Barbara Feder Ostrov, Senior Correspondent for California Healthline, has reported on medicine and health policy for more than 15 years. She covered the medical beat for the San Jose Mercury News for eight years and edited the website of the Center for Health Journalism at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. She previously worked at The Palm Beach Post and the Miami Herald. Her work also has been published in The Boston Globe, Ms. Magazine, Atlantic.com, PBS NewsHour, NPR, CNN.com and EverydayHealth.com. She has won awards from the Society for Women’s Health Research, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Florida Press Club. She is based in San Jose, California.
Barbara Feder Ostrov
Kaiser Health News
From this contributor
How the college admissions cheating scandal hurts students with disabilities
In the wake of this week's college admissions cheating scandal, families and advocates are worried about a backlash that could make it harder for students with legitimate disabilities to get the accommodations the need.
How the college admissions cheating scandal hurts students with disabilities
Study of birth defects, folic acid in foods finds more questions than answers
Fortifying cereal and bread products with folic acid has not led to as dramatic a decline in congenital defects as expected.
Study of birth defects, folic acid in foods finds more questions than answers
Explore more from The Transmitter
Five new neuroscience books, and other notable titles from 2026
The Transmitter’s summer reading list includes an autopsy of the Human Brain Project, an overview of the neuroscience of motherhood and a memoir from a pioneer in Huntington’s disease research.
Five new neuroscience books, and other notable titles from 2026
The Transmitter’s summer reading list includes an autopsy of the Human Brain Project, an overview of the neuroscience of motherhood and a memoir from a pioneer in Huntington’s disease research.
Biomarkers for autism, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 24 August.
Biomarkers for autism, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 24 August.
How, when and why to use agentic AI in our neuroscience labs
With agentic AI’s rapid infiltration into science, researchers need to develop AI use policies and practices.
How, when and why to use agentic AI in our neuroscience labs
With agentic AI’s rapid infiltration into science, researchers need to develop AI use policies and practices.