BCHS News
Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center receives four-year funding renewal
The University of Pittsburgh Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center (MAR-PHTC) has received a four-year funding renewal to continue strengthening the public health workforce across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Pitt Public Health researchers bring youth perspectives to social media research
Young people are often the primary audience for social media content, yet they are rarely included as research partners when that content is analyzed. A team of Pitt Public Health researchers in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences is working to fill that gap.
Public health is everywhere — so why not stop and talk about it?
That’s the idea behind a new monthly webinar series launching Oct. 13 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Hosted by Dean Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH, the series will bring the public into conversations about public health, the work of Pitt Public Health and the issues shaping the field. Each webinar will feature researchers, practitioners and community partners working to address some of today’s biggest public health challenges.
Robot pets may brighten the days of older adults, Pitt study finds
A study led by Steven M. Albert, PhD, emeritus professor of behavioral and community health sciences at Pitt Public Health, found that older adults receiving family caregiver support showed an increase in positive affect after receiving a low-cost robotic pet. The research earned a Bronze Award in the 2026 Innovative Research on Aging Awards from Mather Institute.
Positive social media posts may normalize nicotine pouch use among youth
A Pitt Public Health study analyzed 1,809 Instagram and TikTok posts containing the hashtag #Zyn to better understand the messages users encounter about nicotine pouches. Researchers, including senior author Jaime E. Sidani, PhD, professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, evaluated each post for sentiment, themes, youth appeal and potentially misleading health claims.
Pitt Public Health researchers study alcohol-cancer risk communication
“Social media has become a major source of health information, so understanding what messages are—and aren’t—being shared is important for public health,” said Joseph Alejandro, a PhD student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, about a new study in the journal Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research.
Kyaien O. Conner brings a public health perspective to Pitt’s School of Social Work
Trained as both a social worker and public health researcher, Kyaien O. Conner (PhD, SSW ’08, MPH, BCHS ’07), has developed a career focused on understanding how individual health is connected to families, communities and the broader systems around them. Now, as dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and a Pitt Public Health alumna, she sees an opportunity to bring those perspectives together in new ways.
School of Public Health staff honored at annual award and recognition celebration
Members of Pitt Public Health’s staff were honored at the 2026 Staff Awards & Recognition Ceremony on Aug. 11. Staff milestones recognizing five to 40 years of service were also celebrated.
Pitt researchers use Research!America grant to train students to combat misinformation
A team of Pitt researchers has completed a project to train health science students to help older adults recognize and respond to misinformation and scams. The project was based a 2025-26 Public Engagement Content award from Research!America to Beth Hoffman, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences, and Janelle Christensen, PhD, MPH, project manager, Department of Medicine.
A summer of public health
Through the Pittsburgh Summer Institute, a long-standing partnership between the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and the Allegheny County Health Department, students work alongside experienced mentors on projects that address community health challenges while exploring careers in governmental public health.
New funding supports collaborative research on housing and intimate partner violence
A grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation is supporting a collaborative research project among Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health to better understand the housing challenges experienced by survivors of intimate partner violence.
Introducing Pitt’s latest Fulbright student finalists
Hannah Schwarz, who is pursuing doctoral studies in behavioral and community health sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Asian Studies from the School of Public Health, is one of 10 University of Pittsburgh students and alumni selected as finalists for the 2026-27 cycle of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The viral online attack on Pittsburgh doctors that sparked a national debate over vaccines
Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health who studies vaccine messaging, said it could take years for a shift to take place that counters the barrage of debunked claims. (Subscription required.)
Pitt Public Health, Psychiatry researchers study trauma assessment
Researchers from Pitt Public Health's Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry are challenging how trauma is measured, arguing that traditional assessment tools often overlook the experiences of people with minoritized identities. The study, led by Phillip W. Schnarrs, PhD, and Krithika Prakash, PhD, calls for more inclusive approaches to understanding and assessing trauma.