Steven Novella

Steven Novella
Born	July 29, 1964 (1964-07-29) (age 47)
Nationality	American
Fields	Clinical Neurology
Institutions	Yale University School of Medicine
Alma mater	Georgetown University

Steven P. Novella (born July 29, 1964) is an American clinical neurologist, assistant professor and Director of General Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine. Novella is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement.

Professional background

Novella's academic specialization is in neuromuscular disease, including more specifically, neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and the treatment of neuropathic pain.^[1][2]

Novella received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, his fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, and was board certified in 1998.^[2]

Medical skepticism

Novella is a medical advisor to Quackwatch,^[3] an associate editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine,^[4] and the executive editor of the blog Science-Based Medicine.^[5] Among other topics, Novella has published on homeopathy^[6][7] and AIDS denialism.^[8] In 2009, he was the board chairman when the Institute for Science in Medicine was founded.^[9] He has also taught a course for The Teaching Company titled "Medical Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths: What We Think We Know May Be Hurting Us."

Skepticism

Novella is president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society and hosts that organization's podcast, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. He writes the monthly Weird Science column for the New Haven Advocate and contributes to several blogs. Novella has also appeared on several television programs, including Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.^[10]

Steven Novella was one of the first 200 to sign the Project Steve petition,^[11] a tongue-in-cheek parody of the list of "scientists that doubt evolution" produced by creationists.

In January 2010 Dr. Novella was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry^[12]

Novella keeps a blog, Neurologica, "your daily fix of neuroscience, skepticism and critical thinking".^[13]

Latest JREF fellows. Tim Farley, Karen Stollznow, Steven Novella & Ray Hall. Portrait taken at The Amaz!ng Meeting TAM9 from Outer Space July 16, 2011

See also

• New England Skeptical Society
• The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
• Quackwatch
• Rebecca Watson

On Kylie Sturgess's podcast panel during Skeptrack at Dragon Con

References

1. ^ "About the authors: A case of inherited erythromelalgia". Nature Clinical Practice Neurology. http://www.nature.com/ncpneuro/journal/v3/n4/authors/ncpneuro0425.html. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "YMG Physician Profile – Steven Novella". Yale Medical Group. http://www.yalemds.org/directory/profile.asp?dbase=dir_main&setsize=10000&Programs=6687&Page=Programs&ID=6687&Name=General+Neurology+Program&pict_id=2304210. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
3. ^ "Quackwatch – Scientific and Technical Advisors – Medical Advisors". Quackwatch. http://www.quackwatch.org/09Advisors/medadvbd.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Quackwatch – Publications for Sale – The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine". Quackwatch. http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/sram.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
5. ^ "Science-Based Medicine – Editors". Science-Based Medicine. http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?page_id=222. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
6. ^ Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell IR, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "A debate: homeopathy--quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". J Altern Complement Med 14 (1): 9–15. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.0770. PMID 18199017. 
7. ^ Gold PW, Novella S, Roy R, Marcus D, Bell I, Davidovitch N, Saine A (2008). "Homeopathy--quackery or a key to the future of medicine?". Homeopathy 97 (1): 28–33. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2007.12.002. PMID 18194763. 
8. ^ Smith TC, Novella SP (2007). "HIV Denial in the Internet Era". PLoS Med 4 (8): e256. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040256. PMC 1949841. PMID 17713982. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1949841. 
9. ^ "Health Care Reform Bills Legitimize Quackery" (Press release). 2009-11-29. http://www.scienceinmedicine.org/press-releases/. Retrieved 2009-12-04. 
10. ^ Episode 3-10: "Ghostbusters." See Season 3: 2005 on List of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! episodes.
11. ^ http://ncse.com/taking-action/list-steves
12. ^ "Sixteen Notable Figures in Science and Skepticism Elected CSI Fellows". http://www.csicop.org/news/show/sixteen_notable_figures_in_science_and_skepticism_elected_csi_fellows/. Retrieved 2011-08-07. 
13. ^ Neurologica Blog http://theness.com/neurologicablog/

External links

• Skeptic Blog - Home of the Skeptologists
• Novella's professional website
• Science-Based Medicine
• Neurologica Blog
• "Taking the Wind From Silly Sails" — Michael Pollak, New York Times, August 24, 1997.
• "'Steve' profs. collaborate to support teaching evolution" — Jessica Tom, Yale Daily News, February 25, 2003.
• "'Skeptical' neurologist works to separate science from sham" — Jacqueline Weaver, Yale Bulletin & Calendar, October 7, 2005.
• Interview with Steven Novella — interview published on Astroseti.org, May 3, 2006.
• "HIV Denialists Spread Misinformation Online: Consequences Could Be Deadly" — Science Daily, August 22, 2007.
• Interview on the Books and Ideas Podcast 2009

Persondata
Name	Novella, Steven
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1964-07-29
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death