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
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
Veins are a key player in the body: Here's why
Staying Healthy
What to do when driving skills decline
Staying Healthy
A tough question: When should an older driver stop driving?
Staying Healthy
Kidneys, eyes, ears, and more: Why do we have a spare?
Staying Healthy
Wondering what your lymph nodes have done for you lately?
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?
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
