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Coronavirus response is team effort

Over the past weeks, Americans have watched as COVID-19, or coronavirus, spread from China to other parts of the world. As a doctor, father and grandfather, I understand Pennsylvanians’ growing concerns about this virus and its potential consequences not only for our nation, but also for our area. Here’s the good news: Of any nation in the world, America is the most prepared to keep our communities safe. Currently, the United States government and the Com­mon­wealth of Pennsylvania are implementing a coordinated response to protect the public. From the Centers for Disease ...

Fix state’s shortage of educators

Do you like living in a world with doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs and artists? We wouldn’t have any of these professionals — or countless others — without educators. Education is the career that makes every other career possible. So, it should trouble all of us that Pennsylvania, like much of the nation, is experiencing a shortage of educators, teaching assistants and other school professionals. How bad is it? Between the 2012-13 and 2018-19 school years, the Pennsylvania Department of Education saw a 74 percent drop in the number of Level 1 teaching certificates it ...

Vaping becoming national epidemic

The Federal Drug Administration has declared the practice of vaping a national epidemic, and I agree. As a practicing pulmonologist, I have seen the devastating and longterm effects of tobacco smoking. E-cigarettes and vaping devices were introduced to the U.S. market in 2007. The initial claim that these devices were intended to help committed smokers to stop smoking has been found to be without merit. Moreover, these products have been purposely marketed to a younger population and now are used by increasing numbers of adolescence and teenagers. The claim that vaping is safer ...

Appreciation worth a day to celebrate

Today is Valentine’s Day. And while most of the thoughts of love and affection on this day are of the romantic variety, the truth is that a significant number of the population may not have a “significant other” with whom to celebrate. But Feb. 14 need not be for romantic couples alone. In fact, wouldn’t it be a great idea to show the people in your life just how much you care about them? That isn’t to say you need to kiss and hug everyone (please don’t unless that person is OK with it) or even say the words “I love you.” For family members, it can be as easy as ...

To boost economy, fight disease

To understand the health of an economy, look at the health of those who participate in it. About six in 10 U.S. adults have at least one chronic disease, such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. These conditions, also called noncommunicable diseases, are expected to collectively cost the country $95 trillion by 2050. We can avoid this multitrillion-dollar tax — if we shift our focus from just treating these diseases to also preventing them from taking root in the first place. Chronic diseases take a staggering toll on the economy. The direct costs are obvious — most people ...

Impeachment meant to be rare

The impeachment experience provided a civics lesson opportunity. Media reporting did not do justice to that opportunity. My analysis does not depend on fact witnesses, but rather law, the constitution and the legal process. It is taken from the defense presentations of Ken Starr, Patrick Philbin and, to some extent, Alan Dershowitz. After 78 days of semi-secret hearings, the House committees proposed two articles of impeachment (abuse of power and obstruction of congress), which the full House approved along a narrow party line vote. Take the “obstruction of congress” ...