Health Journalism 2016 conference program
Thursday, April 7 / Friday, April 8
http://healthjournalism.org/secondarypage-details.php?id=1615
Thursday, April 7
8 a.m.4 p.m.
9-11
a.m.
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Field trips to local research, clinical and educational sites
(Sign up in advance.)
Hotel’s
East
Foyer,
Second
Floor
Reporting on medical studies
Medical studies are usually full of jargon and impenetrable
statistics, and they often don't tell the whole story. In this
session, you'll learn from the team behind Health News Review
how to identify hype in press releases and studies, and from
the AHCJ medical studies core topic leader how to read clinical
trials with confidence. We'll review statistics, and discuss how
often studies are wrong.
Tara Haelle, AHCJ topic leader/medical studies; independent journalist, Peoria,
Ill.
Kevin Lomangino, managing editor, HealthNewsReview.org
Ivan Oransky, M.D., vice president and global editorial director, MedPage
Today; co-founder, Retraction Watch; distinguished writer in residence, New
York University Arthur Carter Journalism Institute
Gary Schwitzer, publisher, HealthNewsReview.org
Rolling
Stones
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Writing workshop: Finding the beating heart
Too much journalism suffers from “notebook dump” as the
reporter tries to share every fact, quote, study and source. The
resulting articles are jam-packed with information, but dense
and daunting to the reader. This lively workshop will offer
strategies for finding the heart of a story — the central theme
or focus — to create compelling reads that puts valuable
information into context, flow and meaning. We’ll explore story
centers and structures to support those centers.
Jacqui Banaszynski, Knight chair in editing, Missouri School of Journalism
Elvis
▼
Access denied: How to get the story anyway
BB
King
We all know the roadblocks – human and other – that
journalists encounter in reporting stories. But great journalism
is published every day – proof that the obstacles aren’t
insurmountable. Hear from a panel of experienced journalists
on how to get around unhelpful public information officers,
obstreperous government agencies and media managers who
are keener on promotion than the public interest. Bring your
best ideas and strategies to share with colleagues. :
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Kay Lazar, health reporter, The Boston Globe
Fred Schulte, senior reporter, Center for Public Integrity
Madeline Vann, M.P.H., independent journalist
Moderator: Irene M. Wielawski, independent journalist; chair, AHCJ Right to
Know Committee, Pound Ridge, N.Y.
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11:15
a.m.12:30
p.m.
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Science: Breaking down obesity
Your audience is hungry for stories about weight loss, but
journalists must be careful: Between celebrity doctors, Internet
marketing and late-night TV sales pitches, it’s easy to lead
your audience astray. Our expert panel will give you the
resources you need to find real, science-tested techniques and
studies on diet, nutrition, obesity and weight loss. This panel
will focus on the science, not public health policy, consumers
can benefit from. You’ll come away from the session with the
tools you need understand and whittle through an inbox on
weight loss pitches and turn them into usable stories for your
audience.
Bartolome Burguera, M.D., Ph.D., director of obesity programs, Cleveland
Clinic
Carolyn E. Ievers-Landis, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics, Rainbow
Babies and Children's Hospital at University Hospitals Case Medical Center;
licensed clinical psychologist
Moderator: Abe Aboraya, health reporter, WMFE-Orlando
Rolling
Stones
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Covering the spectrum of health stories on the local scene
This session will help you find and localize the health stories
that matter to your community and cover them in an effective
and meaningful way on the local scene, where limited
resources and tight day-of deadlines are the norm. We discuss
best practices and important local and national resources to
use to improve your health reporting. Panelists have diverse
backgrounds to help you cover different health topics,
including patient stories, research, and the business of health.
This panel can help television and print journalists alike.
Tracey Drury, reporter, Buffalo Business First
Patti Singer, clean living reporter, (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle
Moderator: Katie Gibas, weekend anchor and weekday reporter, Time Warner
Cable News, Buffalo, N.Y.
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Elvis
1:45-3
p.m.
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Freelance: Practical tools for building a thriving business (Part 1)
Journalism may be a labor of love but it’s also a livelihood. This
panel of successful freelance writers will share their secrets,
including how to build a niche, how to market yourself, and
how to stay organized so you can balance a mix of
assignments – and your personal life. Our panelists will discuss
how to create a work flow that blends the bread-and-butter
pieces you need to survive and the passion projects that will
take your career to the next level. We will have some practical
business (and even tax-related) tips as well as handouts with
advice and helpful resources.
Eileen Beal, independent journalist, Cleveland
Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn, independent journalist, New York
Linda Marsa, contributing editor, Discover
Moderator: Michele Cohen Marill, independent journalist, Atlanta
Rolling
Stones
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Rating health care providers: When journalists measure quality
A growing number of journalistic organizations, including
Consumers’ Checkbook, Consumer Reports, ProPublica and
U.S. News & World Report, publish ratings of hospitals,
surgeons and other healthcare providers. These ratings are
widely discussed – and frequently controversial. This session
will cover (a) why quality ratings matter to patients, hospitals
and taxpayers, (b) why ratings are hard to “get right,” (c) how
ratings can promote health care transparency and
accountability, and (d) how other reporters can use ratings in
their high-impact, localized reporting.
Marshall Allen, reporter, ProPublica
Robert Krughoff, president, Consumers' Checkbook, Center for the Study of
Services
Doris Peter, Ph.D., director, Health Ratings Center, Consumer Reports
Moderator: Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis, U.S.
News and World Report
Elvis
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The maternal health gap: How the United States lags in infant and
maternal mortality
Hear from an expert about a new report showing how the
United States compares to other countries on infant and
maternal mortality. It will be posted online and distributed
during this session. The workshop will explore trends over time
for causes of death in children in the United States, including
the prevalence of prematurity and possible correlations of
premature death, looking at immunization coverage, health
insurance coverage and maternal education.
Nicholas Kassebaum, M.D., assistant professor, Institute for Health Metrics and
Evaluation, University of Washington; anesthesia and pain medicine specialist,
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital
BB
King
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Freelance: Practical tools for building a thriving business (Part 2)
Rolling
Stones
3:154:15
p.m.
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Experienced journalists will share their tips on managing
clients and story flow, finances and time. This hands-on
session will cover issues critical to a freelance business, such
as projecting your revenue and tracking your income;
balancing the flow of clients so that you’ll have a steady
pipeline of work; and knowing how much to charge when
asked your fee. Panelists will offer practical advice on lessons
learned, including a self-assessment guide that will help you
figure out what's working in your writing career, what needs to
be improved, and how to take the necessary steps to bring
your freelance career forward.
Download these resources for freelancers:
Freelance self-assessment
Business plan outline
Consulting business plan
Jeanne Erdmann, independent journalist, Wentzville, Mo.
Nicole J. Fauteux, principal, Propensity LLC
Katherine Reynolds Lewis, independent journalist, Potomac, Md.
Moderator: Bara L. Vaida, independent journalist, Washington, D.C.
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Fact-checking ACA statements during an election year
The public has a hard enough time understanding anything to
do with the Affordable Care Act. It doesn’t help when political
candidates, from president down to city council, include halftruths or outright falsehoods in their campaign speeches or
materials. Two national health journalists share tips on how to
help set the record straight. They’ll provide some questionable
zingers heard so far and offer suggestions of great go-to
sources for quick reality checks about the facts.
Jayne O'Donnell, health care policy reporter,USA Today
Julie Rovner, Robin Toner distinguished fellow, Kaiser Health News
Elvis
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4:305:30
p.m.
Newcomer welcome
First-time conference attendees are invited to meet members
of AHCJ's board of directors and learn how to make the most of
the conference.
Elvis
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5:30
p.m.
Head across the street to the Global Center for Health Innovation for our kickoff session and opening reception.
6-7:30
p.m.
Roundtable: Covering the health angles of cities facing crises
The past few years have seen many U.S. cities in turmoil as
they grapple with a range of challenges from shootings and
protests and aging infrastructure and contamination.
Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis and others must not
only face such challenging circumstances but also the trickledown effect on the health care and resident's well-being. How
do urban areas focus on health amid concerns over police
interactions with citizens and distrust of local government,
David
Bowie
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while also recognizing the impact of race and socio-economic
issues that have bubbled to the surface during an uneven
economic recovery? Hear from city health leaders about their
successes and challenges as well as strategies to target health
during tumultuous times. Discover what the health stories may
be if your city erupts, and leave prepared with angles to cover
it.
Abdul El-Sayed, M.D., D.Phil., executive director and health officer, Detroit
Health Department
Natoya Walker Minor, M.P.A., acting director, Cleveland Department of Public
Health
Melba R. Moore, M.S., C.P.H.A., acting director/commissioner of health, City
of St. Louis
Leana S. Wen, M.D., M.Sc., health commissioner, Baltimore
Moderator: Susan Heavey, AHCJ topic leader/social determinants; reporter,
Reuters
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7:30
p.m.
“Welcome to Cleveland” reception
Hosted by the
Global Center for Health Innovation
Join us for food, drinks and conversation to kick off Health
Journalism 2016. Mingle with new members and catch up with
old friends. Meet-up spots will be designated for conference
fellows.
The Global Center for Health Innovation is a Cuyahoga Countyowned showcase for the latest in health care innovation,
technology, education and commerce. The state-of-the-art
spaces surrounding the atrium comprise four themed floors:
1st floor – Health and Home
2nd floor – People, Patients and Caregivers
3rd floor – Clinical Spaces
4th floor – Health Care Information Technology
The Global Center has arranged to open these floors and the
display rooms run by a variety of organizations to informal
tours by our attendees this evening. Take a peek at some of
these dynamic spaces and latest technology.
Feel free to wander the upper floors where we have placed
tonight’s dessert tables. Also, bars on each floor will feature
signature drinks. Use your AHCJ token for a beverage on the
first floor and a Global Center token for a drink on one of these
upper floors.
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Atrium
Friday, April 8
The Exhibit Hall will be open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for networking, finding new resources and recharging your electronics.
7-8:15
a.m.
Breakfast buffet available
Sponsored by the
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
8-8:50
a.m.
Elvis
Elvis
News briefing
David J. Shulkin, M.D., undersecretary of health for the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs
SESSIONS RESUM E ACROSS THE ST REE T
AT THE CONV ENT IO N CENT ER
9-10:20
a.m.
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Localizing stories on organ transplantation
Transplants are unique among medical procedures in the
developed world, because even with enough money, not
everyone who needs one can get one. We’ll talk about how to
investigate disparities in organ transplantation and the special
issues facing patients and transplant centers in your area. We’ll
show you how to find and compare national, regional, state,
and center-specific data online. Learn how to cover new and
emerging fields, including face transplants and uterus
transplants.
Charles M. Miller, M.D., director of liver transplantation, Transplantation
Center at Cleveland Clinic; President, American Society of Transplant
Surgeons
Patricia A. Sheiner, M.D., director of transplantation, Hartford Hospital
David Wahlberg, health reporter, Wisconsin State Journal
Moderator: Nancy Lapid, editor in charge, Reuters Health
The Beatles
▼
The health law at 6 - still having growing pains
Six years after passage, the Affordable Care Act remains as
controversial as ever. How are state officials balancing their
obligations to implement the law, with the political antagonism
toward the law? What are the biggest challenges going into
2017 – particularly as exchange enrollment is lower than
anticipated and the people signing up tend to be in poorer
health? How does the uncertainty about the law’s fate shape
state policymaking? And will we ever be able to move on? Join
Fleetwood Mac
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our panel of experts to explore these ongoing issues and
generate stories in this combative election year.
Nathan Johnson, chief policy officer, Washington State Health Care Authority
Trish Riley, executive director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Brian Rosman, government relations and policy director, Health Care For All
Moderator: Joanne Kenen, health care editor, Politico/Politico Pro; AHCJ topic
leader/health reform
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Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: Trends to watch in 2016 and beyond
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's, are among the hottest topics in health care and
research today. This panel focuses on how health journalists
can seek out the stories that aren't being told and look for new
ways to tell the stories we only thought we knew. What exactly
is it about exercise that may ward off Alzheimer's or relieve the
symptoms of Parkinson's? What might the rise of biomarkers
mean for preventing dementia – and can recent declines in
dementia be sustained? What's the real promise of high-tech
brain imaging before symptoms even arise? Which are the
trials to watch – and how can patients get involved?
Alan Lerner, M.D., director of the Brain Health and Memory Center, University
Hospitals Case Medical Center; professor of neurology, Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine
Stephen M. Rao, Ph.D., director, Schey Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging,
Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at Cleveland Clinic
Benjamin Walter, M.D., director of the Parkinson's and Movement Disorder
Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center; associate professor of
neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Moderator: Charlotte Sutton, health and science editor, The Philadelphia
Inquirer
Bruce
Springsteen
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Providing care as society sees a new gender spectrum
Health care providers working with patients who are gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgender know their patients often are
at high risk for disease such as HIV. That makes it especially
important that the care they provide includes understanding
the community the patients live in as well.
Sana Loue, J.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.S.A., M.A., vice dean, faculty
development and diversity; professor, bioethics, psychiatry, global health,
epidemiology and biostatistics, Case Western University Medical School
Vipul Shukla, M.S., medical student, University of Toledo
Cecile A. Unger, M.D., staff physician, Center for Urogynecology and Pelvic
Reconstructive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
Moderator: Mary Shedden, news director, WUSF Public Media
The Supremes
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Freelance: Expand your success with multimedia storytelling
With so many great health journalists out there, it’s important
to distinguish yourself in this ever-changing market. Stay
competitive by learning how to pitch and produce packages
that include print, web content, photo essays, video and audio.
Eric Clapton
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Learn how to package your story pitches for success. Hear
from panelists who have expanded to add video and
photography, and how it adds to the value of their pitches, as
well as how it can expand the brand. The discussion will
include how to get started, what gear you need, how to see
story in a different way. We will also discuss the bottom line:
Is it really profitable for your journalistic model?
Heidi de Marco, multimedia reporter and producer, Kaiser Health News
Katti Gray, independent journalist, Towson, Md.
Laurie Udesky, independent journalist, San Francisco
Moderator: Andrea King Collier, independent journalist, Lansing, Mich.
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10:40
a.m.noon
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Defining a “good” death — and how to cover it
This panel will focus on the ethical, medical, patient and family
issues journalists need to be covering when they are writing
about dying, end-of-life care and a “good” death. We will
discuss the changed landscape of dying, what it takes to
achieve a “good” death, who chooses the “good” death option,
the challenges family members and the health care system
have with letting go, the language of death and dying and tips
for covering what a “good” death is – and isn’t.
Barbara Daly, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Gertrude Perkins Oliva professor in
oncology nursing, Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western University; clinical
ethics director, University Hospitals of Cleveland
Ellen Rand, independent journalist, Teaneck, N.J.
Lisa Vigil Schattinger, M.S.N., R.N., chair, Ohio End of Life Options
Charles V. Wellman, M.D., chief medical officer, Hospice of the Western
Reserve
Moderator: Eileen Beal, independent journalist, Cleveland
The Beatles
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Medicine via smartphone: New ways to deliver health care
Health care is a growing use of today’s smartphones. Patients
can video chat with doctors from their homes, while tracking,
recording and sending vital medical information like blood
sugar levels – not just the number of steps you’ve taken that
day – to doctors. But with this technology comes serious
questions reporters need to know about the viability, safety,
effectiveness and regulation of the technology and how
patients use it. This panel seeks to peel back the curtain to
detail current uses and issues journalists should be asking as
mobile technology continues to infiltrate our lives.
Marco Costa, M.D., Ph.D., director, Interventional Cardiovascular and
Research and Innovation Centers; chief innovation officer, University Hospitals
Henry DePhillips, M.D., chief medical officer, Teladoc Inc.
Curtis L. Lowery, maternal-fetal medicine professor and chair, University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Moderator: David Pittman, eHealth reporter, Politico Pro
Fleetwood Mac
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Will innovative cancer care reach patients?
Bruce
Springsteen
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The recent advances in targeted therapy, immunotherapy and
genomics are revolutionizing how cancer care will be delivered
over the next few years. What does this mean for oncologists
and patients and what therapeutic strategies are being
developed to ensure effective long-term treatment? How can
reporters separate facts from hype? The panel discussion will
include how policy can affect treatment.
Brian Bolwell, M.D., chairman, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Stanton L. Gerson, M.D., director, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Nicholas J. Petrelli , M.D., Bank of America endowed medical director, Helen
F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Christiana Care Health
System
Moderator: Eric T. Rosenthal, special correspondent, MedPage Today
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Covering safety net medical providers and their patients: Super-utilizers
and their stories
Safety net hospitals, which serve high numbers of poor and
uninsured patients, face increasing pressure in an era of
payment reform and quality transparency. More frequently the
institutions find they must expand beyond their walls to
address social determinants, factors that impact how their
patient populations use health care services. Panelists will
discuss the new challenges they face as a result of the
Affordable Care Act, and give insight to help you find safety
net hospital stories in your community.
Pamela N. Crider, C.N.P., nurse practitioner, MetroHealth System
Beth Feldpush, Dr.P.H., senior vice president of policy and advocacy,
America's Essential Hospitals
William Steiner M.D., Ph.D., president, Coordinated Care Organization,
University Hospitals; assistant clinical professor of medicine, Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine
Moderator: Sabriya Rice, quality and safety beat reporter, Modern Healthcare
Magazine
The Supremes
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Covering the intersection of infrastructure and public health
This session will track the experience of the Flint water crisis
through the eyes of a local church leader and a member of the
Virginia Tech team that provided data to show how the city’s
water supply became a pathway to poison. The discussion will
expand to other infrastructure problems in older homes,
considering how lead poisoning can be viewed as an issue of
environmental equity, as well as the role media can and should
play in reporting such stories.
Emily Garner, member, Flint Water Study team; graduate student, civil and
environmental engineering, Virginia Tech
Jeffrey Hawkins, pastor, Prince of Peace Church, Flint, Mich.
Wornie Reed, Ph.D., director, Race and Social Policy Research Center;
professor, sociology and Africana studies, Virginia Tech
Moderator: Kay Colby, producer, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream,
Cleveland
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Eric Clapton
Noon1:30
p.m.
Lunch on your own
During your lunch break, feel free to visit any areas of the
Global Center for Health Innovation you may have missed on
Thursday evening. The center has agreed to let our attendees
wander the upper floors to visit the displays.
Also at noon, the center plans to unveil a CPR training kiosk in
its atrium aimed at high-traffic public areas. These have just
begun appearing in airports across the nation. You are
welcome to check out and learn more about the hands-on
display.
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1:40-3
p.m.
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The tyranny of geography: Place, race and the social determinants of
health
By now we all know the statistics. Where we live, eat, play,
work and go to school has a much larger overall impact on our
health than any time we spend at a doctor’s office. In
Cleveland, residents living in the city’s East Side Hough
neighborhood have a life expectancy about 24 years shorter,
on average, than their wealthier counterparts in a suburb only
eight miles east. Yet despite efforts to change this reality,
there’s evidence the problem is worsening in many areas, with
income inequality deepening and health inequities rising. What
are the biggest obstacles to progress, and how are those on
the front lines —doctors, community health workers and
residents — breaking them down?
Edward M. Barksdale Jr., M.D., surgeon-in-chief, University Hospitals
Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
Kate Fox Nagel, Dr.PH., M.P.H., chief administrative officer, Care Alliance
Health Center
Delores Gray, community engagement coordinator/community advocate, Care
Alliance Health Center
Sarah A. Redding, M.D. , M.P.H. , co-founder, Community Health Access
Project
Moderator: Brie Zeltner, reporter,The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
The Beatles
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Surprise medical bills, runaway drug prices and the emerging consumer
protection agenda
Even as Obamacare continues to drive political debate,
Americans are increasingly concerned about more basic health
care issues: how much drugs costs, whether doctors are innetwork, what health plan cover, even how to compare plans
and understand out-of-pocket costs. We’ll look at this
emerging part of the healthcare agenda, how government
officials, health insurers and consumer advocates are taking it
on and how reporters can smartly cover it.
Chuck Bell, programs director, Consumers Union
Peter Lee, executive director, Covered California
Marilyn Tavenner, president, America's Health Insurance Plans
Moderator: Noam Levey, national health care reporter, Los Angeles Times
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Fleetwood Mac
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Cybersecurity: Understanding the risk
Health care providers are increasingly under attack by cyber
criminals – executives are reporting malware, botnets and
other external threats every day. And aside from external
attacks, health providers face internal abuse, errors and other
security breaches. As nearly every aspect of health care
becomes more digital, protecting patient records and the
electronic infrastructure is paramount. This session will you
gain better understanding the nature of the threats and how
health care IT leaders are shoring up their defenses.
Lee Kim J.D., F.H.I.M.S.S., director, privacy and security, HIMSS North
America
Brook Watts, M.D., chief quality officer, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical
Center
Moderator: Russ Mitchell, managing editor, California Healthline
Bruce
Springsteen
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Antibiotics in the food supply
Consumer demand for meat and poultry raised without
antibiotics is soaring. Antibiotic-free chicken and turkey has
become widely available, and pressure is mounting for pork
and beef suppliers to follow suit. But what does the “antibiotics
free” label really mean for consumer health? Are there some
acceptable uses of antibiotics in commercial livestock
production? And who’s setting the standards? This panel will
bust through the marketing hype and give reporters a solid
scientific grounding to report the issue in their own
communities.
Jonathan Kaplan, director, Food and Agriculture Program, Natural Resources
Defense Council
Maryn McKenna, independent journalist, Atlanta
Laura Rogers, deputy director, Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, Milken
Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University
Moderator: Mary Chris Jaklevic, independent journalist, Chicago
The Supremes
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Improving diagnosis: The new quality frontier
The frequency and impact of diagnostic medical error is
drawing unprecedented attention since the recent release of
the Institute of Medicine’s groundbreaking report, "Improving
Diagnosis in Health Care." In response, the Society to Improve
Diagnosis in Medicine has convened a coalition to bring muchneeded attention to this challenge. SIDM and the coalition are
driving action on the IOM report’s recommendations across the
health care system. Dr. Mark Graber and Paul Epner from
SIDM will provide an overview of the steps being taken to
catalyze measureable action to improve diagnosis and the
early results that have occurred. We’ll also hear from Dr. Lisa
Sanders, who writes the popular Diagnosis column for the New
York Times Magazine. She’s the author of "Every Patient Tells a
Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis."
Paul Epner, M.B.A, executive vice president, Society to Improve Diagnosis in
Medicine
Eric Clapton
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Mark L. Graber, M.D., F.A.C.P., president, Society to Improve Diagnosis in
Medicine; senior fellow, RTI International; professor emeritus, SUNY Stony
Brook, N.Y.
Lisa Sanders, M.D., associate professor, Yale University School of Medicine
Moderator: Carla K. Johnson, medical writer, The Associated Press
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1:403:50
p.m.
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Freelance PitchFest
Editors from some of the top magazines, newspapers and
websites are coming to Cleveland to meet you! Bring your best
ideas to the AHCJ Freelance PitchFest. This session has been
created to give you an opportunity to sit down and discuss
your ideas one-on-one with editors from selected publications.
The sign-up period opens at 10 a.m. on March 14.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Agnvall, features editor, health, AARP Media
Aurora Aguilar, news editor, Modern Healthcare
Jessica Bylander, senior editor, Health Affairs
Sue Byrne, executive editor, HealthAfter50.com with Scientific American
Lynya Floyd, health director, Family Circle
Denise Fulton, executive editor, Frontline Medical News
Lena Huang, editorial director, Genome
Tod Jones, managing editor, Costco Connection
Rich Kirkner, contributing editor, Healthegy News
Nancy Lapid, editor in charge, Reuters Health
Brendan Maher, features editor, Nature
Apoorva Mandavilli, editor-in-chief, Spectrum
Colleen Paretty, editorial director, WebMD
Peggy Peck, vice president and editor-in-chief, MedPage Today
Denise Schipani, features editor, MedShadow.org
Lacy Schley, assistant editor, Discover
Allison Shelley, conference news editor, Medscape Medical News
Peter Wehrwein, editor, Managed Care
Coordinator: Jeanne Erdmann, independent journalist, Wentzville, Mo.
Led Zeppelin
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3-4
p.m.
Dessert break and prize drawings
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts
Exhibit Hall
4:105:30
p.m.
How to understand and cover the opioid epidemic
More people in the United States die each year from drug
overdoses, mostly from opioids, than traffic accidents. Why is
this happening? What is being done to curb addiction? And how
can journalists cover this difficult topic accurately and
sensitively?
Christina M. Delos Reyes, M.D. , director, addiction psychiatry fellowship and
associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine; medical consultant, Center for Evidence-Based
Practices at Case Western
Maia Szalavitz, independent journalist, New York
Leana S. Wen, M.D. M.Sc., commissioner of health, Baltimore
The Beatles
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Moderator: Scott Hensley, host, NPR's Shots blog
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From newsroom to classroom: The truth about teaching
Thinking about making the leap from practicing health
journalism to teaching it? Three professional journalists tell
how they teach (it’s harder than you think), and how to deal
with the grind – grading rubrics, attendance records, etc. Done
right, teaching is fun and rewarding, although not necessarily
highly paid. If you're on the fence, this session will help you
decide and prepare you for the first day of class.
Yanick R. Lamb, associate professor and chair, Howard University Department
of Media, Journalism and Film
Joanne Silberner, artist in residence, Department of Communication, University
of Washington
Moderator: Patricia Thomas, professor and Knight chair in health and medical
journalism, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University
of Georgia, Athens
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Precision medicine: Getting beyond the hype
Ever since President Obama announced the "precision medicine
initiative" in his 2015 State of the Union speech, hardly a week
goes by without another claim that treatments can be matched
to patients' individual forms of cancer or other disease. The
panel will examine the research behind that claim in a
discussion of the limits to and promise of precision medicine.
Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Ph.D., associate director for bioinformatics, Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center; Associate Director for Translational
Informatics, Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve
University
Charis Eng, M.D., Ph.D, chair and founding director, Genomic Medicine
Institute; chair, Genomic Medicine Institute; director, Center for Personalized
Genetic Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic; professor and vice chair, Genetics and
Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
Rocio Moran, M.D., director of genetics and genomics, The MetroHealth
System
Moderator: Sharon Begley, senior science writer, Stat
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Medicare in flux: MACRA and the new payment models coming to your
community
When Congress did away with the much-maligned Sustainable
Growth Rate formula for paying physicians under Medicare, it
put forth a law called MACRA that law will dramatically change
the way Medicare pays doctors. It offers major incentives for
doctors who participate in so-called alternative payment
models like accountable care organizations or bundled
payment programs. And doctors who choose to stick with feefor-service payments will have to comply with an entirely new
quality measurement system, MIPS. The Obama administration
is in the midst of spelling out the specifics in new regulations,
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and this panel will explore what you need to know to cover the
changes in your community.
Robert Berenson, M.D., senior fellow, Urban Institute; committee member,
Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee
Robert Doherty, senior vice president of governmental affairs and public
policy, American College of Physicians
Ray Quintero, director of the department of government relations, American
Osteopathic Association
Kevin Sears, executive director of market and network services, Cleveland
Clinic
Moderator: Erin Mershon, health care reporter, CQ
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Covering the concussion crisis: Research and real life
Since the autopsy of Steelers Hall of Famer Mike Webster more
than a decade ago revealed brain damage attributed to
repeated football collisions, the issue of concussions in the NFL
has been plagued by controversy. It has been the topic of
numerous research reports, news articles and even movies.
Learn the nuances of the debate from NFL players, a doctor
who is doing NIH-funded research and a journalist who has
spent years covering the issue.
Dwayne Bray, senior coordinating producer, ESPN
Charles Bernick, M.D., M.P.H., medical director, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo
Center for Brain Health
Josh Cribbs, Free agent NFL return specialist and wide receiver
Steve Sanders, founder and executive director, Training Camp for Life
Moderator: Sarah J. Tribble, health reporter/producer, 90.3 WCPN and
WVIZ/PBS ideastream
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5:306:30
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Membership meeting
Come hear about AHCJ’s latest efforts and ask questions of your elected board.
The Supremes
Saturday, April 9 / Sunday April 10
http://healthjournalism.org/secondarypage-details.php?id=1618
Saturday, April 9
The Exhibit Hall will be open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for networking, finding new resources and recharging your electronics.
78:15
a.m.
Breakfast available
Sponsored by the
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
Elvis
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a.m.
Check for Newsmaker Briefing
Elvis
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a.m.
Freelance: Ethical considerations for independent journalists
Honest behavior is much like sticking to a diet. When facing an
ethical dilemma, being aware of the temptation before it
happens and thinking about the long-term consequences of a
particular choice can help you make the “healthiest” decision.
The broad array of opportunities that freelancers in particular
face in today’s media ecosystem — combined with the financial
pressures of stagnant rates — can make it challenging to
determine when a conflict of interest, or the potential
appearance of one, exists. In this panel, we will explore these
issues and provide an opportunity for freelance journalists to
consider where the lines are and what ethical quandaries lay
around the corner. Let’s explore and discuss.
Beth Howard, independent journalist, Charlotte, N.C.
Trudy Lieberman, contributing editor,Columbia Journalism Review
Brendan Maher, feature editor, Nature
Andrew Seaman, senior medical journalist, Reuters Health
Moderator: Tara Haelle, AHCJ topic leader/medical studies; independent
journalist, Peoria, Ill.
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Expanding the dental workforce to reach underserved communities
States across the country are struggling with ways to expand
access to dental care. By federal estimates, 49 million
Americans live in communities that have been designated dental
health professional shortage areas. The best ways to get care to
these places poses deep challenges, and stirs plenty of debate.
This panel explores two emerging workforce models that reflect
two approaches to meeting the nation's needs for oral health
services.
Angela Black, tribal health manager, Chickasaw Nation
Christy Jo Fogarty, advanced dental therapist, Minnesota Dental Therapy
Association
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Jane Grover, D.D.S., M.P.H., director, Council on Access, Prevention and
Interprofessional Relations American Dental Association
Emily Pietig, D.D.S., dental therapy supervisor, Children's Dental Services
Moderator: Mary C. Otto, AHCJ topic leader/oral health; independent journalist
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Is that $1,000 pill really worth it? How to examine high health costs
Skyrocketing drug prices are leading private and public insurers
to ration health care, causing angst among consumers and
putting the issue on the front burner for presidential candidates.
One potential solution that getting closer scrutiny is trying to
define value in health care so people will know just what they’re
buying. Our panelists will explore its promises and pitfalls.
Peter Bach, M.D., director of Memorial Sloan Kettering's Center for Health
Policy and Outcomes
Sarah Emond, chief operating officer, Institute for Clinical and Economic
Review
Neal Meropol, M.D., chief, division of hematology and oncology, University
Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University
Jonathan Rockoff, staff writer, The Wall Street Journal
Moderator: Phil Galewitz, senior correspondent, Kaiser Health News
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Trauma's mental impact from childhood to adulthood
The impact of child abuse and neglect and of medical, sexual,
violence-related and other trauma can extend into adulthood
and raise the risks for mental and physical illness and early
death, according to studies by the Centers for Disease Control,
Department of Veterans Affairs and several private mental
health organizations. Clinicians and other professionals in the
growing National Child Traumatic Stress Network will discuss
the effects of trauma.
Kristine Buffington, M.S.W., consultant/trainer, Buffington Consulting
Kathleen Hackett, R.N., B.S.N., S.A.N.E.-P., sexual assault nurse examiner and
SANE coordinator, University Hospital Rainbow Babies and Children’s Program
Ewald Horwath M.D., M.S., L.F.A.P.A., psychiatry department chairman, Case
Western Reserve University/MetroHealth System
Glenda Wrenn, M.D., M.S.H.P., director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute
Division of Behavioral Health, Morehouse School of Medicine
Moderator: Katti Gray, independent journalist, Towson, Md.
The Supremes
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What is Big Data and how to use it to report on urban health issues
How does Big Data — a hot public health tool — translate into
successful, boots-on-the-ground initiatives that are solving
health issues in communities nationwide? This panel will explore
how increasingly sophisticated data sets are being used by city
leaders, community organizations, health care providers, and
others to influence the daily health of city residents. Panelists
will highlight resources and discuss how journalists can use data
to tell public health stories.
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Lawrence Kleinman, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., director of the Center for Child
Health and Policy; vice chair of pediatrics for child health and policy; professor,
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Jose Pagan, Ph.D., director, Center for Health Innovation, New York Academy
of Medicine
Brie Zeltner, health reporter, The Plain Dealer
Moderator: Naseem S. Miller, senior reporter, Orlando Sentinel
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Beyond HIV/AIDS: Reporting on the LGBT community
The LGBT community is a diverse group of people from all age
groups, races and ethnicities, social and economic groups and
locations. Yet, the members of this diverse community are
linked by a number of specific health needs. In this
comprehensive session, experts will provide attendees with an
overview of the emerging areas of importance in LGBT health
and health policy.
Kellan E. Baker, senior fellow, LGBT Research and Communications Project,
Center for American Progress
James Hekman, M.D., F.A.C.P., A.A.H.I.V.S., clinical assistant professor,
Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Henry Ng, M.D., director, the MetroHealth System's PRIDE Clinic; assistant
professor of medicine and pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of
Medicine
Moderator: Andrew M. Seaman, senior medical journalist, Reuters Health
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Stem cells and regenerative medicine: What’s real
Stem cells, with their ability to give rise to all the different
organs and cells in the body, hold enormous promise to treat
diseases and repair damaged tissue such as muscle, bone and
the insulating sheath around nerves. They also can cause harm,
driving the growth of cancers. Panelists will explore the progress
scientists have made – and the remaining challenges – in
manipulating or “programming” stem cells, as potential
treatments for ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer,
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and arthritis.
Stanton L. Gerson M.D., director, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center;
director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center; director, National Center for
Regenerative Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Paul J. Tesar, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Genetics and Genome
Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Moderator: Gideon Gil, managing editor for enterprise and partnerships, Stat
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How can we find the true cost of health care?
Unlike almost every part of the economy, transparency in health
care and the ability to know what something costs remains
elusive even as millions more Americans can afford to buy
medical treatments under the Affordable Care Act. This panel
will look at the health care industry's lack of transparency when
it comes to costs, prices and, perhaps most importantly, the
barriers to getting at the true cost of care.
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Anil Jain, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Explorys, IBM
Watson Health
David Lansky, chief executive officer, Pacific Business Group on Health
Elizabeth Mitchell, president and CEO, Network for Regional Healthcare
Improvement
Moderator: Bruce R. Japsen, health care columnist, Forbes
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If HIPAA is broken, how can it be fixed?
In the past year, hackers have breached the computer networks
of several prominent health insurance companies and accessed
personal information on millions of patients. Far more quietly,
tens of thousands of smaller breaches were reported to the
government. Was 2015 the year in which patient privacy was
lost once and for all? Are government agencies and health
companies doing enough to safeguard patient information? Is
HIPAA relevant today? This session will identify new trends in
health privacy and how to cover them.
Neal Eggeson, attorney, Indianapolis
Deven McGraw, deputy director for health information privacy, Office for Civil
Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Joy Pritts, health information privacy and security consultant
Moderator: Charles Ornstein, senior reporter, ProPublica
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Reinventing medical education
The model of medical education that has been used for the past
50 years is ill-adapted to the needs of our health care delivery
system. Recent medical graduates report feeling totally
unprepared for the challenges they face as they enter practice.
To correct this, the American Medical Association launched an
initiative in 2013 to provide $1 million to each of 11 medical
schools with innovative reform concepts. The AMA recently
expanded its program to another 20 medical schools. That
growing number means more places where journalists have a
local story about training of the next medical leaders.
Pamela B. Davis, M.D., Ph.D. dean, School of Medicine; senior vice president
for medical affairs, Case Western Reserve University
Christine Cassel, M.D., planning dean, Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of anesthesiology,
surgery, biomedical informatics and health policy, Vanderbilt University School
of Medicine
Nathan Moore, M.D., resident in internal medicine, Washington University;
author, The Health Care Handbook
Moderator: Duncan Moore, independent journalist, Chicago
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Noon2
p.m.
Awards luncheon with Surgeon General
David Bowie
Journalists who did the best work of 2015 will be recognized with the annual
Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism.
United States Surgeon GeneralVivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., will address
conference attendees at the luncheon. Murthy is responsible for communicating
scientific information to the public to improve personal health and the health of
the nation. He oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps,
made up of about 6,700 uniformed health officers who serve around the world.
22:50
p.m.
Meet the award winners
Following the awards luncheon, stop by the Exhibit Hall for dessert and prize
drawings. Look for the designated area to meet the award winners and chat with
them about their projects, their techniques and their inspiration.
Exhibit Hall
34:20
p.m.
Taking care of the changing veteran population
What can be done to meet the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans? How do their experiences compare to those of
previous generations of veterans? Experts, including a veterans’
advocate and a leader from the Department of Veterans Affairs,
will talk about these issues and how the media could improve its
coverage.
Murray Altose, M.D., chief of staff, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Joseph Calabrese, M.D., coordinating principal investigator, Ohio Army National
Guard Mental Health Initiative, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine,
University Hospitals Case Western Medical Center
Will Brown, service officer, American Legion
Moderator: Tony Leys, staff writer, Des Moines Register
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Hepatitis C and beyond: A far-reaching story
It's good news when a cure is found for a chronic illness
afflicting millions. But the very effective, very expensive new
treatments for hepatitis C raise troubling questions about drug
pricing, Medicaid spending, and care of the disenfranchised. On
this panel, a physician, a lawyer, and a policy expert will share
their differing perspectives on a topic with implications well
beyond this one disease.
Sarah K. Emond, M.P.P., chief operating officer, Institute for Clinical and
Economic Review
Robert Greenwald, J.D., director, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation;
clinical professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Melissa K. Osborn, M.D., associate professor, Case Western Reserve University,
School of Medicine; infectious disease specialist, MetroHealth Medical Center
Moderator: Felice J. Freyer, health care reporter, The Boston Globe
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Freelance: How to reinvigorate your livelihood, expand your reach
The most successful freelancers create their own mark, using
social media, a particular reporting niche, speaking
engagements, books and other tools in keeping their careers
moving. Learn how to reinvigorate your use of these tools and
expand your reach into documentary writing and editing.
Speakers will talk through collaborating to take your print work
to film, thinking visually instead of solely in print from the
beginning of a project, generating business buzz through social
media, and fitting your magnified skill set into your career.
June Cross, filmmaker, journalism professor, Columbia University
Cheree Dillon, independent film/TV editor
Kendall Moore, documentary filmmaker; associate professor, journalism and
film media, University of Rhode Island
Joanne l. Zippel, owner, Zip Creative, a creative coaching and consulting
practice
Moderator: Cheryl Platzman Weinstock, independent journalist, Weston, Conn.
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Coming soon to a statehouse near you: Medicaid managed long-term care
More than 30 state Medicaid departments have transferred the
care of their sickest and most vulnerable populations to private
managed care contractors, with more states to come. This
movement, to date affecting more than one million Medicaid
beneficiaries with long term disabilities, chronic conditions and
severe mental and developmental problems, has caused great
disruption. The transition has been rocky, with some states
dropping the process and others facing backlash from patient
advocates and caregivers. But other states are reporting
improved coordination of care, reduced hospital admissions and
cost savings. Why is this happening, what is driving the
movement, how are Medicaid beneficiaries faring and why
should journalists care? This will be a primer on how to find
stories in this rapidly evolving environment.
John Arnold, project director, Ohio Consumer Voice for Integrated Care,
UHCAN Ohio
Barbara Coulter Edwards, managing principal, Health Management Associates
Ann Hwang, M.D., director, Center for Consumer Engagement in Health
Innovation Community Catalyst
Moderator: Mark Taylor, independent journalist, Chicago
The Supremes
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Cancer care tailored to teens and young adults
Advancements in early detection and treatment have led to
greater cancer survival rates for babies, children and adults. But
for teens and young adults diagnosed with certain types of
cancers, the survival rates over the past three decades remain
unchanged. About 70,000 young people (ages 15-39) are
diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States –
accounting for about 5 percent of cancer diagnoses. This is
about six times the number of cancers diagnosed in children
ages 0-14. Cancer researchers are looking for answers and
health systems are catering care and support services for teens.
This panel will provide experience and insight in changing
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cancer treatment for this demographic – and how to find local
stories.
Peter Anderson, M.D., pediatric oncologist, Cleveland Clinic Children's
Rabi Hanna, M.D., pediatric oncologist and interim chair of the department of
pediatric hematology, oncology and blood and marrow transplantation at
Cleveland Clinic Children's
John Letterio, M.D., chief of pediatric hematology/oncology UH Rainbow
Babies and Children's Hospital
Moderator: Marlene K. Harris-Taylor, medical editor, Toledo Blade
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From Ebola to Zika: Responsible reporting on emerging infectious diseases
Viral outbreaks like Ebola and, more recently, Zika have
revealed the complex dimensions of local, national and global
response. Journalists are faced with the incredible challenge of
clearly communicating the risk of the disease and the scope of
the outbreak often at the same time the scientific community is
gathering this information. So what are some key questions to
ask at each stage of the outbreak? What are some things to
consider when reporting on early research related to the
disease? This panel will discuss best practices of covering
present and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Steven Gordon, M.D., chairman and staff member, Department of Infectious
Disease, Cleveland Clinic
Brian Grimberg Ph.D ., assistant professor of international health, infectious
diseases and immunology, The Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case
Western Reserve University
Jennifer Hanrahan, D.O. , chair, Infection Control Committee, MetroHealth
Medical Center
Susan Rehm, M.D., vice chair of the department of infectious disease, executive
director of physician health, Cleveland Clinic
Moderator: Lara Salahi, writer and producer, CBSBoston.com
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Aging well: Innovative approaches for boomers and beyond
Are baby boomers at risk of being the first generation that’s less
healthy than their parents? While health advances have
increased longevity, aging boomers are also grappling with an
increase in chronic conditions. Nearly one-third report having
two or more. Rates of dementia are also on the rise. This expert
panel will discuss programs that help boomers manage both
their physical and mental health and how they can embrace
“active aging” for a healthier old age.
Francoise Adan, M.D., medical director, University Hospitals Connor Integrative
Health Network; assistant professor, psychiatry, Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine
Ronan Factora, M.D., physician, Center for Geriatric Medicine; co-director,
Aging Brain Clinic, Cleveland Clinic; associate professor of medicine, Cleveland
Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Colin Milner, CEO, International Council on Active Aging; publisher, Journal of
Active Aging
Moderator: Liz Seegert, AHCJ topic leader/aging, independent journalist, New
York
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Images and sounds on the health beat
Video and audio aren’t just for television and radio reporters
anymore. Demand for web videos and podcasts mean that
covering the story means getting pictures and sounds that will
grab and hold your audience. We will show examples to emulate
and discuss how a story may be told in different ways
depending on the medium. The panel includes veteran television
reporters as well as an experienced journalist who recently
made the leap from text-based reporting to audio visual
storytelling.
Kay Colby, producer, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream, Cleveland
Sarah Jane Tribble , health reporter and producer, 90.3 WCPN and WVIZ/PBS
ideastream, Cleveland
Moderator: Andrew S. Holtz, chief, HoltzReport
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Merger mania of health insurers and the rise of dominant and potential
monopolies
New research from the Health Care Pricing Project shows that
hospital prices are 15 percent higher at hospitals in monopoly
markets than they are in markets with four or more hospitals
and that hospital prices within a region are the primary factors
driving variation in health care spending. Hear from speakers
who will talk about the project’s data and its implications for the
future.
Karim A. Botros, chief strategy officer, MetroHealth Cleveland
Zack Cooper, Ph.D., assistant professor of health policy and economics; resident
fellow, Institution for Social and Policy Studies; director, ISPS Health Center,
Yale University
Kevin Sears, executive director of market and network services, Cleveland Clinic
Moderator: Joseph Burns, AHCJ topic leader/insurance; independent journalist,
Falmouth, Mass.
The Supremes
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7-11
p.m.
“Salute to Health Journalism” reception
Important note: Your conference name tag is required to enter – no
exceptions. The reception is for conference attendees only.
Join us at the stunning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the
lakefront to rock the night away. Light hors d’oeuvres and
beverages will be available until 9 p.m. with AHCJ providing one
complimentary drink (bring your drink ticket).
We are paying to get you full entry to the entire museum, with
seven floors of exhibits! The I.M. Pei-designed building is a
monument to the history of rock, with amazing artifacts and
memorabilia. (Photography is welcome, but no flash.) We also
have arranged for the museum store to stay open until 9 p.m.
so you can buy your own rock memory.
A shuttle will run between the Marriott and the museum from 7
p.m. until 10 p.m. or you can walk (about 0.7 miles or 15
minutes) by heading east on St. Clair Avenue and taking a left
on East 9th Street.
Rock and Roll
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Sunday, April 10
7:308:45
a.m.
Breakfast buffet available
Ray Charles
910:20
a.m.
Freelance: Choose your platform - focusing social media efforts
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Stitcher: Many
journalists use social media platforms to find sources and story
ideas, and participating on them is one way that freelancers
build and maintain their brands. But how do you choose which
social media network to invest your time and identity in? This
panel of experienced journalists working in different media, who
all maintain presences on multiple social networks, will explain
why they chose one network to create a project on, and how
they integrate both those projects and other social media use
into their multi-faceted professional lives.
Rose Eveleth, producer, designer, writer, animator, Brooklyn, N.Y.
David Mendoza, visualization journalist, Mic
Joanne Manaster, Ph.D., social media director, University of Illinois
Moderator: Maryn McKenna, independent journalist, Atlanta
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Taking hospital quality coverage to the next level
Hospitals are often the cornerstones of local health care
markets. And with each passing year, more data become
available to assess – and write about – their quality. This
session will bring you up to speed on newly available data and
offer a refresher on tools and websites that you can use to be
the watchdog your community needs. It will suggest new
directions for your reporting, even if you’ve covered hospital
quality in the past.
Jose Figueroa, M.D., M.P.H., instructor of medicine, Harvard Medical School;
associate physician, Brigham and Women's Hospital Director, BWH Residency
Management Leadership Track
Moderator: Charles Ornstein, senior reporter, ProPublica
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Using public resources to find your next big scoop
Nowadays, we all know that data can be a great way to launch
a big enterprise story. But where do you find those data? In this
session, we'll show you lots of data and other health
information resources available at government sites, including
PubMed. We'll hear from a reporter who used ClinicalTrials.gov
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to figure out that a number of the nation's leading universities
were breaking the law. Come with your laptops – this is handson as you learn to navigate and personalize these resources.
Robert A. Logan, Ph.D., communication research scientist, senior staff, U.S.
National Library of Medicine
Charles Piller, west coast editor, Stat
Moderator: Ivan Oransky, M.D., vice president and global editorial director,
MedPage Today; co-founder, Retraction Watch; distinguished writer in
residence, New York University Arthur Carter Journalism Institute
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Reaching out to real people: Tools to humanize stories
Dry statistics, faceless studies and policy talking heads can
make for dull stories. But you can use online resources to build
up your sources – including patients, caregivers and
communities – that can help make your stories come alive for
your audiences. Come away with tips on doing your homework
before your interviews, using online advocacy to find sources,
and leaving with ready-to-use tools that will help you connect
with real people with the stories you are trying to tell.
Marshall Allen, reporter, ProPublica
John Novack, communications director, Inspire
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Hospital finance
Hospitals are the great whales of the medical world. They
consume a third of all health spending, and often are the
largest employers in town. Yet their finances are largely
unknown. This session will describe five essential documents for
understanding a hospital's financial prospects as well as how to
find sources to put them in context. We'll dig into this year's
major trends, such as why hospitals are consolidating and how
they are facing ever higher penalties for poor performance. An
emphasis will be placed on practical story ideas.
Karl Stark, assistant managing editor, Business, Health and Science, The
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Flaws, limits and conflicts: Tips to find study pitfalls
An interesting study says one thing and you cover it. The next
week, a new study flat out contradicts it. We’ll discuss shortcuts
for weighing the likelihood a study’s answer is right, making
sense of shifting bodies of evidence, and cutting through
researcher spin. And we’ll talk about ways to “future-proof” a
story.
Hilda Bastian, editor for clinical effectiveness resources, PubMed Health,
National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine
Andrew M. Seaman, senior medical journalist, Reuters
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BB King