Recent Blog Articles
Corneal transplants becoming more common
An emerging treatment option for men on active surveillance
Gun violence: A long-lasting toll on children and teens
Adult female acne: Why it happens and the emotional toll
Talking to your doctor about your LGBTQ+ sex life
Untangling grief: Living beyond a great loss
Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks
Heart problems and the heat: What to know and do
I’m too young to have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, right?
Period equity: What it is and why it matters
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.
Twitter: @RobShmerling
Posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Staying Healthy
What happened to trusting medical experts?
Diseases & Conditions
Is metformin a wonder drug?
Staying Healthy
Harvard Health Ad Watch: Can a wearable device reduce stress?
Diseases & Conditions
Wondering how much your medical care will cost? New rules could help
Diseases & Conditions
Remember the flu? Yep, it's that time again
Staying Healthy
Unvaccinated and misunderstood? Let’s talk
Staying Healthy
Does HIPAA prohibit questions about vaccination?
Staying Healthy
Tempted to have genetic testing? First ask why
Diseases & Conditions
Can wearing contacts harm your vision?
Staying Healthy
Ready for your routine medical checkup?
Staying Healthy
Wondering about a headline-grabbing drug? Read on
Staying Healthy
Is our healthcare system broken?
Heart Health
Harvard Health Ad Watch: How helpful are pulse monitors and home ECGs?
Nutrition
Using weight loss or sports supplements? Exercise caution
Diseases & Conditions
Careful! Scary health news can be harmful to your health
Staying Healthy
Is blood sugar monitoring without diabetes worthwhile?
Staying Healthy
Should we track all breakthrough cases of COVID-19?
Pain
Harvard Health Ad Watch: Aches, pains, and muscle cramps — do well-advertised remedies actually work?
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Terrified of needles? That can affect your health
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Are antidepressants also pain relievers?
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Do vitamin D, zinc, and other supplements help prevent COVID-19 or hasten healing?
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Harvard Health Ad Watch: Mitochondria do a lot for you — what can you do for them?
Nutrition
Zero weight loss from zero calorie drinks? Say it ain’t so
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
