Staci L. Vernick

Staci Vernick is a contributing health and science writer. With expertise in healthcare, medical and science communications and a passion for evocative storytelling, Staci has directed communications for academic medical centers and biomedical research organizations, including Johns Hopkins Children’s, The Wistar Institute and the American Association for Cancer Research. A former journalist, she has written on topics ranging from children’s health to cancer biology to health policy.
clinical team and patient standing together
Health Lab
Planting a tree, and hope, for a heart healthy future
A complex mitral valve repair by Michigan Medicine cardiac specialists helps restore health and happiness to one Michigan patient and his family.
 woman smiling with man in michigan gear selfie
Health Lab
Getting ahead of aortic disease
Patient bypasses a life threatening aortic aneurysm with the help of Michigan Medicine's genetic counseling and a streamlined cardiac referral program.
 man smiling sitting
Health Lab
A unique collaboration helps one patient better manage aortic disease
MI-AORTA is a donor-funded initiative that facilitates collaboration within the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, U-M Health and referring provider networks, creating value for the patients, families, and communities they serve and allows them to continue to pioneer advanced therapies for aortic diseases.
 man standing
Health Lab
Beating the odds against chronic total occlusion
Learn about the latest advances in treatment for chronic total occlusion, a life-threatening condition that deprives the heart of oxygen. A team of cardiovascular surgeons perform advanced, minimally invasive surgery to help David Schneider get his life back on track.
 A model demonstrating how this type of novel drug is absorbed through the lymphatic system.
Health Lab
New drug candidate uses novel absorption method to target cancer cells in mice
By using the lymphatic system as a storage reservoir, researchers found they could optimize drug concentrations to simultaneously target two molecular signaling pathways responsible for cancer growth.
 women scientist gloves laboratory vial
Health Lab
Researchers zero in on therapeutic target for aggressive uterine cancer
A common mutation in a rare cancer subtype leads researchers to an already-approved drug that shows promise against uterine serous carcinoma
Health Lab
Gene Discovery Shows Effects of Impaired Protein Synthesis
Researchers identify genetic variants that lead to a severe developmental syndrome. The findings could mean better screening and diagnosis for patients with inherited syndromes.
Health Lab
A New Clue in the Mystery of ALS, Frontotemporal Dementia
Michigan Medicine researchers identify a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative conditions using animal models.
Health Lab
Biomarker Holds Promise in COPD Treatment
A team led by U-M researchers discovered that a noninvasive imaging biomarker can identify small airway damage in COPD patients.