Kellie Schmitt
Affordable Care Act Blogger, Freelance Health Reporter
Affordable Care Act Blogger, Freelance Health Reporter
I write for the Center for Health Journalism's Remaking Health Care blog. Previously, I was a health reporter for the Bakersfield Californian, a staff writer for the San Jose Mercury News, and a business reporter for the San Francisco Recorder. I spent two years reporting from China for publications including The Economist's Business China, China Economic Review, and CNN Travel.
In 2012, I was a Health Journalism Fellow. My project examined the high number of foreign-trained doctors in California's Central Valley, a series which won awards from the Association of Healthcare Journalists and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
I also worked with the Center for Health Journalism's multi-part, collaborative series on the devastating toll Valley Fever has had on California's Central Valley.
Also this week: Early window key for tackling long-term health inequities, and disparities in orthopedics affect everything from outpatient visits to post-surgery outcomes.
An early look at how the election may reshape U.S. health policy under Trump, from Medicaid to abortion to major changes at federal agencies.
Also this week: Studies find birth weight impacts infant mortality more than physician's race; and transgender youth "highly satisfied" with gender-affirming care.
Also this week: A sharp contrast on health equity in the presidential election, and California will now report Indigenous Latino health data.
A report shows California's Medi-Cal dental program still struggles, with fewer kids seeing dentists. Disparities in heart health, OB-GYN training, and telehealth access also persist across groups.
Also this week: Fresh reporting puts a spotlight on how AI can both perpetuate and avoid embedded biases in health care.
Nearly 30 years ago, the O.J. Simpson trial cast a bright spotlight on the issue of domestic violence as court proceedings garnered unprecedented levels of coverage.
“Don’t force what you think the story is going to be on the community,” jouranlist Zaydee Sanchez told fellow reporters. “Allow the community to tell you where they’re at.”
San Diego reporter Lisa Halverstadt and Seattle-based journalist Will James joined Brett Feldman, director of USC Street Medicine, this week to discuss recent policy shifts and how reporters can cover the urgent story of homelessness and mental health.
A powerful series on child abandonment illustrates three key ingredients of stories that make a difference.