S9, Ep 15- COVID-19 Isn't Over for Everyone: Why FDA's Next Decision Matters for Immunocompromised Patients

The COVID-19 public health emergency may be over, but for millions of Americans with weakened immune systems, the virus remains a serious concern. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down a recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to phas…

S9, Ep 14- How America Learned to Live Longer: 250 Years of U.S. Health Policy

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, The Health Advocates takes a look at a different kind of American history, the story of our nation's fight against disease and the policies that have shaped the health of millions. Host Steven Newmark traces 250 years of U.S. health policy, begin…

S9, Ep 13- What Patients Need to Know: Research, Innovation, and the Patient Voice At EULAR 2026

What happens at one of the world's largest rheumatology conferences, and why should patients care? In this special episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark is joined by Dr. Shilpa Venkatachalam, Director of Patient-Centered Research at the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), to discuss…

S9, Ep 12- What’s Coming For Rheumatology: Why Conferences Like EULAR Matter for Patients

What actually happens at a major international medical conference — and why should patients care? In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark reports from EULAR 2026 in London, one of the world’s largest rheumatology conferences, to explain how meetings like this help shape the future …

S9, Ep 11- Inside the Growing Fight Over Vaccine Science

Something bigger than a single vaccine debate is unfolding inside America’s public health system. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark explores the growing tension surrounding vaccine policy, scientific transparency, and public trust. From the FDA’s decision not to review a new …

S9, Ep 9- Proposed Cuts, Real Impact: Understanding the New Healthcare Budget

The federal budget may feel distant, but its impact on healthcare is anything but. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down the Trump administration’s newly proposed budget, which includes significant cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services, reductions in rese…

S9, Ep 8- Courts vs. Vaccine Policy: Who Decides?

A federal court has halted sweeping changes to U.S. vaccine policy, raising fundamental questions about who shapes public health decisions and how those decisions are made. In this episode, we break down the ruling, the role of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, and why the court found the admin…

S9, Ep 7- What an NDA Means for Patients with Osteoarthritis

For people living with osteoarthritis, news about potential new treatments often comes with more questions than answers. In this episode of The Health Advocates, we slow things down to explain what it really means when a company submits a New Drug Application, or NDA, to the U.S. Food and Drug Admi…

S9, Ep 6- Vaccine Crossroads: FDA Scrutiny, TrumpRx, and the Fight Over Public Trust

This week on The Health Advocates, we unpack a series of developments that signal a pivotal moment in U.S. health policy. The FDA has refused to review Moderna’s new mRNA-based flu vaccine, raising questions about regulatory standards and the future of vaccine innovation. At the same time, the Trum…

S9, Ep 5- Congress Funds Health Care: What This Means for Patients

Congress has passed, and President Trump has signed, a major government funding bill that includes a wide range of health care policies, from telehealth extensions and hospital-at-home programs to long-sought reforms targeting pharmacy benefit managers. But alongside those wins, the legislation als…