(Global) Health

I was channel-surfing tonight after all that riveting newly-elected Pope Francis coverage on CNN, and landed on Katie Couric’s talk show. The former CBS News anchor was focusing on lesser-known cancers and cancer prevention.

In my lifetime a handful of diseases have been eradicated – like smallpox – or tamed a bit – like HIV/AIDS. I grew up wanting to believe that hope was part of the methodology in scientific research, hope part of the prescription in healing. Hmm…

Sometimes it seems there’s a global war in global health, with faith-based and secular organizations at each other’s throats: competing interests, differences in approaching medical treatment with – and without – a faith component, funding sources with – and without – religious strings attached.

I met Dr. Judy Wasserheit several years ago, when I was trying to figure out how I could integrate my journalism experience and my growing interest in global health without going back to school for a PhD or M.D. She was extremely helpful.

For Bernhard Weigl, global health innovations are all about simplicity, low cost, and usability. He’s hooked on devices that are easy to use at home, like treatments for diabetes in developing countries.

In an earlier lifetime, Lisa Cohen and I worked at KIRO-TV, the CBS affiliate in Seattle, Washington. Lisa was a driven news producer, earning respect and admiration of her colleagues with her focus and attention to details — and details matter in TV news.