Steven Novella
Encyclopedia
Steven P. Novella is an American clinical neurologist
, assistant professor and Director of General Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine. Novella is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement
.
, including more specifically, neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
, myasthenia gravis
, and the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Novella received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine
, completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital
, his fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, and was board certified in 1998.
, an associate editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
, and the executive editor of the blog Science-Based Medicine. Among other topics, Novella has published on homeopathy
and AIDS denialism. In 2009, he was the board chairman when the Institute for Science in Medicine was founded. He has also taught a course for The Teaching Company
titled "Medical Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths: What We Think We Know May Be Hurting Us."
and hosts that organization's podcast
, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
. He writes the monthly Weird Science column for the New Haven Advocate and contributes to several blog
s. Novella has also appeared on several television programs, including Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.
Steven Novella was one of the first 200 to sign the Project Steve
petition, a tongue-in-cheek parody of the list of "scientists that doubt evolution" produced by creationists.
In January 2010 Dr. Novella was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
Novella keeps a blog
, Neurologica, "your daily fix of neuroscience, skepticism and critical thinking".
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, assistant professor and Director of General Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine. Novella is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement
Scientific skepticism
Scientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
.
Professional background
Novella's academic specialization is in neuromuscular diseaseNeuromuscular disease
Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that either directly, via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly, via nerve pathology, impair the functioning of the muscles....
, including more specifically, neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
, and the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Novella received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine, a medical school opened in 1851, is one of Georgetown University's five graduate schools. It is located on Reservoir Road in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, adjacent to the University's main campus...
, completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital , Connecticut's largest hospital with 966 beds, is located in New Haven, Connecticut.The hospital is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System, Inc...
, his fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, and was board certified in 1998.
Medical skepticism
Novella is a medical advisor to QuackwatchQuackwatch
Quackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...
, an associate editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and Aberrant Medical Practices is a scientific journal published by the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health...
, and the executive editor of the blog Science-Based Medicine. Among other topics, Novella has published on homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
and AIDS denialism. In 2009, he was the board chairman when the Institute for Science in Medicine was founded. He has also taught a course for The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company is a Chantilly, Virginia company that produces recordings of lectures by university professors and high-school teachers. It sells the courses in CD, DVD, MPEG-4, and MP3 formats.- Background :...
titled "Medical Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths: What We Think We Know May Be Hurting Us."
Skepticism
Novella is president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical SocietyNew England Skeptical Society
The New England Skeptical Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting science and reason. It was originally founded in January 1996 as the Connecticut Skeptical Society...
and hosts that organization's podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80 minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation...
. He writes the monthly Weird Science column for the New Haven Advocate and contributes to several blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s. Novella has also appeared on several television programs, including Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.
Steven Novella was one of the first 200 to sign the Project Steve
Project Steve
Project Steve is a list of scientists with the given name Steven or a variation thereof who "support evolution"...
petition, a tongue-in-cheek parody of the list of "scientists that doubt evolution" produced by creationists.
In January 2010 Dr. Novella was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
Novella keeps a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, Neurologica, "your daily fix of neuroscience, skepticism and critical thinking".
See also
- New England Skeptical SocietyNew England Skeptical SocietyThe New England Skeptical Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting science and reason. It was originally founded in January 1996 as the Connecticut Skeptical Society...
- The Skeptics' Guide to the UniverseThe Skeptics' Guide to the UniverseThe Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80 minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation...
- QuackwatchQuackwatchQuackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...
- Rebecca WatsonRebecca WatsonRebecca Watson is a blogger and independent podcast host. She is the founder of Skepchick and a co-host on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Little Atoms podcasts....
External links
- Skeptic Blog - Home of the Skeptologists
- Novella's professional website
- Science-Based Medicine
- Neurologica Blog
- "Taking the Wind From Silly Sails" — Michael Pollak, New York Times, August 24, 1997.
- "'Steve' profs. collaborate to support teaching evolution" — Jessica Tom, Yale Daily News, February 25, 2003.
- "'Skeptical' neurologist works to separate science from sham" — Jacqueline Weaver, Yale Bulletin & Calendar, October 7, 2005.
- Interview with Steven Novella — interview published on Astroseti.org, May 3, 2006.
- "HIV Denialists Spread Misinformation Online: Consequences Could Be Deadly" — Science DailyScience DailyScience Daily is a news website for topical science articles. It features articles on a wide variety of science topics including: astronomy, exoplanets, computer science, nanotechnology, medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, geology, climate, space, physics, mathematics,...
, August 22, 2007. - Interview on the Books and Ideas Podcast 2009