Featured Stories
Top news stories from AMA Morning Rounds(r): Week of Oct. 26, 2026
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 30 [Category: Medical] -- The American Medical Association posted the following news release:
* * *
Top news stories from AMA Morning Rounds(r): Week of Oct. 26, 2026
*
Read AMA Morning Rounds(r)' most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Oct. 26, 2026-Oct. 30, 2026.
Researchers propose new subtype of clinical depression called "circadian depression"
The New York Times (10/23, Caron) reports that in a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, researchers "proposed a new subtype of clinical depression called 'circadian depression,'
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 30 [Category: Medical] -- The American Medical Association posted the following news release:
* * *
Top news stories from AMA Morning Rounds(r): Week of Oct. 26, 2026
*
Read AMA Morning Rounds(r)' most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Oct. 26, 2026-Oct. 30, 2026.
Researchers propose new subtype of clinical depression called "circadian depression"
The New York Times (10/23, Caron) reports that in a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, researchers "proposed a new subtype of clinical depression called 'circadian depression,'that is estimated to affect about a quarter of the people who have major depressive disorders. And it is not dependent on seasonal changes." The researchers evaluated "more than 11,000 Australians who had been diagnosed with depression and found that over 2,600 of them, or about one in four, met the criteria for circadian depression." The category "is not a formal diagnosis but rather a suggested subtype."
Ultraprocessed foods appear to rewire children's brains to crave more junk food
HealthDay (10/23, Thompson) reports ultraprocessed "foods appear to rewire kids' brains so they crave more junk food," according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. In the study, researchers "analyzed data from 46 children" of healthy weight "taking part in a long-term study of diabetes and obesity risk." Researchers "collected MRI scans of each child as they viewed photos" of ultraprocessed foods and gathered data on "diet, body fat percentage, waist circumference and body mass index." The results showed children "who ate more ultra-processed foods had stronger responses to food images in the dorsal striatum, a brain region involved in reward and motivation. Stronger dorsal striatum responses were also associated with increases in BMI and higher body fat one year later."
You also may be interested in: What do we know about ultraprocessed foods and how they affect health?
Drug-resistant germs cause more than 50,000 deaths per year in U.S.
The Washington Post (10/27, Sun) says a CDC report released on Tuesday "identified 19 superbugs that cause an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths in the United States each year." The agency found that "infections commonly associated with medical settings such as hospitals account for more than 42,000 of those deaths and nearly $12 billion in healthcare costs."
ABC News (10/27, Tsapatsaris, Howard) reports, "The CDC classifies drug-resistant germs into three threat levels: 'urgent,' 'serious' and 'concerning.' Four germs fall into the 'urgent' category, the agency's highest level of concern." These include Candida auris, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter.
Healio (10/27, Stulpin) reports, "The CDC's last report, released in 2019 but using 2013 data, estimated that there are 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens each year in the U.S. The 2026 update, which uses 2023 data, revised those estimates to 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths."
You also may be interested in: This superbug's toll exceeds 3,400. How to protect your loved ones.
Draft policy introduced to allow the temporary sale of six unapproved peptides
The Washington Post (10/28, Roubein) reports that the "administration on Wednesday released its plans for the temporary sale of six unapproved...peptides that have been marketed but untested to treat maladies including osteoporosis, insomnia and migraines." Currently, "the plan is a draft policy, and the public can submit comments for two weeks after it's officially published in the Federal Register later this week."
The New York Times (10/28, Jewett) reports, "The plan would bypass the most standard Food and Drug Administration safeguards for approving drugs, such as tests to see if the compounds work better than a placebo and whether they might cause cancer or birth defects." A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman "said the policy was aimed at 'confronting the risks of black-market peptides.'"
NBC News (10/28, Lovelace Jr.) reports, "The FDA said compounding pharmacies must certify the identity and purity of the compounds. They must also now report side effects, which was not previously mandated." NBC News adds, "The six peptides are BPC-157, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, semax and TB-500."
You also may be interested in: What doctors want patients to know about injectable peptides.
More than 10% of Americans have tried a nicotine pouch
HealthDay (10/29, Thompson) reports, "More than 1 in 10 Americans (10.2%) have tried a nicotine pouch, researchers" have found. The data also indicated that "among tobacco users - people who already smoke, vape or use chewing tobacco, for example--about 1 in every 10 were using nicotine pouches in 2024," which is "more than triple the 3% of tobacco users who were using them in 2021." The findings were published in Addiction.
AMA Morning Rounds news coverage is developed in affiliation with Bulletin Healthcare LLC. Subscribe to Morning Rounds Daily.
***
Original text here: https://www.ama-assn.org/about/publications-newsletters/top-news-stories-ama-morning-rounds-week-oct-26-2026
NEMA Applauds DOE $237 Million Initiative to Strengthen U.S. Grid Supply Chains
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 30 [Category: Industrial Materials] -- The National Electrical Manufacturers Association posted the following news release:
* * *
NEMA Applauds DOE $237 Million Initiative to Strengthen U.S. Grid Supply Chains
*
ARLINGTON, Va. - Today at National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) headquarters, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new funding opportunity of up to $237 million to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical electrical equipment that keeps America's grid reliable, safe and secure. The Grid Supply Chain Alternatives to Lead Energy Dominance
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 30 [Category: Industrial Materials] -- The National Electrical Manufacturers Association posted the following news release:
* * *
NEMA Applauds DOE $237 Million Initiative to Strengthen U.S. Grid Supply Chains
*
ARLINGTON, Va. - Today at National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) headquarters, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new funding opportunity of up to $237 million to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical electrical equipment that keeps America's grid reliable, safe and secure. The Grid Supply Chain Alternatives to Lead Energy Dominance(SCALED) funding opportunity will support greater use of domestically sourced grid materials and components.
"America's growing need for electricity demands a stronger grid and the manufacturing capabilities to support it," said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. "With U.S. electricity demand projected to grow as much as 55% by 2050, domestic electrical manufacturers have invested over $200 billion in their U.S. manufacturing operations since 2018, creating products necessary to building the grid of the future. America's ability to manufacture critical electrical grid components is both an economic and a national security imperative. We applaud the Department of Energy's commitment to strengthening domestic supply chains and ensuring American manufacturers can deliver the groundbreaking technologies needed to power our economy."
"Reliable, affordable electricity depends on a strong U.S. electrical manufacturing industry," Phillips added. "NEMA's Make It American(r) program recognizes the manufacturers investing in U.S. facilities, expanding production capacity, and creating American jobs. Every new production line strengthens the supply chains our grid depends on and reduces our exposure to cyber risks and bottlenecks. We look forward to working with DOE both to elevate Make It American and the manufacturers leading this effort, and to expand domestic production of critical grid equipment through the SCALED program."
The U.S. electroindustry has also committed more than $20 billion toward new and expanded production capacity since January 2025, with the majority of the nearly 80 investments announced over the past 21 months supporting transformer and switchgear production.
Funded through congressional appropriations earlier this year, DOE's Grid SCALED funding opportunity will support two priorities:
* Up to $187 million for projects that increase the use of domestically sourced alternative materials and subcomponents, reducing reliance on imports.
* Up to $50 million toward projects that promote refurbishment and reuse of existing grid equipment and materials.
Together, these efforts are designed to strengthen grid supply chain resilience, reduce equipment constraints, and help accelerate the delivery of critical electrical infrastructure.
DOE estimates the initiative could generate up to $175 million in annual economic value, including $125 million in utility savings and $50 million in economic activity retained in America rather than flowing to foreign suppliers.
***
Original text here: https://www.makeitelectric.org/newsroom/news/nema-applauds-doe-237-million-initiative-to-strengthen-u-s-grid-supply-chains/
Mendoza Family Fund Surpasses $1 Million in Partnership With the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
NEW YORK, Oct. 30 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
* * *
October 29, 2026
Mendoza Family Fund Surpasses $1 Million in Partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Milestone marks the culmination of years of grassroots fundraising inspired by the family's matriarch Elsa Mendoza's journey with MS
-
NEW YORK, NY -- The Mendoza Family Fund, created in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, has surpassed $1 million to advance MS research toward a cure and making treatment more affordable and accessible. This milestone builds
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 30 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
* * *
October 29, 2026
Mendoza Family Fund Surpasses $1 Million in Partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Milestone marks the culmination of years of grassroots fundraising inspired by the family's matriarch Elsa Mendoza's journey with MS
-
NEW YORK, NY -- The Mendoza Family Fund, created in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, has surpassed $1 million to advance MS research toward a cure and making treatment more affordable and accessible. This milestone buildson the Mendoza family's years of work toward a world free of MS.
Earlier this year, Las Vegas quarterback Fernando Mendoza, his brothers Alberto and Max and their parents, Elsa and Fernando, officially joined forces with the National MS Society to launch the Mendoza Family Fund. Inspired by his mother, Elsa, who has lived with MS for 18 years, Fernando marked the launch with a personal $500,000 commitment to support MS stem cell research at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.
The Fund grew out of the family's grassroots effort to support Elsa and others living with MS. What began with Fernando and Alberto partnering with local restaurants and rallying their college communities grew into a broader fundraising effort. Together, with Fernando's gift and continued support from generous donors, those efforts have now surpassed $1 million.
For the Mendoza family, the work is about much more than fundraising. It's about turning their experience with MS into something that can help millions of other families.
"Our mom has taught our family so much about strength, resilience and positivity," the Mendoza family says. "Launching the Mendoza Family Fund with the National MS Society has allowed us to take that commitment even further. Reaching this $1 million milestone is incredibly meaningful to our family, but we know the work doesn't stop here. We want to help make treatment more affordable and accessible while advancing the research that will lead to cures and ultimately the end of MS."
Elsa Mendoza added, "My family has always been my greatest source of strength throughout my journey with MS. I never imagined that our experience would inspire something that could help so many others. Reaching $1 million through the Mendoza Family Fund is an incredible milestone, and I'm so proud of what we've built together. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported all of us in the MS community along the way and hopeful for what we can accomplish together for a future without this disease."
Nearly 1 million people in the United States are living with MS and there is currently no cure. Yet decades of scientific progress have brought researchers closer to stopping disease progression, restoring lost function and ultimately preventing MS. The Mendoza Family Fund is helping build on that progress.
Tim Coetzee, PhD, President and CEO of the National MS Society, added, "This incredible milestone reflects what can happen when a family turns its personal experience with MS into action. The Mendoza Family Fund is helping advance research while bringing greater awareness to the need for continued investment in a future free of MS. We're grateful to the Mendoza family and everyone who has joined them in supporting people impacted by MS."
To learn more about the Mendoza Family Fund, visit nationalmssociety.org/mendoza.
To learn more about the Society and multiple sclerosis, visit nationalmssociety.org.
* * *
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Currently there is no cure. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and vision issues. An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize disability. Significant progress is being made to achieve a world free of MS.
* * *
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives. Connect to learn more and get involved: nationalmssociety.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube or 1-800-344-4867.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/mendoza-family-fund-milestone
[Category: Health Care]
IFA Applauds New FTC Approach to Personalized Pricing
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 [Category: Business] -- The International Franchise Association issued the following news release:
* * *
IFA Applauds New FTC Approach to Personalized Pricing
*
Following formal comments requesting a more narrow approach, FTC issues new inquiry seeking more information on personalized pricing, targeting non-franchised businesses
WASHINGTON - The International Franchise Association (IFA) today applauded the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) narrower approach on personalized pricing, which seeks pricing and compensation information, rather than the broad proposal issued in
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 [Category: Business] -- The International Franchise Association issued the following news release:
* * *
IFA Applauds New FTC Approach to Personalized Pricing
*
Following formal comments requesting a more narrow approach, FTC issues new inquiry seeking more information on personalized pricing, targeting non-franchised businesses
WASHINGTON - The International Franchise Association (IFA) today applauded the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) narrower approach on personalized pricing, which seeks pricing and compensation information, rather than the broad proposal issued inAugust. In September, IFA raised concerns that the original proposal was overly broad based and could have included industries across the franchise business model for common discount practices or loyalty pricing programs.
"Personalized pricing is a standard part of business practices that has been around for decades," said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. "While the technology has changed, the concept has not. Businesses across industries offer customers discounts, rewards, or loyalty programs to support their regulars or bring more people in the door - a practice the customer often benefits from. Further, it is standard in franchised businesses for franchisors to provide data and insights to their franchisees to help them run their businesses successfully. IFA is glad to see the FTC narrow its approach to focus on practices that could actually be harmful to customers, rather than put forth a broad rule that could sweep in ordinary loyalty and discount programs, ultimately harming the consumer and small business owner alike."
The new inquiry reflects concerns raised in IFA's recent comments on the August proposal, urging the FTC to withdraw the proposal to take the time to understand how personalized pricing is used before writing new rules.
IFA President and CEO Matt Haller also addressed personalized pricing in a new Substack available here.
***
Original text here: https://www.franchise.org/2026/10/ifa-applauds-new-ftc-approach-to-personalized-pricing/
How Believing in Miracles, and EO, Kept a Cookie Company From Crumbling
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- Entrepreneurs' Organization issued the following news:
* * *
How Believing in Miracles, and EO, Kept a Cookie Company From Crumbling
October 29, 2026
Shahira Marei ventured to EO's Entrepreneurial Masters Program (EMP) ready to give her company away. Instead, she came home, rebuilt it, and is on track to surpass US$10 million in revenue.
Diana Holquist
EO Global Contributing Writer
In May 2024, after nine years in business, Shahira Marei shut down her production facility, laid off her staff, and ran up nearly US$1 million in debt trying to keep her dessert
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- Entrepreneurs' Organization issued the following news:
* * *
How Believing in Miracles, and EO, Kept a Cookie Company From Crumbling
October 29, 2026
Shahira Marei ventured to EO's Entrepreneurial Masters Program (EMP) ready to give her company away. Instead, she came home, rebuilt it, and is on track to surpass US$10 million in revenue.
Diana Holquist
EO Global Contributing Writer
In May 2024, after nine years in business, Shahira Marei shut down her production facility, laid off her staff, and ran up nearly US$1 million in debt trying to keep her dessertcompany, Dirty Cookie, alive. Then, because she did not want to let her customers down, she called four of her competitors and offered them the company. "It was not worth anything to any of them," she says. "I was just giving them my recipes and my clients and saying, take care of them for me."
But first, she had to attend EO's Entrepreneurial Masters Program. (EMP), which she had signed up for a year earlier, before everything fell apart.
On the first night, Shahira stood up in front of about 80 people and broke down. "I have no money," she told them. "I am not going to have a business after I go back from EMP. I have no team. I do not even know what I am doing here."
On the last day of the program, she stood up in front of the same class, this time with a different message. "I do not know how," she said, "but I am going to come back next year with an amazing comeback story."
She called the four companies to cancel the deal. When one asked how she would do it with no money and no team, she said, "I do not know yet, but I believe in miracles."
Today, the company's stuffed cookies are available at Kroger and Walmart, and Shahira expects sales to exceed US$10 million and possibly reach US$20 million within two years. Getting there took faith, EO friends, and an honest look at what she lacked. But the story starts earlier -- in a car in Egypt.
Finding Her Mission
Shahira was 14 when her family moved from California back to Egypt after her parents' divorce. The culture shock was intense. Children her age banged on the family's car windows, begging. In turn, Shahira begged her father to give them money.
"This is not the solution," he said. "If you really want to help these kids, go back to America, finish your education, and then come back and give them jobs."
From that moment on, she had a mission.
Unfortunately, the 2011 Egyptian revolution closed the door to her homeland, so her dream of creating jobs shifted to America. To gain experience, she got a job at Boeing and rose to program manager. At 24, she became pregnant, and said to herself, "The second she pops out, we are going to start any kind of business. I do not care what it is."
Five months after her daughter was born, she signed a five-year lease for a 300-square-foot space in a mall, not knowing what she would put there. Shahira asked what the mall needed, and the landlord suggested a dessert shop.
After two days on Pinterest, she had her idea: a chocolate-lined cookie cup that held a shot of milk. She designed a mold with an engineer friend from Boeing and recruited a junior-high friend who could bake. For three months, her family and helpers made cookie shots every night in the friend's home.
The Dirty Cookie opened in 2015, built for indulgence over virtue. As the brand's tagline puts it: "In a world of clean salads, we say be a Dirty Cookie."
A Public "No"
Dirty Cookie took off, catering Kim Kardashian's birthday and the sets of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." When COVID shut down catering, Shahira sold DIY cookie shot kits online, landing on Good Morning America and the Today show.
On Shark Tank in 2021, Mark Cuban questioned Dirty Cookie's corporate gifting model. Robert Herjavec offered a deal on air, but it fell through afterward.
Still, the show changed the company's trajectory, giving it credibility. Afterward, she was able to raise US$3 million from an angel investor.
Losing Almost Everything
By the end of 2021, soaring ad costs had made Dirty Cookie unprofitable. Shahira kept spending, sure things would improve. In 2022, she moved into wholesale, landing Disneyland and several stadiums.
Manufacturing became her biggest challenge. One co-packer stole from her, then gave her four days to clear out. Another took her on, then went bankrupt three months later. In September 2023, at the start of the Q4 busy season, no co-packer would even take her call. So she took over a facility herself, at US$100,000 a month she did not have.
By May 2024, she had lost nearly US$1 million. Her business partner left, warning, "I think you must be addicted to pain." Shahira had not seen her daughter in two and a half months. She had emptied her 401(k), sold her house, and taken out loans. She planned to give the business away after EMP.
People, Cash, Strategy, Execution
The first speaker at EMP was Verne Harnish, EO's founder. He told the room that a business needs four things: people, cash, strategy, and execution.
"I have no people, I have no cash, I have no strategy, and I have no execution," Shahira told him.
"So, you do not have a business?" he asked.
"Exactly," she said.
But that would not be true for long. Somehow, naming the gaps helped her see a path forward and her four days away from the business at EMP gave her space to clear her head and strategize with other founders.
By the second day, she had decided to try again.
Answers to Her Prayers
Change happened fast. First, an New York EO member introduced her to a cookie co-packer who took her in and told her not to worry about the money, saying they would figure it out later.
Then she reconnected with David Landeck, an old friend who had just exited his company. She told him she had no money, and he told her he was not looking for any. Landeck, now her business partner, sat down with the numbers and helped her see them objectively, not emotionally.
Then the breakthrough came: to invent a category no one owned. Established brands filled the refrigerated dough aisle, but no one sold a stuffed cookie there. Shahira pitched retailers. Kroger said yes at the end of 2024. Walmart signed in May 2025.
The next summer, at an EO fireside chat with Mark Cuban, she reminded him of her turn on the show and told him he had been right about corporate gifting, which had nearly bankrupted the company.
"See, I was right about something," Cuban said. Then he pushed her toward the GLP-1 market, but she was already a step ahead: A protein-fiber cookie launches next year.
Building a Person, Not a Business
Shahira has thought a lot about her journey. Surviving 2024 "built so much confidence and faith in myself," she says. She no longer believes the point is to build a product, sell it, and exit.
"I thought I was building a business," she says, "but I realized I was the one being built." She explains that she is now closer to God, as her faith has "1,000x'd." She believes her business journey has helped her become the best version of herself.
She also gives EO some credit, too: "EO has changed my life," she says. "I am indebted to EO forever."
* * *
Shahira Marei (EO New York) is the founder and CEO of Dirty Cookie, maker of cookie shots and stuffed cookies. Interested in becoming an EO member like Shahira? Learn more here.
* * *
Original text here: https://eonetwork.org/blog/how-believing-in-miracles-and-eo-kept-a-cookie-company-from-crumbling/
[Category: Business]
Finding my place in medicine: Kathryn Kelly, MD, internist
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 30 [Category: Medical] -- The American Medical Association posted the following news release:
* * *
Finding my place in medicine: Kathryn Kelly, MD, internist
*
As a resident physician, are you thinking about where you want to build your future in medicine? Meet AMA member Kathryn Kelly, MD, an internist and a featured voice in the AMA's "Finding My Place in Medicine" series.
In this series, physicians reflect on what influenced their decisions when choosing where to work--and what they wish they had known earlier. Explore her journey to help guide your own path toward
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 30 [Category: Medical] -- The American Medical Association posted the following news release:
* * *
Finding my place in medicine: Kathryn Kelly, MD, internist
*
As a resident physician, are you thinking about where you want to build your future in medicine? Meet AMA member Kathryn Kelly, MD, an internist and a featured voice in the AMA's "Finding My Place in Medicine" series.
In this series, physicians reflect on what influenced their decisions when choosing where to work--and what they wish they had known earlier. Explore her journey to help guide your own path towarda fulfilling medical career.
If you are looking for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet now from the AMA. In addition, the AMA Transitioning to Practice series has guidance and resources on deciding where to practice, negotiating an employment contract, managing work-life balance and other essential tips about starting in practice--including in private practice.
"Following" Dr. Kathryn Kelly
Specialty: Internal medicine.
Practice setting: Independent group practice.
Employment type: Practice owner affiliated with Privia Health, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Privia Health is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Years in practice: 15.
Key factors that led me to partner with Privia Health: I was driven by the "truth and service" mission of Howard University, where I went to medical school, to build an independent practice focused on health equity and compassionate care for underserved populations. I designed my practice to accept all insurance types, including Medicaid, so that quality care would be accessible to vulnerable communities. I also established KCM Cares, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to manage primary care across county homeless shelters, street outreach teams and a 21-bed medical respite program.
To further advance that mission, I partnered with Javara--an integrated research organization that embeds clinical trials in patient care--and Privia Health to bring primary care clinical trials directly into the community, focusing on health disparities like APOL1-mediated kidney failure affecting African American populations. Privia Health's support with payer contracting, revenue cycle management, technology and value-based care offered a way to strengthen my practice while preserving the independence that allows me to serve my community.
What stood out to me during the interview and hiring process: As an independent practice founder, I was the one doing the interviewing and hiring. I learned that when recruiting associate physicians and advanced practice clinicians, the priority is identifying clinicians who view medicine as a calling and are dedicated to treating the whole person with warmth and empathy.
How feedback from peers and mentors influenced my evaluation process: My mentors reinforced that finding a partner aligned with my mission and purpose brings true fulfillment and long-term success.
But even before that, the guidance I got from Howard and Washington Hospital Center leaders inspired me to serve as a National Health Service Corps Scholar in Albany, Georgia, and helped me lay the foundation for starting an independent practice.
Why I chose to work in this practice setting: I was seeking a model that gave me direct control over patient care standards. I also sought a situation in which the practice setting could seamlessly integrate office primary care, shelter-based medicine, medical respite and minority-focused clinical research.
The top three qualities for a great place to work for physicians: I recommend looking for an employer or building an independent practice that:
* Prioritizes active listening and relationship-building over strict daily volume targets.
* Fosters a supportive team culture centered on equity, service and patient advocacy.
* Equips clinicians with modern infrastructure to reduce clerical overhead and protect against burnout.
How my current practice supports physician well-being and work-life balance: We have implemented AI scribes for all clinicians to record visits and generate notes live, substantially reducing after-hours charting. We also use EHR-integrated two-way text messaging and modern phone systems to simplify patient inquiries and reduce after-hours calls.
In addition, we cap daily patient volumes to keep workloads manageable, and we allocate dedicated administrative time. We also maintain a fair, empathetic environment that is sensitive to personal family needs, childcare, eldercare and life events.
The workplace attributes that contribute most to my job satisfaction as a Privia Health-affiliated practice owner: I experience complete alignment between my daily clinical practice, non-profit community work and legislative public health advocacy. I also enjoy being able to cultivate a warm, supportive workplace where staff and clinicians feel heard and enjoy coming to work.
What I wish I had known about evaluating a job offer before choosing my first position: I wish I had recognized earlier in my career that there is more to life than work. I encourage young clinicians to protect their personal health, explore the world and be a "good patient to yourself" so they can sustainably care for others.
How my current role compares with what I imagined: We have grown far beyond a single private clinic into a comprehensive health model incorporating a 10-person clinical team, shelter outreach, a 21-bed medical respite program, equity-focused clinical trials and extensive state and local health leadership. We also look forward to opening a second clinical site, expanding research trials and continuing advocacy for physician reimbursement, prior authorization reform and safety-net funding.
***
Original text here: https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-residents/transition-resident-attending/finding-my-place-medicine-kathryn-kelly-md
AAFA Submits 2027 National Trade Estimate Comments
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The American Apparel and Footwear Association issued the following news release:
* * *
AAFA Submits 2027 National Trade Estimate Comments
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for the 2027 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, highlighting significant challenges affecting the U.S. apparel, footwear, and travel goods industries.
AAFA's submission identifies burdensome trade practices across 12 countries, including import licensing requirements,
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The American Apparel and Footwear Association issued the following news release:
* * *
AAFA Submits 2027 National Trade Estimate Comments
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for the 2027 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, highlighting significant challenges affecting the U.S. apparel, footwear, and travel goods industries.
AAFA's submission identifies burdensome trade practices across 12 countries, including import licensing requirements,customs valuation and enforcement practices, labeling regulations, technical barriers to trade, and intellectual property protection concerns.
The comments also emphasize the importance of reducing regulatory inconsistencies, strengthening customs cooperation, and improving market access for U.S. companies. In addition, AAFA urges the administration to pursue greater predictability in U.S. tariff policy, eliminate tariffs on manufacturing inputs and machinery, prevent overlapping tariffs, and provide sufficient implementation periods for new trade measures.
The submission highlights the importance of trade preference programs, digital labeling modernization, and addressing ongoing transportation challenges, including uncertainty surrounding Section 301 maritime and shipbuilding fees.
AAFA looks forward to continued engagement with USTR to eliminate unnecessary trade barriers, strengthen global supply chains, and support the competitiveness of American businesses and workers.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aafaglobal.org/AAFA/AAFA_News/2026_Letters_and_Comments/AAFA_Submits_2027_National_Trade_Estimate_Comments.aspx
[Category: Business]
