Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
@doclauravater.bsky.social
GI oncologist @ IUCancerCenter | Writer (narrative med, fiction) | TEDx & commencement speaker. Writing about humanism in medicine, for patients & clinicians.
https://www.lauravater.com
https://www.lauravater.com
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
"It will take years to know the extent of the damage that has been done to my soul bearing witness to other people’s suffering."
Those in medicine will feel every word in this essay... those who aren't in medicine, will you bear witness to our grief? #HealingTheHealers"
Those in medicine will feel every word in this essay... those who aren't in medicine, will you bear witness to our grief? #HealingTheHealers"
Bearing witness to the gun violence epidemic
A health care worker's raw, poetic reflection on treating gunshot victims, detailing the emotional toll on staff and families and the trauma of the gun violence epidemic.
kevinmd.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
"It will take years to know the extent of the damage that has been done to my soul bearing witness to other people’s suffering."
Those in medicine will feel every word in this essay... those who aren't in medicine, will you bear witness to our grief? #HealingTheHealers"
Those in medicine will feel every word in this essay... those who aren't in medicine, will you bear witness to our grief? #HealingTheHealers"
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
I care for children in the hospital on inpatient & consult services.
Most weeks there are at least a few kids admitted with vaccine preventable diseases.
Often in children who can’t get vaccinated themselves.
15 years in pediatrics and I’ve never seen a single one admitted with vaccine injury.
Most weeks there are at least a few kids admitted with vaccine preventable diseases.
Often in children who can’t get vaccinated themselves.
15 years in pediatrics and I’ve never seen a single one admitted with vaccine injury.
September 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I care for children in the hospital on inpatient & consult services.
Most weeks there are at least a few kids admitted with vaccine preventable diseases.
Often in children who can’t get vaccinated themselves.
15 years in pediatrics and I’ve never seen a single one admitted with vaccine injury.
Most weeks there are at least a few kids admitted with vaccine preventable diseases.
Often in children who can’t get vaccinated themselves.
15 years in pediatrics and I’ve never seen a single one admitted with vaccine injury.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Huntingtons disease is a devastating disease and this is absolutely extraordinary news!
"An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients...Prof Tabrizi says this gene therapy 'is the beginning' and will open the gates for therapies that can reach more people."🧪⚕️
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Huntingtons disease is a devastating disease and this is absolutely extraordinary news!
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.”
— Marie Curie (1867–1934)
— Marie Curie (1867–1934)
September 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.”
— Marie Curie (1867–1934)
— Marie Curie (1867–1934)
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
I know this is not a unique observation but public health was basically created to deal with the Spanish flu, and then a century later COVID hit and killed twice as many people and our response was to destroy public health
August 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I know this is not a unique observation but public health was basically created to deal with the Spanish flu, and then a century later COVID hit and killed twice as many people and our response was to destroy public health
Caring for patients is a profound privilege. It’s also hard, complex, & emotionally challenging. Thank you for doing this work.
August 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Caring for patients is a profound privilege. It’s also hard, complex, & emotionally challenging. Thank you for doing this work.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
I will always, no matter what the circumstances, be absolutely and adamantly opposed to letting children starve.
July 22, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I will always, no matter what the circumstances, be absolutely and adamantly opposed to letting children starve.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Healthcare is a human right
Pass it on
Pass it on
July 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Healthcare is a human right
Pass it on
Pass it on
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
I realize broad science-literacy problems cannot generally be solved just by shoving more facts at people but I really wish more people understood that the entire purpose and mechanism of a vaccine is to educate your OWN immune system, making it about the most "natural" medical intervention possible
August 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I realize broad science-literacy problems cannot generally be solved just by shoving more facts at people but I really wish more people understood that the entire purpose and mechanism of a vaccine is to educate your OWN immune system, making it about the most "natural" medical intervention possible
It’s still so satisfying as a staff physician to give my learners time at the margins… An actual lunch break, or letting them leave early when the teaching is done.
Let’s keep normalizing breaks for our students & residents as much as possible.
Let’s keep normalizing breaks for our students & residents as much as possible.
July 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It’s still so satisfying as a staff physician to give my learners time at the margins… An actual lunch break, or letting them leave early when the teaching is done.
Let’s keep normalizing breaks for our students & residents as much as possible.
Let’s keep normalizing breaks for our students & residents as much as possible.
All people deserve healthcare, when and where they need it, regardless of their background, employment status, or personal circumstances.
July 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
All people deserve healthcare, when and where they need it, regardless of their background, employment status, or personal circumstances.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Hot take: Not only are work requirements for Medicaid bad, tying health care to work at all is cruel and we should be doing it less not more.
Everyone deserves health care. Everyone.
Everyone deserves health care. Everyone.
July 1, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Hot take: Not only are work requirements for Medicaid bad, tying health care to work at all is cruel and we should be doing it less not more.
Everyone deserves health care. Everyone.
Everyone deserves health care. Everyone.
Immigrants play a huge role in US health care and the hospital workforce.
If we discourage them from entering the US, this can make shortages worse—causing understaffing, decreased access to care, poorer quality of care, and more burnout among clinicians already in practice.
If we discourage them from entering the US, this can make shortages worse—causing understaffing, decreased access to care, poorer quality of care, and more burnout among clinicians already in practice.
June 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Immigrants play a huge role in US health care and the hospital workforce.
If we discourage them from entering the US, this can make shortages worse—causing understaffing, decreased access to care, poorer quality of care, and more burnout among clinicians already in practice.
If we discourage them from entering the US, this can make shortages worse—causing understaffing, decreased access to care, poorer quality of care, and more burnout among clinicians already in practice.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Over one in four (27%) physicians and surgeons at U.S. hospitals, rising to one in three in FL (37%), CA (33%), NY (33%), and TX (31%), are immigrants. Policies aimed at restricting immigration could negatively impact the health and well-being of Americans.
@kff.org
www.kff.org/racial-equit...
@kff.org
www.kff.org/racial-equit...
June 20, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Over one in four (27%) physicians and surgeons at U.S. hospitals, rising to one in three in FL (37%), CA (33%), NY (33%), and TX (31%), are immigrants. Policies aimed at restricting immigration could negatively impact the health and well-being of Americans.
@kff.org
www.kff.org/racial-equit...
@kff.org
www.kff.org/racial-equit...
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.”
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Cutting the NIH—The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe
This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...
jamanetwork.com
June 15, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.”
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
The chart: "Patient is noncompliant with her blood thinner."
Reality: She lost her job, and with it, her insurance. She barely has enough to put food on the table for her kids, let alone afford the out-of-pocket cost of the medication.
Reality: She lost her job, and with it, her insurance. She barely has enough to put food on the table for her kids, let alone afford the out-of-pocket cost of the medication.
June 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The chart: "Patient is noncompliant with her blood thinner."
Reality: She lost her job, and with it, her insurance. She barely has enough to put food on the table for her kids, let alone afford the out-of-pocket cost of the medication.
Reality: She lost her job, and with it, her insurance. She barely has enough to put food on the table for her kids, let alone afford the out-of-pocket cost of the medication.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
If you have never stuck a needle in the back of an infant and watched pus drip out please don’t tell me I am overreacting to RFK Jr.’s latest assault on science.
June 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
If you have never stuck a needle in the back of an infant and watched pus drip out please don’t tell me I am overreacting to RFK Jr.’s latest assault on science.
Hidden hours that clinicians work:
- Writing notes, charting, & answering EMR messages
- Peer to peers w/ insurance
- Coordinating care with specialists
- Prepping for clinic
- Home call
- Writing student evals and LORs
What did I miss?
- Writing notes, charting, & answering EMR messages
- Peer to peers w/ insurance
- Coordinating care with specialists
- Prepping for clinic
- Home call
- Writing student evals and LORs
What did I miss?
June 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Hidden hours that clinicians work:
- Writing notes, charting, & answering EMR messages
- Peer to peers w/ insurance
- Coordinating care with specialists
- Prepping for clinic
- Home call
- Writing student evals and LORs
What did I miss?
- Writing notes, charting, & answering EMR messages
- Peer to peers w/ insurance
- Coordinating care with specialists
- Prepping for clinic
- Home call
- Writing student evals and LORs
What did I miss?
Why do doctors work without sleep? Tradition.
In the 1890s, Dr. Halsted created a model for training where residents worked nearly 24/7.
Only later, we learned: Dr. Halsted used cocaine to stay awake & morphine to fall asleep, relying on residents to cover up the addiction.
In the 1890s, Dr. Halsted created a model for training where residents worked nearly 24/7.
Only later, we learned: Dr. Halsted used cocaine to stay awake & morphine to fall asleep, relying on residents to cover up the addiction.
May 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Why do doctors work without sleep? Tradition.
In the 1890s, Dr. Halsted created a model for training where residents worked nearly 24/7.
Only later, we learned: Dr. Halsted used cocaine to stay awake & morphine to fall asleep, relying on residents to cover up the addiction.
In the 1890s, Dr. Halsted created a model for training where residents worked nearly 24/7.
Only later, we learned: Dr. Halsted used cocaine to stay awake & morphine to fall asleep, relying on residents to cover up the addiction.
Just a reminder that even when you’re trying your best, you can’t make everyone happy. You will get bad reviews. You will have people switch to a different clinician.
May we all do our best to provide thorough, compassionate care, and release the things we cannot control.
May we all do our best to provide thorough, compassionate care, and release the things we cannot control.
May 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Just a reminder that even when you’re trying your best, you can’t make everyone happy. You will get bad reviews. You will have people switch to a different clinician.
May we all do our best to provide thorough, compassionate care, and release the things we cannot control.
May we all do our best to provide thorough, compassionate care, and release the things we cannot control.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Damn this piece by @iwashyna.bsky.social and Kelly Vranas is a terrific one about the importance of stories in recommendation and nomination letters
www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10....
www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10....
Stories Make for Better Letters of Recommendation and Award Nominations | ATS Scholar | Articles in Press
www.atsjournals.org
May 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Damn this piece by @iwashyna.bsky.social and Kelly Vranas is a terrific one about the importance of stories in recommendation and nomination letters
www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10....
www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
sleep deprivation has serious cognitive effects and letting medical doctors work on schedules that don't allow them to sleep is like if we required bus drivers to slam vodka shots at the beginning of their shift, it is SO stupid and dangerous and it's exclusively because of capitalism
September 7, 2023 at 1:00 PM
sleep deprivation has serious cognitive effects and letting medical doctors work on schedules that don't allow them to sleep is like if we required bus drivers to slam vodka shots at the beginning of their shift, it is SO stupid and dangerous and it's exclusively because of capitalism
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. Credible estimates count 190K deaths so far.
In Kenya, I am seeing devastating impact, incl this child's starvation & many deaths directly caused by Rubio’s actions. More in my @msnbc.com clip. www.instagram.com/atul.gawande...
In Kenya, I am seeing devastating impact, incl this child's starvation & many deaths directly caused by Rubio’s actions. More in my @msnbc.com clip. www.instagram.com/atul.gawande...
Atul Gawande on Instagram: "“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false.
So far, 190,000 children and 90,000 adults have died due to the dismantling of USAID (even assuming...
9 likes, 0 comments - atul.gawande on May 24, 2025: "“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false.
So far, 190,000 children and 90,000 adults have died due to the dismantlin...
www.instagram.com
May 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. Credible estimates count 190K deaths so far.
In Kenya, I am seeing devastating impact, incl this child's starvation & many deaths directly caused by Rubio’s actions. More in my @msnbc.com clip. www.instagram.com/atul.gawande...
In Kenya, I am seeing devastating impact, incl this child's starvation & many deaths directly caused by Rubio’s actions. More in my @msnbc.com clip. www.instagram.com/atul.gawande...
Ample research has shown that clinician burnout is not due to individual weakness or a lack of resilience but a healthcare system that pushes clinicians past their human limits with overwork, little sleep, and burdensome low-value tasks.
The problem is the system, not the people.
The problem is the system, not the people.
May 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Ample research has shown that clinician burnout is not due to individual weakness or a lack of resilience but a healthcare system that pushes clinicians past their human limits with overwork, little sleep, and burdensome low-value tasks.
The problem is the system, not the people.
The problem is the system, not the people.
Reposted by Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
There is not a single congressional district in the U.S. where more than 15% of voters support cuts to SNAP, the federal program that provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans.
May 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
There is not a single congressional district in the U.S. where more than 15% of voters support cuts to SNAP, the federal program that provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans.