For The Health Of It!:
All the things you didn’t know you wanted to know about health but now you do
It was a sunny California afternoon when Ali Javanbakht, MD first walked two doors down from his office to the Coastal View News to hand in an article on that years flu vaccine. The editor was kind enough to publish it and For the Health of It! was born - a humor/health column that took medicine off the shelf, dusted it off, put it in comfy clothes, and brought it out to play.
From that point forward, Dr. Javanbakhts articles grew in frequency and popularity. The editor of the Coastal View News noted that it generated more reader feedback than any other column the newspaper had published. Readers started clipping columns and sending them across the country to friends and family. High school students began citing them in health classes. They were posted in various retirement homes across the country. And soon, it had a strong following that has continued to grow over time.
His column won second place for best original writing at the 2010 Association of Free Community Newspapers awards.
This book is a collection of some of his best work over the years. They have delighted and informed readers of all ages. Described as the Dave Barry of medicine, Dr. Javanbakhts column uses analogies, everyday metaphors, and made-up organizations to humanize medicine, covering a broad range of topics from illnesses, to medical politics, to anatomy and physiology. It also includes the previously unpublished article, The Decade in Review, and a foreword by Hippocrates.
While his intention has always been to entertain, readers cant help but come away from reading his work better informed and with smiles on their faces.
Ali Javanbakht, M.D., is a physician, healthcare administrator, and writer known for his
unique blend of medical knowledge and comedic flair. He earned his undergraduate degree in
Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MD from the
Medical College of Wisconsin. After completing his family medicine residency at Riverside
County Regional Medical Center, he furthered his expertise with a Master’s in Healthcare
Administration from California State University, East Bay.
Dr. Javanbakht is celebrated for his award-winning column, For the Health of It, which ran
for ten years in Coastal View News and earned second place for Best Original Writing at the
2010 AFCP Awards. His writing demystifies complex medical concepts, making healthcare
accessible through relatable language and humor.
In addition to his column, Ali has contributed to comedic projects, including sketches for
Santa Barbara Improv and Yeah Sand Production, and co-wrote the stage play Shay Ends
with Amy Orozco. He currently collaborates with Heather Terbell on screenplays and co-
authors the pirate comedy podcast Argh Ye Kidding Me. Living in Santa Barbara with his
family and cats, Ali enjoys drumming, soccer, and improv.
