Evan MacDonald
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Evan MacDonald
@emacdonald5.bsky.social
430 followers 97 following 43 posts
Health and medical reporter at the Houston Chronicle.
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ICYMI: UTHealth researchers hope lab-grown 'mini brains' will reveal clues about the cause of schizophrenia and other disorders. @houstonchronicle.com

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How Houston researchers use 'mini brains' to study mental disorders
Researchers at UTHealth Houston are transforming skin cells into miniature brains to study schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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Harris Health says an ex-employee improperly accessed and leaked 5,000 patients’ medical records. New from @houstonchronicle.com

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Harris Health says ex-employee leaked 5,000 patients’ medical records
Harris Health says a former employee accessed and leaked about 5,000 patients’ records between 2011 and 2021.
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October 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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ICYMI - Republican's claims about health care amid the government shutdown are false, experts say.
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Experts: Republicans' shutdown claims about health care for immigrants are false
Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission have never been eligible for federally-funded health insurance, experts said.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Evan MacDonald
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Exclusive: Dr. Paul Klotman to retire after 15 years as executive dean at Baylor College of Medicine www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Exclusive: Head of Baylor College of Medicine to retire after 15 years
Klotman took the helm at Baylor in 2010 after holding leadership roles at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and Duke University.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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Millions of Americans could see the cost of their ACA health insurance premiums increase if Congress does not extend subsidies that expire at year's end, Houston hospital leaders said. New from @houstonchronicle.com

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Houston health leaders urge Congress to extend ACA tax credits
Houston hospital leaders are urging Congress to extend tax credits that have made ACA insurance plans more affordable for millions of Americans.
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September 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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The FDA approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday but limited who is eligible for them. Here's what to know. @houstonchronicle.com

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The FDA limited who can get new COVID-19 vaccines. Here's what to know.
The FDA approved three new COVID-19 vaccines, but limited who will be eligible to receive them, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.
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August 27, 2025 at 9:59 PM
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Texas health officials declared an end to the state's measles outbreak on Monday after nearly seven months, 762 cases and the deaths of two young girls. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas health officials declare end to measles outbreak
Health officials declared an end to the West Texas measles outbreak that sickened 762 people since late January.
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August 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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A Houston woman thought she had dementia. Then a doctor saw something new in a scan of her brain. How Houston Methodist doctors solved a medical mystery via @houstonchronicle.com
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A Houston woman's dementia misdiagnosis led to years of frustration
How treatable conditions can be misdiagnosed, leading to years of frustration for patients.
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August 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
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Two of the Houston area's six Planned Parenthood clinics will close in the coming months, while the rest will be acquired by another Texas affiliate as part of a restructing. New from @houstonchronicle.com

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Planned Parenthood closing 2 Houston clinics amid 'heartbreaking' restructuring
Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is closing two clinics on Sept. 30 but said services will not be affected at four others in the Houston area.
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July 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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NEW: Texas' largest measles outbreak in decades has subsided, but experts say state remains vulnerable @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas' massive measles outbreak has subsided, but state remains vulnerable
Texas' largest measles outbreak in decades has subsided, but the state could see another in the future unless vaccination rates improve, experts say.
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July 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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University of Texas System regents on Monday named a Virginia doctor as the sole finalist for the UTHealth Houston presidency.

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UT regents name Virginia doctor as sole finalist for UTHealth Houston presidency
Dr. Melina Kibbe is currently chief health affairs officer at UVA Health and dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
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July 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
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Dr. Hagop Kantarjian, the renowned cancer researcher and clinician, is stepping down as chair of MD Anderson's leukemia department after more than 30 years. New from @houstonchronicle.com

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Renowned MD Anderson cancer doctor stepping down as chair of leukemia department
Renowned clinician and cancer researcher Dr. Hagop Kantarjian is stepping down as head of MD Anderson's leukemia department after more than 30 years.
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July 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
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Memorial Hermann is closing its University Place senior living community and nursing center, and laying off 83 employees

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Memorial Hermann closing University Place senior community, nursing center
Memorial Hermann is laying off 83 employees due to the closure of the University Place senior living community and nursing center in southwest Houston.
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July 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
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A new report ranks Texas worst in the nation for health care access and affordability, with the worst rates of uninsured adults and children. @houstonchronicle.com

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Analysis ranks Texas worst in nation for health care access and affordability
A new report finds Texas ranks second-to-last in the U.S. for health care access and affordability, with high uninsured rates and persistent disparities.
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June 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
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'I want to live’: A Houston patient is the first in the United States to receive a fully robotic heart transplant, at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. New from @houstonchronicle.com

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Houston surgeons perform first fully robotic heart transplant in U.S.
Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center surgeons successfully performed the first fully robotic heart transplant in the United States.
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June 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
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NEW: UTMB lost $19 million in NIH research grants after Trump administration cuts

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UTMB lost $19 million in NIH research grants after Trump administration cuts
The University of Texas Medical Branch lost more than $19 million in research grants terminated by the Trump administration.
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June 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
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What could RFK Jr.s' purge of the CDC's vaccine advisory commitee mean for vaccine access in Texas? New at @houstonchronicle.com

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What RFK Jr.'s purge of the CDC's vaccine committee could mean for Texans
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed every member of a committee that makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC. Here's the potential impact on Texans.
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June 10, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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The Texas measles outbreak grew by four cases on Tuesday, including the first near San Antonio. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas measles outbreak adds four cases, including first near San Antonio
The latest update from Texas health officials continues a trend of fewer measles cases in recent weeks.
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May 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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ICYMI: Experts are cautiously optimistic about measles cases declining recently in Texas, but said the state must remain vigilant to prevent a resurgence. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas measles cases drop, but state must stay vigilant, experts say
Public health experts are cautiously optimistic after Texas health officials have reported fewer measles cases in recent weeks.
www.houstonchronicle.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:10 PM
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NEW: As nurses are recognized with the start of National Nurses Week, a Texas survey shows a rising number of nurses are subjected to violence, abuse and harrassment at work. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas nurses face rising violence, abuse and harassment on the job, survey finds
A rising number of Texas nurses have faced violence, abuse or harassment at work, causing some to consider leaving the profession, according to a survey.
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May 6, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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NEW: Could Texas see 1,000 measles cases for the first time in decades? Experts weigh in. @houstonchronicle.com

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How many measles cases could Texas see before the outbreak is over?
Texas has already seen its most measles cases in a year since 1992, and experts said the outbreak shows no signs of slowing.
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April 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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The Texas measles outbreak grew to 561 cases on Tuesday, 20 more than the last update on Friday. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas measles outbreak grows to 561 cases, hits one new county
The measles outbreak centered in the South Plains region of Texas rose to 561 cases on Tuesday, including the first in Reeves County.
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April 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
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The Texas measles outbreak surpassed 500 cases on Tuesday, two days after health officials confirmed the death of a second school-aged child. @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas measles outbreak surpasses 500 cases in wake of second child's death
Texas has now seen 505 measles cases and two school-aged children have died amid an outbreak centered in the South Plains region.
www.houstonchronicle.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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NEW: Texas measles outbreak grows to 259 cases, spreads to two new counties @houstonchronicle.com

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Texas measles outbreak grows to 259 cases, spreads to two new counties
Texas' largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years grew by another 36 cases on Friday, with a handful in two new counties.
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March 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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NEW: Doctors say vitamin A is no substitute for the measles vaccine amid the Texas outbreak. @houstonchronicle.com

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Vitamin A is no substitute for measles vaccine amid Texas outbreak, doctors say
Vitamin A has been shown to reduce the risk of measles mortality in certain cases, but doctors said the MMR vaccine is the only way to prevent an infection.
www.houstonchronicle.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM