NEJM Interviews

Tom Frieden is the president and chief executive officer of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. T.R. Frieden. Dismantling Public Health Infrastructure, Endangering American Lives. N Engl J Med 2025;393:625-627.

Nancy Tomes, a history professor at Stony Brook University, discusses the century-long shift of the U.S. healthcare system toward a corporate model. She highlights how this transition began in the 1920s, changing the dynamics of patient care and physician practices. Tomes delves into the rise of patient-centered office environments and the impact of insurance-based healthcare, including the challenges of surprise billing. She also tackles the corporatization of healthcare, examining its implications for physician autonomy and patient access in today's profit-driven landscape.

Jason Schwartz is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Yale School of Public Health. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. J.L. Schwartz. Revised Recommendations for Covid-19 Vaccines — U.S. Vaccination Policy under Threat. N Engl J Med 2025;393:417-419.

Rohan Khazanchi, a research affiliate at Harvard's FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, discusses the urgent need to eliminate race-based algorithms in pulmonary function tests. He highlights the historical injustices and inaccuracies stemming from these practices, pointing to cases affecting marginalized workers. Khazanchi advocates for race-neutral guidelines and explores the complexities faced by clinicians in transitioning to equitable patient care. He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in challenging outdated medical norms for a fairer healthcare system.

Katie Watson dives into the complex intersections of abortion laws and end-of-life directives. She discusses the ethical quandaries surrounding the treatment of brain-dead pregnant women. Specific cases illustrate the tension between state regulations and family decisions. The conversation highlights the heavy burden on healthcare providers as they navigate these sensitive legal landscapes.

Peter Marks, the former director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, discusses the evolving role of public health agencies in vaccine policy. He highlights the shift towards an evidence-based strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of implementing new vaccine policies, emphasizing transparency. Marks warns of the public skepticism growing from these changes and stresses the need for clear communication to maintain vaccine confidence, particularly among vulnerable populations. His insights reveal a critical examination of modern health policymaking.

Patricia Mae Santos is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. P.M.G. Santos, R. Jagsi, and C.I.A. Oronce. Who Will Care for America? Immigration Policy and the Coming Health Workforce Crisis. N Engl J Med 2025;393:105-107.

In this engaging discussion, Erin Fuse Brown, a professor at Brown University School of Public Health, delves into the complex topic of healthcare corporatization. She outlines how profit-driven motives are reshaping healthcare priorities, often at the expense of patient care and worker support. The conversation highlights the rising influence of private equity and corporate consolidation, which escalate costs and diminish service quality. Erin also discusses the toll on physician-patient relationships and offers insights on restructuring the system to better serve community needs.

Dariush Mozaffarian, a leading expert in nutrition and the Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, discusses the pressing issue of ultra-processed foods. He highlights the challenges consumers face with misleading labels and complex ingredient lists. The conversation reveals the alarming health effects linked to these foods and examines transformative policies aimed at promoting healthier diets. Mozaffarian advocates for initiatives like sugary product taxes and improved school meal standards to mitigate the obesity crisis.

I. Glenn Cohen is a Harvard Law professor and deputy dean, specializing in health law and bioethics. He discusses the growing impact of AI monitoring systems on healthcare, highlighting how they could reshape clinical workflows and patient care dynamics. The conversation also delves into the ethical implications of constant surveillance and the need for clinicians to assert their autonomy in implementing these technologies. Cohen advocates for their active role in governance to ensure patient-centered care and transparency.