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Managing Health Expectations
A Hospitalist Sifts Through Disinformation
I'm Dr. Joseph Thomas. I am an M.D. and I work as a hospitalist in Western New York. I started writing long-form status updates on Facebook to sort through all the disinformation that was being bandied about regarding COVID-19, and I forgot how much I like regularly writing, even if it's not so much creative as it is driven by exasperation.
I still write about COVID sometimes (get your vaccine!), but now I talk more broadly about public health and reproductive justice.
I don’t always write regularly because of my work schedule, but when I don’t you can find other content on my social media (@DocWithBowtie on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Threads)!
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COVID-19: MORE MISUNDERSTANDINGS (Part 2/2): Florida, From vs. With, Rogan, Freedom Convoy
We continue addressing (basically, I'm playing catch-up) of several misunderstandings that have arisen or persisted or resurfaced over...
Dr. Bow Tie
Feb 1, 20229 min read
COVID-19: MORE MISUNDERSTANDINGS (Part 1/2): Vaccines Working? "Natural Immunity," Schools, Weed
As we hit the two-year anniversary of the pandemic hitting the United States, it's important to reflect on what we have learned. The most...
Dr. Bow Tie
Jan 30, 20227 min read
COVID-19: WHEN OMICRON REARS ITS UGLY HEAD (Or, Do I Need A Booster?)
So you've received two doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (or one dose of the J&J adenovirus vaccine) and you've been figuring out when...
Dr. Bow Tie
Jan 7, 20225 min read
The January 6th Attacks: One Year Later
It’s been a year, and I have had a lot of thoughts about this day. Still, I’m not entirely sure what to write about the anniversary of...
Dr. Bow Tie
Jan 6, 20222 min read
Happy New Year, 2022! Please Let It Be Kind To Us
This is a good year to develop some habits: - Rapid testing before gathering with friends. - Testing 4-5 days after a gathering or...
Dr. Bow Tie
Jan 1, 20222 min read
COVID-19: NEW QUARANTINE/ISOLATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHY WE SHOULD STILL BE WARY
This week, if you know someone in healthcare who has been following evidence-based medicine, chances are... they have been more upset...
Dr. Bow Tie
Dec 29, 20218 min read
Three Charlatans and A Shameful Press Release
The most important updates this week are in my Omicron update post from Monday (12/20). Still, there is disinformation running rampant...
Dr. Bow Tie
Dec 23, 20214 min read
COVID-19: Omicron Update
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, better known as Omicron. One of the notes I ended with was that more...
Dr. Bow Tie
Dec 21, 20215 min read
COVID-19 AND VACCINES: ONE YEAR LATER
December 16, 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of my first COVID-19 vaccine. I had such hope that day that we would soon see the end of...
Dr. Bow Tie
Dec 17, 20215 min read
COVID-19: WINTER IS COMING (Omicron Update and Holiday Prep)
It’s important to remember, as you read this, that most of you have had multiple vaccines that required multi-dose regimens, given over...
Dr. Bow Tie
Dec 7, 20212 min read
COVID-19: OMICRON, AN INTRODUCTION, OR WHY WE NEED GLOBAL VACCINE DISTRIBUTION EQUITY
I don't always write on these topics too early, but if I have learned anything during this pandemic, it is that it's important to get out...
Dr. Bow Tie
Nov 27, 20214 min read
COVID-19: BOOSTER UPDATE, MASKS (STILL) WORK, MORE DISPROVING INFERTILITY, AND RETRACTIONS
The United States is not in the best place right now. Eric Topol recently pointed out how the US is only about 60% vaccinated, while the...
Dr. Bow Tie
Nov 22, 20217 min read
In Which The Criminal Justice System Has Stopped Pretending
So it turns out, once again, that being a terrorist and murderer is okay as long as you're a White male. Good to know. Kyle Rittenhouse...
Dr. Bow Tie
Nov 21, 20214 min read
COVID-19 AND VACCINES: WHEN PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD
Recently I shared a Tweet on my Instagram in which the author called out media coverage of the recent death of the late Former Secretary...
Dr. Bow Tie
Nov 8, 20215 min read
COVID-19 AND VACCINES: MYTHS OLD & NEW
Great news came out this week, with Pfizer's vaccines getting emergency use authorization and CDC approval for kids aged 5-11. Safe and...
Dr. Bow Tie
Nov 5, 20215 min read
COVID-19 and Vaccines: Boosters Update, Mix & Match
I just put out the flu vaccine post earlier this week and normally I let my posts stand for a bit before I do another, but there was a...
Dr. Bow Tie
Oct 22, 20214 min read
It's That Time Again: Get Your Flu Shot! 2021 Edition
GET YOUR FLU SHOT! I got mine! Once again, more than ever, it is important for everyone to get the flu shot. I know, the last thing you...
Dr. Bow Tie
Oct 21, 20215 min read
I'm Probably Overdue to Talk About mRNA, Aren't I?
The vaccines against COVID-19 are true medical marvels. I wrote back in December of 2020 about the development of the vaccines (trying to...
Dr. Bow Tie
Oct 10, 20217 min read
COVID-19: Boosters, Vaccines for Kids, and New Treatments!
UPDATE: I got my booster October 7th, based on my level of occupational exposure. It felt about the same as my second shot - aches came...
Dr. Bow Tie
Oct 7, 20214 min read
A Brief Reminder About Infection-Mediated Immunity (Why "Natural Immunity" is a Misnomer)
For what ought to be the last time, but will not be, I know: Having had COVID in the past is not enough. It is not. We all wish it was....
Dr. Bow Tie
Oct 4, 20211 min read
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