Discover 2025’s Top Read Essays on Life Sciences Issues

The most-read essays from First Opinion in 2025 shed light on pressing issues within the life sciences sector, highlighting themes such as vaccines, health insurance challenges, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence. The collection of essays features a diverse range of authors, including a dentist, a medical student, and a former whistleblower from Theranos, all contributing unique perspectives that enrich the ongoing debates.

Among the top 20 essays, divided evenly between free content and those behind the STAT+ paywall, several key topics emerged. These essays not only address critical issues but also provide personal narratives that go beyond mere pro and con arguments. For instance, Andrea Love’s essay, “The wellness industry is killing animals, spreading disease, and fueling the next pandemic,” questions the ethics of current health trends. Likewise, Mannat Tiwana’s piece, “I’m a dentist from India. The fluoride debate in the U.S. horrifies me,” offers an outsider’s view on a contentious public health topic.

Another notable essay is Ryan Nadelson’s discussion on the implications of health insurance changes, titled “An insurance company is introducing a new threat to American medicine.” This piece reflects the growing concern over how corporate practices can impact patient care and access to necessary services.

As the list reveals, the authors come from a variety of backgrounds, with specialists like nutrition researcher Jane Zhao and biomedical scientist Gairik Sachdeva contributing their expertise. This diversity in authorship underscores the multifaceted nature of health discussions, making the essays relevant even beyond their initial publication dates. For instance, Benjamin Lebwohl’s essay on colonoscopy prep diets remains pertinent, demonstrating the ongoing public interest in health-related guidelines.

Key Insights from the Top Essays

In total, ten of the highest-performing essays were available for free, while the remaining ten were accessible through the STAT+ subscription model. Noteworthy topics included the critique of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by Kaley Parchinski, which argues that proposed changes would significantly harm new physicians. Similarly, Miranda Yaver’s essay on health insurers highlights a troubling trend of “rationing by inconvenience,” suggesting that insurers are counting on patients to forgo appeals against denied claims.

The STAT+ essays also present critical viewpoints on emerging technologies and their implications for healthcare. Tyler Shultz, a whistleblower from Theranos, shares insights on the current state of the healthcare ecosystem in his essay about the company’s founder, Elizabeth Holmes. His perspective adds a layer of caution to discussions surrounding innovation in the sector.

Another essay, “Why isn’t AI transforming biopharma as fast as we’d like?” by Greg Meyers, addresses the barriers to rapid advancement in artificial intelligence applications within the pharmaceutical industry. This reflection on the slower-than-expected integration of AI technologies raises questions about the future of healthcare innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, the First Opinion platform remains committed to exploring a wide range of topics that resonate with readers. The essays not only reflect current trends but also set the stage for future discussions. Many of the issues addressed this year are likely to resurface in 2026, as they remain critical to understanding the evolving landscape of health and medicine.

In addition to the ongoing relevance of these essays, First Opinion encourages readers to engage in the conversation by submitting their own pieces. This initiative aims to foster a platform where diverse voices can contribute to the discourse around health and science, ensuring that a variety of perspectives are represented.

For those interested in following these discussions, the First Opinion essays serve as a valuable resource, offering insights that can influence both public understanding and policy decisions in the life sciences arena.