Happy New Year, 2026!
It is a beautiful Northern California day as I think of positive words to greet the new year in the face of so much international and national turmoil in the news. I am blessed with the health and love of my friends and family, and I wish the same for all of you. The Village Doctor continues to thrive and keep us all centered on our community and the service we enjoy providing to our patients. I know there is also all of this in the world, both locally and beyond, and I ask that we all look for the GOOD in the struggles we see splashed across the newspapers.
In the spirit of this, I dragged my friend, Dr. ChatGPT, back into the mix. What GOOD does it see in the CDC’s revised childhood immunization schedule? “Greater parental engagement and choice”, “Reduced focus on mandates, more emphasis on informed consent”, “Alignment with international norms”. Well, perhaps, but The Village Doctors feel lucky to have the time to discuss all of this with our patients (most doctors and patients do not).
And it’s hard not to notice how unsettled the broader world feels. Yet history reminds us that moments of disruption often carry the seeds of renewal. Crises can awaken reform, strengthen communities, and invite us to rethink what truly matters—health, trust, resilience, and care for one another. Here at The Village Doctor, we begin 2026 grounded in that optimism: that thoughtful change can lead to better systems, that listening builds trust, and that even in uncertain times, there is real power in steady, human connection. We look forward to another year of caring for you with time, attention, and hope.
Eric
Eric Weiss, MD, DTM&H, January 2026
Is it just a cold or should I worry I have the flu?
We’ve reached the time of winter when runny noses and sore throats are making their rounds through the community, leaving many people wondering the same thing: Is this just a common cold, or could it be influenza (the flu), and when do I need to worry? While both are respiratory illnesses with overlapping symptoms, they are caused by different viruses and often follow distinct patterns. Understanding those differences can help you know what to expect and help you to determine when to seek care.
Navigating AI in Healthcare: A Guide for Patients
Recently, I wanted to write a special birthday card for my (now late) father, Bill McColl. To make it more meaningful, I asked an AI chatbot to create a short biography highlighting some of his life’s accomplishments. The AI chatbot wrote that he grew up in Los Angeles and was a great football player for the University of California in 1950’s, then went on to play for the Chicago Bears. Some of that was true—but he didn’t grow up in Los Angeles; he actually grew up in San Diego. And he didn’t attend the University of California; he attended their arch-rival, Stanford University, where he was an All-American football player. But if I didn’t know my father’s history intimately, I would never have caught these errors. The AI chatbot sounded confident and authoritative, but it was simply wrong.
The New Food Pyramid
The new year is upon us, and it has come with a very significant change in the fundamental health recommendation about your diet from both the US Department of Health & Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. The food pyramid we have been used to for so many years has been turned on its head, and the very basic advice on how we should eat has been radically changed.
It is just a few weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympics and only 1 week before the last qualifying Men’s Downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland. I want to take a moment to give The Village Doctor’s very own Erik Arvidsson a shout-out and wish him the very, very best of luck on Saturday as he launches himself down the Lauberhorn,” the longest and one of the most iconic downhill tracks in alpine skiing.
This season, we’ve been inspired by the extraordinary journey of Erik Arvidsson. After a serious injury that could have ended his career, Erik chose a harder path. Step by step, he rebuilt, returning not only to form but to the very top tier of his sport. (This YouTube video from NBC Bay Area is also worth a watch!).
At The Village Doctor, we believe deeply in the power of long-term care, trust, and believing in people through their hardest chapters. Supporting Erik over the past few years has been a privilege, because his story mirrors what we see every day in medicine: setbacks do not define us; how we respond does. Erik’s comeback reminds us that healing is rarely linear, progress is earned, and with the right support, extraordinary things can happen. We’ll be cheering him on—on the mountain, and beyond.
Yours, in health and resilience,
Eric and the TVD MD team…
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The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general informational and education purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider to discuss whether any treatment, medication, or information is appropriate for you, and for guidance on any emerging updates in care. Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice based on the information provided here.
