Colleen Derkatch
@colleenderkatch.bsky.social
Professor, Toronto Metropolitan U. Rhetoric of health & medicine. Books: Why Wellness Sells (Johns Hopkins); Bounding Biomedicine (Chicago). Co-Editor, Johns Hopkins Health Humanities (book series)
Calgary councillor on backing down from conspiracy thinking about public health: “We have a growing number of people who want very simple answers to very complex problems.”
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Fourteen years ago this councillor helped Calgary get rid of fluoride. Now he and his city think they were wrong
Gian-Carlo Carra’s views have evolved since he was a newbie Calgary city councillor voting to stop putting fluoride into the city’s water supply.
www.thestar.com
June 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Calgary councillor on backing down from conspiracy thinking about public health: “We have a growing number of people who want very simple answers to very complex problems.”
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Putting this on my syllabus
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Putting this on my syllabus
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
That "rhetoric" ≠ bullshit
(and is actually an ancient discipline that studies the production, reception, and circulation of discourse). #teamrhetoric
That "rhetoric" ≠ bullshit
(and is actually an ancient discipline that studies the production, reception, and circulation of discourse). #teamrhetoric
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
In the US, the majority of sovereign authority to regulate for public health rests with states, not the federal government. #PublicHealthLaw #LawSky #AcademicSky #Bioethics
In the US, the majority of sovereign authority to regulate for public health rests with states, not the federal government. #PublicHealthLaw #LawSky #AcademicSky #Bioethics
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
In some states, the right to an appointed attorney, "if you cannot afford" one, made famous by the Miranda warning, is not guaranteed for misdemeanor charges, even when the defendant ends up serving their sentence in prison or jail.
In some states, the right to an appointed attorney, "if you cannot afford" one, made famous by the Miranda warning, is not guaranteed for misdemeanor charges, even when the defendant ends up serving their sentence in prison or jail.
June 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
That "rhetoric" ≠ bullshit
(and is actually an ancient discipline that studies the production, reception, and circulation of discourse). #teamrhetoric
That "rhetoric" ≠ bullshit
(and is actually an ancient discipline that studies the production, reception, and circulation of discourse). #teamrhetoric
The Headspace meditation app now includes an "empathetic AI companion." What could go wrong? Well, for a start, it could break the very mind at the centre of meditation.... ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...
They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.
www.nytimes.com
June 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Headspace meditation app now includes an "empathetic AI companion." What could go wrong? Well, for a start, it could break the very mind at the centre of meditation.... ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...
I will never, ever, ever not be furious that a high ranking research officer at my uni dismissed an important knowledge mobilization project I wanted to propose because “AI could do it.”
We found that AI tools - both general like #ChatGPT and research-specific like #Elicit - lack the reliability, relevancy and accuracy to summarise research for teachers. This is important because we have been sold the idea that AI will make research more accessible.
I am delighted to announce that my new paper with @darrenmacey.bsky.social is now published, entitled 'All sizzle, no steak: AI tools are not able to act as credible knowledge brokers by summarising evidence in mathematics education'
bsrlm.org.uk/wp-content/u...
bsrlm.org.uk/wp-content/u...
June 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I will never, ever, ever not be furious that a high ranking research officer at my uni dismissed an important knowledge mobilization project I wanted to propose because “AI could do it.”
I’ve been thinking about this for days: “Sometimes I’ll take the abstract or the methods section, because they’re using all this big terminology, and ask, ‘Can you simplify this as if you’re explaining it to a middle schooler?’ And it saves me so much time” www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
Some university professors say AI is here to stay, so students should learn how to use it
AI is being embraced in postsecondary schools as a study tool or research assistant
www.theglobeandmail.com
June 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I’ve been thinking about this for days: “Sometimes I’ll take the abstract or the methods section, because they’re using all this big terminology, and ask, ‘Can you simplify this as if you’re explaining it to a middle schooler?’ And it saves me so much time” www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
Just over a year ago, I posted this smug update on the other site. Two days later, I broke my hand dropping into a skatepark bowl, resulting in surgery, a weird PTSD response that put me on medical leave, and months of physical rehab. 100% would do again. Life is for living. Do something fun today.
On the elusive hunt for balance in life, I was pretty psyched to have won both a research award and a skate contest medal this year. More proud of the latter, tbh.
May 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Just over a year ago, I posted this smug update on the other site. Two days later, I broke my hand dropping into a skatepark bowl, resulting in surgery, a weird PTSD response that put me on medical leave, and months of physical rehab. 100% would do again. Life is for living. Do something fun today.
Reposted by Colleen Derkatch
New data finds Americans are more likely to support labor unions over Big Business than at any time in the past 60 years.
We are witnessing a historic rebirth of worker power.
If you want a better life for you and your children, join or support a union.
We are witnessing a historic rebirth of worker power.
If you want a better life for you and your children, join or support a union.
May 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
New data finds Americans are more likely to support labor unions over Big Business than at any time in the past 60 years.
We are witnessing a historic rebirth of worker power.
If you want a better life for you and your children, join or support a union.
We are witnessing a historic rebirth of worker power.
If you want a better life for you and your children, join or support a union.
We visited one of Toronto's virtual emergency rooms last night and it was BRILLIANT. We had a minor issue that required attention but we would have languished in a physical ER for hours. Instead:
-I booked appt at 7:20pm
-we saw a nurse practitioner at 8
-all was resolved by 8:15
This is smart care.
-I booked appt at 7:20pm
-we saw a nurse practitioner at 8
-all was resolved by 8:15
This is smart care.
May 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
We visited one of Toronto's virtual emergency rooms last night and it was BRILLIANT. We had a minor issue that required attention but we would have languished in a physical ER for hours. Instead:
-I booked appt at 7:20pm
-we saw a nurse practitioner at 8
-all was resolved by 8:15
This is smart care.
-I booked appt at 7:20pm
-we saw a nurse practitioner at 8
-all was resolved by 8:15
This is smart care.
Me, on self-care: “There is always a new diet or beauty routine to follow, a new supplement to take, or a new practitioner to see,” she says. “And if we fail to become ‘well’ despite our efforts, we simply need to try harder or try something else.” www.the-independent.com/life-style/h...
I spend £8,000 a year on self-love – have I got it all wrong?
Is booking a facial or a massage really self-love, asks Charlotte Cripps, or a costly activity that keeps us looking outwards, striving for perfection and fueling us to compare and despair?
www.the-independent.com
May 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Me, on self-care: “There is always a new diet or beauty routine to follow, a new supplement to take, or a new practitioner to see,” she says. “And if we fail to become ‘well’ despite our efforts, we simply need to try harder or try something else.” www.the-independent.com/life-style/h...
Very thoughtful discussion of "AI" in education from @emilymbender.bsky.social starting at 11:36. I will now forever refer to tools such as Chat GPT as "synthetic text-extruding machines." www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.
www.cbc.ca
May 15, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Very thoughtful discussion of "AI" in education from @emilymbender.bsky.social starting at 11:36. I will now forever refer to tools such as Chat GPT as "synthetic text-extruding machines." www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Meet my friend Oorbee, aka Aunty Skates. We have little skater mom posse in Toronto. We’ve spent Mother’s Day weekend taking over city skate parks because if you don’t make time for fun, fun won’t make time for you www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...
The life-changing magic of Gen X moms who don’t give a damn
Gen X moms are living it up in middle age, and couldn’t care less about the expectations society has for them
www.theglobeandmail.com
May 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Meet my friend Oorbee, aka Aunty Skates. We have little skater mom posse in Toronto. We’ve spent Mother’s Day weekend taking over city skate parks because if you don’t make time for fun, fun won’t make time for you www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...
Re-upping: What do you think, know, or do about AI in first-year writing courses, #TeamRhetoric and #Writing Studies? Keen on cold takes too.
#TeamRhetoric and #WritingStudies folks, what are your best hot takes about AI and/in required first-year writing courses? Asking as an incoming WPA. #rhetcomp
May 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Re-upping: What do you think, know, or do about AI in first-year writing courses, #TeamRhetoric and #Writing Studies? Keen on cold takes too.
I got shy and deleted my first post about this but it's important: the most unexpected and best benefit of starting skateboarding at 45 is I now spend weekends hanging out in parks across town with other middle aged skateboards. Zuck needs to get out of the house.
The more the people who control the Internet talk, the more I think we should destroy the Internet and all go hang out in curling rinks and bowling allies
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta's chatbots will supplement your real friends: "The average American has fewer than 3 friends ... but has demand for ... 15 friends" (h/t x.com/romanhelmetg...)
May 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I got shy and deleted my first post about this but it's important: the most unexpected and best benefit of starting skateboarding at 45 is I now spend weekends hanging out in parks across town with other middle aged skateboards. Zuck needs to get out of the house.
#TeamRhetoric and #WritingStudies folks, what are your best hot takes about AI and/in required first-year writing courses? Asking as an incoming WPA. #rhetcomp
May 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#TeamRhetoric and #WritingStudies folks, what are your best hot takes about AI and/in required first-year writing courses? Asking as an incoming WPA. #rhetcomp
You know what autism study I want to see? How many women in my mom's generation were given buckets of benzos for "neurosis" but were actually probably just autistic.
April 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM
You know what autism study I want to see? How many women in my mom's generation were given buckets of benzos for "neurosis" but were actually probably just autistic.
Election Day in Canada, part 4: This whole thread. It is perfect.
A lot of Americans don't know this, but the winner of the Canadian election will be required live in a small cottage located in the backyard of the palace where the viceroy to the King of England lives.
The cottage just recently got a new wifi router, which was very exciting for all Canadians.
The cottage just recently got a new wifi router, which was very exciting for all Canadians.
April 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Election Day in Canada, part 4: This whole thread. It is perfect.
Grades are in. Phew.
April 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Grades are in. Phew.
Election Day in Canada, part 3: Our system isn't perfect but I love its reassuring blandness.
Election day in a country that has had a fair and free vote for generations.
Where all the opposition parties are free to take power.
Where virtually everyone will accept the election result.
After my last year, it’s a history and a privilege I’m more grateful for than ever.
Let’s get at it.
Where all the opposition parties are free to take power.
Where virtually everyone will accept the election result.
After my last year, it’s a history and a privilege I’m more grateful for than ever.
Let’s get at it.
April 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Election Day in Canada, part 3: Our system isn't perfect but I love its reassuring blandness.
Election Day in Canada, part 2: those of us who live in the high Arctic or a remote lighthouse get to vote too. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
What voting in Canada’s High Arctic looks like
Several operations organized by Elections Canada to get ballots to those living in remote regions, including lighthouse keepers
www.theglobeandmail.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Election Day in Canada, part 2: those of us who live in the high Arctic or a remote lighthouse get to vote too. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
Election day in Canada, part 1: we vote on paper (most of us). Our votes become tangible—real things we pop into the ballot box ourselves. When my kid cast her first-ever federal ballot, people clapped. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
In praise of a democracy on paper
The use of paper ballots and hand counts for federal elections may be inefficient. But it does display a proper reverence
www.theglobeandmail.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Election day in Canada, part 1: we vote on paper (most of us). Our votes become tangible—real things we pop into the ballot box ourselves. When my kid cast her first-ever federal ballot, people clapped. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2339ca7...
In the rare good-news department, I got an Instagram ad from the Ontario Government late last night promoting measles vaccines. After months of relentless awful news from the US, this official reminder from my own government that vaccines are safe and effective was a balm before sleep.
April 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In the rare good-news department, I got an Instagram ad from the Ontario Government late last night promoting measles vaccines. After months of relentless awful news from the US, this official reminder from my own government that vaccines are safe and effective was a balm before sleep.
I'm all for patient empowerment but maybe it's not ideal to upload pathology reports directly to patient portals without an explanation of what findings mean. Especially not at 6:05pm on a holiday Thursday, right as doctors' offices have closed for 3+ days.
April 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I'm all for patient empowerment but maybe it's not ideal to upload pathology reports directly to patient portals without an explanation of what findings mean. Especially not at 6:05pm on a holiday Thursday, right as doctors' offices have closed for 3+ days.
Reposted by Colleen Derkatch
Breast cancer diagnoses rose by over 300% between 1973 and 1992.
Was there a breast cancer epidemic?!
NO.
Mammograms were implemented for screening in 1976.
PREVALENCE is a function of being able to correctly diagnose something.
This is also about autism.
Was there a breast cancer epidemic?!
NO.
Mammograms were implemented for screening in 1976.
PREVALENCE is a function of being able to correctly diagnose something.
This is also about autism.
April 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Breast cancer diagnoses rose by over 300% between 1973 and 1992.
Was there a breast cancer epidemic?!
NO.
Mammograms were implemented for screening in 1976.
PREVALENCE is a function of being able to correctly diagnose something.
This is also about autism.
Was there a breast cancer epidemic?!
NO.
Mammograms were implemented for screening in 1976.
PREVALENCE is a function of being able to correctly diagnose something.
This is also about autism.
Reposted by Colleen Derkatch
But the reason why anti-vaxxers & ivermectin pushers & lockdown opponents & lab leakers aren’t publishing in Science or Nature isn’t academic censorship or prestige gatekeeping. It’s because the quality of their scientific work is insufficient to pass peer review.
April 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
But the reason why anti-vaxxers & ivermectin pushers & lockdown opponents & lab leakers aren’t publishing in Science or Nature isn’t academic censorship or prestige gatekeeping. It’s because the quality of their scientific work is insufficient to pass peer review.