Benjamin Seligman
@errorbars.bsky.social
Physician, demographer, occasional curer of patients and gravlax. #MedSky
I watch Japanese news to try to keep up my language skills. This was the latest tragedy to hit a school there, with 21 victims:
A mass bee stinging.
youtube.com/shorts/sPl6z...
A mass bee stinging.
youtube.com/shorts/sPl6z...
【速報】小学校で1年生の児童ら21人がハチに刺される 東京・青梅市
YouTube video by 日テレNEWS
youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I watch Japanese news to try to keep up my language skills. This was the latest tragedy to hit a school there, with 21 victims:
A mass bee stinging.
youtube.com/shorts/sPl6z...
A mass bee stinging.
youtube.com/shorts/sPl6z...
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
Yep mass #ageism and #eugenics (and many younger people died, but if they didn’t have the physique of a bodybuilder or supermodel, or had a #chronicdisease, they deserved to die according to these people. Exemplified by RFK Jr.)
We don't talk about it, but once we learned that the most vulnerable were the elderly a whole lot of people decided the shutdowns and even masks weren't worth it. "They're gonna die soon anyway" was a subtext of a lot of the Covid discourse and a big reason so many people shrug off the 1M+ deaths.
October 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Yep mass #ageism and #eugenics (and many younger people died, but if they didn’t have the physique of a bodybuilder or supermodel, or had a #chronicdisease, they deserved to die according to these people. Exemplified by RFK Jr.)
This is awful science journalism, @mittechreviewbr.bsky.social. The tools in the article help assess pain in people who can't communicate (intra-op, ICU, dementia, neonates), but the author acts like it's for everyone.
People then understandably treat this is dystopian rather than mundanely helpful.
People then understandably treat this is dystopian rather than mundanely helpful.
“In nursing homes, neonatal units, and ICU wards, researchers are racing to turn pain—medicine’s most subjective vital sign—into something a camera or sensor can score as reliably as blood pressure.”
AI is changing how we quantify pain
Artificial intelligence is helping health-care providers better assess their patients’ discomfort.
www.technologyreview.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
This is awful science journalism, @mittechreviewbr.bsky.social. The tools in the article help assess pain in people who can't communicate (intra-op, ICU, dementia, neonates), but the author acts like it's for everyone.
People then understandably treat this is dystopian rather than mundanely helpful.
People then understandably treat this is dystopian rather than mundanely helpful.
Me to myself when I'm peeved by the results of my own analyses.
"Uncooperative statistician": the term used (typically by a senior clinician) to describe a well-trained and knowledgeable statistician who refuses to conduct flawed or fraudulent research.
October 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Me to myself when I'm peeved by the results of my own analyses.
I did the Junior Reviewer Program at @agsjournal.bsky.social and learned a lot about the publication process and how to better-review papers. And you gey to hang out with @alexsmithmd.bsky.social! It's a great experience.
#geronsky
#geronsky
The Junior Reviewer Program at @agsjournal.bsky.social offers early-stage junior faculty the chance to gain mentorship, training, and experience in the journal review process while joining a community of scholars in aging. Applications due 10/17: agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/...
JAGS Junior Reviewer Training Program - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society - Wiley Online Library
<em>Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</em> (JAGS) is the go-to geriatrics journal for clinical aging research including education, clinical practice and public policy.
agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I did the Junior Reviewer Program at @agsjournal.bsky.social and learned a lot about the publication process and how to better-review papers. And you gey to hang out with @alexsmithmd.bsky.social! It's a great experience.
#geronsky
#geronsky
Intersex and other conditions affecting sexual development are taught early in medical school, in genetics or developmental biology. It's the experience of real people who deserve dignity like all of us. I don't know how Texas Tech medical students can learn medicine under this policy.
This is wretched policy.
Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders
www.nytimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Intersex and other conditions affecting sexual development are taught early in medical school, in genetics or developmental biology. It's the experience of real people who deserve dignity like all of us. I don't know how Texas Tech medical students can learn medicine under this policy.
Health care workers aren't on this list, so don't be surprised if seeing a physician is harder and ER wait times are longer than usual this winter (and perhaps for a long time after).
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
F.D.A. Approves Covid Shots With New Restrictions
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Health care workers aren't on this list, so don't be surprised if seeing a physician is harder and ER wait times are longer than usual this winter (and perhaps for a long time after).
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
Wait, so what does he put on his latkes? If he's using mayo instead of horseradish on his gefilte fish, oy gevalt...
August 24, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Wait, so what does he put on his latkes? If he's using mayo instead of horseradish on his gefilte fish, oy gevalt...
I know this is nit-picky, but it's "cojones". Having drawers in your home doesn't mean you're able to stand up for democracy.
Also, this very much is a popularity contest. If people hold their nose to vote for you, you're probably not going to get them to rally or take risks when it matters.
Also, this very much is a popularity contest. If people hold their nose to vote for you, you're probably not going to get them to rally or take risks when it matters.
Why does everyone praising Newsom feel the need to add that that they don't especially like him? There's a freaking rapist in the WH and fascism is taking root. We need someone with cajones, smarts, and the willingness to harness power. It's not a popularity contest, people.
August 17, 2025 at 6:34 AM
I know this is nit-picky, but it's "cojones". Having drawers in your home doesn't mean you're able to stand up for democracy.
Also, this very much is a popularity contest. If people hold their nose to vote for you, you're probably not going to get them to rally or take risks when it matters.
Also, this very much is a popularity contest. If people hold their nose to vote for you, you're probably not going to get them to rally or take risks when it matters.
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.
July 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
We’re highlighting the exceptional work of our geriatrics fellows at the American Geriatrics Society annual meeting! Explore their research on dementia screening, patient education, and elder care quality here: uclahs.fyi/4nzAHnB
July 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
We’re highlighting the exceptional work of our geriatrics fellows at the American Geriatrics Society annual meeting! Explore their research on dementia screening, patient education, and elder care quality here: uclahs.fyi/4nzAHnB
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
Check on your neighbors. Check on your family. Sometimes an AC stops working. Sometimes people end up outside out of necessity. Paying just a little bit extra attention to how someone is doing could save their life. This may require you to put down your phone which, we know, but you can do this.
June 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Check on your neighbors. Check on your family. Sometimes an AC stops working. Sometimes people end up outside out of necessity. Paying just a little bit extra attention to how someone is doing could save their life. This may require you to put down your phone which, we know, but you can do this.
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
Join us in celebrating Dr. Arun Karlamangla’s appointment as chief of the UCLA Division of Geriatrics! Watch the recap of the special welcome reception filled with reflections on the division’s past and excitement for its future: vimeo.com/1062981221/e...
Dr. Arun Karlamangla, Chief of UCLA Division of Geriatrics – Welcome Reception
This is "Dr. Arun Karlamangla, Chief of UCLA Division of Geriatrics – Welcome Reception" by UCLA DOM on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and…
vimeo.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Join us in celebrating Dr. Arun Karlamangla’s appointment as chief of the UCLA Division of Geriatrics! Watch the recap of the special welcome reception filled with reflections on the division’s past and excitement for its future: vimeo.com/1062981221/e...
Cuts to the VA research have been hard. I've lost colleagues, including one studying Veteran homelessness. But losing VA research hurts us all.
1/6
(I'm expressing my own views and not necessarily those of the VA or the US government.)
1/6
(I'm expressing my own views and not necessarily those of the VA or the US government.)
NIH cuts are getting the press, but VA research is getting slashed too. What do we lose when VA research goes away? Here's some greatest hits: The nicotine patch, invention of the cardiac pacemaker, first successful liver transplant, development of the CAT/CT scan
prospect.org/health/2025-...
prospect.org/health/2025-...
VA Research Funding Slashed
Though not as prominent as the NIH, VA researchers play a major role in advancing basic health science. Hundreds of projects have been cut.
prospect.org
February 26, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Cuts to the VA research have been hard. I've lost colleagues, including one studying Veteran homelessness. But losing VA research hurts us all.
1/6
(I'm expressing my own views and not necessarily those of the VA or the US government.)
1/6
(I'm expressing my own views and not necessarily those of the VA or the US government.)
I'm a geriatrician. My patients have mobility limitations, cognitive difficulties, and depend on caregivers. #Telehealth is a lifeline for them to get care.
February 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
I'm a geriatrician. My patients have mobility limitations, cognitive difficulties, and depend on caregivers. #Telehealth is a lifeline for them to get care.
I've always thought we could improve how we handle overhead on grants, like tying it to making tuition affordable or spending endowment money.
This is just destructive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
This is just destructive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH slashes overhead payments for research, sparking outrage
Move to cut indirect cost rate to 15% could cost universities billions of dollars
www.science.org
February 8, 2025 at 5:56 AM
I've always thought we could improve how we handle overhead on grants, like tying it to making tuition affordable or spending endowment money.
This is just destructive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
This is just destructive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
Hey US Office of Personnel Management--At many VA's care is hampered by nursing shortage-Nurses could get easier higher paying jobs in private sector-but stay because they are committed to Veterans. It seems you want them to quit--Some will, Veteran care will be harmed--and you will be responsible.
February 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Hey US Office of Personnel Management--At many VA's care is hampered by nursing shortage-Nurses could get easier higher paying jobs in private sector-but stay because they are committed to Veterans. It seems you want them to quit--Some will, Veteran care will be harmed--and you will be responsible.
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
We have data from a 2024 systematic review that concludes most published studies show that Veterans getting care from the VA get the same or better clinical quality than Vets getting community care or the general public getting non-VA care.
2/3🧵#medsky
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
2/3🧵#medsky
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 31, 2025 at 8:57 PM
We have data from a 2024 systematic review that concludes most published studies show that Veterans getting care from the VA get the same or better clinical quality than Vets getting community care or the general public getting non-VA care.
2/3🧵#medsky
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
2/3🧵#medsky
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
cdc.gov/mmwr might be my favorite medical journal and is a key source for health data and medical practice Thanks to Trump blocking it, we're not going to hear more about everything from bird flu (the reason your eggs are pricey) to opioid overdoses for a while.
This is dangerous for all of us.
This is dangerous for all of us.
January 24, 2025 at 5:23 AM
cdc.gov/mmwr might be my favorite medical journal and is a key source for health data and medical practice Thanks to Trump blocking it, we're not going to hear more about everything from bird flu (the reason your eggs are pricey) to opioid overdoses for a while.
This is dangerous for all of us.
This is dangerous for all of us.
Why is halting #NIH study sections and grantmaking bad? Because our leadership in research is mostly in biomedicine. We're ceding our main technological strength if this continues.
January 23, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Why is halting #NIH study sections and grantmaking bad? Because our leadership in research is mostly in biomedicine. We're ceding our main technological strength if this continues.
Reposted by Benjamin Seligman
"When conspiracy theories and nonsense cures are widely accepted, the evidence-based concepts of guilt and criminality vanish quickly too."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
The New Rasputins
Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.
www.theatlantic.com
January 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
"When conspiracy theories and nonsense cures are widely accepted, the evidence-based concepts of guilt and criminality vanish quickly too."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...