The Practice of Ruth Haskins MD

02/03/2026

Have we had enough yet? An accurate commentary of what is going on in Minneapolis - thank you Boss, for highlighting what so many of us think.

Directed by Thom ZimnyEdited by Thom Zimny and Samuel ShapiroProduction Footage: Pam Springsteen and Thom Zimny

02/01/2026

February is here! With the Super Bowl coming up (even if the Steelers aren’t in it 😏) and Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s a month full of heart, connection, and care.

Between game-day snacks and sharing the love, don’t forget to show some love to yourself. February is a great time to schedule an annual exam, check in on your reproductive health, or simply come talk with us about how you’re feeling.

Our team is here with the same compassionate care you trust — helping you stay healthy, balanced, and supported all year long.

📞 (916) 817-2649 🌐 www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/30/2026

A few days ago, I remarked upon my fears for the US leaving the WHO and its ramifications. I’m relieved to see California step up as the Trump administration pulls the U.S. out of the World Health Organization. This isn’t political theater, it’s practical public health.

By joining WHO, California keeps access to early outbreak warnings, shared data, and international expertise that help detect and stop threats before they reach our clinics and hospitals. Diseases don’t stop at borders, and pretending otherwise doesn’t protect patients.

When federal leadership chose withdrawal over reform, it weakened preparedness. California’s move helps close that gap — protecting 40 million residents with science, collaboration, and foresight.

This is what responsible health policy looks like!

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/26/2026

Murders by ICE, is this our USA?

Watching federal immigration agents flood Minneapolis feels less like law enforcement and more like an occupation. Armed raids, unaccountable force, people killed or seriously harmed.

ICE has become a paramilitary force, a federal agency unleashed on communities, overriding local leadership, escalating tensions, and leaving fear and grief in its wake. Minneapolis has been invaded.

Power without accountability. When federal agents operate above local law, when residents are treated as enemies, and when deaths are brushed aside as collateral damage, something has gone badly wrong.

If this can happen in Minneapolis, it can happen anywhere. If we shrug it off, we’re accepting a version of America where force replaces justice and fear replaces the rule of law.

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/24/2026

The U.S. flag has been removed from the World Health Organization. This as a direct consequence of President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from an institution we helped found and lead for nearly 80 years. It’s not a misunderstanding. It’s not symbolism run amok. It’s the visible result of a reckless policy choice.

The United States helped create the WHO in 1948 because we understood something fundamental after World War II: disease is a national security threat. For decades, U.S. leadership inside the WHO gave us early warning of outbreaks, influence over global health standards, and coordination that protected Americans before threats reached our shores.

Trump’s withdrawal has removed American influence entirely. You don’t fix something by walking away from it. You surrender control, credibility, and leverage. The decisions the WHO makes will still affect Americans: on travel, vaccines, supply chains, and outbreak response. Only now they’ll be made without U.S. leadership or oversight.

This move weakens U.S. preparedness by design. It cuts us off from coordinated global surveillance at a time when pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and biological threats are increasing, not fading. Any short-term political satisfaction comes at the cost of slower response times, higher long-term costs, and greater vulnerability.

Worse, it hands leadership to others. Power vacuums don’t stay empty. Countries with very different priorities and values are now better positioned to shape global health rules — while the U.S. stands on the sidelines, pretending disengagement is strength.

The flag didn’t come down because America was disrespected. It came down because American leadership was voluntarily withdrawn. That decision reflects ideology over evidence, grievance over governance, and posturing over preparedness.

Being a founding member of the WHO wasn’t charity. It was smart policy. Walking away from it isn’t bold. It’s self-sabotage.

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/22/2026

Does anyone else feel completely worn out by the Trump roller-coaster, both for the country and on a personal level?

It’s the nonstop headlines, the whiplash between outrage and exhaustion. Even when you’re not actively following the news, it somehow still finds its way into daily life, conversations, and that low-grade sense of unease in the background.

This perpetual chaos affects focus, and the ability to feel grounded. A nation can’t thrive on adrenaline. I miss boring. I miss steadiness. I miss leadership that doesn’t feel like an emergency alert every day.

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/20/2026

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about the new food pyramid published by the USDA a couple of weeks ago and what it means for everyday eating. As with most updates to nutrition guidance, it includes some positive shifts along with areas that deserve thoughtful consideration.

It’s encouraging to see more focus on whole, minimally processed foods and a stronger message about cutting back on added sugars and ultra-processed items. Those changes are widely supported and helpful for overall health.

At the same time, some parts of the new pyramid place greater emphasis on animal-based foods. For many people, especially when eaten in larger amounts, higher intake of red meat, full-fat dairy, and saturated fats has been associated with increased risks for heart disease and other chronic conditions. That doesn’t mean these foods must be avoided entirely, but it does mean they’re best consumed in moderation and balanced with plenty of plant-based foods that provide fiber, antioxidants, and protective nutrients.

Healthy eating doesn’t need to be rigid or extreme. A varied, balanced approach — one that prioritizes vegetables, fruits, whole foods, and moderation — tends to be the most sustainable and supportive of long-term health.

Nutrition guidance will continue to evolve, but the core idea remains the same: choosing foods that nourish the body while supporting long-term well-being.

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/15/2026

Today I wanted to reiterate my concerns about measles activity both nationally and here in California. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses we know. It can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, miscarriage, premature birth, permanent disability, and even death, especially in infants, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems.

This surge is entirely preventable. As of January 13, 2026, 171 confirmed cases have already been reported in the U.S. this year across nine states, most linked to outbreaks that began in 2025. Last year, more than 2,200 cases were confirmed nationwide, including at least three deaths. In California alone, 25 cases were reported across multiple counties in 2025, and early this year, a case has already appeared in the Bay Area.

Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 thanks to high vaccination coverage, but when vaccination rates fall, community protection breaks down and outbreaks follow. This isn’t about blame; it’s about reality and science. Vaccines work, and the MMR vaccine is our best defense.

Public health only works when we look out for one another, especially for babies and the vulnerable.

Please check your family’s vaccination status. Talk to your doctor and protect yourself, your family, and protect your community. Together, we can prevent measles from taking hold again.

www ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/12/2026

What is going on? We all need to wake up as a nation.

Just in the last few days, we’ve seen an alarming level of chaos, lawlessness, and unease.

An American woman in Minneapolis — Renee Nicole Good — was shockingly and unjustifiably shot in the face and killed by a masked ICE officer while calling her an F-ing bitch. The Epstein files remain unreleased, completely ignoring and defying the law. Maduro and his wife were unilaterally abducted from Venezuela. And as if all of that is not enough, now there is open talk of invading Greenland, risking the complete collapse of NATO!

This isn’t strength. This isn’t leadership. This is crazy authoritarianism, with zero transparency, and escalating chaos. Complete insanity.

This is not the United States we grew up believing in.
And pretending this is normal is how democracies fail. Do we still have congress as it seems to have disappeared and gone MIA?

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/08/2026

You may have seen recent news about changes in government vaccine recommendations for children. From a medical perspective, vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective ways to protect infants and children from serious, preventable illness. While recommendations may evolve, I continue to strongly support evidence-based vaccination and encourage families to follow long established medical guidance. Partnering with your child’s pediatrician and staying up to date on recommended vaccines remains an important step in protecting your child’s health and the health of our community.

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com

01/05/2026

A lifelong passion ..... if you watched the Steeler-Raven game yesterday, what a tense but amazing start to the new year, the Steelers delivered though it was nail biting right up to the very last second. Vital signs now stable, AFC North Champions and ready for the Levi Stadium!

www.ruthhaskinsmd.com