(Warning: Brag Alert.)

My writing on transperineal vs. transrectal biopsies is up for a big journalism prize/surprise

(On the beat, in Chicago.)

By Howard Wolinsky

(Warning: Brag alert.)

Last year, I decided I could compete in my mid-70s with all the young journalists.

I set as a goal to make 2022 my best year ever professionally in journalism and as a low-risk prostate cancer patient advocate.

I think I can brag here. 

So far so good. Today, the NIHCM Foundation announced I was a finalist for an article I wrote (actually one of several) in MedPageToday.com about the dangers of the commonly used (and filthy) transrectal prostate biopsy that can cause sepsis and lead to deaths. “No More Men Need to Die From Transrectal Prostate Biopsies - A movement toward transperineal biopsies,” MedPageToday, 04/21/21

The foundation describes its awards as if it is the Pulitzer for healthcare reporting. What the heck?  I am playing along.

(I have been nominated twice for the Pulitzer at the Chicago Sun-Times for exposes on the American Medical Association. No cigar.)

I am still trying to find out more about who the foundation is. Its board includes an impressive list of health mucky-mucks, such as the top doc at Google.com and many big names among administrators in the healthcare industry.

There are 10 finalists in the trade press category. I am up against a formidable team of about 1,000 from my colleagues at MedPage. Also, Scientific American and Science. Tough neighborhood.  

I’m not preparing an acceptance speech. But I’m not rolling over. I can adlib it if need be.

The decision is in the hands of a distinguished panel with (lots of former) reporters from places like the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and the Washington Post.https://nihcm.org/awards/trade-journalism/finalists

Lots of us are formers in this crazy media environment.

The foundation will honor the finalists at its 28th Annual Awards Dinner on May 25th at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. 

Sounds fun—even for the many losers. The winner in this category takes home $15k. I can buy a lot of lunches with that. I plan to donate some to charity. (Judges, are you listening?)

In other news, last week, I learned I am a co-author of a paper that will appear the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The lead author is my old urologist Dr. Scott Eggener, of U Chicago.

The title is: Low-Grade Prostate ‘Cancer’: Time to Consider a Name ChangeScott E Eggener1*, Alejandro Berlin2*, Andrew J Vickers3, Ingrid Hall4, Gladell P Paner5, Howard Wolinsky6, and Matthew R Cooperberg7

Last month, I was a fellow in cancer reporting at the National Institutes of Health sponsored by the Association of Health Care Journalists.

The year is young.  As we say in journalism, MTK (More to come.)?

#NIHCMAwardsJournalism

Howard Wolinsky

The Active Surveillor