Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Power of Listening: What ABFM Diplomates Told Us About Administrative Harms in Family Medicine
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, June 11 -- The American Board of Family Medicine issued the following commentary on June 9, 2026, by qualitative scientist Annie Koempel:
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The Power of Listening: What ABFM Diplomates Told Us About Administrative Harms in Family Medicine
One of the many goals of qualitative research is to explore the innate variability of human meaning and experience. There are various ways to illicit such variation, including how a researcher structures their interviews or focus groups. Put simply, there are three basic approaches to asking questions: (1) do not deviate from the set
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LEXINGTON, Kentucky, June 11 -- The American Board of Family Medicine issued the following commentary on June 9, 2026, by qualitative scientist Annie Koempel:
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The Power of Listening: What ABFM Diplomates Told Us About Administrative Harms in Family Medicine
One of the many goals of qualitative research is to explore the innate variability of human meaning and experience. There are various ways to illicit such variation, including how a researcher structures their interviews or focus groups. Put simply, there are three basic approaches to asking questions: (1) do not deviate from the setquestions and do not ask additional questions, (2) ask follow-up questions or prompt for more information, or (3) let the participant completely guide the interview. For my research with ABFM, I follow the middle road - I write down my questions, focused on a broad topic, while leaving space for gathering more information. Sometimes I do fall into the participant-led approach; some statements are too interesting and informative to let go, even if it doesn't directly relate to the current research project.
For example, in 2025 I interviewed 27 ABFM Diplomates about the meaning of professionalism. My questions were extremely open ended (literally - "when you hear the word professionalism, what comes to mind" and "what does professionalism mean to you") which serves to gather information about a specific topic, but on the participants' terms. One issue that continually came up (and which I followed participants' lead on) is encompassed by the phrase "administrative harms."
Administrative harms, originally introduced by Drs. Chang and Liang in 2011, was later defined by Dr. Burden and her colleagues in Colorado as "the adverse consequences of administrative decisions within health care [that] directly influences patient care and outcomes, professional practice, and organizational efficiencies." This term provided a useful framework for understanding what we heard from interview participants. Namely: physician input was dismissed or devalued by administration, physician time and activity was strictly structured by administration, and administrative decisions created a workplace environment that did not support basic biological needs.
There were variations across practice types, of course, which have different degrees and amounts of administrative pressures. And there were some participants - and manuscript reviewers - who did not experience administrative harms, or disliked the term and its implications. This phenomenon and its inherent variation is a prime example not only of a particular way to approach interviews, but of the power of qualitative research to uncover and explore human experiences.
To read more about what we found, including direct quotations from ABFM Diplomates and broader contextualization of administrative harms, read the article, Family Physicians' experiences of administrative Harms, in Family Practice.
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Annie Koempel serves as a Qualitative Scientist for the American Board of Family Medicine.
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Original text here: https://www.theabfm.org/insight/the-power-of-listening-what-abfm-diplomates-told-us-about-administrative-harms-in-family-medicine/
[Category: Medical]
Northwell Health Opens $1.96M Comprehensive Neurology Practice in Westchester
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, June 11 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release:
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Northwell Health opens $1.96M comprehensive neurology practice in Westchester
The new Chappaqua location expands access to specialized neurology care, including epilepsy, movement disorders and stroke
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Northwell Health Physician Partners (NHPP) has opened Neurology at Chappaqua Crossing, a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance access to comprehensive, patient-centered care in Westchester County.
The $1.96 million, 5,860-square-foot practice, located at 480 Bedford Road, Entrance B, Suite 105,
... Show Full Article
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, June 11 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release:
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Northwell Health opens $1.96M comprehensive neurology practice in Westchester
The new Chappaqua location expands access to specialized neurology care, including epilepsy, movement disorders and stroke
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Northwell Health Physician Partners (NHPP) has opened Neurology at Chappaqua Crossing, a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance access to comprehensive, patient-centered care in Westchester County.
The $1.96 million, 5,860-square-foot practice, located at 480 Bedford Road, Entrance B, Suite 105,Chappaqua, NY 10514, features eight exam rooms and is equipped with advanced diagnostics like non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring and a range of evidence-based treatments. Its expert team of specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of neurological conditions, including headaches, concussions, neuropathy, epilepsy, movement disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and stroke.
"With this opening, we are significantly expanding our acute and chronic care programs for neurological disorders, bringing the highest standards of care close to home," said Anna Hohler, MD, FAAN, director of neurology for Northwell's Westchester Region, chair of neurology at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) in Mount Kisco, and chief of neurology at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow. "For conditions like Parkinson's disease, we emphasize a holistic approach, integrating lifestyle modifications, medication optimization, and comprehensive therapies, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, alongside cognitive training, to significantly improve patients' quality of life."
NHPP Neurology at Chappaqua Crossing plays a pivotal role in the epilepsy program at NWH -- which is linked to the comprehensive program at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) for those who require surgical treatment for epilepsy. Epilepsy patients can receive EEG monitoring, a brain wave study used to diagnose seizure disorders, in-office or at-home, a crucial offering for those with mobility challenges. The practice also conducts initial evaluations for epilepsy surgery candidates and manages neuromodulation devices for epilepsy -- such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) -- ensuring seamless continuity of care for patients with complex seizure disorders.
"This new facility significantly enhances our ability to diagnose and manage a wide spectrum of epilepsy conditions in an outpatient setting, from medically refractory epilepsy to seizures caused by stroke or tumor," said Palak Shah, MD, director of epilepsy/EMU at NWH and director of epilepsy surgery at LHH. "Patients requiring intensive evaluation, like video EEG monitoring, or emergency management for conditions such as status epilepticus, will receive seamless, expert care at Northern Westchester Hospital, ensuring they get the right treatment without having to travel long distances."
From specialists like Dr. Shah to general neurologists like Barry Menna, DO, FAAN, the practice is dedicated to meeting the growing demand for neurology services in the region. Supported in part by a generous $10 million gift from philanthropists Lisa and Mark Schwartz, it represents the next critical step in Northwell's commitment to advancing neurology and stroke care in the region.
"We see tremendous opportunity to make a significant difference in people's lives through advancements in neuroscience, supported by our network of more than 115 neurologists across the health system," said Souhel Najjar, MD, senior vice president and executive director of neurology for Northwell Health. "This practice is a culmination of significant effort over many years from our neurology team. Thanks to the foundational work of leaders like Dr. Salman Azhar, we aren't just growing our footprint but elevating the standard of neurological care available to the community."
NHPP Neurology at Chappaqua Crossing will work in close coordination with Phelps and NWH, ensuring seamless transitions for patients requiring more extensive interventions or inpatient services. To further enhance accessibility and flexibility for patients, the practice is also developing a virtual neurology component, allowing for remote consultations and follow-ups when appropriate.
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Original text here: https://www.northwell.edu/news/the-latest/northwell-adds-westchester-neurology-practice-services
[Category: Health Care]
Human Rights Watch: Bhutan - 2 Political Prisoners Freed, but 28 Remain
NEW YORK, June 11 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Bhutan: 2 Political Prisoners Freed, but 28 Remain
(Sydney) - The government of Bhutan's release of 2 political prisoners on June 1, 2026, is a positive step, but at least 28 more should be urgently freed, Human Rights Watch said today.
The two men, Chatur Man Tamang, 42, and Hasta Bahadur Rai, 44, whose detention was under scrutiny from United Nations human rights experts, were arrested in 2008, severely tortured, and sentenced to life in prison for treason at a trial without defense lawyers.
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 11 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Bhutan: 2 Political Prisoners Freed, but 28 Remain
(Sydney) - The government of Bhutan's release of 2 political prisoners on June 1, 2026, is a positive step, but at least 28 more should be urgently freed, Human Rights Watch said today.
The two men, Chatur Man Tamang, 42, and Hasta Bahadur Rai, 44, whose detention was under scrutiny from United Nations human rights experts, were arrested in 2008, severely tortured, and sentenced to life in prison for treason at a trial without defense lawyers.
"These initial releases are an important step in the right direction, ending the suffering of two political prisoners and their families," said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Bhutanese authorities should move quickly now to release at least 28 others still languishing in prison, and urgently improve dreadful conditions in the process."
Most of Bhutan's political prisoners, who are described as such under Bhutan's law and held separately from those convicted of ordinary criminal offenses, are from the country's Nepali-speaking community and their cases relate to a period of discrimination including denial of citizenship and state violence that their community faced in the early 1990s. They were prosecuted and convicted before Bhutan introduced democratic reforms in 2008, but their cases were never reviewed, and they continue to be held in deplorable prison conditions.
Rai and Tamang had become refugees in nearby Nepal as young children in 1990, among the 90,000 Nepali speaking Bhutanese expelled from the country amid widespread rights violations by security forces. In 2008, the authorities arrested them when they returned to Bhutan as members of an exiled political group called the Bhutan Communist Party, which demanded the right of refugees to return. Immediately following their release, Tamang and Rai were expelled from Bhutan.
In an interview with Human Rights Watch following their release, the two men described severe torture in army custody following their arrest, and that they were forced to confess and sign statements, which they did not read. During their trial, they had no defense lawyers. They were sentenced to life in prison, which in Bhutan has no possibility of parole.
Among the 28 remaining known prisoners, most serving life sentences, 11 have cases nearly identical to Rai and Tamang's, dating from 2008. Thirteen others have been in jail since the period 1990-2001, convicted of participating in protests against discriminatory policies. Among them are seven that were members of the Royal Bhutan Army who had allegedly joined protests. They are held at a remote military prison called Rabuna. Four prisoners belong to the Sharchop ethnic community, accused of membership of the Druk National Congress, a banned political party that existed before Bhutan introduced democratic reforms.
At the time of Tamang and Rai's release, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was preparing to publish an opinion on whether their imprisonment was arbitrary under international legal standards. In 2025, the working group had examined three other cases of Bhutanese political prisoners and found that their detention was arbitrary on four separate grounds. They remain in prison.
In April 2025, Members of the European Parliament holding key positions on EU political and trade relations with Bhutan called for the political prisoners' release in a letter to Bhutan's prime minister. EU diplomats have also raised the cases as part of their political dialogue with the country.
Also in 2025, six UN human rights experts issued a joint communication to the Bhutan government, raising concerns that the "political prisoners are reportedly given inadequate food, water, heating, bedding and warm clothing" and that "detainees suffer shortages of medicines and access to doctors." They expressed concern that those with physical illnesses-some as a result of alleged torture-"do not receive necessary medical treatment, which may have contributed to the death of two detainees."
Despite these abuses, Bhutan has promoted an international image of an enlightened government committed to promoting "gross national happiness," and is eager to attract international investment.
The two recently released men described the conditions in the "anti-national" block at Chemgang prison near the capital, Thimphu, where 18 of the remaining political prisoners are held. They said that prisoners have meager food and other necessities such as soap, which the men said had become worse in recent years. Several of the remaining prisoners are suffering ill health, the men said, for which they receive little or no treatment, including two who have symptoms of mental illness. Those whose families are living outside Bhutan have had no contact with loved ones for many years. Tamang said he had no contact with relatives in 10 years before his release.
In December 2025, one of the political prisoners, Sha Bahadur Gurung, 65, died in custody. He had been serving a life sentence in the notoriously harsh Rabuna prison since 1990, for allegedly attending a protest while enlisted in the army.
Under Bhutanese law, which is partly based on Buddhist concepts such as "compassion," a prisoner serving a life sentence can only be released if the king commutes their sentence using a prerogative of royal benevolence known as kidu. The current king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, should pardon all the political prisoners, Human Rights Watch said.
"The release of these two men after years of unjust imprisonment is a moment for celebration for them and their families, and of hope for the other families that are still waiting for their loved ones to be released," Ganguly said. "As the Bhutanese authorities claim to promote 'gross national happiness,' they should act accordingly, comply with their human rights obligations, and immediately end this unnecessary suffering."
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/06/10/bhutan-2-political-prisoners-freed-but-28-remain
DHR Health Welcomes Kidney Transplant and Liver Surgeon, Dr. Karen Pineda-Solis
EDINBURG, Texas, June 11 -- DHR Health issued the following news:
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DHR Health Welcomes Kidney Transplant and Liver Surgeon, Dr. Karen Pineda-Solis
DHR Health, one of the largest physician-owned hospital systems in the United States and the largest healthcare provider in the Rio Grande Valley, is delighted to welcome Dr. Karen Pineda-Solis, transplant surgeon, to its team of dedicated physicians. Dr. Pineda-Solis will provide care at the DHR Health Transplant Institute, the only kidney transplant facility serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Corpus Christi, and surrounding
... Show Full Article
EDINBURG, Texas, June 11 -- DHR Health issued the following news:
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DHR Health Welcomes Kidney Transplant and Liver Surgeon, Dr. Karen Pineda-Solis
DHR Health, one of the largest physician-owned hospital systems in the United States and the largest healthcare provider in the Rio Grande Valley, is delighted to welcome Dr. Karen Pineda-Solis, transplant surgeon, to its team of dedicated physicians. Dr. Pineda-Solis will provide care at the DHR Health Transplant Institute, the only kidney transplant facility serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Corpus Christi, and surroundingcommunities.
Dr. Pineda-Solis will lead the development and implementation of comprehensive liver services at DHR Health. Her arrival marks a significant step toward expanding access to advanced transplant care and addressing the growing needs of patients suffering from liver disease across South Texas.
"The addition of Dr. Pineda-Solis is a testament to the specialty care we are committed to providing to this region," said Marissa Castaneda, Senior Executive Vice President for DHR Health. "She will be a valuable asset to our transplant team and will play a key role in expanding our transplant services for the communities we serve."
Dr. Pineda-Solis attended medical school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, graduating in 2005. She then completed her residency in General Surgery at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition "Salvador Zubiran" in Mexico City, where she also completed a Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Fellowship. Additionally, she completed a Hepatobiliary and Robotic Surgery Fellowship in Nancy, France, and a Multi-Organ Transplantation and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Fellowship in Ontario, Canada. Prior to joining DHR Health, she served as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where she trained future surgeons and contributed to the advancement of transplant surgery.
Dr. Pineda-Solis brings extensive experience in liver transplantation and complex hepatobiliary surgery, with a particular focus on innovative surgical techniques that improve patient outcomes. She is recognized for her specialized expertise in robotic transplantation and has experience utilizing robotic-assisted approaches for living donor surgery and kidney transplantation. Her unique background positions DHR Health to introduce some of the most advanced transplant surgical technologies available today.
"Our goal has always been to provide world-class transplant care that is close to home," said Dr. Sridhar Allam, medical director and nephologist at the DHR Health Transplant Institute. "The addition of Dr. Pineda-Solis will help us continue advancing that mission for our patients and their families."
The development of robotic transplant surgery at DHR Health represents a major milestone for the institution and the Rio Grande Valley. By integrating robotic technology into transplant care, DHR Health aims to enhance surgical precision, reduce recovery times, and expand access to cutting-edge treatment options. The program is expected to become one of the few centers in the nation offering advanced robotic transplant procedures, further establishing DHR Health as a regional leader in transplant innovation.
"I am honored to join DHR Health and help expand transplant services for the people of the Rio Grande Valley," said Dr. Pineda-Solis. "My goal is to build a comprehensive liver transplant program while advancing innovative robotic transplant techniques that provide patients access to world-class care close to home."
Dr. Pineda-Solis is now accepting new patients at her office in the DHR Health Medical Office Building, located at 1100 E. Dove Avenue, 2nd floor, in McAllen. Appointments can be made by calling (956) 362-5433. The DHR Health Transplant Institute accepts various health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
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Original text here: https://dhrhealth.com/news-stories/dhr-health-welcomes-kidney-transplant-and-liver-surgeon-dr-karen-pineda-solis/
[Category: Health Care]
Consumer Action for a Strong Economy Issues Commentary to The Hill: The Data Brokers Congress Forgot to Regulate
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 11 -- Consumer Action for a Strong Economy issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 10, 2026, to The Hill:
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CASE Op-Ed in The Hill: The Data Brokers Congress Forgot to Regulate
For decades, Congress has tried and failed to give Americans control over their own personal data: the right to see it, correct it, and delete it at will. This inaction has left Americans with no recourse against misuse of their own data, while the data broker industry quietly continues to collect and sell the personal information of millions, operating in a largely unchecked
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 11 -- Consumer Action for a Strong Economy issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 10, 2026, to The Hill:
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CASE Op-Ed in The Hill: The Data Brokers Congress Forgot to Regulate
For decades, Congress has tried and failed to give Americans control over their own personal data: the right to see it, correct it, and delete it at will. This inaction has left Americans with no recourse against misuse of their own data, while the data broker industry quietly continues to collect and sell the personal information of millions, operating in a largely uncheckedgray market.
Several states -- California, Virginia, and Texas among them -- have stepped in to fill the void, passing laws requiring data brokers register with the state, honor deletion requests, and disclose what data they collect. But enforcement is uneven and coverage is inconsistent., Companies operating across state lines face little practical consequence for non-compliance.
Now, two new bills, the SECURE Data Act and the GUARD Financial Data Act, offer the latest test of whether Washington can step up and finally pull data brokers out of the shadows and into the reach of the law.
Additionally concerning, efforts to prevent the SECURE Data Act -- or any federal protections -- from being enacted are currently on full display. A June 3 hearing by the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee revealed that some in Congress would rather not preempt existing state data protection laws with a national standard. But absent federal action, the patchwork that now exists would leave consumers at a decided disadvantage, with protections varying from area code to area code, dependent entirely on the residence of individual Americans.
Read full article here (https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5917725-secure-data-act-guard/).
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Original text here: https://www.caseforconsumers.org/case-op-ed-in-the-hill-the-data-brokers-congress-forgot-to-regulate/
[Category: Consumer Services]
Club for Growth PAC Congratulates David Flippo on NV-02 Primary Victory
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Club for Growth PAC issued the following news release:
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Club for Growth PAC Congratulates David Flippo on NV-02 Primary Victory
Club for Growth PAC congratulates David Flippo on winning the Republican nomination for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Flippo, a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, defeated James Settelmeyer to advance to the general election. Both Club for Growth PAC and President Donald Trump endorsed Flippo in the race.
"After a career of defending American freedom in the United States Air Force, David Flippo is ready to
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Club for Growth PAC issued the following news release:
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Club for Growth PAC Congratulates David Flippo on NV-02 Primary Victory
Club for Growth PAC congratulates David Flippo on winning the Republican nomination for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Flippo, a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, defeated James Settelmeyer to advance to the general election. Both Club for Growth PAC and President Donald Trump endorsed Flippo in the race.
"After a career of defending American freedom in the United States Air Force, David Flippo is ready totake the fight to Capitol Hill," said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. "In Congress, Flippo will cut taxes, unleash American energy, and prioritize Nevadans over special interest groups. Club for Growth PAC is proud to have played a role in Flippo's victory tonight, and we look forward to his leadership for years to come."
Club for Growth Action invested nearly $400,000 in the race to promote Flippo's candidacy and inform voters of President Trump's endorsement in the race. The ad ran on broadcast, addressable satellite, CTV, and radio in the Reno and Salt Lake City media markets.
Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEQez3-nW3M&feature=youtu.be) to watch Reinforcements from Club for Growth Action.
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Original text here: https://www.clubforgrowth.org/club-for-growth-pac-congratulates-david-flippo-on-nv-02-primary-victory/
[Category: Political]
CAIR Says Congress Must Act After Amnesty Report on Israel's Ethnic Cleansing of Illegally-Occupied West Bank
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 10, 2026:
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CAIR Says Congress Must Act After Amnesty Report on Israel's Ethnic Cleansing of Illegally-Occupied West Bank
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said Congress must take immediate action to end U.S. complicity in Israel's war crimes after Amnesty International released a report accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the illegally-occupied
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 10, 2026:
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CAIR Says Congress Must Act After Amnesty Report on Israel's Ethnic Cleansing of Illegally-Occupied West Bank
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said Congress must take immediate action to end U.S. complicity in Israel's war crimes after Amnesty International released a report accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the illegally-occupiedWest Bank.
According to the report, more than 100 Palestinian communities have been fully or partially emptied since 2023 amid escalating government-backed settler violence, home demolitions, forced displacement, and settlement expansion.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
"Amnesty International's findings confirm what Palestinians, human rights organizations, and international observers have documented for years: the forced displacement of Palestinians in the illegally-occupied West Bank is not the result of isolated acts by extremist settlers, but part of a broader state-backed effort to seize Palestinian land and permanently alter the demographic reality of the territory.
"Congress can no longer claim ignorance while American taxpayer dollars continue to support a government carrying out genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, and other grave violations of international law. The United States must end military support that enables these abuses, enforce existing laws prohibiting assistance to human rights violators, and demand accountability for those responsible."
Yesterday, CAIR announced that it has sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to reject any provision that would establish or expand a permanent U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, including language substantially similar to Section 224 adopted by the House Armed Services Committee.
On Friday, CAIR condemned the inclusion and advancement of Section 224 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House Armed Services Committee. CAIR urges the Senate Armed Services Committee to remove Section 224 from the NDAA and calls on members of the House of Representatives to reject the provision should it advance to the House floor.
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INFODOC: https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CAIR-Letter-to-Senate-Armed-Services-Commitee.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-says-congress-must-act-after-amnesty-report-on-israels-ethnic-cleansing-of-illegally-occupied-west-bank/
[Category: Sociological]
