News
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.
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.
Wu receives NIH R01 grant to study brain aging in severe mental illness
Qiong Wu, PhD, assistant professor of biostatistics and health data science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has received an R01 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health — part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health — to develop new statistical methods for studying brain aging in people with severe mental illness.
These fresh classes, majors and certificates open new possibilities
The School of Public Health is expanding its curriculum with four new innovative courses.
When Climate Becomes a Health Crisis
In this episode of Global Health Frontlines, Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, discusses the ways climate is already reshaping human health. Dr. Lichtveld also shares the experiences that led her to public health, including helping increase childhood immunization rates in communities in Suriname, and explains why the next generation of public health professionals gives her reason for optimism.
Pitt Public Health researchers study uterine fibroids in African Caribbean women
Women in Tobago with uterine fibroids had higher concentrations of arsenic and arsenic-related compounds in their urine than women without fibroids, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. “Our goal was to better understand whether environmental metal exposure might play a role in uterine fibroid risk in an underrepresented population — African Caribbean women,” said first author Alexis Kiyanda, MS, a second-year doctoral student in environmental and occupational health at Pitt Public Health.“
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.
Time-restricted eating improves cognition in older women
Samāneh Farsijani, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health, provided expert perspective on new research suggesting time-restricted eating may improve certain aspects of cognitive function in older women. Farsijani emphasized that the findings are encouraging but preliminary, noting the study’s small size and the need for larger, more diverse studies before broader recommendations can be made.
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.
Ding receives R35 grant to advance statistical and machine learning methodology for biomedical and public health research
Ying Ding, PhD, a professor of biostatistics and health data science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has received a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (R35 MIRA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.