Health Evidence Digest is written and edited by Melina Rodriguez, a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), and Billing and Coding Associate (CCA) with over 17 years of experience in clinical and administrative healthcare settings. Melina also serves as a Senior Medical Editor specializing in pharmaceutical market access and drug commercialization, where she works directly with clinical evidence packages, FDA-approved drug labeling, payer strategy documentation, and product launch materials across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, rare disease, immunology, and metabolic health.
Health Evidence Digest was founded to bring accurate, evidence-based analysis of FDA regulatory decisions, clinical trial results, and health research to both healthcare professionals and patients.
What We Cover
Health Evidence Digest covers FDA drug approvals, regulatory decisions, clinical trial data, and evidence-based health topics. We do not cover unverified treatments, supplements without clinical evidence, or health trends that lack peer-reviewed support.
Our Source Standards
Every post published on Health Evidence Digest is based on primary sources. We do not publish based on secondary reporting alone. Our sources include:
- Official FDA press announcements and approval letters at FDA.gov
- Peer-reviewed publications in journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and other indexed medical journals
- ClinicalTrials.gov trial registrations and results databases
- Manufacturer press releases dated within 12 months of publication
- Prescribing information and FDA drug labels from AccessData.fda.gov
- Guidelines from recognized professional medical organizations including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Academy of Dermatology, and equivalent bodies
We verify PDUFA dates and FDA approval status directly against FDA.gov before publishing any post describing a drug as approved. Posts describing drugs under review are held or reframed if primary source confirmation cannot be obtained.
Our Verification Process
Before publication, each post is reviewed for factual accuracy against the primary sources cited. Clinical trial data, efficacy figures, and safety information are cross-referenced against the original trial publications and FDA documentation rather than derived from secondary sources. Sources are hyperlinked directly within the text so readers can verify claims independently.
Corrections and Updates
When new data emerges or errors are identified after publication, posts are updated promptly. Substantive corrections are noted within the post. We take factual accuracy seriously and welcome corrections from readers and clinicians.
What Health Evidence Digest Does Not Do
Health Evidence Digest provides general educational information about FDA approvals and health research. It does not provide personalized medical advice, recommend specific treatments for individual patients, or substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Every post carries an explicit disclaimer to this effect.
Advertising and Editorial Independence
Health Evidence Digest may display contextual advertising in the future. If and when advertising is present, advertisers will have no influence over editorial content, topic selection, or the conclusions drawn in any post. No post on this site is or will ever be sponsored, paid for, or written at the request of a pharmaceutical company or any other commercial entity. All editorial decisions are made independently by the author. The professional background described above reflects work performed in a separate professional capacity and has no bearing on which topics are covered or how they are presented on this site.
Contact
Readers with questions about our editorial process, corrections, or content can reach us through the Contact page.