Author Archives

Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP, is an experienced physician, scientific researcher, and administrator. She has provided program leadership for national and international academic medical centers and biomedical research institutions. During her tenure as a Department of Health and Human Services Brookings Institution Legislative Fellow in the Senate and the House of Representatives, she advised congressional staff and managed legislative issues in health care and biomedical research.

Dr. Myrick received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Brown University School of Medicine.

Views expressed on this blog are those of the author and those of commenters who respond to articles posted on the blog. The blog does not represent views of any government agency or legislative body. Articles posted on this blog are for leisurely and informational purposes, only.

• Physician, Scientist, Social Reformer, Trailblazer, Black Man: Dr. James McCune Smith

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 28, 2013 • ( 2 )

  

  Last month, I wrote an article about triskaidekaphobia, a syndrome suffered  by individuals who have a fear of the number 13.  The article discussed all sorts of superstitions and unfortunate occurrences  associated with the number 13, specifically because the year 2013 is… Read More ›

• The Buck Stops Here: Fighting Medicare/Medicaid Fraud and Abuse

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 23, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  $4.2 Billion in Fraudulent Activities in 2012 According to a recent joint press statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), $4.2 billion was recovered from fraudulent health care activities in FY2012. (1)… Read More ›

• …And They Said 67 Could Be the New 65 – “Not So,” Says the White House

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 23, 2013 • ( 0 )

  A recent article in The Hill HealthWatch Blog discusses the Obama administration’s refusal to support raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67. Well, this is a relief, but I mean really, what are the expectations here? What is the end… Read More ›

• Medication Errors Often Go Unnoticed

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 20, 2013 • ( 2 )

  

  According to a recent Reuters report, “Patients Rarely Told About Medication Errors: Study,” frequent medication errors occur in hospital settings, and patients are often unaware of these errors. Image Credit: Olivier Le Queinec via Dreamstime Key points from the article: Medication errors… Read More ›

• Spotlight on Brain and Mental Health: T.B.I. and PTSD

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 17, 2013 • ( 6 )

  

  The Problem: Traumatic Brain Injury (T.B.I.) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) pose significant annual health risks in the United States and have become increasingly high-profile in recent years.(1, 2) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.7… Read More ›

• 14 Valentine’s Day Health Hazards (…And How to Avoid Them)

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 14, 2013 • ( 5 )

  

  Image Credit:  Dorkina Myrick, M.D., Ph.D. So, the single ladies are sad that no one has offered to “put a ring on it.” Even worse, there are no viable prospects in sight. The guys (and girls) are “searching for love… Read More ›

• Dirty Hospital Rooms

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 8, 2013 • ( 2 )

  

  Image: (No, they’re not grapes.) Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria – Vancomycin (Antibiotic) Resistant Strain Found in Many Hospitals.   (Image Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Matthew Arduino) I encountered this story by Beth Swarecki late one evening: “………Some very scary microbes live in… Read More ›

• By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 8, 2013 • ( 1 )

  This short piece on Affordable Care Act Implementation was recently posted on PolicyKina.

• ……..As American Heart Month Begins

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 1, 2013 • ( 3 )

  

  Today is National Wear Red Day®. The National Wear Red Day® campaign raises awareness of heart disease – the #1 killer of women. Understand Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease The American Heart Association® posted an interactive exercise on their… Read More ›

• Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Ends……..

  By Dorkina Myrick, MD, PhD, MPP on February 1, 2013 • ( 7 )

  

  What do Eva Peron, Henrietta Lacks, Colleen Dewhurst, and Yvette Wilson have in common? They ALL died from cervical cancer.  Could these deaths have been prevented today?  It is quite likely so. As January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month ends, I… Read More ›