Recent Blog Articles
Can AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?
How to stay healthy during a drought
Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?
How well do you worry about your health?
Ready to give up the lead vest?
Why eat lower on the seafood chain?
What complications can occur after prostate cancer surgery?
When should your teen or tween start using skin products?
Is snuff really safer than smoking?
Ever worry about your gambling?
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
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?
Mind & Mood
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
You got the COVID-19 vaccine? I have vaccine envy
Staying Healthy
Does your health monitor have device bias?
Staying Healthy
Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in?
Robert H. Shmerling, MD
COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects — and coincidence
Recent Blog Articles
Can AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?
How to stay healthy during a drought
Opill: Is this new birth control pill right for you?
How well do you worry about your health?
Ready to give up the lead vest?
Why eat lower on the seafood chain?
What complications can occur after prostate cancer surgery?
When should your teen or tween start using skin products?
Is snuff really safer than smoking?
Ever worry about your gambling?