Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
@easwanson.bsky.social
General surgery resident | Aspiring abdominal organ transplant surgeon | Baker, hiker, reader | She/her
The question that most informs my politics is, "What is best for children?" @smashfizzle.bsky.social writes about this with such passion and moral clarity. "I refuse to die without trying to make sure the kids I love get something so much better than this" took my breath away.
Don’t get trapped in the worst most circular parts of this conversation, the parts where you already know where you stand. WHAT’S NEXT? I refuse to die without trying to make sure the kids I love get something so much better than this. I know I owe them that more than I know anything else.
September 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The question that most informs my politics is, "What is best for children?" @smashfizzle.bsky.social writes about this with such passion and moral clarity. "I refuse to die without trying to make sure the kids I love get something so much better than this" took my breath away.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Not in NYC but want to get actively involved in public library organizing? For The People has you covered on Oct 9. Sign up for "I Did It: You Can Too."
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Explore how YOU can take real, specific, and immediate actions to strengthen public libraries.
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Explore how YOU can take real, specific, and immediate actions to strengthen public libraries.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Banned Books Week: I Did It, You Can Too!. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
This Banned Books Week, join For The People: A Leftist Library Project to explore how YOU can take real, specific, and immediate actions in your own community to strengthen and expand public libraries...
us02web.zoom.us
September 9, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Not in NYC but want to get actively involved in public library organizing? For The People has you covered on Oct 9. Sign up for "I Did It: You Can Too."
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Explore how YOU can take real, specific, and immediate actions to strengthen public libraries.
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Explore how YOU can take real, specific, and immediate actions to strengthen public libraries.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
This is one good illustration why diversity on the court matters: Sotomayor can imagine a version of the world where this ruling would affect a younger version of herself, her family and people that look like her. Kavanaugh cannot.
Justice Sotomayor, joined by Kagan and Jackson, in dissent: "We should not have to live in a country where the Government
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
September 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This is one good illustration why diversity on the court matters: Sotomayor can imagine a version of the world where this ruling would affect a younger version of herself, her family and people that look like her. Kavanaugh cannot.
When a colleague does something well, let them know! The reaction I get when I do this tells me we don’t give each other enough positive feedback / words of appreciation in medicine.
I’ve been gifted with something I didn’t know I needed.
In the last 24 hours, I’ve received texts from two colleagues about how much I helped them because of the way I approach my work.
In the last 24 hours, I’ve received texts from two colleagues about how much I helped them because of the way I approach my work.
August 29, 2025 at 4:54 AM
When a colleague does something well, let them know! The reaction I get when I do this tells me we don’t give each other enough positive feedback / words of appreciation in medicine.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
No family should have to fear that their child’s private medical records will fall into the hands of a presidential administration opposed to their very existence.
This erodes the trust every family should be able to have in their doctors.
This erodes the trust every family should be able to have in their doctors.
DOJ Demands "Every Writing or Record" of Trans Youth Care From Hospitals
The Trump administration has sent subpoenas to 20 hospitals for personal medical records.
www.them.us
August 21, 2025 at 11:55 PM
No family should have to fear that their child’s private medical records will fall into the hands of a presidential administration opposed to their very existence.
This erodes the trust every family should be able to have in their doctors.
This erodes the trust every family should be able to have in their doctors.
Congrats to the @ohsudoernbecher.bsky.social and Randall Children's pediatric surgery teams on their work demonstrating reduced costs and resource utilization with implementation of standardized perioperative pathways in pediatric surgery. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Standardized Perioperative Protocols and Variance in Pediatric Surgery
This cohort study evaluates the association between a pediatric surgery perioperative standardization initiative encompassing multiple protocols and clinical outcomes, hospital length of stay, and ove...
jamanetwork.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Congrats to the @ohsudoernbecher.bsky.social and Randall Children's pediatric surgery teams on their work demonstrating reduced costs and resource utilization with implementation of standardized perioperative pathways in pediatric surgery. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
I knew the U.S. higher education system was a massive draw for foreigners, but I did not know the U.S. sold more educational services to the rest of the world than it did natural gas and coal combined. Great piece by @crampell.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I knew the U.S. higher education system was a massive draw for foreigners, but I did not know the U.S. sold more educational services to the rest of the world than it did natural gas and coal combined. Great piece by @crampell.bsky.social
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
My story about @kevinh-phd.bsky.social, nutrition and metabolism scientist at N.I.H., who felt compelled to take early retirement after experiencing censorship of his work under the new administration. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/w...
Leading Nutrition Scientist Departs N.I.H., Citing Censorship (Gift Article)
Kevin Hall said his work on ultraprocessed foods has been “hobbled” under the Trump administration. Scientists have been raising such concerns for months.
www.nytimes.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
My story about @kevinh-phd.bsky.social, nutrition and metabolism scientist at N.I.H., who felt compelled to take early retirement after experiencing censorship of his work under the new administration. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/w...
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Breaking: RFK Jr. has forced out PETER MARKS, the nation’s top vaccine regulator.
In his resignation letter, obtained by the Post, Marks said he was willing to work with RFK Jr on his vaccine concerns — but said Kennedy wishes “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
In his resignation letter, obtained by the Post, Marks said he was willing to work with RFK Jr on his vaccine concerns — but said Kennedy wishes “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
RFK Jr. forces out Peter Marks, FDA’s top vaccine scientist
Marks, an architect of Operation Warp Speed, warned that a recent measles outbreak shows how confidence in science and public health is being “undermined.”
www.washingtonpost.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Breaking: RFK Jr. has forced out PETER MARKS, the nation’s top vaccine regulator.
In his resignation letter, obtained by the Post, Marks said he was willing to work with RFK Jr on his vaccine concerns — but said Kennedy wishes “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
In his resignation letter, obtained by the Post, Marks said he was willing to work with RFK Jr on his vaccine concerns — but said Kennedy wishes “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
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Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
"Let's not take the soul-sucking path of sacrificing the most persecuted for that which we deem to be most popular. I know that there are transgender children right now looking out at this world and wondering if anyone is going to stand up for them and for their simple right to exist. Well, I am."
March 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"Let's not take the soul-sucking path of sacrificing the most persecuted for that which we deem to be most popular. I know that there are transgender children right now looking out at this world and wondering if anyone is going to stand up for them and for their simple right to exist. Well, I am."
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
I wrote a book about bureaucratic violence and if there’s one thing I wish everyone knew right now, it would be:
The people most harmed can’t tell what’s happening or why. Their lives unravel and, more often than not, they are taught to blame themselves—or other victims.
The people most harmed can’t tell what’s happening or why. Their lives unravel and, more often than not, they are taught to blame themselves—or other victims.
March 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I wrote a book about bureaucratic violence and if there’s one thing I wish everyone knew right now, it would be:
The people most harmed can’t tell what’s happening or why. Their lives unravel and, more often than not, they are taught to blame themselves—or other victims.
The people most harmed can’t tell what’s happening or why. Their lives unravel and, more often than not, they are taught to blame themselves—or other victims.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
About half of all childbirths in America are covered by Medicaid.
Over half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid.
Over 79 million people are covered by Medicaid.
And the House GOP’s plans to gut Medicaid would hurt nearly every community in America.
Over half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid.
Over 79 million people are covered by Medicaid.
And the House GOP’s plans to gut Medicaid would hurt nearly every community in America.
March 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
About half of all childbirths in America are covered by Medicaid.
Over half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid.
Over 79 million people are covered by Medicaid.
And the House GOP’s plans to gut Medicaid would hurt nearly every community in America.
Over half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid.
Over 79 million people are covered by Medicaid.
And the House GOP’s plans to gut Medicaid would hurt nearly every community in America.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
A full-term baby boy was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at 30 hours of age owing to abdominal distention and failure to pass meconium. Before the transfer, the baby had fed poorly and regurgitated colostrum. 1/3
#MedSky #PedSky #Neonatology
#MedSky #PedSky #Neonatology
March 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A full-term baby boy was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at 30 hours of age owing to abdominal distention and failure to pass meconium. Before the transfer, the baby had fed poorly and regurgitated colostrum. 1/3
#MedSky #PedSky #Neonatology
#MedSky #PedSky #Neonatology
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
By attacking science:
We are less safe because science informs national security and medical care.
We are less prosperous because science drives innovation and economic benefit.
We are less free because science and democracy depend on the liberty to ask questions, and seek and share knowledge.
We are less safe because science informs national security and medical care.
We are less prosperous because science drives innovation and economic benefit.
We are less free because science and democracy depend on the liberty to ask questions, and seek and share knowledge.
March 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
By attacking science:
We are less safe because science informs national security and medical care.
We are less prosperous because science drives innovation and economic benefit.
We are less free because science and democracy depend on the liberty to ask questions, and seek and share knowledge.
We are less safe because science informs national security and medical care.
We are less prosperous because science drives innovation and economic benefit.
We are less free because science and democracy depend on the liberty to ask questions, and seek and share knowledge.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Must read: Mahmoud Khalil speaks out for the first time since his arrest by the Trump administration in an exclusive letter, dictated over the phone to his family, from ICE detention in Louisiana.
March 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Must read: Mahmoud Khalil speaks out for the first time since his arrest by the Trump administration in an exclusive letter, dictated over the phone to his family, from ICE detention in Louisiana.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Match Part 1 is tomorrow: remember that if you have to SOAP or scramble that it says nothing about your value as a human being nor about your abilities as a future physician. Gather your support system and let yourself feel your feelings. We are rooting for you!
#MedStudents #MatchWeek #MedSky
#MedStudents #MatchWeek #MedSky
March 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Match Part 1 is tomorrow: remember that if you have to SOAP or scramble that it says nothing about your value as a human being nor about your abilities as a future physician. Gather your support system and let yourself feel your feelings. We are rooting for you!
#MedStudents #MatchWeek #MedSky
#MedStudents #MatchWeek #MedSky
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
Did you know that science labs work like small business entrepreneurs? Faculty hired on strength of ideas, get some startup $ to last 3-4 yrs. After that is grants- grants pay all our + our trainees’ salaries + scientific work. Funding in this country is frozen. That means scientific work stops
March 15, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Did you know that science labs work like small business entrepreneurs? Faculty hired on strength of ideas, get some startup $ to last 3-4 yrs. After that is grants- grants pay all our + our trainees’ salaries + scientific work. Funding in this country is frozen. That means scientific work stops
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
One thing everyone should understand is that DOGE has created the least efficient conditions for government I've ever seen.
*The working conditions are chaotic.
*No clear sense of who works there.
*Routine processes have been stopped.
*No planning can take place.
*People are incredibly demoralized.
*The working conditions are chaotic.
*No clear sense of who works there.
*Routine processes have been stopped.
*No planning can take place.
*People are incredibly demoralized.
“Nobody feels like their job is safe. Everyone is on edge,” said Kim Hasenkrug, an NIH scientist emeritus… “Even the top people can’t keep track because they’re hiring and firing so much. Direct supervisors of those who were terminated didn’t even know that it was happening.”
At NIH, ‘everyone is on edge’ as they brace for deep cuts and more centralized control
As the NIH braces for cuts of up to 5,000 of its 20,000 positions, “people are scrambling and freaking out,” a researcher said.
www.statnews.com
March 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
One thing everyone should understand is that DOGE has created the least efficient conditions for government I've ever seen.
*The working conditions are chaotic.
*No clear sense of who works there.
*Routine processes have been stopped.
*No planning can take place.
*People are incredibly demoralized.
*The working conditions are chaotic.
*No clear sense of who works there.
*Routine processes have been stopped.
*No planning can take place.
*People are incredibly demoralized.
Reposted by Elizabeth Swanson MD PhD
An absolutely important read from the wonderful Dr. @craigspencer.bsky.social - “It is in America’s interest to reverse course immediately and rebuild the crucial infrastructure needed to detect and respond to outbreaks. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also makes economic sense.”
“Deadly diseases don’t bother with borders; no wall will keep them out. If America stays the course, 'Something went wrong' will become the epitaph of a great country, one that once led the world in global health preparedness,” Craig Spencer writes:
The Diseases Are Coming
Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn government tear will have lasting effects on global health.
www.theatlantic.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
An absolutely important read from the wonderful Dr. @craigspencer.bsky.social - “It is in America’s interest to reverse course immediately and rebuild the crucial infrastructure needed to detect and respond to outbreaks. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also makes economic sense.”