Article

The importance of managing your energy

Do you ever feel tired? Between work, family life, and hobbies, as well as keeping up with chores and other responsibilities, it’s easy to feel like life is just too busy. Right now, while life looks different for most of us in light of COVID-19, disrupted schedules and priorities which need to be juggled have added to stress levels for many of us. As well as managing your time, it’s important to understand how to manage your energy. After all, energy is what keeps us going. At Pfizer, our...

Being your authentic self – why it takes courage to be vulnerable

Maybe it’s at work, maybe at parties, or PTA meetings, networking events, or social clubs, but the chances are you have first-hand experience of the topic we’re covering today. How do we know this? Because it’s a very natural human phenomenon that affects most, if not all, of us: the pressure to conform. We all know this pressure exists, but perhaps we don’t realize just how much or how deeply it can impact us. Its effects can be profound for one main reason: the pressure to conform takes...

How to deal with negative emotions

Emotions are a powerful thing. They play a significant role in everything we do. And, unfortunately, there’s no off switch. What if those emotions are negative? And what if you’re at work when you start to feel angry, anxious, sad or frustrated? We need to find a way to take control, so we can still focus and get things done in this ever-changing, often stressful, world of work. We operate a very community-led culture at Pfizer. We’re supportive. We’re collaborative. In our quest to create...

Interviews: How To Upskill In A Lockdown

There was a classic study carried out by Dr. Albert Mehrabian in the 1960s. He claimed that only 7% of human communication was based on the spoken word. 38% of the message relied on tone of voice, while 55% was focused on body language. In this moment in time the question has to be – how does that translate to a COVID-19 world? When we’re seeing the people we’re communicating with through a screen. How could you possibly present your very best self to a brand-new employer in these...

Make Kindness The Norm

Right now, we’re experiencing a greater emphasis on virtual working. All types of teams are moving to digital platforms, and in doing so are translating in-person working relationships to virtual experiences. In a time where virtual working is the norm, it’s important to remember kindness is key. While working virtually, it may feel harder or more stressful to get things done, as we’re balancing new and different priorities and, for some, learning how to navigate this new way of working...

How to Talk to Children About COVID-19: Reassuring Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic

News of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 seems to be everywhere. Understandably, there is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about the pandemic. It can be overwhelming and frightening not just for adults but for children as well. But there are steps parents and caregivers can take to help children cope with stress during the outbreak. Stress signs in children Children may respond to stress in different ways.1 Additionally, they might not recognize that they are feeling worried or anxious.2 You...

Science & Innovation

Why Are Some People Tastier to Mosquitoes Than Others?

Do mosquitos prefer a certain blood type? Maybe—but it’s not just one factor that influences why these winged pests are attracted to us and researchers can’t seem to agree on a definitive answer.1,2There are two kinds of people in the world: those who return from time in the outdoors covered in itchy mosquito bites and those who can spend hours in the same space and avoid getting bitten at all. Let's face it, mosquitoes are not equal opportunity feasters.So, what exactly makes some people more...

Purpose & Ideals

Pfizer’s Institute of Translational Equitable Medicine Addresses Equity in Health Research

When it comes to healthcare, the terms “equitable” and "access" often go hand-in-hand. In order to prevent, treat, and identify diseases that disproportionately impact underserved and minority populations, Pfizer believes that research must be directed to the root causes of healthcare disparities. The recently-launched Institute of Translational Equitable Medicine (ITEM) is intended to do just that: work toward a more equitable future of health care. For Aida Habtezion, M.D., who is Pfizer’s...

Translating Technical Language into Plain Language for Clinical Trials

"Adjuvant therapy." "Pharmacologic effect." "Standard-of-care." These aren't terms used by most people in everyday conversation. But this kind of medical terminology has long been a part of clinical trial summaries, making it daunting for many people to understand what they're reading. Pfizer is working to change this by releasing results of clinical trial studies to the general public in language that’s meant to be understood by people of all backgrounds: plain language. The goal of the...

Living & Wellbeing

Health Screenings Every African American Man Should Know

Men’s ChecklistWhat African American Men Should KnowWhat is the Most Common Cancer for African American Men?For many men, cancer is a word you would rather avoid. Yet, learning about cancer may help you keep your health in check. The three top cancers for men are:Did you know about 30,000 African American men will be told they have prostate cancer this year? African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry face a higher risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer. They are also more...

Living & Wellbeing

Empowering Patients by Closing the Health Literacy Gap

When people understand basic concepts about their health, they’re better able to make more informed decisions.This common-sense idea is a fundamental tenet of personal health literacy, defined by health.gov as "the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others."1 And while it sounds like a simple notion, in practice it’s actually an enormous challenge. According to the Ce...

Getting the Facts About Some Common Pregnancy Complications

Many mothers envision having an uneventful pregnancy with little to no symptoms and the delivery of a healthy, full-term baby. Thankfully, most pregnancies and deliveries go on without a hitch. However, for some expectant mothers, health problems do occur. The good news is that only 8% of pregnancies involve complications. These complications can involve the mother, baby or both. Even women who were healthy prior to getting pregnant can have complications. Though not all complications can be...