Damian McNamara is a journalist for Medscape Medical News and MDedge. He worked full-time for MDedge as the Miami Bureau covering a dozen medical specialties during 2001-2012, then as a freelancer for Medscape and MDedge, before being hired on staff by Medscape in 2018. Now the two companies are one. He uses what he learned in school – Damian has a BS in chemistry and an MS in science, health and environmental reporting/journalism. He works out of a home office in Miami, with a 100-pound chocolate lab known to snore under his desk during work hours.
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Why some infectious disease docs are ‘encouraged’ by new bivalent COVID vaccines
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“I’m very encouraged by this new development.”
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Long COVID doubles risk of some serious outcomes in children, teens
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“Many of these conditions were rare or uncommon among children in this analysis, but even a small increase in these conditions is notable.”
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Pfizer plans a vaccine to target all coronaviruses
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Trials are expected to begin this fall.
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Surgeons, who see it up close, offer ways to stop gun violence
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
A committee of the American College of Surgeons developed specific recommendations in 2018, which are still valid today.
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CRC screening: Blood test accuracy compared to colonoscopy
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
At 90% specificity, the blood assay (Guardant Health) was 100% sensitive for detecting CRC.
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Roe v. Wade’s pending fall raises privacy concerns
- Author:
- Kelly Wairimu Davis
- Damian McNamara
“It leads down this slippery slope of if you don’t even have control over your own body, then with electronic communications … we might as well...
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A surprise and a mystery: NAFLD in lean patients linked to CVD risk
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and higher risk of CVD may extend beyond people who are overweight or living with obesity.
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Almost 60% of U.S. population has been infected by COVID-19: CDC
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
This is the first time the seroprevalence of prior infection is more than 50% in the American population.
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Moderna reports positive COVID-19 vaccine response in kids down to 6 months
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Vaccine efficacy against infection was 43.7% in children aged 6 months to 2 years and 37.5% among children aged 2-6 years, the new data from its...
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French fries vs. almonds every day for a month: What changes?
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“The take-home is if you like almonds, eat some almonds. If you like potatoes, eat some potatoes, but don’t overeat either.”
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Two studies shed light on IBD treatment after anti-TNF failure
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Separate studies compared vedolizumab to tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis and to ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease.
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Robust immune response after COVID-19 boosters in those with IBD
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Data support an additional vaccine dose of mRNA vaccine in patients at risk for an inadequate response to the initial series, says expert.
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Meta-analysis favors SubQ infliximab biosimilar over vedolizumab in Crohn’s disease
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Researchers evaluated results of seven major studies to compare efficacy and safety of the two agents in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis....
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Babies better protected from COVID if mother vaccinated during pregnancy: study
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
This finding suggests a greater transfer of maternal antibodies closer to birth, but more research is needed....
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New study shows natural immunity to COVID has enduring strength
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“The study involved only the early COVID strains – it has no information on either the Delta or Omicron variants.”