Can a routine vaccine prevent dementia?
Some adults may need a measles booster shot. Who should get one and why?
Less butter, more plant oils, longer life?
Healthier planet, healthier people
Counting steps is good — is combining steps and heart rate better?
Appendix pain: Could it be appendicitis?
Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate?
How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond
Zinc: What it does for the body, and the best food sources
Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help
Patrick J. Skerrett
Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Pat Skerrett is the editor of STAT's First Opinion and host of the First Opinion podcast. He is the former editor of the Harvard Health Blog and former Executive Editor of Harvard Health Publishing. Before that, he was editor of the Harvard Heart Letter for 10 years. He is the coauthor of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Guide to Healthy Eating; The Fertility Diet; and several other books on health and science. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Popular Science magazine, Science magazine, The Boston Globe, and elsewhere. He earned a BA in biology from Northwestern University and an MA in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Posts by Patrick J. Skerrett
Staying Healthy
Overnight treatment for chronic insomnia
Staying Healthy
Resveratrol—the hype continues
Patrick J. Skerrett
FDA needs stronger rules to ensure the safety of dietary supplements
Patrick J. Skerrett
Different blood pressure in right and left arms could signal trouble
Patrick J. Skerrett
Doctors debate use of email for communicating with their patients
Patrick J. Skerrett
Health care largely ignored in State of the Union address
Cancer
Smokers with cancer benefit from quitting, but need extra help
Patrick J. Skerrett
Chefs, nutrition experts give the low-fat muffin a makeover
Patrick J. Skerrett
Multitasking—a medical and mental hazard
Heart Health
Studies hint at limits when reducing salt
Patrick J. Skerrett
Long-term survivors are helping unlock the mysteries of type 1 diabetes
Heart Health
Consumers could save as generic Lipitor hits the market
Patrick J. Skerrett
Implants, tattoos, and tears could measure blood sugar without pain
Patrick J. Skerrett
Honor a veteran; understand PTSD
Child & Teen Health
Pediatricians should ask teens about drug, alcohol use at every visit
Patrick J. Skerrett
A conversation with Dr. Jerry Avorn about drugs and the drug industry
Patrick J. Skerrett
CDC panel says boys should get HPV vaccine, too
Child & Teen Health
Do chronic diseases have their origins in the womb?
Child & Teen Health
A new view of the teenage brain: adaptation is job 1
Cancer
Cancer can be tough on the heart in more ways than one
Exercise & Fitness
Change: One man’s steady struggle to become healthier
Cancer
FDA hopes to apply new sunscreen rules
Patrick J. Skerrett
Crumbling, confusing Food Pyramid replaced by a Plate
Patrick J. Skerrett
Gaining awareness about arthritis and its prevention
Can a routine vaccine prevent dementia?
Some adults may need a measles booster shot. Who should get one and why?
Less butter, more plant oils, longer life?
Healthier planet, healthier people
Counting steps is good — is combining steps and heart rate better?
Appendix pain: Could it be appendicitis?
Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate?
How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond
Zinc: What it does for the body, and the best food sources
Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help
