own hands if Ontario municipalities don’t “get rid of the speed cameras” in short order.

www.ctvnews.ca

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Robert Wolfe

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · Sep 2

Doug Ford is barking up the wrong tree with a ban on animal research. Nobody likes the idea of cute little puppies being killed. But populist pandering to emotion is anti-science rhetoric that serves no one, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... @theglobeandmail.com

Opinion: Doug Ford is barking up the wrong tree with his ban on animal research

The Ontario Premier’s populist pandering in the wake of a report over beagles used in research is knee-jerk, anti-science rhetoric

www.theglobeandmail.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Henry Jones

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · Sep 2

⚡️Russian drones force Kyiv children to hide in metro as school year begins.

The air alert, triggered by Russian drones, began at 9:20 a.m. local time and lasted over three hours, catching many children on their way to school before classes could start.

Russian drones force Kyiv children to hide in metro as school year begins

The air alert, triggered by Russian drones, began at 9:20 a.m. local time and lasted over three hours, catching many children on their way to school before classes could start.

kyivindependent.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin, Robert Wolfe

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Sep 2

Graham Greene, a Canadian actor who belonged to the Oneida First Nation and portrayed Indigenous characters in “Dances With Wolves” and other Hollywood blockbusters, died on Monday in Ontario. He was 73. nyti.ms/425In7L

Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · Aug 27

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

CDC director pushed out; flood of top resignations follow

The ouster comes at a tumultuous time for the embattled health agency. Other top officials also submitted their resignations Wednesday.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · Aug 26

Happy to see this out in the world. This review gives me arranging credit but it's really all Brian Kay, whom I've known since he was in high school, and who is a tremendously creative musician and talented performer. Lots of musicians, lots of fun. Enjoy!
www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles...

Play, Music! Songs from Shakespeare » Early Music America

Shakespeare's plays are rich in song, with productions at the Globe Theatre featuring musically trained actors and a small instrumental band. We have the texts, but there is no surviving music from an...

www.earlymusicamerica.org

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

Erica Ifill @wickdchiq.bsky.social · Aug 25

Every American MSM article I’ve read or segment I’ve watched blames the loss of tourism on Trump’s tariffs. While that is part of it, the bigger part is your immigration policies. We don’t want to end up at Alligator Alcatraz, Honduras or Uganda
The U.S. detained a Canadian toddler FFS

At least two Canadian toddlers have been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this year, including one who was detained for 51 days, more than double the legal detention period for migrant children in the United States, a Globe and Mail analysis of American enforcement data show.
The children, who are under the age of four, were both detained at a remote Texas facility that has been the subject of a legal complaint alleging inadequate access to safe drinking water, medical care and legal assistance. At the time of detention, they appear to have been accompanied by adults who were also apprehended.
The toddlers are among 149 Canadians ranging between two and 77 years old who have been held at some point in ICE custody since January, when President Donald Trump took office and ordered an expansive immigration crackdown.

Reposted by Jacalyn Duffin

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · Aug 25

Gov. Pritzker: “Earlier today in the Oval Office, Donald Trump…asked for me personally to say, ‘Mr. President, can you do us the honor of protecting our city?’ Instead, I say, ‘Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.’”