The Burness Effect Blog

Mini Organs Blast Into Space to Improve Health on Earth

Mini 3-D models of the lung, kidney, blood-brain barrier and bone-cartilage were blasted into space, where they will undergo experiments that could help us understand osteoarthritis, infections, brain diseases, kidney malfunction and more.

A Pioneer in Integrative Health

Dr. Wayne Jonas believes that integrative health is the path to healing for people with chronic conditions. Now he’s on a mission to tell the world.

It Started in a Dusty Basement, Next to a 300-Pound Fish Fossil

Once an aspiring paleontologist, Burnesser Carol Schadelbauer reflects on how an internship at the Cleveland Natural History Museum led her to her true passion: helping scientists talk about their work so that others understand and care.

Senate Balancing Act: Proper Use and Deadly Misuse of Opioids

In times of partisan vitriol and gridlock, it’s rare to see Congress rally together to try and address a complicated public health problem. But that’s exactly what they did at a hearing on opioid use among seniors last week. And we were thrilled to be there.

Social Media: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt

Chambers orchestrated a major event on Monday, Sept. 21st, in Halifax, Nova Scotia that was webcast worldwide to launch this year-long experiment and to encourage a discussion about social media, science and health. Go to the Storify to see the conversation that unfolded on Twitter. I was lucky enough to be there to moderate this discussion with those in the room and from around the world online—from Australia, South Africa, Qatar and Ireland, to name a few.

Your Cat Has Easier Access to Medical Records than You

Putting the patient at the center of his or her own care is becoming a reality as our health care delivery goes through major transitions. This is good news, but cats and dogs have had it this good long before us humans. Why is this?

In or Out of an Elevator, Have Your Message

The “elevator pitch” term is well-known among people we train at Burness and tossed around with a somewhat sarcastic tone. “Yeah, I know I’m supposed to do this, but nothing can be said in 30 seconds,” some say.

Pop Star Science

With a gloomy forecast for scientific funding, scientists are taking things into their own hands to find research funding, according to a recent Washington Post article, Crowdfunding propels scientific research. But they need to have good communications skills to do it.

So often what is missing from stories about new scientific findings is the scientist’s story. The best science writers will say we should put science in context in order for it to make sense to the public.

“Viral” Op-Eds

Duke University has more than great basketball. It has the nation’s best op-ed writer I’ve ever known. David Jarmul, associate vice president for news and communications at Duke University, is the developer of what I’d call “viral op-eds,”—op-eds that are … Continue reading “Viral” Op-Eds →