Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET)
recently announced a scholarship for those currently in the care of Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute (DFCI) which will offer patients and survivors an opportunity
to jumpstart their educational initiatives. Starting with the Fall 2009
semester, The Boston University Metropolitan
College Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Scholarship will enable
patients to either begin or continue their undergraduate studies and resume
their interaction with the education community while working toward future
personal and professional goals. The scholarship is offered to any current or
recent (within 18 months) DFCI patient toward any full-time, part-time, or
non-degree MET classroom program at the undergraduate level.

Thus far, MET has raised over $25,000 in scholarship
funds for the program and is working to engage the local community in an effort
to fund the program for years to come.  Donations can be made through the
scholarship website: bu.edu/met/scholarship/dfci/.

Are you helping people make better health choices?

If you care about encouraging choices that promote healthy living, we want to hear from you.

Ashoka’s Changemakers is collaborating with the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to launch a global search for “nudges” – innovative little pushes—that help people make better decisions regarding their own health and the health of others.

Do you know innovators who work to help people make choices that
improve their health? By nominating them, you will provide them the
opportunity to promote their projects on a global platform and get
connected with potential funding. To learn more visit here.

Continue reading…

In response to President Obama's call for recommendations on health care reform, the Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, convened an online Community Health Discussion in December, to explore the opportunities and advantages connected health, population management and participatory medicine can offer to health care reform. A report of the discussion findings was submitted to President Obama's Presidential Transition Health Policy Team, led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Nominee Tom Daschle. Over 30 participants, including academic and business leaders, technologists, physicians, health insurers, patients and payers, took part in the discussion. The Center's final report submitted to the Obama team addressed how connected health and its core tools – physiologic monitoring presented to the patient in a meaningful way, and data-driven coaching to help individuals make positive lifestyle and health behavior changes – could play a critical role in transforming health care delivery, improving quality and expanding access to care throughout the U.S.

By Sarah Arnquist

Each year, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selects 10 research articles that made a significant contribution to the policy arena. This year, the Foundation wants you to help winnow the selection.

The Foundation wants you to select the top 10 out of 25 articles, which it funded in 2008 and believes had major policy impact, affected their work and thinking, or stood out in some other way.

Since voting opened last week, nearly 1,000 votes across 46 states have been cast. Click here to vote. Voting ends December 23, and the final list will be published in January.

<a href="http://www.buzzdash.com/index.php?page=buzzbite&BB_id=121448">Is health care is a right, privilege or social responsibility?</a> | <a href="http://www.buzzdash.com">BuzzDash polls</a>

It’s up over at Healthcare Economist. Go check it out. It’s filled with thoughful commentary about the economy, bailout and health care.

By THCB Staff

What do high stakes poker, smart women and health care have to do with each other? The Third Annual Xscape conference coming up in February will combine all three in Las Vegas to promote and support women health care executives.

The conference is put on by the X2 healthcare network, and they’re looking for additional speakers.

Indu Subaiya, co-founder of the Health 2.0 Conference and Accelerator, will give the keynote address, bringing attendees up to speed on new health care players in technology and how Health 2.0 is empowering consumers.

By Sarah Arnquist

A group of powerful women have joined forces to add their voices and shape the dialogue about health care issues through a new blog, Disruptive Women in health care.

The site is intended to be "a springboard for fresh ideas in health care," says Robin Strongin, president & CEO of Amplify Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.

The blog launched yesterday at the National Press Club, and today you can read posts by Google Health’s Missy Krasner about making health reform pertinent to the average person. Stephanie Mensh, co-founder of stroke survivor, writes about why Sarah Palin’s fake stance on supporting families with special needs makes her mad. And Glenna Crooks, president of Strategic Health Policy International, Inc. talks about why pharmacists need a larger role in health care delivery.

"My vision of a disruptive woman is someone who not only sees a problem, but jumps in to correct it.  She does so with guts and spunk and is not afraid to shake up the status quo," said Strongin, a twenty-five year health care veteran, "Each of these women brings a unique perspective, years of hands on experience, and a track record of speaking up, speaking out and making change."