Johanna Younghans Baker
Editor-in-Chief, Health Lab
(She/Her)
Baker oversees Health Lab, Michigan Medicine's online health and research publication. She has spent most of her career working within the communication departments of several major academic medical centers in New York, Boston and now Michigan. She also handles media relations for allergy, dermatology, nephrology and urology. Contact: [email protected]
Health Lab
Researchers identify a potential “Achilles heel” of psoriasis
Psoriasis study reveals how IL-23 therapies drive long-lasting disease control and points towards strategies to prevent relapse.
Health Lab
Researchers discover what may be the root cause of preeclampsia, and how to fix it
After years of research, a large team of multidisciplinary scientists from Michigan Medicine has identified a key molecular driver of preeclampsia, and demonstrated a potential way to counteract it in both mouse models and human placental tissue.
Health Lab
Insurance that covers male infertility procedures improves opportunities for family building
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order dedicated to improving and expanding in vitro fertilization care for couples across the United States. A new paper published by the University of Michigan finds that including male infertility care in health insurance coverage mandates is associated with more births; this one was to assist couples having trouble to conceive.
Health Lab
IVF insurance coverage varies greatly among larger employers
Study from Michigan Medicine find that details of insurance coverage for IVF vary greatly among larger, self-insured employers, making insurance coverage challenging to follow for a wider, country-wide roll out.
Health Lab
Should you get a vasectomy?
Learn more about vasectomies from leading experts in the field of urology at Michigan Medicine.
Health Lab
Examining private equity’s role in fertility care
The percentage of fertility clinics affiliated with private equity firms rose in the past decade, and half of all IVF cycles now occur at such clinics.
Health Lab
The healing power of music
A musical team at Michigan Medicine debuts a musical album they produced to help bring comfort to patients in the hospital.
Health Lab
Most popular stories of 2025 month-by-month
A review of the most read stories, by month, in 2025 by Health Lab.
Health Lab
Novel measuring tool reduces severe allergic reactions during food allergy challenges
A new device called TEWL, created by Michigan Medicine, can help to reduce severe allergic reactions from occurring during food allergy challenges.
Health Lab
What is ductal carcinoma in situ breast cancer?
A Michigan Medicine breast cancer expert discusses diagnosis, treatment and risk factors of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) and what you should know.
Health Lab
For kidney disease, screening early is vital
A physician explains the importance of screening for chronic kidney disease, and early.
Health Lab
Study validates IVF data accuracy of national commercial claims database
A study finds CDM can be used with accuracy to identify IVF cycles covered by insurance and key clinical outcomes, such as rates of pregnancies, live births, and live birth types. The results also demonstrated that CDM is an accurate and comprehensive data source with many potential use cases by a broad array of stakeholders.
Health Lab
First-of-its-kind therapeutic device saves child in septic shock with multiorgan failure
The selective cytopheretic device, created by scientists and doctors at Michigan Medicine, is a first-in-class autologous immune cell directed therapy and successfully treated a young patient in septic shock and multiorgan failure.
Health Lab
How holding your pee can rewire your brain
Could fighting the urge to pee cause health issues? A urologist discusses how it might rewire your brain and stretch your bladder.
Health Lab
Excelling in kidney training
Nephrologists at the top tier medical center Michigan Medicine discuss what it takes to have a competitive fellowship program.
