Andrew A. Skolnick
Encyclopedia
Andrew A. Skolnick is an American science and medical journalist and photographer. He was an associate news editor for the Journal of the American Medical Association
.
from Charter Oak State College
in 1978. He graduated in 1981 with an M.S.
from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
.
’s biology department from 1975 to 1977, a visiting lecturer teaching scientific photography at Yale from 1976-1977, a science editor for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation from 1981 to 1985, the life sciences editor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign News Bureau from 1985 to 1987, and the associate science news editor at the American Medical Association
(AMA) from 1987 until 1999, when he became an associate news editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA). From 2004 to 2006, Skolnick served as the executive director of the Center for Inquiry's Commission on Scientific Medicine and Mental Health.
In 1992, Skolnick, JAMA's editor George Lundberg
, and the AMA were sued for $194 million by Deepak Chopra
and two Transcendental Meditation
(TM) organizations. The suit alleged Skolnick's news report on TM's health care products and services marketed under the trademarked name Maharishi Ayurveda was libelous and that it tortuously interfered with their business interests. The suit was dismissed without prejudice in March 1993.
In 1996, he was invited to China for a semester to teach western journalism at Shanghai International Studies University
, where he also served as language adviser and scrip editor for Shanghai Television International Broadcasting Service.
In 1998, the Carter Center Mental Health Program awarded Skolnick with an inaugural Rosalynn Carter
Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism to investigate the treatment of jail and prison inmates with mental illness. His investigation led to the publication of two news reports in JAMA and to a special series in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
titled "Death, Neglect and the Bottom Line." An article in August 2003 issue of Harpers magazine
by Wil Hylton describes how Skolnick was quickly fired by the AMA when Correctional Medical Services, one of the for-profit health care companies criticized in the articles, threatened JAMA and the Post-Dispatch with litigation. Unlike the AMA, the Post-Dispatch hired a law firm specializing in news media law to respond to the threat and nominated Skolnick and fellow reporters Kim Bell and Bill Allen for a Pulitzer Prize
.
Skolnick's reporting has received numerous awards from health, media, and humanitarian organizations, including World Hunger Year
, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the Carter Center Mental Health Program, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
, and other groups. Skolnick, Bell, and Allen also received Amnesty International USA's "Spotlight on Media Award" and were honored by Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy as finalists for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The following year, the American Medical Writers Association
awarded Skolnick the John P. McGovern Medical for Preeminence in Medical Communication.
According to Skolnick, some researchers feel that an alkaloid
compound found in the Chinese herbal medicine Qian Ceng Ta could be more effective than some drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
. Skolnick has also written that the homeopathy industry has developed "from a historical curiosity into a $250-million-a-year scam".
Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association is a weekly, peer-reviewed, medical journal, published by the American Medical Association. Beginning in July 2011, the editor in chief will be Howard C. Bauchner, vice chairman of pediatrics at Boston University’s School of Medicine, replacing ...
.
Education
In 1972, Skolnick participated in a two-year professional photography certificate program at the Paier Art School. He received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College is a public liberal arts college in New Britain, Connecticut and is named for Connecticut's famous Charter Oak. The college is located across Paul Manafort Drive from Central Connecticut State University...
in 1978. He graduated in 1981 with an M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
.
Career
Skolnick was a scientific photographer at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
’s biology department from 1975 to 1977, a visiting lecturer teaching scientific photography at Yale from 1976-1977, a science editor for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation from 1981 to 1985, the life sciences editor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign News Bureau from 1985 to 1987, and the associate science news editor at the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
(AMA) from 1987 until 1999, when he became an associate news editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association is a weekly, peer-reviewed, medical journal, published by the American Medical Association. Beginning in July 2011, the editor in chief will be Howard C. Bauchner, vice chairman of pediatrics at Boston University’s School of Medicine, replacing ...
(JAMA). From 2004 to 2006, Skolnick served as the executive director of the Center for Inquiry's Commission on Scientific Medicine and Mental Health.
In 1992, Skolnick, JAMA's editor George Lundberg
George Lundberg
George D. Lundberg is a physician, board-certified pathologist, and, from February 1999 to January 2009, editor of Medscape. For 17 years prior to joining Medscape Dr. Lundberg served as editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association ....
, and the AMA were sued for $194 million by Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
and two Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
(TM) organizations. The suit alleged Skolnick's news report on TM's health care products and services marketed under the trademarked name Maharishi Ayurveda was libelous and that it tortuously interfered with their business interests. The suit was dismissed without prejudice in March 1993.
In 1996, he was invited to China for a semester to teach western journalism at Shanghai International Studies University
Shanghai International Studies University
Shanghai International Studies University is a research, teaching, and multidisciplinary university based in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Founded in December 1949 as the former Shanghai Russian School, SISU is one of the top two universities that specialise in studying foreign languages...
, where he also served as language adviser and scrip editor for Shanghai Television International Broadcasting Service.
In 1998, the Carter Center Mental Health Program awarded Skolnick with an inaugural Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Carter
Eleanor Rosalynn Carter is the wife of the former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and in that capacity served as the First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981. As First Lady and after, she has been a leading advocate for numerous causes, perhaps most prominently for mental...
Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism to investigate the treatment of jail and prison inmates with mental illness. His investigation led to the publication of two news reports in JAMA and to a special series in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
titled "Death, Neglect and the Bottom Line." An article in August 2003 issue of Harpers magazine
Harpers Magazine
Harpers Wine and Spirit Trade Review or simply Harpers is a British fortnightly publication for the wine and spirit industry. Founded in 1878, it has a circulation of 5,224 fully subscribed readers. It is read across all sectors of the drinks industry including producers, distributors,...
by Wil Hylton describes how Skolnick was quickly fired by the AMA when Correctional Medical Services, one of the for-profit health care companies criticized in the articles, threatened JAMA and the Post-Dispatch with litigation. Unlike the AMA, the Post-Dispatch hired a law firm specializing in news media law to respond to the threat and nominated Skolnick and fellow reporters Kim Bell and Bill Allen for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
.
Skolnick's reporting has received numerous awards from health, media, and humanitarian organizations, including World Hunger Year
World Hunger Year
WhyHunger is an organization that seeks to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by folk singer Harry Chapin, a social activist who was as well known for his humanitarian efforts as for his guitar ballads, and 95.5 WPLJ New York, legendary radio D.J. Bill...
, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the Carter Center Mental Health Program, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry , formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal , is a program within the U.S...
, and other groups. Skolnick, Bell, and Allen also received Amnesty International USA's "Spotlight on Media Award" and were honored by Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy as finalists for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The following year, the American Medical Writers Association
American Medical Writers Association
The American Medical Writers Association is the world's leading professional association for medical communicators. AMWA has more than 5,600 members in the United States, Canada, and 26 other countries. AMWA is governed by a board of directors composed of a 14-member executive committee and...
awarded Skolnick the John P. McGovern Medical for Preeminence in Medical Communication.
According to Skolnick, some researchers feel that an alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
compound found in the Chinese herbal medicine Qian Ceng Ta could be more effective than some drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. Skolnick has also written that the homeopathy industry has developed "from a historical curiosity into a $250-million-a-year scam".