Author Archives: J. Andrew McKee, MD
Please follow us at XY Culture – sunsetting the parallel posts
All — for those of you following both my blogs, this and XY Culture, I’ve decided to end the A/B testing. Going forward, we’ll keep the content coming on XY Culture. This blog will become more quiet for the time being, and I only plan to occasionally post poetry or reflections that don’t quite fit […]

Why we camp with the kids and limit their use of digital devices (original poems and reflections)
Reluctant visitor on a lake Anxiety of a digital age nags – learn a new fact, do something, be productive, keep up! – but out here the way is to throw away, let go, and smile only at the shore that beckons with its sudden glimmer of lights. (J. Andrew McKee, July 2014) * […]

On wisdom from old words and finding joy (two original poems)
I searched for jewels of joy (J. Andrew, McKee; July, 2014) I combed my mental beach for years looking for rare shells. One day, while looking for the witch variety with dark and fiery whorls, I found another – of grooves in the pocket and designs of drumming when I was seven years old, basking in […]
WNYC Takeaway interview on working too much
Here is my commentary (see at 39 minutes) from last week that aired on The Takeaway, a radio show from WNYC and PRI that I’ve increasingly relied on for the day’s news. I comment on some of the reasons why I think busy young parents in their thirties have difficulty starting and sustaining friendships. The Takeaway put […]
FDA delays decision on belimumab, and: on the reliability of clinical evidence
One day after my post on belimumab, the FDA announced it would be taking 3 more months to announce its decision on whether to approve it. A news report cites that the agency wants more time to review the clinical data. How does this shift the outcome for Benlysta? It is uncertain. The regulators could […]
Upholding Standards: Should the FDA approve a new lupus drug with unclear benefits?
If you are one of the estimated 300,000 to 4 million patients in the US who suffer from lupus, you may feel excited about a drug called Benlysta (generically, belimumab). There is a need for better drugs to treat symptoms, reduce the use of other medications that can have imperiling side effects, and reverse disease progression. The […]
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