Recent Blog Articles

Preventable liver disease is rising: What you eat — and avoid — counts

Fall shots: Who's most vulnerable to RSV, COVID, and the flu?

Got immunity? Thank your thymus

Easy ways to shop for healthful, cost-conscious foods

When — and how — should you be screened for colon cancer?

7 organs or glands you may do just fine without

How to help your child get the sleep they need

What color is your tongue? What's healthy, what's not?

Immune boosts or busts? From IV drips and detoxes to superfoods

The new RSV shot for babies: What parents need to know

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 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
Got immunity? Thank your thymus

Staying Healthy
7 organs or glands you may do just fine without

Staying Healthy
Immune boosts or busts? From IV drips and detoxes to superfoods

Diseases & Conditions
Harvard Health Ad Watch: Why are toilets everywhere in this drug ad?

Diseases & Conditions
Leprosy in Florida: How worried should we be?

Staying Healthy
Think fast: How does your face protect you?

Staying Healthy
Stomachs growl, noses run, and yawning is contagious: Ever wonder why?

Exercise & Fitness
Health warnings on exercise equipment: Should you worry?

Diseases & Conditions
Harvard Health Ad Watch: An IV treatment for thyroid eye disease

Staying Healthy
Give praise to the elbow: A bending, twisting marvel

Diseases & Conditions
The FDA relaxes restrictions on blood donation

Exercise & Fitness
Does running cause arthritis?

Staying Healthy
Is snuff really safer than smoking?

Staying Healthy
Drug recalls are common

Mind & Mood
Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?

Diseases & Conditions
What happens when a drug goes viral?

Women's Health
Does inflammation contribute to infertility?

Staying Healthy
Rating the drugs in drug ads

Staying Healthy
Screening tests may save lives — so when is it time to stop?

Staying Healthy
Motorcycle rallies and organ donation: A curious connection

Staying Healthy
Aspirin and bone health: Is there a connection?

Diseases & Conditions
Genes protective during the Black Death may now be increasing autoimmune disorders

Nutrition
When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?

Mind & Mood