All posts by Scott Gavura

Scott Gavura, BScPhm, MBA, RPh is committed to improving the way medications are used, and examining the profession of pharmacy through the lens of science-based medicine. He has a professional interest is improving the cost-effective use of drugs at the population level. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto, and has completed a Accredited Canadian Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program. His professional background includes pharmacy work in both community and hospital settings. He is a registered pharmacist in Ontario, Canada. Scott has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Disclaimer: All views expressed by Scott are his personal views alone, and do not represent the opinions of any current or former employers, or any organizations that he may be affiliated with. All information is provided for discussion purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for consultation with a licensed and accredited health professional.

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  • Scott Gavura, BScPhm, MBA, RPh is committed to improving the way medications are used, and examining the profession of pharmacy through the lens of science-based medicine. He has a professional interest is improving the cost-effective use of drugs at the population level. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto, and has completed a Accredited Canadian Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program. His professional background includes pharmacy work in both community and hospital settings. He is a registered pharmacist in Ontario, Canada. Scott has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Disclaimer: All views expressed by Scott are his personal views alone, and do not represent the opinions of any current or former employers, or any organizations that he may be affiliated with. All information is provided for discussion purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for consultation with a licensed and accredited health professional.

A person wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt checks a white smartwatch on their wrist, displaying a colorful screen with time and fitness activity data.
Politics and RegulationPublic Health

Wearables and Wellness Populism: How Smart Watches Got MAHA’d

Fifteen years ago, then-contributor Peter Lipson wrote a short post on this blog that I’ve reflected on many times since. Titled Your Disease, Your Fault, Peter described a central theme that runs through nearly every variant of alternative medicine: That illness is preventable, and therefore, your fault. According to this worldview, disease isn’t a product of biology, inequity, or chance. It is...

/ July 3, 2025
A person’s left wrist wearing a round black smartwatch displaying the time 09:43, date, battery level, heart rate, steps, and other fitness data on its colorful digital screen.
Medical devices

Biohacking Backfires: When Self-Tracking Can Harm

Is your fitness tracker helping or hurting your health?

/ June 19, 2025
Herbs & SupplementsNutrition

Should You Take Vitamin K With Your Vitamin D?

Vitamin K is increasingly marketed with Vitamin D. But is this combination evidence-based?

/ June 5, 2025
Book cover of "Everything Is Tuberculosis" by John Green, featuring a yellow background with a large colored drop and the subtitle "The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection.
Book & movie reviews

Book Review: Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green

The history of tuberculosis is the history of mankind.

/ May 22, 2025
A woman in a red jacket holds a tissue to her nose, appearing to sneeze or blow her nose, while standing in front of a field of yellow flowers under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
PharmaceuticalsScience and Medicine

Breathing Easy: Treating Allergic Rhinitis

Spring is a miserable season for those with seasonal allergies. There are effective drug- and non-drug measures that can control most symptoms effectively.

/ May 8, 2025
Illustration of a shockwave therapy machine applying treatment to a person’s shoulder, with green waves indicating the therapy area. Text reads "Shockwave Therapy.
Science and Medicine

Making Waves or Just Noise? A Look at Shockwave Therapy

I’ve been a runner—on and off—for over 25 years. For years, my goal was qualifying for the Boston Marathon. But I was never quite fast enough for my age group. At one point, I figured if I could just hold my best marathon time for another 20 years, I’d eventually “age into” a qualifying time. Unfortunately, my musculoskeletal system has other plans....

/ April 24, 2025
Two women are performing a bird-dog exercise on yoga mats. They are on all fours, extending opposite arms and legs straight. They wear athletic clothing against a dark background.
Science and Medicine

Is your workout gear killing you?

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been detected in athletic clothing. Should we be worried?

/ April 10, 2025
Science and Medicine

Cranberry Juice, Revisited

A new review suggests that cranberries may in fact be effective at preventing urinary tract infections.

/ March 27, 2025
The word "Feedback" is written in large, white chalk letters on a smudged green chalkboard background.
Announcements

Open Thread: The Floor is Yours

I’m taking a few weeks away from the blog. So today, an open thread with a request for suggestions on topics that you feel have been unexplored by the blog. Let me (and the other contributors) know the questions you have and what subjects you want to see addressed. Or use this to comment on anything else, SBM-related. The floor is yours....

/ February 27, 2025
Four cartons of NOOMA Organic Electrolyte Drink are displayed: Mango (orange), Watermelon Lime (red), and two Blueberry Peach (blue). Each has "No Added Sugar" and USDA Organic labels, containing 30 calories per carton.
Science and Medicine

Do you need to drink electrolytes?

Electrolyte drinks are very popular - but are they necessary?

/ February 13, 2025
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