Until last month, Shah had been serving as a principal deputy director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Key position at Maine VA hospital is spared, but agency still plans massive cuts
A radiation safety officer position once slated for elimination is not part of the latest round of cuts, the VA confirmed.
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Posted inHealth, Local & State, Politics
Sen. King demands answers about latest round of Veterans Affairs cuts
A plan to cut hundreds of contracted workers may include a key ‘radiation safety officer’ position and other jobs at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta.
Posted inLocal & State
Social Security reverses course, will allow Maine parents to register newborns at hospital
The reversal by the Trump administration occurred less than a day after the news had spread to health care providers, sparking criticism and questions from Maine’s congressional delegation.
Posted inLocal & State
Social Security now requires Maine parents to visit an agency office to register newborns
The change — immediately criticized by pediatric health advocates — eliminates a program that allowed parents to fill out a form at the hospital to secure a Social Security number for their children.
Posted inHealth
Direct care workers fight for restoration of cost-of-living increases in Maine budget
The cost-of-living adjustments were canceled in 2025 for budgetary reasons and were not included in Gov. Mills’ two-year budget proposal.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Politics
Maine lawmaker wants MaineCare to cover Ozempic and other weight loss drugs
The Mills administration is opposed to the legislation, citing the cost of the popular drugs.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
A Maine nonprofit is working to fill the void amid USAID cutbacks
Portland-based Partners for World Health is feeling the ripple effects of cuts in foreign humanitarian assistance made by the Trump administration.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Sen. Susan Collins vows to fight medical research cuts
The Maine Republican said she is helping to form a coalition to undo Trump administration cutbacks, and will also lobby HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Schools and Education
UNE professor develops new test for breast cancer
The test, now awaiting FDA approval, would help during treatment of triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.