Karen Weintraub
Contributor, CommonHealth
Karen Weintraub spent 20 years in newsrooms before becoming a freelance writer in January 2010. She is a contributor for WBUR's CommonHealth.
Recently published
The Quest To Cure Diabetes: From Insulin To The Body's Own Cells
“I thought by now I would have cured the disease,” says Harvard University's Doug Melton, one of the leading diabetes researchers in the U.S. “It's taken much longer than I...
This Mass. Woman Has 2 Insurance Plans. She's Still Struggling To Pay For Prescriptions
“When you're up backed up against a wall, I mean you have to do something,” says Everett resident Joanne Rhoton. “And I'm sure that I'm not the only person that...
Prescription: More Broccoli, Fewer Carbs. How Some Doctors Are Looking To Food To Treat Illness
A McLean Hospital doctor asks patients with obesity and mental illness to try the ketogenic diet. It's part of a growing trend of doctors prescribing certain foods -- or telling...
New Gene Therapy Shows Promise For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. A new gene therapy could help fight it.
The Power And Pitfalls Of The Popular Ketogenic Diet For Patients
Long before it became one of the hottest diets in America, the ketogenic diet was used for patients with epilepsy, and it often works -- but it's extraordinarily challenging to...
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A New Genetic Test For Heart Attacks Could Help People Avoid Unpleasant Medical Surprises
Looking at data from 6.6 million spots in the genome, Boston area researchers have found ways to identify genetic risk for heart attack and other health issues.
CommonHealth: Uncovering Hidden Genetic Risk Factors
Scientists have found a way to determine whether an individual has an increased genetic risk for heart disease and other serious illnesses.
Legos Of Life: Atlas Maps Human Body One Cell Type At A Time
The "Human Cell Atlas" aims to account for and better understand every cell type in the human body, and how they interact.
'Slips, Lapses, Fumbles': Medical Mistakes Kill, And A Solution Is Seen In Education
Medical negligence kills more than 250,000 people every year. "Most errors are made by good doctors," says Aubrey Milunsky.
Next Chapter For Biotech? Many Say 'Convergence' With Data Science
Artificial intelligence, big data analytics and deep learning are converging on health care in a big way, experts insist.