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Transparency and collaboration were at the forefront of the second annual PA One Health Consortium meeting
“One Health links people, animals, plants and ecosystems,” said Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the School of Public Health, which has served as the PA One Health Consortium's coordinating institution since 2024. “That linkage is central to our mission and to the mission of our consortium and its partners.”
Pennsylvania One Health Consortium takes on diseases threatening humans and animals
The Pennsylvania One Health Consortium held its second annual meeting June 21-23 in Pittsburgh, with presentations on research, health practice and community outreach. “Just the amount of engagement of the group and also outside interest has grown tremendously,” said Jim, Holt, visiting associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology.
Pittsburgh University study explains why pollution affects some asthma patients more than others
“...stresses on cells can translate into serious physiologic effects, like worsening lung function or asthma exacerbations,” said Sally Wenzel, MD, corresponding author, chair of Pitt Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and director of Pitt’s Asthma and Environmental Lung Health Institute at UPMC, who co-led the study with Shuangjia Xue, a recent graduate of the department’s PhD program.
Pitt Public Health researchers find experimental Rift Valley fever vaccine protects mothers and fetuses during pregnancy
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and Pitt's Center for Vaccine Research found that an experimental Rift Valley fever virus vaccine safely protected pregnant rats from severe disease and prevented infection in their offspring, marking an important step toward developing vaccines against one of the world’s most dangerous mosquito-borne viruses. The study was led by Amy Hartman, PhD, associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology.
Schnarrs chosen as editor-in-chief of LGBTQ+ research journal
Phillip W. Schnarrs, PhD, professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and co-director of the Center for LGBT Health Research at Pitt Public Health, has been selected as the next editor-in-chief of the Springer Nature Annals of LGBTQ+ Public and Population Health.
One Health in Action: From Data to Decisions
Hundreds of people from across the Commonwealth recently took part in the second annual meeting of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium (PAOHC), a coalition of experts focused on improving health and well-being for all Pennsylvanians.
5 ways Pitt people helped shape America
Freedom House’s legacy was largely forgotten for decades, but found new recognition in 2025 with the TV show "The Pitt." A recent Pitt Public Health study led by BCHS faculty member Beth Hoffman found Google searches for “Freedom House” jumped 170% the day after the episode aired and stayed elevated for about a week.
Why pollution affects some asthma patients more than others
"...stresses on cells can translate into serious physiologic effects, like worsening lung function or asthma exacerbations," said Sally Wenzel, chair of Pitt Public Health's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and director of Pitt's Asthma and Environmental Lung Health Institute at UPMC, who co-led a study published in eBioMedicine with Shuangjia Xue, a recent graduate of the department's PhD program.
‘An absolute game changer’: Confocal microscopes open new possibilities for public health research
Research at Pitt Public Health has entered a new era of cellular discovery, thanks to a piece of technology that has eliminated a barrier on campus. In March 2024, the Office of the Dean and three departments within Pitt Public Health—Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Environmental and Occupational Health and Human Genetics—collaborated to purchase a confocal microscope using instrumentation funds from the Office of Senior Vice Chancellor for Research.
HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ drove surge in searches for first Black-staffed EMS company
A single episode of HBO’s popular medical drama “The Pitt” sparked a 170% surge in online searches about Freedom House Ambulance Service, according to a Pitt Public Health study published in American Journal of Health Promotion. “Entertainment media can play a meaningful role in educating the public and encouraging people to learn more, including about topics like health equity and systemic racism,” said Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences and the study’s first author.
Yaver honored for research and community engagement
The American Political Science Association’s Health Politics and Policy section has selected Pitt Public Health’s Miranda Yaver, assistant professor of health policy and management, for two of its annual awards. Yaver is a co-recipient of the Outstanding Public Engagement and Emerging Scholar Awards.
Center for Health Equity academic year-end celebration
As students prepare for their next steps, the celebration served as a reminder that health equity, health justice and social justice remain central to the mission of public health—and to the work Pitt Public Health students will continue to lead in their communities and careers.
Kyaien O. Conner is the new dean of the School of Social Work
Kyaien O. Conner, an alum of Pitt's School of Social Work and School of Public Health, has been named dean of the School of Social Work. Among her Pitt credentials is an MPH from Pitt Public Health, where she specialized in minority health and health disparities.
Four students head to Pittsburgh to learn key professional skills as John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars
This summer, four students from the University of Texas at San Antonio are heading to the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health as part of the Pitt Public Health Undergraduate Scholars Program. For eight weeks they will take part in classroom-based and experiential learning experiences, including public health-based work at a community internship site.