Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo
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drjuanhc.com
Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo
@drjuanhc.com
240 followers 260 following 120 posts
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at UNC
💊⚖️ Leading research in pharmacoepi & legal epi to improve prescribing policies for pain management and to ensure the safe use of psychotropic drugs
🏳️‍🌈He/Him (Views are my own)
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Proud mentor moment 🙌 My mentees are shining at #ISPEAnnual2025 with impactful presentations on pharmacoepidemiology and policy-relevant research. Grateful to witness their growth and contributions to the field! 🌟
Presenter stands at a podium presenting at the ISPE Annual Meeting Presenter stands at a podium presenting at the ISPE Annual Meeting
August 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
drjuanhc.com
My #NIH K01 grant (dedicated to improving treatment for older adults with #TrigeminalNeuralgia) was terminated today due to new anti-DEI policies.

This isn’t about “buzzwords.” It’s about real patients losing out because science is under attack.

Regrouping and thinking about next steps…
May 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
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Speaking at the #USASP2025 Advocacy Workshop this Friday! I’ll cover how researchers can influence pain policy through rulemaking, public comments, and agency engagement.

📢Your science belongs in policy rooms too!

@usasp.bsky.social @uncpublichealth.bsky.social
#PainPolicy #Advocacy #SciComm
Intro slide for a presentation titled “The Power of Administrative Advocacy: How Researchers Can Influence Policymaking” by Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo, PharmD, MS, PhD, President of the Board of Directors at the National Pain Advocacy Center (NPAC) and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The slide includes the NPAC logo and a banner reading, “We envision a world in which pain is treated effectively, so all people living with pain can lead full and productive lives,” alongside an image of a woman. Logos for NPAC and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health are also present.
May 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
drjuanhc.com
Wrapped up our last Intro to #LegalEpi class at @uncpublichealth.bsky.social today and feeling all kinds of grateful 🤍💙

Thanks to my students for the energy, the questions, and the hope you bring to this work. You give me faith in the future of #PublicHealth!
A classroom selfie showing a group of smiling students seated at desks with laptops and notebooks, alongside their professor in the foreground.
April 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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Honored to participate as member of the planning committee and moderator for @nationalacademies.org workshop on chronic pain management and disability determinations.

Using science to advocate for people with living with pain!

#advocacy #disability #pain
Picture of woman and man in professional attire standing up in front of a podium
April 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
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I hope you join us in the upcoming public workshop hosted by NASEM on the Treatment and Management of Chronic Pain and Implications for Disability Determinations

📅 April 17-18, 2025

🔗 Registration link: www.nationalacademies.org/event/43975_...
Exploring the Treatment and Management of Chronic Pain and Implications for Disability Determinations: A Workshop April 17 April 18
April 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
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Weekly email from NIH listserv where they are supposed to announce funding opportunities…

(none)
Funding Opportunities (none) NIH Funding Opportunities are also available in an RSS feed (Really Simple Syndication). Unsubscribe from the NIH Guide Weekly TOC LISTSERV.
April 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
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All staff at the NIH Office of Pain Policy and Planning were let go due to today's cuts.

This devastating loss will have significant negative impacts on the health of millions.

Pain is the leading cause of disability and the top reason for seeking medical care.
NIH PC members, We are extremely disappointed to hear of drastic cuts across NIH. It is unfortunate that the Office of Pain Policy and Planning did not survive the cuts. NINDS will need some time to recover and plans to continue to support the broad NIH pain research agenda over time. Linda, Laura, Jackie, Leah, Janelle, Giulia, Jess, Anthony J, and Natasha from OPPP were selected for the RIF,. They have created an amazing team, each of whom will be sorely missed. The remaining office members will be settled into new offices and continue to support pain research activities as best they can. I will retire at the end of the month and would have been saying goodbye regardless of the RIF. For others in our team, the loss is devastating. The NIH PC has been an incredibly supportive and valuable resource for the pain research agenda at NIH. It was an amazing journey to have watched the expansion of the PC, the incredible commitment and creativity of the members, and the progress the consortium made in enhancing and integrating pain research across NIH over the years. Nice work everyone- carry on. It is always difficult to say goodbye, but especially under such circumstances. Linda
April 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
drjuanhc.com
Sharing information about the upcoming Policy Surveillance Institute by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University: phlr.temple.edu/policy-surve...

Highly recommended for those interested in conducting legal mapping studies!

#LegalEpi #PHLaw #PublicHealth
10th Annual Policy Surveillance Institute August 7-8, 2025 Philadelphia Register before May 16, 2025 for the early bird rate!
March 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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In a time when science faces significant challenges, celebrating even small wins becomes all the more important.

One of my papers has been recognized as one of the top 10 most cited publications in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety for 2023 🎉

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Wiley Top Cited Article Congratulations to Juan Hincapie-Castillo whose work has been recognized as a top cited article in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety using joinpoint regression for drug utilization research: tutorial and case study of prescription opioid use in the united states
March 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
drjuanhc.com
Including this slide at the start of my lecture tomorrow.

Class is about natural experimental study design, but it seems irresponsible to not counter the medical disinformation re: Vitamin A and measles from the DHHS secretary
On the news As Measles Spreads, Kennedy Embraces Remedies Like Cod Liver Oil In an interview, the H.H.S. secretary claimed that unconventional treatments were helping patients but described vaccination as a personal choice. “Vitamin A is recommended for children diagnosed with measles to help prevent complications, particularly in children who are hospitalized,” said Sean T. O’Leary, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID). “It should not be used to try to prevent measles, and high doses of vitamin A are potentially very harmful. The only effective way to prevent measles is the MMR vaccine.” Complications of vitamin A toxicity include those listed below. Acute toxicity: Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, irritability, blurred vision, and intracranial hypertension Chronic toxicity: Dry, itchy skin, hair loss, bone and joint pain, fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss Teratogenic effects: Craniofacial abnormalities, central nervous system malformations, and cardiovascular malformations Hepatic toxicity: Hepatomegaly, elevated liver enzymes, jaundice, fibrosis, and cirrhosis Skeletal abnormalities: Increased bone resorption, decreased bone formation, osteoporosis, fractures, and bone pain Hematological disturbances: Leukocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia Central nervous system: Pseudotumor cerebri, with symptoms of headache, visual disturbances, and papilledema Link to NYT report https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/health/texas-measles-outbreak-kennedy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.104.HhPW.0SsziEgURaNs&smid=url-share
March 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
drjuanhc.com
First 5-star read of the year. WOW!

Isaac’s Song by Daniel Black

“Paradise is not the absence of pain. It’s the presence of joy with it. Heaven teaches you that pain and joy are one and the same.”

#booksky
Picture of book cover Isaac’s song by Daniel Black Five stars
February 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
drjuanhc.com
Message I sent to my NC senators and representative regarding NIH cap policy on indirect costs (alt text provided).

@resist.bot is a great tool to reach out to your elected officials.
Protect North Carolina's Research Institutions from NIH Policy The National Institutes of Health's decision to cap indirect cost reimbursement for research grants at a mere 15% represents a severe financial blow to North Carolina's vital research institutions and overall economy. Our state is home to numerous prestigious universities and major research hospitals that rely heavily on NIH funding. This drastic cut in overhead support threatens to cripple their ability to maintain facilities, support staff, and cover other essential expenses integral to conducting lifesaving medical research. As representatives of our state, we urgently request your intervention to safeguard North Carolina's robust research enterprise and the thousands of jobs it sustains. Allowing this policy to stand would inflict self-destructive damage, undermining innovation and diminishing our competitive edge in an arena with profound implications for human health. The indirect costs associated with NIH grants are legitimate expenditures, not frivolous overhead. Inadequate reimbursement rates will inevitably constrain the capacity for critical scientific inquiry. This concerning policy shift contradicts longstanding norms and jeopardizes America's global leadership in biomedical research. We implore you to take decisive action by urging the NIH to rescind this misguided policy before irreparable harm is inflicted upon our state's research infrastructure and economy. Safeguarding this vital enterprise demands an immediate course correction.
February 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
drjuanhc.com
The horrors persist, but so do I
Picture of funny dog with caption: the horrors persist, but so do i
February 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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Got my copy! 📕 @lindsaywiley.bsky.social

#LegalEpi #PublicHealthLaw
Picture of textbook: Publix health law and ethics Power, duty, restraint Lindsay Wiley and Lawrence Gostin
February 3, 2025 at 1:04 AM
drjuanhc.com
Using Resistbot is a great way to email your representatives at the Federal and State government

Text “RESIST” to 50409

Call them too of course!
United States Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121
To: Sen. Tillis, Sen. Budd and Rep. Foushee JAN 28 2025 1:45PM Demand support for congressionally-approved funding, reject executive overreach I'm demanding that my representatives immediately support a resolution opposing the Office of Management and Budget's freeze on congressionally-approved federal funding. This executive branch interference with funding authorized by Congress creates massive economic disruptions and harms for individuals, businesses, and state and local governments across the nation. Moreover, it represents a blatant violation of the Constitutional separation of powers by usurping Congress's exclusive authority over federal spending decisions. Regardless of political affiliation, Congress must unite to reassert its constitutional prerogatives and reject this unconstitutional executive overreach through decisive legislative action. N * C Juan CONSTITUENT in PITTSBORO, N.C.
January 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
drjuanhc.com
Timeline cleanse: Bella wearing a wig
Picture of dog wearing a wig and a red sweater
January 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
drjuanhc.com
I discussed Procedural Justice and Legitimacy Theory in my legal epidemiology class today.

What a time to be alive… Plenty of examples from current news

#LegalEpi #PublicHealthLaw #HealthPolicy
Epid 799b introduction to legal epidemiology Juan Hincapie-Castillo, PharmD, MS, PhD Procedural justice theory and effects of laws Flow chart showing causal pathway starting at laws and ending in Health. Mediators include procedural justice and motivation to engage in behaviors.
January 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
drjuanhc.com
Slide I shared today with students during the first day of my Introduction to Legal Epi class

"Hope is not prognostication." I need this reminder myself as we all embark in challenging times in public health.

#LegalEpi #HealthLaw #PublicHealth #PublicPolicy
Public Health and Uncertainty “Hope is not prognostication. It is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart; it transcends the world that is immediately experienced and is anchored somewhere beyond its horizons. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success, but, rather, an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed.” ~ Václav Havel Vaclav Havel, “The kind of hope I often think about” in Disturbing the Peace: A Conversation with Karel Hvizdala, trans and intro. by Paul Wilson (New York: Vintage Books, 1990), 181. In Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities (Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2016).
January 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
drjuanhc.com
On this #GivingTuesday, I’m donating in memory of my father-in-law to @usasp.bsky.social 2025 Travel Award Fund. He lived with chronic back #pain and severe #cancer pain at the end of his life

This donation will support trainees attending the Annual Meeting
usasp.memberclicks.net/givingtuesda...
Usasp logo Us association for the study of pain Picture of older man wearing glasses and smiling at the camera
December 3, 2024 at 4:27 PM
drjuanhc.com
Looking forward to joining the planning committee for the NASEM workshop "Exploring the Treatment and Management of #ChronicPain and Implications for #Disability Determinations"

Preliminary list of topics is included in the link
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/exp...
Exploring the Treatment and Management of Chronic Pain and Implications for Disability Determinations: A Workshop
November 22, 2024 at 6:58 PM
drjuanhc.com
Hi 🦋! My work is at the intersection of #PharmacoEpi & #LegalEpi where I use real-world data to evaluate and promote evidence-informed policymaking

💊My primary focus is on improving prescribing policies for the provision of equitable #pain management and safe psychotropic drug use
Picture of man dressed in a suit with his arms crossed
November 21, 2024 at 12:37 PM
drjuanhc.com
Saving for my #LegalEpi class to discuss incidental public #healthlaw:

“ease of access to sports #gambling is harming consumer financial health”

“results are substantially stronger for states that allow online sports gambling”

Hollenbeck, Larsen, Prosperio. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
X axis: quarters relative to policy Y axis: probability of bankruptcy Data shown for all states and for online states. Online states show a higher probability of bankruptcy in quarters after the policy
November 21, 2024 at 3:25 AM
drjuanhc.com
2024 has been rough indeed. Marley’s eyes and hugs help.
Picture of dog sitting next to plant
November 21, 2024 at 3:10 AM
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Too real
Cartoon drawing of woman being lifted by floating UFO. Caption reads “gracias”
November 20, 2024 at 8:30 PM