Integrative Epidemiology LLC

FDA regulation of tobacco signed by Obama and new Integrative Epidemiology website design

I am so excited for two things today.  First, I am happy to introduce my new website design and development of my new blog.   I plan to address and comment on the latest developments in biomedical science, genetics and public health and how advances may affect policy and the practice of medicine and health research across the U.S. and the world.  You can also follow my updates on twitter @susanepi.

Yesterday, President Obama  officially signed into law the congressional bill to allow the FDA to regulate tobacco products.  After many years of proposing such regulations, I am still in state of awe at how rapidly Congress passed such a bill in both House and Senate and got legislation on the president’s desk within months (lightening speed for passing anything in the government).  The big white elephant in the passage of this bill will be exactly what kind of effect it will have on public health and the tobacco industry.  While the bill does not have the authority to ban cigarettes, the legislation of product development and marketing will likely have a significant affect on the sale of tobacco products. Financing the FDA regulation of tobacco will likely increase the cost of cigarettes and tobacco products, which may decrease their use, and/or may tilt the scale in the opposite direction and possibly create a black market for unregulated tobacco products.   It is still too early to tell how this historic legislation will pan out, but it will sure be a fascinating development to follow in upcoming months.

Back from Athens

I just returned from a fantastic trip to Athens and the Greek Island of Kos. My husband attended the 7th annual Critical Care and Emergency Medicine meeting in Athens, Greece from May 29 – May 30.

After the conference, some of the speakers were taken on two-day excursion to Kos, which was the birthplace of Hippocrates. The intensive care doctors participated in a re-enactment of the Hippocratic oath under Hippocrates plane tree. Then our group also visited the archaeological site of Asclepieion which was one of the first hospitals, church and medical school and where Hippocrates developed the practice of medicine. What an experience!

This particular group of doctors had been discussing critical care practice on their internet digest for years and finally got to meet each other in person. The meeting host, Dr. Antonios Liolios, became our Kos tour guide and took us to Diamond beach (with gorgeous Mediterranean waters), numerous Greek tavernas where we ate lots of fish, saw sunsets and had a day-long boat cruise exploring more Greek islands.

The typically serious and workaholic nature of these doctors was beaten into submission by the second day of the trip whereby they were forced to relax under the warm sun and in the Aegean sea and eat and drink as the Greeks do!  As with many conferences, such experiences facilitate great conversations (science and otherwise) and allow for the development of strong connections and potential collaborations between scientists.  A video clip of some of the adventures of our tour can be seen here.  (website link TBA)