Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH

@helenburstinmd.medsky.social

4.4K followers 380 following 220 posts

Doc, mom, policy wonk. Committed to working across medicine to improve care for all. CEO, Council of Medical Specialty Societies (www.cmss.org) and GW Clinical Professor of Medicine. Views are my own #MedSky

Videos

Public Health 42%

Medicine 29%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Sep 3

Excited to share that our book “Quality Measurement in Healthcare” will be released next month!

Thank you to my co-editors Jesse Pines and JaneThorpe at GW Public Health and to friends and colleagues who contributed chapters 📚

To pre-order: a.co/d/hq8JbzF

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Aug 22

Tragic turn of events ❤️‍🩹

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Aug 19

And they held their ground and said no! @annalsofim.bsky.social
Thank you!

1 2

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Aug 1

My amazing husband is doing his 15th PMC this weekend in honor of my father, Frank Burstin. With draconian cuts in fed research, your support is more important than ever #PMC2025

Mark Blumenthal @mysterypollster.bsky.social · Aug 1

You can donate to support my #PMC2025 ride here: pmc.org/MB0437 The PMC gives 100% of your donations to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Why I Ride ...

This will be my 15th year riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC)! This year's ride will cover the usual 188 miles across Massachusetts on August 2-3, with as always, 100% of the funds we raise sup...

pmc.org

1 2 4

Reposted by Helen Burstin

Mark Blumenthal @mysterypollster.bsky.social · Aug 1

You can donate to support my #PMC2025 ride here: pmc.org/MB0437 The PMC gives 100% of your donations to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Why I Ride ...

This will be my 15th year riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC)! This year's ride will cover the usual 188 miles across Massachusetts on August 2-3, with as always, 100% of the funds we raise sup...

pmc.org

Reposted by Helen Burstin

MedPage Today @medpagetoday.com · Jul 25

EXCLUSIVE: According to a MedPage Today analysis, the CDC's MMWR published fewer articles in the past 3 months than it did during the same time period for several years prior.
@srasmussen7690.bsky.social @kristinafiore.bsky.social
www.medpagetoday.com/special-repo...

There's a Major Publishing Slowdown at CDC's Flagship Journal

Each MMWR article now requires clearance by the HHS secretary, sources said

www.medpagetoday.com

1 5 4

Reposted by Helen Burstin

ACOG @acog.org · Jul 15

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would end out-of-pocket costs for prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care—meaning no copays, deductibles, or cost barriers to essential maternal care. Families shouldn’t have to suffer financially to grow. Ask Congress to support families: bit.ly/4nQOzcW

6 12

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jul 8

Very proud of our specialty societies for suing RFK Jr. over changes to COVID vaccine policy.

Go AAP, ACP, IDSA, and SMFM!

And thanks again to Dr. Georges Benjamin @apha.org who is always on the right side of justice!
#MedSky

Doctors’ groups sue Kennedy over Covid shot changes for kids, pregnant people

They say the decision “erodes trust” by pitting providers against federal recommendations that aren’t grounded in evidence.

www.politico.com

6 30

Reposted by Helen Burstin

Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · Jul 7

So thankful for @melindagates.bsky.social and others who are stepping up where our country is failing.

Announcement that people are coming together to fund Gavi the vaccine alliance

5 77 320

Reposted by Helen Burstin

IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · Jul 7

🚨BREAKING: IDSA, along with AAP, APHA, ACP and others, has filed a lawsuit against HHS/Secretary Kennedy to stop unlawful changes to vaccine policy and defend public health.

We refuse to stand by while America’s public health safeguards are torn apart. bit.ly/4lm7UkW

7 100 180

Reposted by Helen Burstin, David J. Hodgson, Simon Chapman , and 1 more Helen Burstin, David J. Hodgson, Simon Chapman, Rosanna E. Guadagno

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Jul 7

BREAKING: Six leading medical organizations filed a lawsuit on Monday against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, and the health dept, charging that recent decisions limiting access to vaccines were unscientific and harmful to the public.
(Gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/h...

Medical Societies Sue Kennedy and H.H.S. Over Vaccine Advice

www.nytimes.com

230 3.4K 11K

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jul 5

My mom worked in public school cafeteria and brought it home for us too. Definitely helped during Carter era recession.

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jul 4

Dark times for healthcare. Our patients deserve better

TY @sanders.senate.gov for posting

1 5

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jul 3

Proud to have @cmssmed.bsky.social specialty societies jointly advocate with the National Health Council’s patient organizations in support of FY26 funding for medical research to support care that is science-based, patient-centered, and accessible to all #StrongerTogether

NHC and CMSS Submits Comments on Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Cuts - National Health Council

NHC and CMSS Comments on Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Cuts (PDF) July 1, 2025 The Honorable Mike Johnson […]

bit.ly

Reposted by Helen Burstin

Alice T. Chen, MD @dralicechen.bsky.social · Jun 30

I'm a primary care doctor and a mom. I can think of few things that are as important to our lives as our health.

Call Congress and tell them: Their budget bill is bad for our health. Call them every day that health matters.

#MedSky #MOMSky

Doctors and Nurses: That is One Big Unhealthy Bill! Takes away health coverage from almost 12 million people. Takes food away from children, seniors, veterans, and disabled people. Replaces a clean energy revolution with air pollution and dangerous weather. Stops medical research projects on cancer, dementia, and diabetes. Call Congress and tell them to vote NO!

19 30

Reposted by Helen Burstin

IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · Jun 27

This week’s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, was politicized, chaotic and not transparent.

Our statement: bit.ly/3ZPB0jO

2 26 53

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 26

So proud of ACP, AAP, AAFP, IDSA, ACOG and other societies for speaking up. ACIP in no longer an evidence-based body.

www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/v...

We will not stay silent on vaccines, say leaders of five major U.S. medical associations

“We cannot and will not gamble with our patients’ health or the health of our communities,” write the presidents of the AAFP, AAP, ACP, ACOG, and IDSA.

www.statnews.com

2 5

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 26

Thank you to our specialty societies for speaking up about the current non-evidence-based state of the ACIP
#MedSky

www.acponline.org/acp-newsroom/american-college-of-physicians-alarmed-by-acip-committee-meeting-a-dangerous-path

1 2 9

Reposted by Helen Burstin

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 26

“The pursuit of health equity is a long game, as we all know, with many twists and turns, like the ones that we’re experiencing right now,” said Cooper. “But the longer we play, the bigger the reward will be.”

From @STATnews.com on our new health equity awards

Thank you @dorisdukefdn.bsky.social

To tackle race in clinical guidelines, researchers seek alternatives to federal dollars

As federal grants to study the use of race in clinical algorithms dry up researchers are looking for other funding sources.

www.statnews.com

1 2

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 25

Good news....for a nice change of pace.
#MedSky

NIH halts grant terminations ‘effective immediately,’ email says

The National Institutes of Health is halting further terminations of research grants, an internal email shows

www.statnews.com

1 2

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 25

@newyorker.com
#MedSky

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 25

An inspiring Encoding Health Equity Summit today. With DDF support, we awarded $1M in grants to 8 specialty societies: encodingequity.org/event/specia...

Special thanks to keynote Dr. Lisa Cooper and our advisory committee co-chair Dr. Joseph Wright AAP for their vision and guidance.

Reposted by Helen Burstin

Reposted by Helen Burstin, Roger Scott

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · Jun 24

Ruiz: Why did the report include citations that don’t exist?

RFK JR: All of the foundational assertions in that report are accurate

Ruiz: How can they be accurate if they did not exist?

790 6.6K 23K

Reposted by Stanton A. Glantz, Helen Burstin, John De Vos

Bluesky Safety @safety.bsky.app · May 22

We're excited that verification badges have made it easier to quickly recognize authentic accounts, especially in moments of breaking news.

Now, we're expanding our roll-out. Notable and authentic accounts can apply for verification or to become a Trusted Verifier via the form linked in our blog.

290 830 5.2K

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH @helenburstinmd.medsky.social · Jun 18

We loved having you back with our #DxEx scholars, Lekshmi!
You are an incredible mentor in your own right!!!

1 1

Reposted by Helen Burstin

snigdhajain.bsky.social @snigdhajain.bsky.social · Jun 17

Wrapping up 2 amazing days at the National Academy of Medicine #DiagnosticExcellence

Energized to learn from so many brilliant people working to improve diagnosis! @helenburstinmd.medsky.social @lekshmimd.bsky.social @mgraber1.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social @yalepccsm.bsky.social

1 10