NEJM Interviews

Nishant Uppal, an instructor in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the rise of venture capital investments by academic medical centers. He highlights how financial pressures from COVID and rising costs are pushing these institutions to diversify. Uppal explains the structure of venture capital funds and notes that many AMCs are investing in unrelated companies. He raises concerns about unclear returns and calls for better oversight and policy responses to financial pressures affecting healthcare.

Jane Zhu, an associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University, discusses Oregon's groundbreaking SB 951 law aiming to reduce corporate control in healthcare. She highlights concerns over the rapid corporatization of medical practices and the influence of profit motives on patient care. Zhu details the law's restrictions on management service organizations and operational control tied to corporate ownership. While supporters believe it safeguards physician autonomy, she acknowledges criticisms regarding potential risks for small practices and advises additional measures to curb hospital consolidation.

Joshua Barocas is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. J.A. Barocas. The Erosion of Harm Reduction. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1865-1867. B.A. Barsky, A. Caplan-Bricker, and C. Robertson. Religious Liberty as a Shield for Public Health — The Case of Overdose-Prevention Centers. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1867-1869.

Yashaswini Singh is an assistant professor of health services, policy, and practice at Brown University. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. Y. Singh. The Antitrust Antidote to Hospital and Nursing Home Corporatization — Promises and Pitfalls. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1761-1764.

Eberechi Nwogu-Onyemkpa is an assistant professor in the Division of Palliative Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. E. Nwogu-Onyemkpa and Others. Involving Palliative Care to Improve Outcomes in Sickle Cell Disease. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1553-1556. E. Costa and Others. Thirty Years of Hydroxyurea for Sickle Cell Anemia — Scientific Progress, Global Health Gaps. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1556-1559.

Michael Liu is a resident physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. M. Liu, K.T. Kadakia, and R.K. Wadhera. Proliferation of Prior Authorization in Traditional Medicare — None the WISeR? N Engl J Med 2025;393:1457-1459.

Andrew Gabrielson is a pediatric urology fellow at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. A.T. Gabrielson and C. Corwin. Occupational Health and Safety on the Chopping Block — What’s at Stake? N Engl J Med 2025;393:1353-1355.

Steven Lipstein is the former chief executive officer of BJC HealthCare. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. S. Lipstein. Insight into Corporate Governance — What Motivates Hospitals and Delivery Systems. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1249-1251.

Nancy Krieger is a professor of social epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. N. Krieger and M.T. Bassett. Structural and Scientific Racism, Science, and Health — Evidence versus Ideology. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1145-1148.

John Ayanian is the director of the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. J.Z. Ayanian. Protecting Medicaid Enrollees with Chronic Conditions amid Work Requirements. N Engl J Med 2025;393:1044-1046.