The Health Advocates

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognized groundbreaking advances in understanding immune regulation — but what do they mean for people living with autoimmune disease? In this episode, Dr. Shilpa Venkatachalam, Chief Patient-Centered Research and Ethical Oversight Officer at GHLF, joins Steven to explore how our immune system knows when to act — and when to stop. Shilpa explains the importance of these d...

What happens to America’s health when Washington grinds to a halt? In this episode of The Health Advocates, we break down the latest federal government shutdown and what it means for public health agencies across the country. We explain what a shutdown actually is, drawing from past shutdowns over the last 30 years, and then dive into the immediate and long-term impacts on the CDC, FDA, NIH, and other agencies that millions o...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark sits down with Richard (RJ) Kedziora, co-founder of Estenda Solutions, to explore the intersection of technology, data, and patient advocacy. With decades of experience in healthcare technology, RJ shares how he and his team design digital tools that help patients take control of their health while supporting providers and payers alike. They also discuss patient engagement, ac...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we unpack a turbulent week in public health. The CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Committee (ACIP), now reshaped under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., met to debate changes to the COVID-19, MMRV, and Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations. Despite heated rhetoric and process irregularities, the committee ultimately kept broad access to COVID-19 vaccines — a short-term win for patients...

This fall’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout is more confusing than ever. The FDA has narrowed eligibility to older adults and people with high-risk conditions, while major medical societies are urging broader access — and insurance companies are waiting for new guidance from ACIP, the advisory committee that’s been reshaped by RFK Jr.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark explains who qualifies as ...

In this special episode of The Health Advocates, we take a closer look at Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), a condition that affects tens of thousands of older adults each year in the U.S. but is often misunderstood. Host Steven Newmark is joined by GHLF’s Angela Degrassi, patient advocate Eileen Salsman, and two leading experts — Dr. Leonard Calabrese and Dr. Jeffrey Curtis — to unpack what PMR is, how it impacts dai...

CDC Director Susan Monarez has been fired after less than one month on the job, sparking a wave of resignations by senior leaders and raising alarms about the politicization of public health. In this episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark unpacks what happened, why it matters, and what the loss of experienced leadership means for patients and communities. From vaccines to emergency preparedness, the future of the CDC ...

A leaked draft of the Trump administration’s Make Our Children Healthy Again plan reveals a strategy to improve kids’ health that’s far less sweeping than many expected. Instead of bold action on processed foods and pesticides, the draft emphasizes “awareness” campaigns and industry-friendly guidelines, while reopening old battles over vaccines, fluoride, and even WiFi.

In this episode of The He...

In this episode, Steven is joined by Dr. Zameer Pirani, an interventional pain specialist and co-founder of the Afiya Spine and Pain Institute in Canada. Dr. Pirani shares his path to pain medicine, from early training in Ireland to his experiences with anesthesia and chronic pain fellowships. He discusses how the opioid crisis, gaps in the health care system, and the stigma surrounding pain patients shaped his career and passion f...

In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down four critical public health stories making headlines:

• Senators Angus King and Elizabeth Warren introduce a resolution to defend the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force amid reports that RFK Jr. may fire its members.
• What’s really at stake if the Task Force is dismantled—and how evidence-based guidelines are already saving lives, from colon cancer screenings to heart ...

In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, is joined by Clayton Ruley, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Mission Advancement & Impact at the Community Liver Alliance. Clayton shares his decades-long journey from frontline harm reduction work to shaping national health policy. Together, they discuss the need for compassion in healthcare, the importance of patient-centered policymaking, and the urgent challenges f...

What exactly are reconciliation and rescission—and why do they matter for your health? In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief Policy Officer at GHLF, demystifies two powerful — and often misunderstood — budget tools: reconciliation and rescission. What do they mean? How do they bypass the normal budget process? And why do they matter for healthcare, public programs, and patients?

Steven breaks down the differences...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark takes a deep dive into the high-stakes lawsuit against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Six major medical organizations, and a pregnant physician are challenging Kennedy’s directive to remove COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant people — and they’re asking the courts to intervene. Steven unpacks the legal arguments, explains key co...

In this week’s episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark unpacks a whirlwind of health news that could reshape the foundation of U.S. public health. From a major lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to record-high measles cases and the quiet cancelation of a critical preventive care meeting, Steven explains what’s at stake. Plus, he shares a hopeful update on bird flu and the importance of defe...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down two urgent public health threats: a Senate proposal that would deeply cut Medicaid funding and an extreme heat wave affecting more than 265 million Americans. Steven explains how the Senate bill could gut essential health services for millions, all to fund tax cuts—and how this could impact everyone, not just Medicaid enrollees. He then turns to the record-br...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark sits down with Jon Erlichman — founder of Ticker Take and a well-known financial journalist whose videos have reached nearly a billion views across platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X. Jon shares his personal journey of living with Crohn’s disease and what inspired him to open up about it publicly. He also talks about the importance of family suppo...

In this week’s special episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down a major and alarming development in U.S. public health policy: the removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Steven explains what ACIP does, why its role is crucial to vaccine access and confidence, and how this sudden and sweeping dismissal could erode trust, lim...

This week on The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, breaks down two major stories: sweeping proposed cuts to key federal health agencies in the 2026 U.S. budget, and a new national partnership between GHLF and Walgreens aimed at improving care for chronic skin conditions. Steven explains what’s at stake, how advocacy can influence policy decisions, and why pharmacists are essential allies in supporting...

The FDA just made a surprising move that could reshape COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. going forward, and the House passed a major budget bill with proposed cuts to Medicaid. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down the changes, debates, and potential impacts on people living with chronic conditions.

Tune in to understand what these updates mean and what steps advocates can take to make their voices hear...