Harold Pollack

Pondering my grief at my dad's Jahrzeit, I am reminded of the complicated process of grief within blended families, and the ways that grief provides opportunities for reconciliation, gratitude, and love. Grateful to Claire Potter,who allowed me to publish this. publicseminar.org/essays/grief...

Medical Care Research and Review is planning a new special issue on home-based care, edited by Rachel Werner and Tamara Konetzka. This is a great opportunity. A link to the call for papers is below. journals.sagepub.com/page/mcr/hom...

A student asked for my favorite 1-sentence summary of microeconomics. I responded: "Where your treasure is, your heart will be there also." Matt's blog does get to the nub of a lot of stuff. This was the 6-21 post

What a solemn day--remembering the precious humans lost on October 7, 2023, and remebering others lost in the three years since.

I should have added the title. This is how AIPAC lost its way.

@ericalterman.bsky.social tells it like it is www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/o...

60-some friend rents nice costly-city studio apt accessible to everything in her life. She doesn’t know how much longer she'll live in that city or keep current job. Friends tell her she’s not adulting if she's renting, that she should buy a condo. More Financially-toxic unsolicited friend advice.🤦‍♂️

This looks like a neat paper with a very important set of findings.

An important analysis by my University of Chicago Crown colleagues Leonard Swanson, Aaron Gottlieb and Margaret Thomas showing that embedding Crisis Line Specialists at a 911 Center holds promise in reducing the police footprint in suicide calls. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

This important work underscores the importance of protecting and properly funding school-based health services. These boring-until-they-re-not issues don't get nearly enough attention from policymakers, advocates, and the research community

.@nhannahjones@bksy.social thank you for your thoughtful essay about your daughter's school journey. New York City spends prodigious sums per pupil on K-12 education. The contrasts with Massachusetts and Mississippl in accompanying student proficiency are chastening. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/m...

Today's Torah portion described God allowing Moses to see the promised land, but not to enter. I pondered MLK's final speech: "I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the promised land." youtu.be/zgVrlx68v-0?...

The Freakonomics folk have republished my conversation with Steve Levitt on the People I Mostly Admire podcast. We talk about personal finance, and about our gun violence research. Here is the link for those interested freakonomics.com/podcast/haro...

I held my mom’s hand today on a morning walk. That same hand made this childhood palm print, 90 years ago.

Keepin' it real on Friday Rosh Hashana: Makes You Wanna Challah...

As I ponder the atrocity of 9/11, my sadness is magnified by knowledge that our human reaction to mass murder, like the Israeli reaction to the mass murder perpetrated 10/7, led us down a road to strategic+moral disaster.

A sad sign of the times. My synagogue noting "Armed guards and police on site," to reassure parishioners concerned about their safety for High Holidays services.

We already can’t control AIs, and we’re on the verge of making them much, much smarter. Except it’s even worse than that. Because *we’re* not going to be the ones making AIs smarter. AIs are. We want to outsource the job to them. Why does anyone think this would end well?

Whoops. Here is the correct link authors.elsevier.com/c/1njJF3PEro...

Explaining the abrupt and substantial decline in North American fentanyl overdoses. My colleagues and I respond to expert commentaries regarding our recent Science paper. chttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395926003233

We all know mentoring, whereby senior scholars help juniors go their way. There's also "reverse-mentoring," whereby our teched-up juniors show us the way. Kenton Johnston Ari Ne'eman, Eric Roberts, Derek Brown+others reverse-mentored me on path to a key publication+an NIH grant as MPI. So grateful

A great mail day. Got an advance copy of my colleague Rebecca Neusteter's definitive account of the 911 system and its continuing challenges: 911, What's your emergency. thenewpress.org/books/911-wh...

This short CDC video on how to administer naloxone is quite good. Everyone should make sure to watch it, and to carry naloxone if it is ever needed. www.youtube.com/shorts/KX4jv...

When (if ever) do health services professionals believe it is OK to omit research information in their public communication? Alan Gerber, @maclockhart.bsky.social @haroldpollack.bsky.social & I conducted a survey to find out. See our new @healthaffairs.bsky.social article. Open access; link below.

In a society that shows tenuous commitment to the well-being of vulnerable groups, researchers face ethical dilemmas in communicating research findings that might be used to harm the people and communities we seek to help. Our team in @healthaffairs.bsky.social healthaffairs.org/doi/epdf/10....

We at the University of Chicago Crown School are hiring faculty with expertise in direct social work practice. Link below provides details. apply.interfolio.com/191033

Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton coined the term “software engineer.” She directed the Software Engineering Division at MIT’s Instrumentation Lab & led development of the on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo Guidance Computer. She was born #OTD in 1936 & turns 90 today! #WomenInSTEM

Last night, I dreamt my wife was patiently leading Incredible Hulk through the steps to remove our damaged trees. You're so big and strong. Use your words when you're frustrated. Save your strength. I know you don't want to scare other people." The nurse-social worker, at work. @veppol.bsky.social

Closing out the week with receipt of an APSA Summer Centennial Center Research Grant.

Here is the gift link to my column www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/14/o...

My column in today's Chicago Tribune. Today's tech-bro billionaires--and the rest of us--should learn from Julius Rosenwald's good example. Happy belated 164th birthday to arguably the greatest Chicagoan in our city's history. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/14/o...

Over six decades, US policy for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness has shifted from institutionalization to community-based services. In a new article, @haroldpollack.bsky.social and coauthors examine what’s worked—and what hasn’t.

Finally, do you also want the joy of holding a hard copy issue of @jhppl.bsky.social? Did you know you could order all six issues annually in print and online for just $66 (for students is only $39)? WHAT A BARGAIN. Subscribe here: dukeupress.edu/jhppl

Here is the working weblink. Thanks @shermandorn.com.

Walking through campus today, I had a random warm memory of my college friend, David Kramer, tragically lost 16yrs ago, when his car was rear-ended by a drunk driver. My friend, you are still so very deeply missed. www.huffpost.com/entry/missin...

Pardon the link hijinks. This link should work watermark02.silverchair.com/12757915.pdf...

ABLE accounts have such potential to help people w/disabilities. We must address their punishing administrative burdens. "Administrative and Financial Barriers to Using ABLE Accounts for People with Disabilities" Our team in JHPPL. @jhppl.bsky.social watermark02.silverchair.com/12757915.pdf...

I opened my old voicemails and somehow initiated a 5-year-old 14sec message: “Hey it’s Dad, give me a call when you can. I miss talking to you. Take care. Bye” Not nearly as much as I miss talking to you, Dad. You are so deeply missed. I so wish we didn't have to say goodbye.

Ted Marmor played a critical role in my career, and that of others. Sad to learn of his passing, Condolences to all who are mourning.

Also an enormously influential mentor who left an indelible imprint on the lives and careers of so many, including me. May his memory be a blessing

Myself, Richard Frank and Sherry Glied in @milbankfund.bsky.social: Opening the Door Wider to Community Support of People With Serious Mental Illnesses: What States Can Learn From the IDD Experience. www.milbank.org/quarterly/ar...

I just bought my @UChicagoCrown friend and colleague Curtis McMillen's new book: Brandon and Wilson at the Catch. Congrats, Curtis, on a terrific read. www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ1WNZ2...

Repost != endorsement

I was just elected to the Council of the University Senate for a three year term. My first legislative proposal will be to charge any University of Chicago faculty member a $3000 fee for any peer-review publication that conflates odds ratios with relative risk

The mother of one of my daughter's high school friends recently passed away, far too soon. The number of Black people in my life, including two cousins, who passed away before their time from preventable causes leaves me speechless. Linda, you are deeply missed.

I told you “ILoveOddsRatios” was too obvious a password

My Twitter account was hacked, due to carelessness on my part. Working to resolve the issue

My friend, facing cruel infirmities of disability, recently grabbed my shoulder to keep her balance as we descended some stairs. My mind’s eye drifted to a 1988 basketball game, where that same hand grabbed that same shoulder to box me out for a rebound. God of our fathers--wtf are you doing here?

A great mail day. @mirandayaver.bsky.social dropping the knowledge....