Letters

Phenomenal job!

I’m reaching out to thank Yale Medicine Magazine for the beautiful article on heart disease in women that appeared in the spring issue. It has had a huge impact, and a number of people from around the country have reached out after seeing it. The article did a phenomenal job covering multiple complex topics, and provided real clarity to topics that are too frequently overlooked. One of our cardiology fellows was shocked to learn about the term “Syndrome X,” which is a sign of positive change in the way that we talk about heart disease in women.

Samit Shah, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine;
Director, VA Connecticut Cardiac
Catheterization Laboratory

A true pioneer

I write to commend Yale Medicine Magazine on the fine article about Professor Rick Edelson (“Serendipity in Action,” Spring 2024). When Dr. Edelson was developing the photopheresis treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), the field of immunotherapy was in its infancy. Now, immunotherapy has become the standard of care in the case of many cancers. Dr. Edelson was truly a pioneer in this field. It can be somewhat lonely to be ahead of the curve, and it takes courage to buck the trends. The field has caught up to him, and now again he is pioneering in the Cancer Moonshot program with his new grant, “Curing the Uncurable via RNA-Encoded Immunogene Tuning.” Congratulations to Yale Medicine Magazine for highlighting an individual who embodies the “triple threat” of an outstanding researcher, clinician, and educator.

Nancy H. Ruddle, PhD
Professor Emerita of Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine

Artist Maira Kalman on aging and the human condition

Yale Medicine Magazine is delighted to feature the artwork of Maira Kalman to complement our special report on the science of aging.

Kalman is a celebrated painter, illustrator, and author whose work has been described as a “narrative journal” of the human condition. Her illustrations, which have appeared frequently in The New Yorker magazine and The New York Times,

on. Her illustrations, which have appeared frequently in The New Yorker magazine and The New York Times, are known for their whimsical yet deeply evocative style.

Kalman’s career began nearly 40 years ago with the publication of a children’s picture book, Stay Up Late, which illustrates the lyrics to the like-named song popularized by David Byrne of the 1970s rock band Talking Heads. She has since published more than 30 books for both adults and children, while also working with embroidery, textile, and graphic design.

Kalman’s artwork has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other museums and galleries across the United States. Her latest book is Women Holding Things, and her forthcoming book is Still Life With Remorse (October 15).

“One of the delights of getting older is admiring my inconsistencies,” she says. “What once was embarrassing is now an asset. To be smart or stupid. Lazy or energetic. Insecure or confident. All of it is interesting. All of the contradictions are part of the story.”