News
Pitt Public Health researchers assess and compare air quality across Allegheny County
“Allegheny County consistently scores failing grades on the American Lung Association’s State of the Air reports, and Pittsburgh ranks among the worst U.S. metropolitan areas for particle pollution,” said Abdul Alobireed, MPH, PhD-PHP, a recent graduate in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Pitt Public Health.
Wang receives R01 grant to analyze cellular organization and interaction mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of disability and mortality among older adults, yet many of the mechanisms underlying the disease remain unclear. To help address these gaps, Jiebiao Wang, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics and health data science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and of clinical and translational science at Pitt School of Medicine, has received an R01 grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Ayyavoo receives R01 grant to study HIV-induced neurocognitive impairment and complement in central nervous system
Velpandi Ayyavoo, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, received an R01 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke—part of the National Institutes of Health—to investigate the mechanisms contributing to cognitive impairment in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Sundermann named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2026 40 Under 40
Alexander Sundermann, DrPH, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has been named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2026 40 Under 40 class.
PHUSP scholars discover public health beyond the classroom
Twenty-eight undergraduate scholars spent eight weeks working with Pittsburgh-area organizations, conducting research and exploring careers in public health. Their summer projects—from food access and maternal health to housing, health equity and environmental health—showcased the many ways public health improves the health of communities.
Pitt sophomores launch KaleidoMed, bridging medical volunteering and social work advocacy
BSPH student Shrreya Narayanakumar and fellow Pitt undergraduate Gella Hample have launched KaleidoMed, a student-led group connecting pre-health and pre-med students with medical volunteering and social work advocacy opportunities in the Pittsburgh community.
Pitt Public Health partners on new rare disease treatment effort
A new $25 million investment from the Richard King Mellon Foundation is bringing together Pittsburgh’s leading research, clinical and technology institutions to accelerate the development of treatments for rare diseases — and Pitt Public Health researchers are playing an important role in the effort.
Pennsylvania tick season can hide a second dangerous infection
“There is some evidence that your symptoms will be more intense if you've got both of the infections,” said Danielle Tufts, assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, about co-infection with Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, the state’s second-most common tick-borne illness. “You can get co-infected with them, but... if you get a treatment of doxycycline, it should take care of both.”
5 practices behind sustained organizational success
Rick Anderson (HPM '71) earned his MPH in healthcare administration from Pitt Public Health in 1971. He went on to become president and CEO of St. Luke’s University Health Network, where he has led the organization for 41 years, making him the longest-tenured healthcare executive in the U.S.
Jarlenski awarded NIDA grant to study substance use treatment during pregnancy in rural, under resourced communities
Marian Jarlenski, PhD, MPH, professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has been awarded a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study the effects of innovative treatment models for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Vaccine enforcement gaps in Pennsylvania charter schools put thousands of children at risk
For the state's 14 cyber charter schools, where children take classes remotely, the risks of transmitting diseases are just as serious, the experts say. "They are just as contagious," said Mary Krauland, faculty member in health policy and management at Pitt Public Health, who tracks measles outbreaks in communities. "As long as you have these mixed groups, you are still likely to spread."
One Health promised, not delivered: Pitt Public Health researchers publish commentary on Ebola outbreak
In a correspondence published Aug. 20 in The Lancet, Suresh Kuchipudi, PhD, MVSc, MBA, professor and chair of infectious diseases and microbiology at Pitt Public Health, and an international team of global health experts argue that sustained investment in One Health systems is needed to detect and contain emerging diseases before they become larger outbreaks.
From high school project to publication: Anna Apetrei-Pandrea explores the health impacts of climate change
What began as a high school summer project for Anna Apetrei-Pandrea (BSPH ’29) eventually became a published review examining how climate change can affect human health in ways that extend far beyond rising temperatures. The narrative review, published in June in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, examines the interconnected effects of global warming and climate change on public health, from the spread of vector-borne diseases to neurological and mental health concerns.
Emma Camps: Studying global health and sustainability in Switzerland
Emma Camps, a student enrolled in Pitt Public Health's accelerated 4+1 program earning her MPH in epidemiology, always knew she wanted to study abroad—and exactly where she wanted to go: Switzerland. “It made sense for me to go to Switzerland because it’s a hub for humanitarian action and sustainability, and the programs available there focused on global health and public health,” she said.