Sean Johnson

The social networking behemoth today announced the launch of a program initiative that aims to instantly aid users who are expressing suicidal thoughts.

When you think mHealth, you might immediately think of health care applications on your iPhone or an EMR on your tablet. But the process that led to that app to making it to your mobile device is a long and tedious one.

In the afternoon session "mHealth at the Point of Care" at the mHealth Summit in National Harbor, MD, Bella Hwang spoke about an SMS program in Kenya that not only helped improve medication in AIDS patients, but also promised to do so in a highly economical way.

There is a lot of work involved in producing a successful clinical trial. Even the planning stage alone can take a significant amount of time. But when data is incomplete-especially in longitudinal clinical trials-it can be a real struggle for organizers.

Transitioning an adolescent or teenager from a pediatric rheumatologist to an adult rheumatologist can be a very delicate and complicated process. With so many pitfalls along the way, it's easy to see why this problem has been occurring more and more. The good news? It's a very "fixable" problem.

Professor Anthony Woolf, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and Professor of Rheumatology at the Peninsula Medical School, Truro, UK, posed a very important question in his presentation at ACR on Monday: "How do we get policymakers to take musculoskeletal conditions seriously?"

James B. Maas, PhD, is a Cornell University professor who knows a heck of a lot about sleep and how it impacts our bodies. But this session focused less on how rheumatology was involved (although Maas did say it was up to rheumatologists to find the proper medication that would not impact their patients' sleep patterns), and more on the general need for a proper night's rest.

One of the great thing about covering a medical conference is being able to interact with physicians and thought leaders about the hot topics in their specialty. In this video, Natasha Bergert, MD, a pediatrician from Kansas City, MO, discusses her experience at this year's AAP conference.

Stop me if you've heard this before: vaccines are controversial. However, there is one place where there is no controversy at all-that place is in downtown Boston at a Convention Center where the American Academy of Pediatrics is gathering.

Technology in the form of just about every medium has infiltrated our daily lives--there's no question about that. But where (and at what age) should the line be drawn?

Perhaps intentionally, the Monday morning AAP session "ADHD Diagnosis and Management in Young Children" was a blitzkrieg of ADHD facts and studies that seemed to jump all over the place (in a good way).

One of the hotter topics at the AAP conference this year has been bullying. So when attendees saw that Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH, FAAP, was giving a presentation on this topic on Sunday afternoon, they flocked to the session.

One of the great things about attending the AAP 2011 conference is the interaction with pediatricians from across the globe to get their insights on new diagnostic guidelines and hot topics in the industry.

One of the first sessions on Day 2 in Boston featured Kathryn Ellerbeck, MD, FAAP, and Catherine Smith, PhD talking about the difficulties in diagnosing children with autism.

At the end of this morning's AAP session on autism, attendees were able to ask questions and presenters provided resources to prepare them for diagnostic changes.

British singer Amy Winehouse died this past weekend, calling attention to her ongoing struggle with addiction.

A young boy diagnosed with cancer found a creative way to help his family overcome their financial obstacles.

Sometimes one incident can define a person's legacy. Other times, people find ways to redefine their legacy.

Pharmacogenomics just might hold the key to truly personalized medicine. But serious barriers to implementing this science into health care still exist.

NY Councilman Leroy Comrie is looking to introduce legislation that would ban toys from being included in "unhealthy" meals at fast food restaurants.

Diabetes is a major problem in the United States, and scientists recently zoned in on the areas that need the most care and prevention.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week, you probably already know that the iPad 2 will hit US stores a week from today.

TV reporter Serene Branson displayed some alarming behavior earlier this month when she began rambling in gibberish during live coverage at the Grammy Awards.

Beating humans is elementary for Jeopardy's super computer contestant Watson, but what does it mean for medicine?

The New York City Council voted in favor of banning smoking in parks and on beaches yesterday in order to protect children from secondhand smoke.

New research has given new meaning to the term die hard, especially when it comes to overzealous sports fans.

Striking a balance between affordable and nutritional is the dilemma faced by many school districts when it comes to serving students their daily lunches.

Jack LaLanne made a career for himself by inspiring people to eat healthy and exercise. The fitness guru passed away yesterday at the age of 96.

George Clooney recently contracted malaria for the second time while visiting the Sudan, but has made a full recovery thanks to proper care.

Texting while driving is not only dangerous--it can and has been fatal. AT&T's new documentary is sure to scare any offender straight.