Tag Archives: Kennedys

Doctors Believe Kennedy’s Proposal for Nutrition Education in Medicine is Sound in Theory

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is advocating for enhanced nutrition education for doctors.

On Wednesday, he revealed that a specialized team within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will address the “serious lack of nutrition education in medicine.” Their aim is to significantly incorporate nutrition into the medical curriculum, licensing exams, residency training, board accreditation, and continuing education requirements for physicians.

“We can reverse the chronic disease epidemic by simply modifying our diet and lifestyle, but for that to happen, nutrition must be an essential part of every physician’s training,” Kennedy stated. Watch the video on X. “We’ll initiate this by integrating nutrition into the pre-med programs at universities and assessing it through the MCAT.”

This shift includes cutting vaccine research and reducing federal health agencies as Kennedy makes more controversial decisions to reform American public health.

HHS did not answer specific inquiries but highlighted an NBC News press release.

The department has instructed medical education institutions to present written plans for integrating nutrition education by September 10th. The American Association of Medical Colleges has established the Medical College Entrance Examination (MCAT), which sets coursework requirements or recommendations that pre-med students should follow.

Numerous doctors commended the announcement, acknowledging nutrition’s vital role in managing and preventing chronic diseases. Kennedy’s personal commitment aims to elevate the importance of the policies he championed upon taking office. However, while some worry about insufficient time for nutritional counseling, HHS advocates believe it is preferable to bolster hospital staffing with nutritionists or enhance counseling coverage. Others contend that Kennedy’s announcement could undermine trust in physicians and raise concerns about their patient care capabilities.

In June, Texas and Louisiana enacted laws aligning with Kennedy’s proposed medical education reforms. In Texas, physicians must complete nutrition courses to renew their licenses, while medical schools are required to include nutrition education to access certain public funds. Louisiana mandates that some doctors undergo at least one hour of continuing education in nutrition every four years.

Dr. Natewood, a primary care physician at Yale School of Medicine and director of culinary medicine, endorsed the need for doctors to be well-trained in nutrition. However, he questioned whether this approach is the most effective means of addressing chronic diseases.

“It’s somewhat short-sighted to assume that providing nutritional counseling is the solution to this chronic disease crisis,” he asserted.

“Many appointments are for sick patients who seek quick solutions to multiple complex issues,” Wood added.

In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Kennedy expressed concern that healthcare providers tend to “overlook” nutrition education requirements. He referenced a 2022 Journal of Wellness Survey, which indicated that medical students receive less than one hour of formal nutrition training annually. He also cited findings from Nutrition for Journal’s Research Advances in 2024, reporting that 75% of U.S. medical schools require coursework in clinical nutrition.

Previously, Kennedy proposed withholding funds from medical schools lacking nutrition courses.

“This motivated me to enter this field, as nutrition is a primary health factor for many of my patients, yet it was largely absent from my education.”

He expressed support for Kennedy’s policy initiatives regarding nutrition education in medicine.

“The federal government is essentially stating, ‘If you’re not fulfilling your duties—if you’re not training your doctors accordingly—we’ll halt funding.’ And they will heed that warning,” Mozaffarian remarked.

However, the American Association of Medical Colleges contends that medical students do receive training on dietary impacts on health. According to their recent surveys of U.S. and Canadian medical schools, all 182 institutions now include nutrition as a crucial aspect of the curriculum, up from 89% five years ago.

“The School of Medicine acknowledges the significant role nutrition has in preventing, managing, and treating chronic health conditions, and thus incorporates essential nutrition education into the core curriculum,” stated AAMC Chief Academic Officer Alison Wehrran.

Kennedy’s appeal for enhanced nutrition education has ignited discussions about the realistic expectations patients can have from primary care physicians.

Mozaffarian emphasized that the aim is not to transform doctors into nutritionists, but to equip patients with the knowledge needed to identify dietary concerns and refer them to specialists.

Conversely, Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, believed that physicians already possess this foundational knowledge.

“I am not uninformed about nutrition; that’s the implication,” he remarked.

Scott pointed out that malnutrition in the U.S. is not solely due to a lack of awareness regarding healthier food choices; it’s also a consequence of systemic barriers, such as lack of affordable healthcare or limited access to healthy food options. Approximately 18.8 million people in the U.S. live in food deserts, which are low-income areas far from grocery stores.

“There are numerous creative and feasible solutions, but if I were leading HHS, this medical education requirement would be the least of my priorities,” he commented.

Wood suggested that a more effective approach would be to advocate for increased access to nutritionists covered by insurance. For instance, while Medicare may cover these services, it usually requires patients to have diabetes or develop kidney disease. Coverage may vary for private insurances and Medicaid patients, he noted.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Despite Kennedy’s Assertions, CDC’s Childhood Lead Program Faces Discontinuation

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Amidst claims regarding funding, the federal government’s initiative to prevent childhood lead poisoning is currently inactive.

In April, the program’s 26 personnel went on administrative leave, with a shutdown slated for June 2 as part of a wider restructuring within the Department of Health and Human Services.

As of now, none of the team members have returned, and layoffs are expected to occur in two weeks, according to Eric Svenden, director of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encompasses the Childhood Lead Program.

In recent weeks, Kennedy has faced backlash from Democratic senators regarding the reduction of the program, as state and local health departments have stepped in to conduct blood lead testing and monitoring.

At a Senate Approval Committee hearing on Tuesday, Kennedy informed Sen. Jack Reed that the program is still funded. The previous week, he reassured Sen. Tammy Baldwin that he has no intentions of discontinuing it.

However, Svendsen stated that his entire division was disbanded by HHS, making it challenging to easily reassemble.

“There’s no other expert to do what we do,” he remarked. “The public health field is so specialized that you can’t just bring in new staff overnight.”

According to two CDC scientists aware of the situation, staff from the Childhood Lead Program have not been given directives on transitioning their responsibilities.

Even minimal lead exposure poses risks to children’s developmental progress, learning capabilities, and behavior. The CDC program delivered essential expertise to assist underfunded health departments in mitigating these risks. In 2023, it played a role in addressing a national lead poisoning outbreak linked to Cinnamon Applesauce and maintained frequent communication with the Milwaukee Health Department after lead hazards were identified in public schools.

“We have a team in Milwaukee,” Kennedy asserted to Reed on Tuesday, mentioning the provision of laboratory and analytical support to the health department.

However, the Milwaukee Health Department disputed Kennedy’s claim, stating there was no federal epidemiological or analytical assistance connected to the lead crisis.

“Regrettably, this is yet another instance of the secretary failing to provide accurate information,” commented city health commissioner Mike Traitis.

Caroline Reinwald, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee Health Department, explained that the only federal involvement during the major crisis was a “brief two-week visit from one CDC staff member this month, assisting us with lab verification measures.”

“This assistance was separately requested,” Reinwald noted, highlighting that Milwaukee Public Schools sought help due to the crisis and an existing need to enhance the lab’s long-term lead testing capacity.

HHS has announced its intention to continue efforts to eradicate childhood lead poisoning through a newly established department called the Administration for Healthy America. Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers and environmental health organizations question the sustainability of this work without reinstating the staff.

“Although you mentioned last week that you wouldn’t cut this program, you dismissed the entire office responsible for it,” Baldwin confronted Kennedy during Tuesday’s hearing. “Your choice to terminate staff and eliminate offices endangers children, including thousands in Milwaukee.”

HHS has not responded to inquiries for comment.

At the hearing, Kennedy failed to provide updated information about his agency’s strategies, referencing a court order implemented by the Trump administration that halted federal government reductions.

The severity of Milwaukee’s crisis came to light in February when health officials identified alarming toxin levels in classrooms, corridors, and common areas, exacerbated by deteriorating lead-based paint.

Before the childhood lead program was affected, the CDC engaged with the Milwaukee Health Department weekly, collaborating on a strategy to screen tens of thousands of students for lead poisoning.

The health department reached out to the CDC for assistance on March 26, but Traitis noted that the agency dismissed the childhood lead team on April 1, subsequently denying Milwaukee’s request two days later.

“It’s quite unprecedented, as this marks the first time in at least 75 years that the CDC has rejected an EPIAID request,” he added.

To date, the Milwaukee Health Department has identified over 100 schools built before 1978, the year when federal regulations prohibited lead-based paints for consumer use. Approximately 40 of these have been tested, Traitis reported. Lead contamination has resulted in the closure of six schools since the beginning of the year, with only two reopening.

Currently, about 350 students in Milwaukee are screened for lead poisoning among a potential risk group of 44,000, as reported by Traitis. One case has been linked to the school’s environment, while two more cases stem from exposure in both school and home scenarios. The Health Department is investigating four additional cases that may involve multiple sources of exposure.

Totoraitis explained that while the department routinely investigates lead in residences and rental properties, they were counting on the CDC to aid in expanding inspection capacities for larger buildings. He noted that CDC staff were expected to assist in establishing lead screening clinics and tracing exposure sources.

The health department is managing these initiatives independently now, but Totoraitis expressed concerns about the ability to screen all cases promptly. He estimated that the department could handle approximately 1,000 to 1,200 pediatric lead poisoning cases annually. This encompasses blood lead level testing, chelation therapy for treating lead poisoning, and mitigating exposure by replacing contaminated windows and doors.

Totoraitis expressed hope for hiring two CDC employees who might return soon to clarify lingering questions about managing the crisis.

Ultimately, he remarked, “I hope to receive an email from them saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got our jobs back.’ ”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Experts Question Kennedy’s Proposed Timeline for Discovering Autism’s Cause

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National Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed on Thursday to assemble experts from around the world to investigate the reasons behind the increasing rate of autism in the United States.

“We have initiated an extensive testing and research initiative involving hundreds of scientists globally,” Kennedy declared during a cabinet meeting hosted by President Trump. “By September, we will have identified the causes of the autism epidemic and will be able to eliminate those exposures.”

“This will be a significant press conference,” Trump responded.

However, scientists who have dedicated years to uncovering the cause of autism expressed doubts about Kennedy’s proposed timeline.

They noted the complexities involved in identifying a singular cause in potential contributors like pesticides, air pollution, and maternal diabetes.

Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and expert in environmental toxins, cited the current extensive layoffs and reductions in Kennedy’s research at the Department of Health and Human Services as a reason to question such swift progress.

“It is hard to envision a significant scientific breakthrough by September, especially with the current pause of various other pediatric illness research at hospitals and medical schools due to funding cuts from HHS,” Landrigan remarked.

Kennedy’s office did not provide many specifics about the plan initially. Later that day, Kennedy offered more insights, indicating that the National Institutes of Health would lead the initiative.

He mentioned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be central to the effort. I’ll release the data soon, showing an increase in autism diagnoses in one in every 31 children. Many experts believe the rise in autism rates is due to heightened awareness of the spectrum of disorders and expanded diagnostics.

“We are receiving inquiries from scientists nationwide and globally,” Kennedy stated. In an interview with Fox News. “All factors are being considered—from our food system to water, air quality, child-rearing practices, and other changes that may have contributed to this epidemic.”

In an interview, Kennedy also mentioned the intention to compare autism rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Many scientists dismiss this approach, pointing out that parents who vaccinate their children are more likely to seek diagnoses due to increased interactions with healthcare providers.

Numerous researchers and scientists have long worked to find the cause of autism. They have started to identify factors like pesticide exposure, solvents in the workplace, maternal infections during pregnancy, maternal diabetes, and exposure to chemicals like phthalates and PFA, known for their persistent nature in the environment.

Studies have indicated that environmental exposures may interact with human genes in varying ways, underscoring the complexity of autism. Dr. Hertz-Picciotto added that obtaining funding for clinical studies into autism causes is challenging, but new research could propel the field forward, although it may take years.

Describing all the research to be completed by September as “silly,” Dr. Alice Kuo, chief of pediatric medicine for autism at the University of California, Los Angeles, mentioned her involvement in a longstanding NIH project that investigated children’s health nationwide.

The study, which followed thousands of children and parents to uncover potential autism causes, was costly and prematurely terminated, according to Dr. Kuo.

She emphasized that planning and designing a study would take months, and unraveling the answers would require years of research.

In a social media post, Kennedy thanked the president and the Make America Healthy Commission for their support. The commission was established by executive order in February to assess threats to children from various exposures and propose a strategy to address the findings.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Top FDA Vaccine Official Resigns, Cites Kennedy’s Accusations of ‘Misinformation and Lies’

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Dr. Peter Marks, a top Food and Drug Administration vaccine official, resigned under pressure on Friday, stating that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive attitude towards vaccines was irresponsible and posed a risk to public health.

“It became clear that truth and transparency are not valued by the secretary, but instead he desires blind confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Dr. Marks wrote to Sarah Brenner, the agency’s representative. He reiterated his sentiments in an interview, stating, “This individual does not prioritize truth. He prioritizes followership.”

Dr. Marks resigned after being called to the Department of Health and Human Services on Friday afternoon, where he was given the ultimatum of resigning or being terminated, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Dr. Marks headed the Biologics Evaluation and Research Center responsible for approving and monitoring vaccine safety, as well as a variety of other therapies including cell and gene therapy. He was viewed as a steady and reliable presence by many during the pandemic, despite facing criticism for being overly accommodating to businesses seeking approval for treatments with complex evidence of effectiveness.

Ongoing scrutiny of the FDA’s vaccine program clearly placed Dr. Marks at odds with the new health secretary. Since Kennedy took office on February 13th, he has issued a series of directives on vaccine policy. He has alarmed those concerned about his potential to leverage his government authority to advance his long-standing campaign asserting vaccines are highly detrimental despite overwhelming evidence of their life-saving impact worldwide.

“Undermining trust in a well-established vaccine that has met the FDA’s rigorous standards of quality, safety, and efficacy for decades is irresponsible and poses a significant risk to public health and our nation’s well-being and security,” Dr. Marks wrote.

For instance, Kennedy promoted the use of vitamin A as a treatment during a major measles outbreak in Texas, downplaying the importance of vaccination. He has surrounded himself with analysts tied to the anti-vaccine movement and is pursuing studies examining long-debunked theories linking vaccines to autism.

On Thursday, Kennedy announced plans to establish a vaccine injury agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He emphasized that this initiative was a top priority and would bring the “gold standard of science” to the federal government.

An HHS spokesperson stated on Friday night that Dr. Marks would no longer have a place at the FDA if he did not commit to transparency.

In his resignation letter, Dr. Marks highlighted the tragic toll of measles amid Kennedy’s lukewarm approach to the urgent vaccination needs among many unvaccinated individuals in Texas and other states.

Dr. Marks pointed out that through widespread vaccine availability, “over 100,000 children who received vaccinations last year in Africa and Asia were saved.”

Dr. Marks expressed his willingness to address Kennedy’s vaccine safety and transparency concerns in public forums and through collaboration with national experts in science, engineering, and medicine, which he was rebuffed.

“I have exhausted all efforts to work with them to restore confidence in vaccines,” Dr. Marks stated in an interview. “It became evident that this was not their goal.”

With that, Dr. Marks bid farewell to the FDA.

“His leadership has been instrumental in driving medical innovation and ensuring life-saving treatments reach those in need,” stated Ellen V. Sigal, founder of the cancer research advocacy group Friends and a close associate of Dr. Marks. His departure, she noted, “will leave significant gaps.”

Dr. Marks guided the agency and its external advisors on the type of evidence required to pilot the FDA’s vaccine program amid the tumultuous year of the coronavirus pandemic and expedite emergency authorizations for vaccines developed under the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.

In June 2022, he urged an external expert panel to consider the risks the virus posed to children under five years old, leading the panel to recommend the vaccine for that age group later that day.

“We must be cautious not to be paralyzed by the number of pediatric deaths due to the overwhelming number of fatalities we are facing here,” Dr. Marks cautioned at the time.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at Baylor College of Medicine, spoke highly of his regular interactions with Dr. Marks during the pandemic, describing him as deeply committed to leveraging science to aid the American populace. “He was a pandemic hero, and it’s truly unfortunate to see him go,” Hotez remarked.

Dr. Marks faced skepticism from some within the FDA, including former members of his own vaccine team. Two senior regulators in the agency’s vaccine office resigned in 2021 over the Biden administration’s efforts to push for the approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot.

Kennedy’s call for further investigation into vaccine injuries was met with reservations by Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, who noted that such research had been a focal point for decades. “I fear this is an attempt to magnify vaccine harm out of proportion to the actual risk,” Osterholm cautioned.

Dr. Marks shared these concerns, expressing his desire in his letter to mitigate the harm inflicted by the current administration.

“My hope,” he penned, “is that the unprecedented assault on scientific truths that has detrimentally impacted our nation’s public health will cease in the coming years, allowing our citizens to fully benefit from the wide array of medical advancements.”

Source: www.nytimes.com