"Pittsburgh came together—as Pittsburghers do—in an unequivocal show of solidarity against hate,” remarks Chancellor Patrick Gallagher encouraging all of us to support one another and collectively reject hatred, bolster our communities’ core, and to grow even stronger in the wake of this disaster.
ASPPH FRIDAY LETTER - Measuring the percentage of weight regained following the maximum amount of weight lost after bariatric surgery can help predict a patient’s risk of several serious health problems. “Our study will... lead to further studies on how to best avoid and manage weight regain for better health outcomes,” said EPI's WENDY KING.
ASPPH FRIDAY LETTER - new research from Pitt Public Health has identified a dementia risk factor among older adults that should be modifiable even well into old age. “Although arterial stiffness is associated with markers of silent, or subclinical, brain damage and cognitive decline, until now, it was not clear that arterial stiffness was associated with the risk of dementia,” said EPI's RACHEL MACKEY.
After winning the Kuzneski Innovation Cup from the Innovation Institute for FRED (a Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics), a software platform that simulates the spread of disease, mitigation strategies, & policy implications, John Cordier (HPH '19) assembled a team on short notice and lead them to victory in the Global Business Challenge, held in Brisbane, Australia.
SHUMEI SUN (BIOS '83) currently serves as the chair of the Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University. As chair, she has played a vital role in transforming the department by doubling the size of its faculty, and initiating new courses in mathematical genetics, omics and informatics over the past decade.
Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging (SWPPA) honored BCHS's EDMUND RICCI with the 2018 Pruitt/Kelly Award of Excellence for his contribution to the field of aging. Congratulations Dr. Ricci!
In a biodefense emergency - such as a terrorist attack using aerosolized plague - what are the needs of our country's 573 Tribal Nations? HPM"s TINA BATRA HERSHEY, assistant director for Law and Policy in the Center for Public Health Practice, recently contributed to a national report concluding that Tribal Nations need the opportunity to receive federal support in public health emergency preparedness planning.
STAT - The number of fatal drug overdoses nationwide has fallen for six consecutive months, fueling hopes that the downturn marks not just a reprieve but a long-lasting shift in the tide of the addiction crisis. “After 40 years of this predictable growth pattern, we can hope that the curve is finally bending downward for good,” DEAN BURKE, wrote in an e-mail. “But history tells us to interpret these wobbles cautiously.”
REUTERS - While crowdfunding platforms can fill insurance gaps, helping patients pay for essential care and avoid medical debt, they are also being used to raise large sums of money for ineffective and experimental treatments, a new study suggests. The study muddies the issue by mixing clearly unproven therapies with treatments that are being tested in clinical trials, said HUGEN's Lisa Parker.
Complex health issues are easy to determine, but finding solutions can be challenging. Three Pitt Public Health students, ASHLEY SIMENSON (EPI ’19), JESSICA SALERNO (IDM ’20), and KAITLYN SAAL-RIDPATH (HPM ’20) were chosen as part of the inaugural class of Future Health Leaders to present their ideas at the Milken Institute's Future of Health Summit 2018 in Washington DC.
UPMC - Congratulations to EPI chair ANNE NEWMAN, clinical director of the Aging Institute, honored by UPMC Senior Services as its 2018 Grand Champion for her work in the epidemiology of aging, longevity, and disability. This is the highest honor awarded by UPMC Senior Services. "The field of aging science is advancing rapidly, and we expect that many of those advances will make aging better for all,” said Newman.
JOHN SCOTT (BIOST '08) was recently appointed as the director of the Division of Biostatistics at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. In this role, Scott leads a group of 35 biostatisticians responsible for statistical aspects of the regulatory evaluation and oversight of vaccines, allergenic extracts, blood components, cellular therapies, gene therapies, etc.
Center for Global Health Student Travel Scholarship recipient and DrPH student, ABISOLA OLANIYAN (BCHS '21), spent her practicum in Lagos, Nigeria addressing barriers to seeking and accessing immunization services for children. She also conducted food demonstration classes to educate mothers/caregivers on nutritious meals for babies during the weaning period.
MEDICAL XPRESS - E-cigarette brand JUUL's Twitter handle is attracting adolescents to the point that at least a quarter of its followers appear to be under age 18. Many of these minors—to whom it is illegal to sell nicotine-delivery products—are retweeting JUUL's messages, amplifying its advertisements to a vulnerable population. The study results are published in the Journal of Adolescent Health and coauthored by BCHS' ELIZABETH MILLER.
Congratulations to the winners of the Kuzneski Innovation Cup, HPM and PHDL's MARK ROBERTS and JOHN GREFENSTETTE, JOHN CORDIER (HPM '18), and DEAN DONALD S. BURKE! 1st place went to FRED (a Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics), a software platform that simulates the spread of disease, mitigation strategies, & policy implications.The Kuzneski Innovation Cup is for Pitt students who are developing innovations that can positively ...
Congrats to HEATHER TOMKO (HPM '19) for receiving this award, given to Pitt students whose service has made a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
PITTWIRE - New research from Pitt Public Health has identified a dementia risk factor among older adults that should be modifiable even well into old age. “As the large arteries get stiffer, their ability to cushion the pumping of blood from the heart is diminished, and that transmits increased pulsing force to the brain, which contributes to silent brain damage that increases dementia risk,” said EPI's, RACHEL MACKEY.
Of our 118 students, 95 are MPH students, 20 are PhD students, and 3 are pursuing a DrPH...check out BCHS by the numbers!
UNIVERSITY TIMES - University leaders are reviving an effort to turn Pitt into a tobacco-free campus. Dean Burke handed the new initiative over to NOBLE MASERU, director of the Center for Health Equity. Maseru said he has been reaching out to various stakeholders to begin fleshing out the initiative more. “I believe it is an acceptable intervention in today's culture especially in a university campus,” Maseru said.
PITT WIRE - Three students from Pitt Public Health were selected for the inaugural class of The Milken Institute’s Future Health Leaders Program. The students, ASHLEY SIMENSON (EPI '19), JESSICA SALERNO (IDM '20), and KAITLYN SAAL-RIDPATH (HPM '20), are among a dozen of fellows selected nationwide. The program aims to give the students exposure to health leadership to help accelerate their future work tackling complex public health challenges....