Robert Califf

We need to make this work for primary care as a key national priority-I'm glad radiology is still attractive, but all that complexity is magnified when decisions need to be made about how to proceed.

“Why Do You Still Have a Job?” The Surprising Complexity of Replacing Physicians With AI

A good one. I think the point about AI bringing up a multitude of potential issues is really important.

open.substack.com/pub/robertwa...

The “V” Word In early 2025, a child died from measles—the first measles death in more than 20 years. Thirteen months later, a public health official finally said the “V” word?

Good article by @pauloffit.bsky.social on how low our expectations have become for people like Podcast Jay and other MAHA doctors.

The red-green-yellow designation is more complicated than I would have thought--but that's why we need empirical research.

Front of Pack Nutrition Labeling at the FDA under Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary - A commitment to action or to delay and inaction?

This wil be interesting to follow. I hope they move forward based on the extensive research already done and make other changes based on research that can be done now.

open.substack.com/pub/drsusanm...

A real problem if this analysis is right!

I hope we will find common ground there, but the broader environmental issues will also have to be approached for it to work. This part is really going in the wrong direction--it doesn't help to use slogans when the policies are going the opposite direction.

MAHA Voters Wanted Fewer Toxins — They’re Getting More The contradiction at the heart of the MAHA movement

For those immersed in HHS goings on, this post provides an important perspective. "Fixing" the US food system is a multiyear process because of the huge effect of supply chain incentives and the economy.

open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...?

Congenital Heart Disease and the Learning Health System This is the fourth installment in a series on congenital heart disease (CHD).

Some thoughts on congenital heart disease and the potential for learning health systems.

robcaliff272993.substack.com/p/congenital...

The Wellness Playbook Acemannan is the latest supplement promising to cure cancer. It won’t.

Interesting example of the problem with supplement regulation, unless you believe in "buyer beware" as a regulatory strategy. Particularly concerning knowing how vulnerable cancer patients are.

open.substack.com/pub/theunbia...

The Toilet Seat Challenge Test RFK Jr. snorted cocaine off toilet seats without suffering infections. He’s no longer scared of germs.

Tragic comedy.

open.substack.com/pub/pauloffi...

Addressing Social Needs Saves Money and Improves Health in Medicaid. Now Scale It. New evaluation results from CMMI reinforce findings from North Carolina that screening for and addressing upstream drivers of health reduces costs and improves outcomes — without cutting benefits.

Evidence based policy!

80million.substack.com/p/addressing...

A titan of vaccine development sees his field’s achievements slip away Stanley Plotkin, the 93-year-old "godfather of vaccines," is watching his field’s achievements slip away.

Blunt and important perspective.

www.statnews.com/2026/03/02/s...

I don't think its quite as bad as this & supplements can be beneficial, but there are significant issues with dietary supplement quality and evidence for risks and benefits. I'll be addressing in substack soon (just my opinion, of course!).

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/03/the-...

Some good ideas here.

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/02/http...

RFK Jr. May Eliminate the USPSTF, Original Task Force Members Warn Dismantling the task force would be 'an existential threat to clinical practice,' they said

I hope not!

www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/...

MAHA hypocrisy in action: glyphosate - Food Politics by Marion Nestle Despite RFK Jr's insistence on getting glyphosate sayout of the food supply, President Trump says it is essential to national security.

This is why we have a history of a public, transparent process for these types of trade-off decisions.

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/02/maha...

The Trump Administration Is Ending Aid That It Says Saves Lives The State Department will let lifesaving projects expire because “there is no strong nexus between the humanitarian response and U.S. national interests,” according to an internal email.

Painful to read, but deserves consideration.

www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...

What's happening with prices at the grocery store? - Food Politics by Marion Nestle An analysis from Trace One finds grocery prices to be rising rapidly, up 0.7% in December, the largest one-month increase since October 2022,

A stubborn problem.

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/02/what...

Weaponizing the FDA Against Vaccines By rejecting Moderna’s application for an mRNA influenza vaccine, RFK Jr.’s FDA is advancing his anti-vaccine agenda.

"Adequate and well controlled studies"--different opinions deserve vigorous public discussion and input from experts in the field (a key part of the law).

open.substack.com/pub/pauloffi...

COVID-19 vaccination and short-term mortality risk: a nationwide self-controlled case series study in The Netherlands - European Journal of Epidemiology Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic partly exceeded COVID-19-related deaths, indicating that other causes may have contributed. We conducted a retrospective data-linkage study including all ...

Interesting new analysis of entire population of the Netherlands. Covid infection causes serious rise in death and severe illness. Covid vaccination prevents death and severe illness.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

@steverattner.bsky.social

This article bluntly raises some difficult issues about corporate influence on the new dietary guidelines.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Measles Outbreak Worsens in South Carolina Measles cases in South Carolina reached 920 as of February 6, according to an update from the state’s public health department.

Hope my home state can change course on this--its encroaching into my current home in NC!

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Dr Nestle with some common sense. The concept of ideology is important.

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/02/diet...

Why the FDA Blocked Moderna’s New Flu Shot The head of the agency’s vaccine division, Vinay Prasad, has overruled pushback from career staffers.

Concerning reporting from a reliable reporter.

www.wsj.com/health/healt...

What’s new in the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines and why it matters (or doesn't) Federal nutrition advice has evolved over the years.

Level-headed summary on dietary guidelines.

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

Some good points here.

www.foodpolitics.com/2026/02/fda-...

Opinion | A U.S. Life Expectancy Milestone It hit 79 years in 2024, which is a record and regains pandemic losses.

Great news no life expectancy, but hard to see how having 5 years shorter life expectancy makes our health system better than other high income countries.

www.wsj.com/opinion/u-s-...

Philanthropy and Congenital Heart Disease Time to Act

Some thoughts on congenital heart disease advocacy and philanthropy.

robcaliff272993.substack.com/p/philanthro...

When Misjudging Risk Becomes Its Own Preventable Harm The Cost of Fear of Rare Side Effects Overshadowing Clear Benefits

Vaccines and statins--failure to effectively communicate or counter the misinformation is costing a lot of lives, causing disability and costing a lot of $$.

open.substack.com/pub/barryrda...