Published May 28, 2021 (Updated: July 7, 2021)

In March 2021, Ariadne Labs launched the Global Mass Vaccination Site Collaborative to facilitate a rapid information exchange to broaden the impact of and safely deliver more COVID-19 vaccinations globally. Fifty members representing more than 12 mass vaccination sites from across the country began meeting regularly, sharing information, and comparing notes on the effort to get shots into as many arms as rapidly as possible.

The meetings became lively forums on topics ranging from the logistics of directing hundreds of cars in stadium parking lots to efforts to reach vulnerable people right…

By Nic Encina, MS, MBA

Our recent launch of Precision Population Health officially introduced Ariadne Labs into the world of precision medicine. Since being founded in 2012, Ariadne Labs has specialized in developing scalable systems-level solutions for life’s most critical moments and the stages in between — such as surgery, maternal health, serious illness and palliative care, and primary health care. Although our work may not have dealt directly with precision medicine, we were far from removed from it. Ariadne Labs was founded and built in the image of The Broad Institute. Many of our faculty and staff participated in…

By Margaret Ben-Or, MPH, and Evan Benjamin, MD, MS, FACP

Even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eases COVID-19 restrictions, we still have work to do to bring the pandemic under control. Troubling statistics about the reluctance to get vaccinated among certain U.S. population groups could threaten to derail progress and prolong the pandemic.

These population groups include individuals across race, geography, gender, and political affiliation — and their questions and concerns vary as well. No single message or public figure will reach everyone. Some people have formed opinions based on poorly informed sources even before talking…

By Eesha Desai, BS, MSc; Hannah Ratcliffe, MSc; Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH; Dan Schwarz, MD, MPH

The precipitous spike in India’s COVID-19 infections is an unfolding humanitarian crisis and a wake-up call about the country’s urgent need for a stronger primary health care (PHC) system.

The situation in India is dire. According to the BBC, India has seen more COVID-19 cases in the last seven days than any other country and it is feared that the official death toll of 200,000 is actually much higher. This fast-paced second wave is hastened by loose restrictions on mass gatherings, mixed messaging across…

By James C. Etheridge, MD, and Christy E. Cauley, MD, MPH

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to worsen existing disparities in the delivery of surgical care. Millions of elective operations have been postponed or cancelled as resources are taxed and safety concerns mount.¹ This unprecedented backlog of operations has forced surgeons, hospitals, and healthcare systems to make many difficult decisions.² Approaches to case prioritization and scheduling profoundly impact the ability of disadvantaged individuals to access surgical care. Such decisions can have far-reaching effects on health equity. We spoke with Dr. …

By Leigh Graham, PhD, MBA

The U.S. is the only high-income country in the world where maternal mortality and morbidity is on the rise. Racial inequities in mortality and morbidity — particularly for African American and Native American and Alaska Native women — are pronounced and enduring. Advocates, researchers, and the media, have helped bring significant public attention to this maternal health crisis. Yet, much more is needed, especially outside the hospital setting, and at the local level. Two-thirds of maternal deaths happen prior to childbirth or a week or more after birth. This suggests that birthing people* at risk…

By Rebecca Weintraub, MD

Today, we mark a new chapter in how the United States Federal government will respond to COVID-19.

Over the past month, I have served as a vaccinator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This hospital holds great meaning: it’s where I work, trained, delivered my children, and have been a patient myself. But it’s in my most recent role here — as vaccinator — that I’ve come to understand the shared work of healing after prolonged stress and grief. We’ve rolled up our sleeves for the better part of a year, but this time, of…

By Sue Gullo, RN, MS

Ariadne Labs’ vision is for health systems to deliver the best possible care for every patient, everywhere, every time. This means next door in Boston, Massachusetts, in cities and towns across the US, or globally to the far reaches of the world. At Ariadne Labs, we rigorously develop simple, scalable solutions that address critical gaps in the way health care is delivered.

We know, however, that without an effective implementation plan, even the best designed tools won’t live up to their full potential. Each of our programs at Ariadne Labs has grown significantly over time…