Pittsburgh doctors bring real medicine to Emmy-winning drama 'The Pitt'
For two Pittsburgh-based health professionals, when "The Pitt" took home five Emmys this year, the moment wasn’t just a win for television — it was a triumph for accuracy in storytelling, thanks in part to their real-world experiences "The Pitt" brought to the screen. Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences, who collaborated with producers on the show, said, “When medical dramas work with experts, they can improve public understanding of health, reduce misinformation, and even influence policy. 'The Pitt' shows that entertainment can also be education.”
Unfiltered: What “Big Vape” viewers really think
Buried in hundreds of social media comments is a candid record of how people think and feel, often in ways that surveys and focus groups can’t capture. Pitt Public Health’s Beth Hoffman, PhD, and Arpita Tripathi, MA, used this material for their study of the Netflix docuseries “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul,” analyzing YouTube comments to understand how viewers responded to the series and the broader conversation around vaping. Their findings appeared in the September 19 issue of JMIR Formative Research.
Meet the 'Queen' of 'The Pitt'
Pitt School of Medicine's Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, credits BCHS's Beth Hoffman, PhD, for getting her connected to HBO Max's hit medical drama, "The Pitt," where she's served as a physician consultant.
New Pitt classes and programs launch in fall 2025
Pitt Public Health is offering new courses for fall 2025, including a Disaster Preparedness Certificate and a course in AI in Health Data Science, as well as training opportunities through the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health.
Healthy grieving online: Finding comfort, support, and meaning in the digital age
"Grief is an ongoing process," reflects BCHS Assistant Professor Beth Hoffman on the passing of her only sibling, Emily. "It doesn’t move forward in a straight line. People tell you the first year without your loved one is the hardest. But in my case, years 2 and 3 have been more difficult.”
Early lead exposure could result in memory issues later in life
“Heavy metals, which include lead as well as mercury, are not good for your body or your brain, even at low-level exposure," said BCHS Professor Steve Albert, commenting on studies presented at the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference highlighting potential links between lead exposure and cognitive problems. “There are many environmental pollutants, airborne toxins, that have been associated with cognitive performance,” he added.
Global classroom, local impact
Abi Fapohunda, DrPH, MPH, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, recently helped lead a two-year transnational collaboration, supported by Pitt’s Global Studies Center, called Global TEACH. The project involved faculty and staff from Pitt’s central and Johnstown campuses and the Center for African Studies, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Babcock University in Ileshan-Remo, Nigeria, and the Lakeshore Cancer Center.
5 of the top Yinzer-approved moments from HBO Max hit ‘The Pitt’
HBO Max recently renewed its breakout hit “The Pitt” for a second season. Based in Pittsburgh and led by veteran actor Noah Wyle (who recently visited Pitt’s School of Public Health), the drama follows the emergency department staff of a city hospital through a particularly harrowing shift.
Public Health in Action: The Pittsburgh Summer Institute
Nine Pitt Public Health students participated in the 2025 Pittsburgh Summer Institute (PSI), a long-standing partnership between the school and the Allegheny County Health Department. Now in its 14th year, PSI offers a 200-hour practicum that blends the structure of a traditional internship with hands-on workforce development. The students presented their projects at a final showcase at the school on July 23.
They’re not your grandfather’s videogames. But your grandfathers are playing them.
“One of the things we’ve seen since the pandemic is people consuming more media, especially on their phones,” said Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences.
Public health in action: Antonio Gumucio’s mission to transform public health
For Antonio Gumucio, an MPH student at Pitt’s School of Public Health in behavioral and community health sciences, public health is more than a field of study—it’s a calling that bridges science and community.
Off ramp: Why it's important to plan for retirement from driving
Steven Albert, professor of behavioral and community health sciences, said in an interview that, while individuals face better emotional and psychological outcomes if they plan ahead to retire from driving, most people don’t do it.
Finding purpose in public health, one frame at a time
Lindsey Palmer’s journey from photographer to MPH student in behavioral and community health sciences and public health advocate is anything but traditional, yet it's deeply intentional. Every experience has brought her closer to work that feels meaningful.
Enhancing health in Mozambique
Earlier this spring, Jessica Griffin Burke, associate vice chancellor for global affairs, health sciences, and professor of behavioral and community health sciences, traveled to central Mozambique as a representative of the University of Pittsburgh as it solidifies a new relationship with the Gorongosa Restoration Project (GRP).