Our Health & Science Experts in the News
Insights and opinions fresh from the team across media outlets and face to face out on the road
IN THE NEWS
The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism
A guest essay authored by Jess Steier exposing how flawed science has sustained the false link between vaccines and autism.
US states and medical societies chart new paths amid turmoil at CDC and ACIP
Amid unprecedented turmoil at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, some state governments and medical societies are parting ways with federal immunisation schedules.
White House links Tylenol and autism amid mixed studies
Dr. Jessica Steier, public health scientist, joined ABC News' Linsey Davis to react to the Trump administration's latest announcement linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to an increased risk of autism.
Acetaminophen use during pregnancy does not increase risk of autism, ADHD: Review
Using acetaminophen as directed during pregnancy does not increase a child's risk of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disability, a major new review published Friday finds.
Trump And Kennedy Cut Children’s Access To Vaccines
The Trump administration cut the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule from 17 vaccines to 11 on Monday, its most consequential vaccine policy change to date.
We wish we’d written that: STAT staffers share their favorite stories of 2025
This year saw upheaval in all corners of health, science, and biotech. While our staff was covering all of the twists and turns, they were also looking with admiration at stellar work from other journalists including Jessica Steier’s ‘The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism’ in the New York Times.
Whole Foods, MAHA and the Battle Over Healthy Eating in America
As diet and wellness become increasingly politicized, one of the most recognizable grocery brands navigates the debate.
The consequences of sharing food and dietary misinformation
Over the past decade, there has been a lot of food misinformation and diet trends. But recently, following U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" dietary guidelines being announced, dieticians and health experts are reaching their limit. Listen to find out more about the effects of unnecessary dietary restrictions and food misinformation with Jessica B. Steier.
Food dyes and other fear factors: the erosion of public trust and how to rebuild it
From the latest obsessions of health “influencers”, to political intervention around what to safely feed children, digital channels are awash with suspect advice on what we eat. This article considers the role the agro-food industry should play in countering mis- and dis-information.
An MIT Professor criticized COVID-19 shots. His new role allows him to make recommendations about the vaccine.
He’s told us his stance on COVID vaccines," said Jess Steier, who writes the Substack “Unbiased Science.” “So he’s coming into this with very clear and well-documented bias.”
Wellness Influencers Are Good at Winning Your Trust. That May Not Be the Best Medicine
"What wellness influencers do very well is make it seem like if you do X, you will be healthier," says Jessica B. Steier, who holds a doctorate in public health, is the founder and host of Unbiased Science and executive director of the Science Literacy Lab. "It makes people feel like they have a ton of control over their health, and that's empowering."
Why American values are changing when it comes to our health
Americans’ steadfast dedication to their beliefs can be a good thing, but it can also go too far, Dr. Jessica Steier says – like when adults yell at Girl Scouts that the cookies they’re selling are “poison.”
Opinion: Food-based fearmongering is killing consumer trust
From viral misinformation to reactionary health policies, consumer trust in food and drink is under growing strain. Jessica Steier, DrPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, calls for a reset — one that places evidence-based science and long-term food security at the heart of the conversation around modern food production and agriculture.
‘Public Health Whiplash’: RFK Jr.’s Renewed Autism Plans Stoke Fresh Fears
As the clock ticks down on Robert F. Kennedy’s self-imposed deadline to identify and reveal a supposed cause of autism, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department secretary has stoked fresh fears within the disability community.
RFK Jr’s vaccine panel appointees to set agenda despite lack of experience
Five new advisers chosen by Robert F Kennedy Jr will join the vaccines committee for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Monday, in a move that underscores the increasingly anti-vaccine stance of the committee.
US medical groups sue to reverse overhaul of vaccine recommendations
The AAP and 5 other medical and public health organisations are suing US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, following his purge of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Is it toxic? Why you should be wary of the internet’s ‘scary ingredient’ warnings
Some ingredients used in food are also used in cleaning products, cosmetics, and medication, but that doesn't necessarily make them dangerous. The amount you consume matters.
The future of the childhood vaccine schedule
The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel is reassessing the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule. Many of the panel’s members have expressed skepticism about vaccines or suggested unproven links between common vaccine ingredients and certain medical conditions. We talk about what’s next for early immunizations.
CDC panel announces plans to assess childhood vaccines
The CDC’s vaccine advisers will review the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule, including the timing of shots given to kids and possible risks associated with common vaccine ingredients, according to a document posted Thursday to the agency’s website.
Does FDA's Leucovorin Decision Meet the Bar for Gold-Standard Science?
Although HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made "gold-standard science" a priority, the principle appears to be absent from the FDA's impending approval of leucovorin calcium tablets (Wellcovorin), experts told MedPage Today.
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ON THE ROAD
Jess delivering the keynote address at DIA’s Medical Affairs and Scientific Comms Forum in Boston, March 2025
Michelle presenting on stage at Google's AI IRL summit
Jess receiving the American Medical Writers Association Award
Dr. Jessica Steier at a recent visit to the WHITE HOUSE, convening with public health partners
Michelle as a guest interviewee with Don Davis on the Life Science Success podcast
Doing what she loves most - Jess hosting an Unbiased Science podcast episode
Jess presenting at the Crop Life America Annual Meeting, Sept 23
Michelle on stage at the Veeva conference
Jess on stage at the FFAA conference
The story of Michelle Bridenbaker on the Leadership Lab
Michelle delivering Day 2 Keynote at ArisGlobal Breakthrough 2025
Jess delivering the keynote at the APIC Spring Conference
Jess' interview with ABC news
Come and say hello at an upcoming event
VIRTUAL
january 29 2026
2.30-4PM ET
Ask Us Anything: Communicating About Immunization in 2026
Jessica Steier joins the panel for a dynamic discussion on a topic that will continue to shape public health in 2026: immunization.
Share your questions about the immunization schedule, disinformation from federal institutions with experts in communications, epidemiology, immunization, and public health
It’s no secret that 2025 presented many new communications challenges for those on the frontlines of public health. From measles outbreaks throughout the country to shifting immunization guidance, public health communicators had to navigate crisis and confusion while maintaining steady messaging for their communities.
VIRTUAL
february 10 2026
School of Public Health, Washington University Symposium: Information, Misinformation and Disinformation
Jessica Steier will speak about how communication strategies and design thinking co-produce better health system function, linking information flow, environments, and implementation structures.
The Role of Implementation Science
The School of Public Health at Washington University, WashU is an interdisciplinary, collaborative, innovative, data-driven and people-focused home for research and education equipped to meet current and future challenges in public health in St. Louis and globally.
University of Pennsylvania
february 12 2026
Seminar series on strategies to improve vaccine uptake and the communication of public health recommendations
Hosted by the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, in collaboration with the Penn Medical Communication Research Institute, the Annenberg School for Communication, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Vaccine Education Center.
Panel on Public Health Communication
Jessica Steier will join a panel that brings in direct-to-public communicators to generate discussion on more practical, real-world-tested strategies to reach audiences. The audience will include clinicians, researchers, health communicators, and communications scholars.
Dartmouth College
March 26 2026
Dartmouth College Research Seminar
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) at the Geisel School of Medicine hosts a seminar series to foster education and collaboration among faculty, students, and staff.
Research Seminar
Jessica Steier will join as a guest presenter, to share her work with TDI and the greater Dartmouth community.
Transforming Medical Affairs with AI
A comprehensive reference guide for Pharma and Biotech industries
