Near-Term Babies and Disabilities

NY Times article entitled "Near-Term Babies May Face a Higher Risk of Problems." If you are working with pregnant women, how might you discuss the results of this study with them? What preventative efforts could be made for both the women and these children?

Depression Screening in Teens

NY Times Article entitled "Depression Tests Urged for Teenagers." How would a physician with only 5-10 minutes with each patient screen for depression accurately? Do you think a teenager would be honest with their physician about depression?

Multimorbidity in the Elderly

NY Times article entitled "Treating an Illness is One Thing. What About a Patient with Many?" For those interested in working with the elderly, how might you manage a patient who has 5 or 6 chronic illnesses but cannot tolerate a number of medications?

Grades vs. Standards

NY Times Article, "Report Cards Give Up A's and B's for 4's and 3's." Is it a good idea to not give letter grades and only numbers indicating performance on state education standards?

Genetic Embryo Screening

Chicago Tribute Article entitled "Genetic Embryo Screening: Questions Grown Along with Number of Procedures." Is genetic screening appropriate or is it a "slippery slope" where parents may want to start screening for height, hair color or athletic ability?

Working Memory and ADHD

US News and World Report (magazine article but short) article that reports on recent research that reveals children with ADHD have difficulty with their working memory. How could you help a child with ADHD improve their working memory?

Gender Roles and Work-Life Balance

USA Today article about how shifting gender roles are creating conflict for males in work-life balance. Read the entire report (in PDF) here for more detail. What do you think? Are the changes in gender roles creating an imbalance in family relationships?

"My Grandfather was NOT a monkey"

Associated Press article (through the Columbus Dispatch) about a current case of standards for teaching science in Texas classrooms. The outcome of this case will dictate how textbooks are written and classes are taught throughout Texas. What are the pros and cons of teaching both strengths and weaknesses in classrooms?

Lawsuit regarding "Sexting"

NY Times article, "Students Sue Prosecutor in Cellphone Photos Case." "Sexting" is the sending of provocative and/or nude photos, or provocative text messages to minors. What do you think of the legality of charging minors for exchanging "sexts" with sexual abuse or on charges of pedophilia?

Depression and Brain Scans

NY Times article entitled "Study Links Depression to Thinning of Brain's Cortex." Brain imaging reveals that individuals with a family history of depression show thinning in their cortex. How could this finding improve diagnosis and treatment of depression?

Obesity in Children

This is a NY Times article entitled "Proximity to Fast Food a Factor in Student Obesity." Obesity rates are higher in those 9th graders who are within 1/10th of a mile of fast-food restaurants, even taking into consideration education, income and ethnicity.