The Health Advocates

The science of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is changing rapidly. Advances in biomarkers, diagnostics, treatments, and prevention could allow clinicians to identify disease earlier than ever before, sometimes even before noticeable symptoms emerge.

In this special episode of The Health Advocates, recorded for Steven Newmark’s visit to London for the 2026 World Dementia Council Summit, Steven explores what this new er...

Colorectal cancer screening can save lives, yet millions of eligible Americans still do not complete recommended screening. Could a simple blood draw help reach some of the people who currently go unscreened?

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark speaks with Dr. Sam Asgarian, Chief Medical Officer at Guardant Health, and Oliver Rocroi, Advocacy Relations Officer at Guardant Health, about the emerging role of blood...

Osteoarthritis affects millions of people, but living with OA can involve much more than joint pain. It can change how people work, exercise, socialize, sleep, and participate in everyday life. And for many patients, the path from conservative treatments to possible joint replacement can feel frustrating and unclear. 

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we speak with orthopedic surgeon and researcher Dr. Vinod Dasa about ...

As fall approaches, flu and COVID-19 are once again moving to the forefront of public health. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark looks at what the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season may tell us about the months ahead, how this year’s flu vaccine has been updated, and when people should consider getting vaccinated.

He also breaks down the newest COVID-19 vaccine, including which variant it targets, whe...

Each September, the United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA, brings together policymakers, scientists, advocates, researchers, and health leaders from around the world. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark shares why participating in UNGA Week offers such a valuable opportunity to learn from global colleagues, exchange ideas, and explore new approaches to public health.

Drawing on discussions taking place throug...

The 2026 midterm elections are approaching, and control of Congress could significantly shape health policy during the final two years of President Trump’s administration. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark explains why patients should pay attention, including the differences between Democratic and Republican priorities on Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, prescription drug costs, public health, vaccines...

President Trump’s new executive order on childhood vaccines has created fresh questions about what is changing, what is not, and what families should do now.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down the order’s major provisions, including proposals to reduce the number of universally recommended vaccines, space out vaccinations, and eventually separate the MMR vaccine into individual measles, ...

Public health threats often seem unrelated until we examine the systems that connect them. In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark discusses the record-breaking rise in U.S. measles cases, recent foodborne illness outbreaks, changing COVID-19 activity, and the health risks associated with wildfire smoke.

Steven explains what these developments mean for patients, caregivers, and people living with chronic illness, in...

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 phase out COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) and explains why the decision matters for people who are immunocompromised. The transi...

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, beginning with George Washington's bold decision to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox and continuing through the development of ...

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 the biggest takeaways from EULAR 2026, the annual congress of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology.

The conversation e...

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 of patient care. The episode explores why conferences matter not just for doctors and researchers, but for patients and advoc...

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 mRNA flu vaccine application to reports of delayed vaccine safety studies and shifting federal recommendations, the episode c...

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 research funding, and a major restructuring of federal public health programs.

But this conversation goes beyond what’s proposed...

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 administration’s actions unlawful. We also explore what this means for patients, providers, and the future of evidence-based poli...

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 Administration.

Steven Newmark is joined by Erich Horsley and Dr. Yusuf Yazici from Biosplice Therapeutics to walk through this important re...

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 Trump administration has launched TrumpRx, a new prescription drug discount platform that promises savings but faces scrutiny over its...

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 also raises serious questions about the future direction of federal health policy.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven New...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark sits down with Dr. Cynthia Overton to explore what person‑centered care truly looks like, through the eyes of someone who has lived it.

At age 26, Cynthia experienced a sudden spinal cord injury that left her temporarily paralyzed—an event that fundamentally reshaped her understanding of health care. Today, she draws on both lived experience and evidence‑based frameworks...