Nicole Leonard is a health and science reporter for WHYY News. She joined the newsroom in 2022 after covering health care for Connecticut Public Radio. Before that, she was the health reporter for the Press of Atlantic City.
Nicole’s coverage has focused on addiction and the opioid epidemic, mental health, and health policy. She is an alum of Boston University and grew up in New Jersey.
More from the Contributor
Pennsylvania insurance officials say premium costs could rise, on average, by 82% with the loss of boosted tax credits in 2026.
18 hours ago
Listen 1:24‘Uncharted territory’: Philadelphians navigate growing old with HIV as more people survive longer
About half of all people living with HIV today are over the age of 50. By 2030, older survivors could make up as much as 70% of that population.
4 days ago
Listen 5:49The new settlement deal could net Pennsylvania and Delaware as much as $212 million and $27 million, respectively, in payouts.
1 week ago
Philly reports first suspected case of bird flu in an ill snow goose found near Carroll Park
City health officials say the snow goose was found in West Philadelphia on Jan. 11. Preliminary state testing was positive for bird flu.
1 week ago
Listen 1:00FDA regulation of nicotine pouches can help prevent youth use, say Rutgers researchers
Nicotine pouches are a newer class of smokeless products that don’t contain tobacco. Zyn became the first FDA-authorized brand on Jan. 16.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:30Researchers compared a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen against hydrocodone for treating pain after wisdom tooth surgery.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:08Group therapy meets Dungeons & Dragons in this Philadelphia therapist’s mental health practice
Group therapy participants work together on issues like anxiety, trauma and depression through fantasy Dungeons & Dragons characters.
3 weeks ago
Listen 2:19Pennsylvania program helps overturn 50% of health insurance denials in first year, new data shows
The state’s Independent External Review program launched in January 2024 and took 517 appeals in its inaugural year.
3 weeks ago
Listen 0:54Independence Blue Cross joins other insurance companies in restricting coverage of Wegovy and Ozempic to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
1 month ago
Listen 1:18Pa. health providers urge Congress to extend Medicare telehealth options set to expire in 2025
Policies expanding access to telehealth for Medicare participants will end Dec. 31 unless Congress extends them this week.
1 month ago
Listen 1:12Take note of these new health care laws coming to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware in 2025
State legislatures passed new laws on medical debt, cancer testing, insurance coverage and more. Some will kick in early in the new year.
2 months ago
Listen 1:07Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs marketplace company is designed to help hospitals and health systems source generic drugs from manufacturers.
2 months ago
Listen 1:08