NEJM Interviews

Zirui Song is an associate professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School and a general internist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. Z. Song and J.M. Zhu. Primary Care — From Common Good to Free-Market Commodity. N Engl J Med 2025;392:1977-1979.

Alice Chen is a primary care internist in Washington, DC, and former executive director of Doctors for America. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. A.T. Chen and V.H. Murthy. The Power of Physicians in Dangerous Times. N Engl J Med 2025;392:1873-1875.

Christopher Duggan, the Director of the Center for Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Harvard professor, dives deep into the critical impact of U.S. foreign assistance on global health. He discusses the economic and political ramifications of cutting these programs, emphasizing their role in stabilizing communities and improving health in low-income countries. Duggan also highlights historical successes like oral rehydration therapy, revealing how intertwined our global health initiatives are and why maintaining support is essential for both domestic and international populations.

Arthur Robin Williams is an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University and a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. A.R. Williams. Death and Taxes — Is Alcohol the Solution? N Engl J Med 2025;392:1665-1667.

Lauren Jatt is an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Washington. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. L.P. Jatt and Others. An HIV Vaccine in the Era of Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for PrEP — Essential or Irrelevant? N Engl J Med 2025;392:1561-1563.

In this NEJM Outbreaks Update, Editor-in-Chief Eric Rubin and Deputy Editor Lindsey Baden are joined by Indiana Commissioner of Public Health Lindsay Weaver to discuss the current state of avian influenza in Indiana. Eric Rubin is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal. Lindsey Baden is a Deputy Editor of the Journal. Lindsay Weaver is the Indiana Commissioner of Public Health. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. E.J. Rubin and Others. NEJM Outbreaks Updates — H5N1 in Indiana. N Engl J Med. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2503583.

In this engaging discussion, Patricia Zettler, a law professor at The Ohio State University, delves into the proposed FDA rule aiming to lower nicotine levels in tobacco products. She highlights the rule's potential to transform public health by combating nicotine addiction. Zettler also tackles the likely legal challenges from tobacco companies, emphasizing the tension between regulation and industry pushback. She encourages advocacy for the rule, urging researchers to support this pivotal shift in tobacco regulation.

John Patrick Co is vice president of education at Mass General Brigham and an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. D.F. Weinstein, E. Olson, and J.P.T. Co. Addressing Socioeconomic Barriers to Residency Choice. N Engl J Med 2025;392:1353-1355.

Rochelle Walensky is the Bayer fellow in health and biotech at the American Academy in Berlin, a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and an executive fellow at Harvard Business School. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. R.P. Walensky and L.D. Walensky. Application Overload — A Call to Reduce the Burden of Applying to Medical School. N Engl J Med. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2414572. D.B. Holt and E.A. Elster. Rethinking Shadowing for Aspiring Physicians. N Engl J Med 2025;392:1249-1251. A.A. Iyer, D.A. Hirsh, and R.M. Schwartzstein. Medical School Grading — Is “Good Enough” Good Enough? N Engl J Med 2025;392:1254-1257.

Erin Fuse Brown, a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, discusses controversial partnerships between pharmaceutical firms and telehealth services. She reveals how these alliances can improve access to medications but may lead to inappropriate prescribing and increased healthcare costs. The conversation highlights the role of targeted advertising and the challenges posed by federal regulations. Brown emphasizes the need for greater transparency and stricter guidelines to protect patients in this rapidly evolving landscape.