Lisa Schencker

Lisa Schencker is a Tribune business reporter covering health care. She writes about patients, hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining the Tribune in 2016, she worked at Modern Healthcare and at daily newspapers across the country, including the Salt Lake Tribune for seven years.

A tanning bed is cleaned between customers on April 3, 2013, at a shop in Des Plaines. (Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune)

Tanning bed users have nearly twice as much damage to skin cells, Northwestern study finds

December 19, 2025 at 1:09 p.m.

Use of tanning beds nearly triples the risk of developing melanoma, and it also damages the DNA of skin cells across the body, according to a study from Northwestern Medicine.

A new prescription medication vending machine at Advocate Medical Group’s Imani Village clinic on Sept. 30, 2025, in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)

Medicine from a vending machine? Devices installed in Chicago

October 10, 2025 at 7:10 a.m.

Patients in "pharmacy deserts" often face trouble getting medications.

Northwestern engineers unveiled what they say is the smallest pacemaker in the world. Though the device is still years away from being used in humans, it could eventually be useful for infants with congenital heart defects, as well as adults, the researchers say. The pacemaker can be inserted with a catheter or syringe. (John A. Rogers/Northwestern University)

Engineers develop tiny pacemaker, smaller than a grain of rice

April 9, 2025 at 10:06 a.m.

Engineers unveiled what they say is the smallest pacemaker in the world.

the Aletta device that automates blood collection

Would you let a robot draw your blood? Health systems trying new device

March 21, 2025 at 9:11 a.m.

The device has the potential to make blood draws more efficient.

Johanna Claudette describes the daily challenges she faces living with long COVID symptoms on March 6, 2025, at a music rehearsal space in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Five years ago, COVID gripped the world in fear. Now scientists, doctors warn Trump’s policies are weakening public health

March 13, 2025 at 1:16 p.m.

Medical experts and scientists caution against letting down the nation’s guard.

North suburban-based Abbott Laboratories recently began selling its new Lingo device, a continuous glucose monitor that’s available without a prescription. It’s part of a larger trend, in which companies are increasingly promoting wearable devices aimed at people interested in improving their health and wellness. (Abbott Laboratories)

Will glucose monitors become the next wellness accessory?

October 30, 2024 at 1:12 p.m.

A new device from Abbott Laboratories, called Lingo, is geared toward people who don’t have diabetes but want to see how food and activity affect their glucose levels.

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