banner
LightNews
joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz
@joannespetz.bsky.social
2K followers 1.1K following 230 posts

Health economist focusing on the healthcare workforce, institute director, live music fan, mother, cat lover, knitter, hiker, skier. All opinions and snark my own.

Videos
Public Health 50%
Medicine 30%
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 19h
ICYMI - San Francisco's most common job is also the lowest paid - home/personal care aides. This is true for much of the country. Policies are desperately needed to improve pay for these jobs while supporting the growing population that needs their help.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
The most common job in S.F. is also the worst paid
New data shows the highest and lowest income jobs in the San Francisco metro area. The most common job is the worst paid.
www.sfchronicle.com
1

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 19h
Glad to see my alma mater issuing a clear statement about the Trump administration's attempt to control universities. (My current employer wasn't asked, but we know what they would say - a firm no!)
chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 20h
MIT President Sally Kornbluth just issued a statement to the campus community saying NO to Trump’s authoritarian compact

“And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”
Dear Madam Secretary, I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters. I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education. As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples: • MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions. • MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%. • We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree. These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law. The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone. In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that tree marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education. As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation. Sincerely, Sally Kornbluth CC Ms. May Mailman Mr. Vincent Haley

Reposted by Joanne Spetz, Erol Akçay, Manisha Sinha

chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 20h
MIT President Sally Kornbluth just issued a statement to the campus community saying NO to Trump’s authoritarian compact

“And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”
Dear Madam Secretary, I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters. I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education. As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples: • MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions. • MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%. • We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree. These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law. The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone. In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that tree marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education. As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation. Sincerely, Sally Kornbluth CC Ms. May Mailman Mr. Vincent Haley
4 130 430

Reposted by Aaron Sojourner

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 3d
Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools the federal government just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freedom across America. alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org/petitions/tr...
STAND WITH YOUR SCHOOL: Trump attacks 9 universities. Sign the alumni petition now.
Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools the federal government just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freed...
alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org
8 7

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 4d
One of my kids is quite fearful for the big insurance premium increase they'll have to absorb - they work for a small nonprofit and health insurance costs have been a killer as it is.
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · 4d
⚡ A new analysis by KFF’s Jared Ortaliza finds that more than half of ACA Marketplace enrollees live in Republican congressional districts, concentrated in the South. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/48bH774
KFF map titled “At Least 10% of the Population in All Congressional Districts in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina Are Enrolled in the ACA Marketplaces.” The map shows the share of population that is enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces in 2025 by congressional district, 119th Congress.
3 9

Reposted by Daniel W. Drezner

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 4d
This reads exactly as my grad school study-buddy @dandrezner.bsky.social always spoke! Thanks for calling it like your well-informed self sees it.
fletcherschool.bsky.social
The Fletcher School @fletcherschool.bsky.social · 4d
Academic Dean @dandrezner.bsky.social quoted in a piece on how Marco Rubio went from Trump's opponent to a trusted advisor. @miamiherald.com

www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
How Rubio went from Trump’s political opponent to the White House inner circle
A Tufts University political science professor who has studied Rubio’s career describes the secretary as “ideologically flexible.”
www.miamiherald.com
1 1 10

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 4d
Another week, the GOP's shutdown continues. No surrender. Stand firm on protecting public health, healthcare and research. Write to your Senators now. actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Democrats to Stand Up for Public Health in the Budget
With negotiations on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open past September 30th at a standstill, Defend Public Health believes that House and Senate Democrats MUST play ha...
actionnetwork.org
2 24 82

Reposted by Joanne Spetz, Daniel W. Drezner

fletcherschool.bsky.social
The Fletcher School @fletcherschool.bsky.social · 4d
Academic Dean @dandrezner.bsky.social quoted in a piece on how Marco Rubio went from Trump's opponent to a trusted advisor. @miamiherald.com

www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
How Rubio went from Trump’s political opponent to the White House inner circle
A Tufts University political science professor who has studied Rubio’s career describes the secretary as “ideologically flexible.”
www.miamiherald.com
3 3 9

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

kff.org
KFF @kff.org · 4d
⚡ A new analysis by KFF’s Jared Ortaliza finds that more than half of ACA Marketplace enrollees live in Republican congressional districts, concentrated in the South. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/48bH774
KFF map titled “At Least 10% of the Population in All Congressional Districts in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina Are Enrolled in the ACA Marketplaces.” The map shows the share of population that is enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces in 2025 by congressional district, 119th Congress.
2 21 39

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 6d
Caturday hanging out while I bake.
5

Reposted by Joanne Spetz, David L. Anderson

alison-galbraith.bsky.social
Alison Galbraith, MD, MPH @alison-galbraith.bsky.social · 6d
We studied Marketplace enrollees before the enhanced tax credits were in place and around a third a people with incomes >400%FPL had financial burden and forgone care and more than 10% spent more than 20% of income on OOP cost and premiums

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Affordability and Access Challenges Among US Subscribers to Nongroup Insurance Plans
This cohort study assesses cost-related experiences in non-group plans purchased on or off Marketplace and variation by Marketplace enrollment, decision support use, and other characteristics.
jamanetwork.com
2 1

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 12d
Finalizing my materials for my first lecture of the fall quarter - Snoop Dogg's advice is in the powerpoint!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOIv...
Snoop Dogg says read the syllabus!
YouTube video by kansaspolitics
www.youtube.com
4

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

uclawsf.bsky.social
UC Law San Francisco @uclawsf.bsky.social · 13d
The quality of the faculty has long been a distinction for UC Law San Francisco. Thanks to the excellence of current faculty, the College is able to offer courses and experiences in emerging areas of law, while continuing to be the No. 1 school for producing lawyers admitted to the California bar.
2 1 1

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 14d
Got my COVID-19 booster at 4pm yesterday.

Me at 6am: Wow, I don't feel too badly after this booster. Yay!

Me at 12pm: Can I cancel all my meetings for the rest of the day? I have all-over body aches.

Also me: This is way better than my last case of COVID and way way better than the shingles shot!
5 5 78

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

caltrain.com
Caltrain @caltrain.com · 14d
"This is a great milestone for a green future."

Thank you Supervisor Engardio (@joelengardio.bsky.social) for your support and celebrating one year of electric Caltrain!
3 8

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

lynnemargalit.bsky.social
Lynne Cotter @lynnemargalit.bsky.social · 14d
Wondering what the ACA expiring premium tax credits mean for household budgets? Drew lays it out: www.kff.org/from-drew-al...
2 2

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

bensilverstein.bsky.social
Ben Silverstein ❌👑 @bensilverstein.bsky.social · 14d
┏┓
┃┃╱╲ in
┃╱╱╲╲ this
╱╱╭╮╲╲house
▔▏┗┛▕▔ we
╱▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔╲
call fascists fascist even
(especially) when they
threaten to behave
fascistically against people who
call them fascists.
╱╱┏┳┓╭╮┏┳┓ ╲╲
▔▏┗┻┛┃┃┗┻┛▕▔
3 84 360

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

ucsf-ihps.bsky.social
ucsf-ihps.bsky.social @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social · 17d
UCSF IHPS Director @joannespetz.bsky.social speaks to @newsweek.com about rising financial pressure on health care employers.

America’s Health Care Time Bomb

www.newsweek.com/america-heal...
America's health care time bomb
Staffing shortages in the health care sector are increasing in the U.S., and experts have warned of the impact this will have on patients.
www.newsweek.com
1 1

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 18d
I adore Caltrain. It makes commuting into SF so much easier!! Thank you @caltrain.com !!
caltrain.com
Caltrain @caltrain.com · 18d
Caltrain is celebrating the first anniversary of its fully electrified service! This past year has brought record ridership, cleaner air for our communities, and faster, more frequent service for riders throughout the Peninsula. ✨🚆

Read more about the year: www.caltrain.com/news/caltrai...
Caltrain Celebrates First Anniversary of Electrified Service with Record Ridership, Cleaner Air and Faster Trains | Caltrain
Caltrain marked the first anniversary of its fully electrified service today, celebrating a transformative year that has delivered record ridership growth, cleaner air for communities, and faster, mor...
www.caltrain.com
1

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

doritreiss.bsky.social
Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 18d
Reminder: personally attacking a journalist for criticizing the government is not normal agency conduct.

It's a pretty clear attempt to intimidate the journalist, and from those that complained about government censorship, like
Secretary Kennedy did, the hypocrisy is jarring.
HOW TO PEDDLE DISINFORMATION 1. Start with ad hominem attacks on the CDC committee working to restore public trust in vaccines. 2. Ignore the 14 hours of public deliberation where members explained their reasoning and scientific justification. 3. Then stack the deck—quote more than 20 professional critics and just four of the 12 committee members, as if balance and accuracy don’t matter. That’s not reporting. That’s disinformation. Not the first time either.
4 70 180

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

ylepidemiologist.bsky.social
Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 18d
1/ RFK Jr. promised to “find the cause of autism” by September. Well, it’s September—and as many of you may have heard, word is his report drops today (or this week). It's rumored he will announce that #Tylenol "causes" autism along with a few other possibilities, so let's see what the studies say👇
6 35 100

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

caltrain.com
Caltrain @caltrain.com · 18d
Caltrain is celebrating the first anniversary of its fully electrified service! This past year has brought record ridership, cleaner air for our communities, and faster, more frequent service for riders throughout the Peninsula. ✨🚆

Read more about the year: www.caltrain.com/news/caltrai...
Caltrain Celebrates First Anniversary of Electrified Service with Record Ridership, Cleaner Air and Faster Trains | Caltrain
Caltrain marked the first anniversary of its fully electrified service today, celebrating a transformative year that has delivered record ridership growth, cleaner air for communities, and faster, mor...
www.caltrain.com
2 14 81

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

zoonotic1.bsky.social
Steve Valeika @zoonotic1.bsky.social · 21d
This is the response when I tried to fill Boocat in on the clusterfuckery taking place at the ACIP meeting today. She ain’t having it.
White cat stretched across a chair with her back legs and head smooshed into the arms, completely oblivious to the world.
1 1 23

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

uclawsf.bsky.social
UC Law San Francisco @uclawsf.bsky.social · 23d
#UCLawSF has named @nicoleozer.bsky.social, a national leader in constitutional rights and technology law, as the founding executive director of its new Center for Constitutional Democracy.
National Leader in Constitutional Rights and Technology Nicole Ozer Directs UC Law SF’s New Center for Constitutional Democracy - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
www.uclawsf.edu
1 1 1

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

caltrain.com
Caltrain @caltrain.com · 24d
A train can’t swerve. A train can’t stop quickly. But you can make safe choices. 🚆 #RailSafetyMonth #SeeTracksThinkTrain
1 1 9

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 27d
One of the great educators, scholars, and mentors of my field has left us. I was fortunate to know him and learn from him. Our world was a better place and I will miss him very much.
shooshan.bsky.social
Shooshan Danagoulian @shooshan.bsky.social · 27d
It is with great sadness that I learned today of the passing of my friend, mentor, and co-author Dr. Allen Goodman. Allen was an exceptional mentor and was kind, thoughtful, and supportive. I am passing his legacy on, teach the next generation of health economists.
2 3 9

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · 27d
Oh dear, I had not known that he passed. I greatly enjoyed my relationship with him and getting to know his wife. The world is a better place for what he gave to us.
1 1

Reposted by Edward C. Norton, Joanne Spetz, Joshua Goodman

shooshan.bsky.social
Shooshan Danagoulian @shooshan.bsky.social · 27d
It is with great sadness that I learned today of the passing of my friend, mentor, and co-author Dr. Allen Goodman. Allen was an exceptional mentor and was kind, thoughtful, and supportive. I am passing his legacy on, teach the next generation of health economists.
10 3 44

Reposted by Joanne Spetz

dtmaust.bsky.social
Donovan Maust @dtmaust.bsky.social · Sep 10
This is one article from Special Collection on the NIA-funded National Dementia Workforce Study (@ndws.bsky.social) just published (open access!) in @agsjournal.bsky.social

agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1...

cc @joannespetz.bsky.social @um-ihpi.bsky.social @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social
1 5 6

joannespetz.bsky.social
Joanne Spetz @joannespetz.bsky.social · Sep 2
Questionnaire development is here:
agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

and here:
agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The National Dementia Workforce Study: Methods for Surveying Community Clinicians Who Provide Care to People With Dementia
People with dementia have complex medical, functional, and social needs and experience highly variable care quality and outcomes across the U.S. health care system. Community-based physicians, nurse ...
agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com