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As yet another heat dome settles over part of the US, a depressingly predictable news cycle is unfolding. This week, the headlines will warn of dangerously high temperatures; next week, they’ll chronicle the human toll. (Lisa Jarvis, 7/13)

The alarming surge in cases of severe tick-borne diseases underscores how quickly the risks of infection are changing. (Jonathan Mingle, 7/11)

Across the United States, the shortage of forensic pathologists has reached a critical level. According to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), only about 850 forensic pathologists are currently practicing nationwide — roughly 400 fewer than the number needed to meet today’s demands, as more than 3 million Americans die each year. (Gregory McDonald, 7/13)

Data on inherited maladies can save lives, but can also complicate them. (Elizabeth Bruenig, 7/12)

On three of my last seven flights, a request came over the cabin speakers: “Is there a doctor on board?” Like many physicians, I responded automatically. What struck me afterward was not the frequency of those requests but how unremarkable the whole process seemed — to the crew, to other passengers, and, eventually, to me. (Sriman Swarup, 7/13)