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karagavin.bsky.social
Kara Gavin
@karagavin.bsky.social
2.4K followers 2.2K following 1K posts
Science/medical writer & media relations for University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine/Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation) focusing on #primarycare, #mentalhealth, aging & #healthpolicy Mom, wife, baker, French horn player, AAAS Fellow, J! bronze
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karagavin.bsky.social
Kara Gavin @karagavin.bsky.social · Jan 8
It’s great to see a growing community of #medsky folks from the Univ. of Michigan on this platform! Here’s a starter pack I’ve begun to compile - please share and ask to be added if you’re in any role at the Med School or the clinical world! go.bsky.app/NKhdFPM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
nbcnews.com
The world’s oldest known example of cave art, dating back at least 67,800 years, has been discovered by researchers studying handprints in Indonesia.
Hand stencil made almost 68,000 years ago is the oldest cave art ever found
“It really just shows how long people have been making rock art in that part of the world,” Adam Brumm, a professor of archaeology, said of the find in Indonesia. “It’s a very long time.”
nbcnews.to
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
boghuma.bsky.social
🧵 Why even suggesting that polio vaccination should be optional is dangerous.
www.contagionlive.com/view/acip-ch...
ACIP Chair Says Polio Vaccine Should be Optional | Contagion Live
Kirk Milhoan, MD, PhD, said vaccine choice is the most important element to the public even with the possibility of people contracting this disease or others when given the right to opt out of vaccina...
www.contagionlive.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
mcbridetd.bsky.social
Behavioral Health Parity Takes Step Backward Under Trump
| Commonwealth Fund
www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/be...
Behavioral Health Parity Takes Step Backward Under Trump
Lack of enforcement by the Trump administration of a rule that strengthens the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act has put the updated rule in limbo.
www.commonwealthfund.org
January 24, 2026 at 7:36 AM
karagavin.bsky.social
This Sunday, an orchestra of doctors, scientists, nurses, dentists, engineers, pharmacists, and people training to be all of the above will play an amazing concert - come hear it live or watch online! events.umich.edu/event/143129
(I'll be playing the role of stage manager.)
University of Michigan Life Sciences orchestra photo of the LSO on stage and information about the Jan 25 4 pm concert at Hill Auditorium
January 23, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
drew-journalist93.bsky.social
The Washtenaw County Commission passed a resolution banning #ICE from using county property. My latest from Current:

www.ecurrent.com/feature/wash...

Washtenaw County Building. Image credit Ann Arbor District Library creative commons

#washtenawcounty #a2 #annarbor #michigan #immigration #politics
Washtenaw County Commission Passes Resolution Banning ICE From Using County Property - Current Magazine
Immigration and how immigration laws are enforced in this country has defined much of the last decade of America’s political and cultural life. The latest chapter in it in the context of Washtenaw Cou...
www.ecurrent.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
caveatfrogs.bsky.social
80% of Success is Showing Up
An illustration of a frog wearing a fedora in a modern jazz dancing pose 80% OF SUCCESS IS SHOWING UP* * and being lucky, intelligent, friendly, articulate, and having excellent decision making and time management skills, plus the other 20% Jaunty Art 26
January 23, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
cpsc.gov
Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now. Prepare now.
nws.noaa.gov National Weather Service @nws.noaa.gov · 2d
⚠️~132 million: Number of people under alerts for snow, sleet, & freezing rain.

A large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, & freezing rain from the Southern Rockies & Plains beginning Friday (Jan. 23), spreading eastward toward New England this weekend.
🧵
Map of the U.S. showing the watches, warnings, and advisories in effect across over 20 states.
January 22, 2026 at 6:28 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
So if kids flush ice cubes down the toilet and put white crayons on the windowsill to try to get a snow day, what are they supposed to do in order to get a cold day?
January 22, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
cdelawalla.bsky.social
Here’s the deal with the FY26 NIH funding bill:

One line in the 1000+ pg bill = significantly less science.

The increase to ~40% of grants moving to MYF is estimated to result in a 35% decrease in the NUMBER of NIH grants funded annually—moving the paylines from 10% to around 4%.

THIS IS BAD.
January 21, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
michelleameade.bsky.social
Please join us at U-M CDHW on 1/22/26 as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and co-create solutions for how his message of social justice can inform healthcare for people with #disabilities.
WHEN: Thurs, Jan 22, 2026, from 12 to 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Online on Zoom, register here: michmed.org/3Gz82
MICHIGAN MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Center for Disability Health and Wellness "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Social Justice Through a Disability Health Lens This impactful event will include the premiere of a brief documentary series featuring personal interviews of African Americans living with disabilities and discussing their experiences in the healthcare system. Their narratives highlight the need to enhance accessibility and quality through individual and systemic change. Moderators and panelists will lead a discussion to address barriers, recognize the valuable contributions of both providers and patients, and collaboratively identify strategies to improve healthcare quality for people with disabilities. OBJECTIVES: Facilitate Reflection and Meaningful Dialogue: Thoughtfully examine the healthcare experiences of African Americans with disabilities. Foster an open, engaging discussion that inspires curiosity, highlights innovative approaches, and nurtures self-awareness of the positive impact providers can have on disability health. Co-Create Strategies for Equitable Care: Collaborate with clinicians and providers to co-create actionable strategies that promote inclusive practices and dismantle systemic barriers. Nurture a spirit of respect and engagement, inspiring shared commitment to implement meaningful changes in clinical care. Together, advance equity, safety, and respect for African Americans with disabilities. We encourage you to contribute to the conversation as we explore new perspectives about disability healthcare. WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET WHERE: Online on Zoom, register here: https://michmed.org/3Gz82 WHO: Healthcare providers, clinicians, and healthcare system staff ASL interpretation and Zoom automated captions will be provided. For questions, contact Andy Brosius at abrosius@med.umich.edu.
January 21, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
josiahbates.bsky.social
An administration that pushes "law and order" has pulled over $1 billion from gun violence prevention, mental health and public safety programs. More details on the numbers from @bychipbrownlee.com
Trump Has Slashed Federal Funding for Gun Violence Prevention. But How Much Exactly?
For a new analysis, The Trace catalogued how many grants were canceled or redirected during Trump’s first year in office.
www.thetrace.org
January 21, 2026 at 5:08 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
Of all the weeks for @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social to ask about these island nations…
Screen shot from the January 21 2026 episode of Jeopardy! Showing Madagascar and the Chagos Archipelago labeled and Mauritius labeled with an arrow
January 22, 2026 at 12:52 AM
karagavin.bsky.social
Today I learned the @nws.noaa.gov now has something called an "extreme cold watch/warning" (i.e. no wind required, just dangerously cold air) and we're now in one in Michigan. (Thanks @mlive.com weather guru!)

Now accepting bets on Fri. school/university closures...
www.mlive.com/weather/2026...
Dangerous wind chills heading toward all of Michigan, Extreme Cold Watch already issued for Upper Peninsula
Here's a look at how cold we will get here in Michigan. There is a new type of winter weather watch, called an Extreme Cold Watch, and one has been issued.
www.mlive.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
conradhackett.bsky.social
Please share - multiple summer 2026 in-person undergrad internship opportunities at @pewresearch.org!
- religion
- digital
- social trends
- data journalism
- global
- news
- internet
- AI
- admin
- race
- science
- methods
- politics

Apply soon!
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
The summer undergraduate internship is a paid opportunity during the summer of 2026. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 30 hours/week and are paid $18.50/hour. This internship is available to undergraduate students with an interest in public opinion, survey research, and data science. Pew Research Center is an office-based workplace, with all staff working in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).  Staff have the flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. A modest relocation stipend is available for candidates who need it. Internship dates: June 1-Aug. 14, 2026 (with alternative dates of June 15-Aug. 28, 2026 also available) Education/Training/Experience College students who are pursuing a bachelor’s or associate degree and have completed a minimum of two years (in other words, rising juniors and seniors).
January 20, 2026 at 7:50 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
It’s 3 degrees with a wind chill of -12 in Ann Arbor right now.

I just saw a guy in shorts and a Carhartt jacket.
#puremichigan @midwestvseverybody.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
Probably won’t get to see the aurora in light-polluted metro Detroit so this will have to do!
awakethestars.bsky.social Awakethestars ⚔️ FUCK ICE @awakethestars.bsky.social · 4d
For any of y'all who are interested, there's an aurora livestream out of Upper Michigan and not only is it stunning on its own, but there are occasional meteors too! 🤩🥰

youtu.be/CvxylXsyPVs
Lake Superior Aurora web cam -Marquette, MI - 01.19.2026
YouTube video by LakeSuperiorPhoto - Gallery /Studio
youtu.be
January 20, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Kara Gavin
natashaloder.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: A quiet revolution happened at Great Ormond Street Hospital last week. A girl with a rare fatal condition received a custom drug under a new MHRA protcol that is 1st step towards process approval, a shift that could one day save millions of lives. www.economist.com/science-and-...
Treatment of a teenager with an ultra-rare condition is a medical milestone
It will change regulators’ rule books
www.economist.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:42 AM
karagavin.bsky.social
Kudos to the journalists covering the mistaken arrest & release of the Hmong-American _citizen_ in Minneapolis.

But please note:
A) 57 is not “elderly”
B) “elderly” is not a preferred term even for someone much older than 57
C) no person should be dragged from their home unclothed in freezing temps
January 20, 2026 at 1:53 AM
karagavin.bsky.social
Seeing RFK in the funeral crowd for #MLK and thinking many thoughts… #TCMParty
January 20, 2026 at 12:32 AM
karagavin.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 11:41 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
The choir was just a warmup - the NAACP president and MLK's godchild are issuing strong challenges to U-M and academia as a whole in their remarks. Please watch later if you can't watch live. #MLKDay
karagavin.bsky.social Kara Gavin @karagavin.bsky.social · 5d
The Detroit Youth Choir is giving an absolutely amazing performance as part of the @umich.edu #MLKDay Symposium right now: oami.umich.edu/mlk-symposium/

Keep on keeping on.
MLK Symposium - OAMI
oami.umich.edu
January 19, 2026 at 4:05 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
The Detroit Youth Choir is giving an absolutely amazing performance as part of the @umich.edu #MLKDay Symposium right now: oami.umich.edu/mlk-symposium/

Keep on keeping on.
MLK Symposium - OAMI
oami.umich.edu
January 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
Hey everyone interested in #healthpolicy and improving #healthcare through data-driven research and implementation science, follow this account! It used to be branded as the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, but it's now in the IHPI director's name and voice, with help from staff.
ihpidirector.bsky.social John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP @ihpidirector.bsky.social · 11d
As of January 16, 2026, this account will continue to post updates & news from IHPI, highlighting the work of our members & initiatives.

But it will now do so on behalf of IHPI director John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP, with help from staff.

See our Starter Pack of IHPI members: go.bsky.app/NFo2BNF 🩺📊 🛟
January 19, 2026 at 2:08 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
@statnews.com Your STAT Madness submission form is not working and I have some great @umich.edu research to submit before the deadline! Have tried two browsers, deleting cookies, etc. Please advise!
a picture of a ghost with the words help me obi wine kenobi , you 're my only hope
Alt: Princess Leia sends a message via hologram to try to get help
media.tenor.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
karagavin.bsky.social
Some important context for the new federal dietary guidelines…
@standupforscience.bsky.social
medpagetoday.com MedPage Today @medpagetoday.com · 6d
Some of the experts who advised on the development of the most recent national dietary guidelines told MedPage Today that their work wasn't considered, and that the final guidance is riddled with errors.

Read more at: https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/dietnutrition/119457?trw=no
Experts Who Advised on Diet Guidelines Say RFK Jr.'s Version Is Full of Errors
New dietary guidelines riddled with mistakes, sloppy language, and cherry-picked evidence
www.medpagetoday.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:54 AM