Health care reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Send me news tips. Email: julian.gill@houstonchronicle.com | Signal: jgill_chron.04https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mp4nyhp26c2hPart 4: Even when the FDA finds repeat quality concerns at a large compounding pharmacy, the most agency often does is issue a warning. Is that enough to protect patients? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/empower-pharmacy-continues-expansion-concern-21089101.php25 Jun 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp4nyhp26c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mozylg64fs2vPart 3: Compounding pharmacies were meant to serve individual patients. But today they can use “personalization” to reach the masses, w/ no obligation to report patient harm or abide by strict manufacturing standards. Here’s how Empower Pharmacy did it: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/empower-pharmacy-growth-tests-limits-compounding-22244513.php24 Jun 2026 13:13 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mozylg64fs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3moxi4yms622jPart 2 of our series: We obtained internal sales records that show Empower made big $$$ from “personalized” GLP-1s in 2024. The pharmacy filled nearly 20,000 prescriptions through a single telehealth company in the first quarter alone. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/glp1-weight-loss-boom-empower-pharmacy-21089103.php23 Jun 2026 13:13 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxi4yms622jhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3movgh6vzok2mWhile reporting this series, I found evidence that Empower Pharmacy’s CEO helped pay the rent for a doctor who prescribes the pharmacy's drugs. Multiple experts said the donations raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/empower-ceo-doctor-donation-conflict-of-interest-21089098.php22 Jun 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3movgh6vzok2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mouvqmem4k2oMy new series, A Dose of Disruption, examines how compounding pharmacies like Houston's Empower Pharmacy have become big business with weak oversight, making testosterone and GLP-1s for millions nationwide. Read part 1 of this year-long effort: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/houston-empower-compounding-pharmacy-testosterone-21016565.php22 Jun 2026 12:38 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mouvqmem4k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mlnsvgmpks25The latest in the case against Dr J Steve Bynon: Houston transplant surgeon accused of falsifying patient records said he was trying to help patients https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/houston-transplant-surgeon-federal-charges-22253108.php12 May 2026 12:43 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnsvgmpks25https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mhitbenxjc23St. Thomas paid nearly $1M in exit packages for departing staff despite financial woes https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/st-thomas-golden-parachutes-21141233.php via @samanthakett.bsky.social20 Mar 2026 15:26 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhitbenxjc23https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mhgg22cwa225Why Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s MVP — even if he doesn’t win the award https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7130414/2026/03/19/victor-wembanyama-mvp-spurs-column/?source=athletic_user_shared_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta19 Mar 2026 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhgg22cwa225https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mgfmeiwhzk22U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales ends reelection campaign amid sexual misconduct investigation https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/tony-gonzales-withdraws-brandon-herrera-21957990.php06 Mar 2026 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgfmeiwhzk22https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mg3ftvxthk2tTexas laws prohibit new hospitals in 100-year floodplains. Ben Taub is trying to expand into one. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/ben-taub-floodplain-harris-health-21234772.php02 Mar 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3ftvxthk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mfrdpr7bok2cNEW: For months I’ve been reporting on documented quality lapses at Houston’s Empower Pharmacy. New records filed in California show patients got sick after taking GLP-1s, other drugs made by the company. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/houston-empower-pharmacy-charged-new-violations-21940712.php26 Feb 2026 13:51 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfrdpr7bok2chttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3me5pit6zyc2aNEW w/ @emacdonald5.bsky.social and John Ferguson: Houston Memorial Hermann doctor indicted, accused of blocking transplants by falsifying records https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/houston-transplant-doctor-indicted-21336148.php06 Feb 2026 01:04 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3me5pit6zyc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3mchymb4vps2mNEW: FDA finds repeat quality failures at Houston’s Empower Pharmacy in latest inspection, records show https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/houston-s-empower-pharmacy-repeat-quality-issues-21292606.php15 Jan 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mchymb4vps2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3m6z4zgyqfk2qNew: How RFK Jr.’s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement influenced Texas in 2025 https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/rfk-jr-maha-movement-influence-texas-21114829.php02 Dec 2025 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6z4zgyqfk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3m5byq27j4c2lSURVEY: Are you on testosterone therapy? We want to hear about your experience. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/testosterone-therapy-survey/10 Nov 2025 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5byq27j4c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lzr37xre5s2oNEW: Transgender child's family sues Baylor over leak of medical records to conservative activist https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/transgender-child-s-family-sues-baylor-records-21069039.php26 Sep 2025 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzr37xre5s2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lzog2u7xh22iExclusive: Dr. Paul Klotman to retire after 15 years as executive dean at Baylor College of Medicine https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/exclusive-dr-paul-klotman-retire-15-years-21067310.php25 Sep 2025 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzog2u7xh22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lxczffmiz22kWhat does this do to Travis Kelce’s draft position?26 Aug 2025 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxczffmiz22khttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lw2n6rxq4c26The untold origin story of Trump Burger: A $250K murder-for-hire plot, ICE arrest and vaccine scam https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/trump-burger-origin-story-20808182.php by @sarahesmith23.bsky.social10 Aug 2025 15:51 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lw2n6rxq4c26https://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lvolc2w7u22aUTHealth Houston presidential finalist was named in 'no confidence' letter at Virginia https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/uthealth-houston-president-no-confidence-virginia-20792622.php via @emacdonald5.bsky.social05 Aug 2025 20:46 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvolc2w7u22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lv6qh7ogks2aParent upset after Alabama church youth group visits Houston homeless camp without notice https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/alabama-church-visits-homeless-encampment-20792231.php30 Jul 2025 13:35 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv6qh7ogks2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3lus4aeghps2iNEW: For years, the FDA and state pharmacy boards have raised red flags over Houston-based Empower Pharmacy’s drug quality and other deficiencies. Yet the Tx pharmacy board has never raised quality issues of its own in regular inspections since 2019. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/empower-pharmacy-passed-texas-inspections-fda-20395140.php25 Jul 2025 13:02 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lus4aeghps2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3ltn2pl6cqc2zRenowned MD Anderson cancer doctor Hagop Kantarjian stepping down as chair of leukemia department https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/md-anderson-leukemia-chair-stepping-down-20763462.php via @emacdonald5.bsky.social10 Jul 2025 19:26 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltn2pl6cqc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/juliangill.bsky.social/post/3ltmzaxu6dk2nState Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas AG Ken Paxton https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-angela-paxton-20764827.php via @taygoldenstein.bsky.social10 Jul 2025 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:q2b3t64ekvfglevb5rep7in5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltmzaxu6dk2n