We prepare students to apply theories, concepts, and methods of the various social and behavioral science disciplines to the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that prevent illness and promote health.
News
Schnarrs chosen as editor-in-chief of LGBTQ+ research journal
Phillip W. Schnarrs, PhD, professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and co-director of the Center for LGBT Health Research at Pitt Public Health, has been selected as the next editor-in-chief of the Springer Nature Annals of LGBTQ+ Public and Population Health.
5 ways Pitt people helped shape America
Freedom House’s legacy was largely forgotten for decades, but found new recognition in 2025 with the TV show "The Pitt." A recent Pitt Public Health study led by BCHS faculty member Beth Hoffman found Google searches for “Freedom House” jumped 170% the day after the episode aired and stayed elevated for about a week.
HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ drove surge in searches for first Black-staffed EMS company
A single episode of HBO’s popular medical drama “The Pitt” sparked a 170% surge in online searches about Freedom House Ambulance Service, according to a Pitt Public Health study published in American Journal of Health Promotion. “Entertainment media can play a meaningful role in educating the public and encouraging people to learn more, including about topics like health equity and systemic racism,” said Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences and the study’s first author.