News of the Week May 17

Medical News of the Week, June 1, 2026

This week on Dr. Simpson Unfiltered, we lead with the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and ask a larger question: why do we spend billions preparing for public health emergencies if we’re reluctant to use the systems we built? Dr. Simpson examines the U.S. response, the controversy over a proposed Ebola facility in Kenya, and why specialized biocontainment units at places like Emory and Nebraska exist for moments exactly like this. Also this week: an experimental gene-editing treatment that may permanently lower LDL cholesterol after a single infusion, new evidence suggesting long COVID may be far more common than official estimates, the FDA’s review of reports of child deaths following COVID vaccination, and research showing that better cardiovascular health is associated with lower risk of severe COVID infection. From outbreak preparedness to cutting-edge genetic medicine, Dr. Simpson separates evidence from headlines and explains what these stories mean for patients, physicians, and the future of public health. Data beats dogma. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe [https://www.drsimpson.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

May 24 News of the Week

This week on The Unfiltered MD: Ebola spreads through Central Africa as the U.S. ramps up airport screening, new studies link fatty liver and diabetes to heart disease and dementia, teens lose sleep to midnight scrolling, wildfire smoke may be affecting more than your lungs, and researchers question whether extreme endurance exercise and common supplements are helping us as much as we think. Modern disease is increasingly a story of systems under stress — and medicine is finally catching up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe [https://www.drsimpson.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

News of the Week May 17

Ebola has broken out of the villages and is now in major cities in Africa. Pancreatic cancer has a breakthough that has doubled the lifespan of the patients. And walking 8500 steps allows people to maintain weight loss - good for GLP-1 users. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe [https://www.drsimpson.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

I'm a weight loss surgeon, and I take a GLP-1

Dr. Simpson Unfiltered MD: My Zepbound Journey (50 lbs Down), Food Noise, Side Effects & GLP-1 Facts In the first episode of Dr. Simpson Unfiltered MD, weight loss surgeon Dr. Simpson and his producer April discuss his personal experience taking Zepbound for about a year and a half, including his fear of needles, a 50‑pound weight loss, minimal side effects, improved sleep, reduced “food noise,” decreased alcohol interest, refined taste for food and coffee, and lower measured stress. He shares his long history of weight fluctuations and diets, why he didn’t pursue bariatric surgery for himself, and explains GLP‑1 history and testing, including the Gila monster connection and long-standing clinical data. They address common concerns such as constipation/diarrhea, nausea, bone and muscle loss with weight loss, gallbladder disease vs pancreatitis risk, “Ozempic face,” thyroid cancer fears, and cautions about compounded GLP‑1s, emphasizing seeing an obesity medicine specialist and registered dietitian. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe [https://www.drsimpson.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Food Engineering

Food engineering isn’t all bad - this is from my other podcast - FORK U. If you don’t subscribe to it, here is from our latest episode. I hope you enjoy it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe [https://www.drsimpson.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]