Justin Kaplan

CommonHealth Fellow

Justin Kaplan is a summer fellow at WBUR, covering science and health for CommonHealth. He is currently a master’s student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studying health communication.

Previously, he spent time as a Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where he tested novel HIV therapies. He earned a bachelor’s in Human Biology with highest distinction from the University of Virginia in 2015.

Recently published

A player finds a treasure chest in the online game "Fortnite." (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

How 'Fortnite' Hooks Your Kid, And Why Experts Say You May Not Need To Worry

Three experts — a psychologist, a professor and a pediatrician — discuss the allure, learning merits and health implications of "Fortnite: Battle Royale."

Local Coverage

Aug 24, 2018

The Doctors Without MDs: What Makes Osteopathic Medicine Different?

Around one in 10 doctors in the U.S. today is an osteopathic physician, or DO for short. But millions of Americans still don't know DOs exist.

Local Coverage

Aug 17, 2018

University of Miami dermatologist Dr. Anne Burdick checks the computer screen as she discusses telemedicine on April 8, 2014. (J Pat Carter/AP)

Lawmakers' Failure To Pass Health Bill Leaves Telemedicine On Hold

Massachusetts is known to blaze the trails in health care. But when it comes to telemedicine, it's lagging behind.

Local Coverage

Aug 1, 2018

In this 2014 file photo, giant machines dig for brown coal at the open-cast mining Garzweiler in front of a smoking power plant near the city of Grevenbroich in western Germany. (Martin Meissner/AP)

Global Warming Will Cause More People To Die By Suicide, Study Predicts

As temperatures rise, so do suicide rates, according to researchers from Stanford University who analyzed nearly 1.5 million pieces of data.

Local Coverage

Jul 23, 2018

Protesters stage a "die-in" inside Harvard's Arthur M. Sackler Museum to protest the Sackler family's ties to Purdue Pharma and the opioid crisis. (Justin Kaplan/WBUR)

Protesters Stage 'Die-In' At Harvard Museum To Criticize Namesake's Link To Opioid Crisis

Demonstrators silently marched from Harvard Square to the Arthur M. Sackler Museum in protest of Harvard University's ties to a family they say profited off the opioid crisis.

Local Coverage

Jul 20, 2018

The triplets Edward Galland, David Kellman and Robert Shafran are now the subject of "Three Identical Strangers." (Courtesy NEON)

'Three Identical Strangers' Is A Tragic Masterpiece. As A Triplet, It Hurt To Watch

After seeing the film, writer Justin Kaplan spent hours wondering if the brothers’ fates would be different if they had grown up together.

Local Coverage

Jul 17, 2018

Meet The Trans Chaplain Helping LGBTQ Elders Feel Welcome In Senior Care

A chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife strives to help LGBTQ seniors be themselves in an environment where many fear coming out.

Local Coverage

Jul 13, 2018

Half Of Americans Are Trying To Lose Weight, Including Many Who Are Not Overweight, CDC Reports

Nearly half of adults in America tried to lose weight within the span of a year, according to 2013-2016 data reported in a first-of-its-kind report.

Local Coverage

Jul 12, 2018

Research Casts Light On ASMR, The Strange 'Brain Tingle' Millions Use To Relax

A first-of-its-kind study explores the physical effects of ASMR, a tingly, trance-like feeling said to promote intense relaxation for those who experience it.

Local Coverage

Jul 6, 2018

People take part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston in 2003. (AP)

5 Takeaways From The First Ever 'Cancer In Boston' Report

While cancer is on the decline in Boston overall, some forms are rising, and large disparities still loom, according to the inaugural Special Report on cancer by the Boston Public...

Local Coverage

Jul 6, 2018