HPM News
Pitt Public Health researcher explores how insurance denials shape health inequities in new book
Miranda Yaver, PhD, assistant professor of health policy and management at Pitt Public Health, will release her first book on April 23. Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States, published by Cambridge University Press, draws on survey research, administrative data, and interviews to examine why health insurance coverage is denied and how those decisions affect patients—often due to racial and economic inequities.
How we investigated Pennsylvania’s plunging school vaccine rates and lack of state enforcement
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS)’s Local Journalism Initiative—and with support from The Heinz Endowments and the Pulitzer Center—spent six months investigating declining vaccination rates and the forces driving this post-pandemic shift. As part of the project, the Public Health Dynamics Laboratory at Pitt Public Health played a key role, using its FRED (Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics) simulation platform to model potential measles outbreaks in schools.
A Pitt team develops computer model to track measles
The development of FRED — named after Pittsburgh’s legendary Fred Rogers — began in 2001 under the leadership of Dr. Donald Burke, the former dean of Pitt’s School of Public Health. “It was based on the notion that we were modeling communities and neighborhoods, and who cared more about neighborhoods and kids than Mister Rogers?” Dr. Burke said.
Pitt Public Health rises in latest U.S. News rankings
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health continues to be recognized among the nation’s top programs in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. The school rose to No. 14 overall, advancing two spots from last year.
Pitt’s Master of Health Administration ranked 12th in the nation
The University of Pittsburgh Department of Health Policy and Management’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) has been ranked the 12th-best program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The MHA program continues to excel as a national leader in preparing graduates for managerial and leadership roles in a wide range of health care and health-related fields.
Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management ranked 16th in the nation
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Health Policy and Management is the 16th-best program in the nation according to rankings just released by U.S. News and World Report.
The latest ranking presents a two-spot rise for the MPH program, which has been ranked in the Top 20 nationally each year since 2023, when the annual rankings were separated by specialty into five categories.
Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health adds graduate certificate program
Graduate students interested in maternal and child health (MCH) can now add another credential to their resume. The University has approved a graduate certificate program in MCH. Supported by the Center for Health Equity, the 15-credit MCH certificate will prepare students to lead efforts to advance the health and equity of women, children and families.
Understanding a looming crisis: HPM’s Kreider studies the economics of home care workers
Amanda Kreider, PhD, assistant professor of health policy and management, studies the economics around health care workers. Her research focuses on home care workers – people like personal care aides who provide long-term, in-home care to older adults and people with disabilities, helping them with the most basic aspects of daily life, such as getting dressed, eating and bathing.
Bridging theory to real-world results: Practicing public health in non-traditional settings
Last summer, HPM student Nishi Thawani (MPH ’26) joined the Willis Towers Watson's Health, Equity and Wellbeing team for her practicum, taking on the challenge of balancing client-facing responsibilities with internal strategy development while also providing her with hands-on experience in both the analytical and relational sides of consulting.
HPM alum Mark Sevco one of 20 Pitt people named to the Pittsburgh Power 100
Twenty Pitt leaders and alumni — including HPM alum Mark Sevco — are among the Pittsburgh Business Times’ 2026 Pittsburgh Power 100, an annual list recognizing the region’s most influential business leaders.
State of denial: How insurance companies impact health care today
Millions of Americans are struggling to access medical care—unable to afford high premiums, burdened by steep deductibles, or denied coverage for necessary tests and treatment by health insurance companies—according to a report by Erin Moriarty of 48 Hours on CBS Sunday Morning. “All of us are vulnerable to being denied, and not all of us can weather the storm as easily when it comes to appealing and overcoming barriers,” said HPM Assistant Professor Miranda Yaver, who was interviewed for the piece.
Health Director Iulia Vann joins Pitt Public Health’s Health Policy and Management Department
Allegheny County Health Director Iulia Vann, MD, MPH, has been appointed adjunct associate professor of health policy and management at Pitt’s School of Public Health, as part of a previously announced partnership between the Allegheny County Health Department and the school to create an academic public health department.
HPM team takes podium finish at Seton Hall case competition
A year after a double podium finish, an HPM team was back on the podium at the Seton Hall case competition.
The team of first-year MHA student Michaela Frey and first-year MHA/MBA student Ella Valencia came back from New Jersey with a third-place finish.
Mayor and Pitt alumna Alyia Gaskins’ healthy outlook
Long before the meetings, community events and the shifting demands of city leadership begin, Mayor Alyia Gaskins (HPM ‘11) starts her day with the same awareness that has guided her since childhood: health shapes every moment. For Gaskins, now the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Alexandria, Va., health has never been confined to the doctor’s office. It is rooted in the places we live, the food we eat, the stress we carry and the systems that shape our daily lives.
