News

protesters
September 12, 2024

More women had their tubes tied after Roe v. Wade was overturned

“It looks like the data they used were able to break things down by state, which is nice and something we were unable to do with the data we used,” said Jacqueline Ellison assistant professor of health policy and management.
Vice Dean Jeanine Buchanich
September 10, 2024

Path to public health: Vice Dean Jeanine Buchanich

Jeanine Buchanich, PhD, MPH, MEd, started her journey as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, where she traversed a winding path to her new role as the vice dean of Pitt Public Health.

Born and raised in the Steel City, Buchanich, also associate professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, credits her experiences at Pitt with fostering an interest in epidemiology, particularly in the tri-state area. A fifth-generation Pittsburgher, she is strongly committed to the region and the well-being of its communities.

children and adults attend a back to school event. Photo credit: AP News
September 9, 2024

Hundreds of places in the US said racism was a public health crisis. What’s changed?

“If we’re not going to name racism in the first place, then we’re not going to start to develop solutions to address it,” said Dara Mendez, associate professor of epidemiology.
Tiffany Gary-Webb
September 5, 2024

Tiffany Gary-Webb named Provost Faculty Fellow

Pitt’s Office of the Provost has announced that Tiffany Gary-Webb, professor of epidemiology, has been named Provost Faculty Fellow working with John Wallace.
Meredith Hughes wearing a jacket in front of blue background
September 4, 2024

Meredith Hughes chosen for new State Health Policy Fellowship

Meredith Hughes, assistant professor of health policy and management, is one of three inaugural fellows in the pilot State Health Policy Fellowship (SHPF) program, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced.

Don Burke, Pitt professor emeritus
September 4, 2024

Preparing for a pandemic that never came ended up setting off another − how an accidental virus release triggered 1977’s ‘Russian flu’

Donald S. Burke, dean emeritus and distinguished university professor emeritus, explains how an overreaction to a new flu strain led to an unintentional lab leak that triggered the 1977 flu pandemic.

Linda Frank, infectious diseases and microbiology
September 3, 2024

More than half of HIV-positive Americans are 50+. Figuring out care is complex

Linda Frank, professor of infectious diseases and microbiology, advocates for routine testing for HIV by primary care physicians. 

The Greenfield tornado caused damage in Iowa
August 23, 2024

Extreme weather can leave a trail of destruction and a lasting health impact

Addressing these increasing disasters means addressing climate change. Environmental health experts like Dean Maureen Lichtveld say policymakers should work with communities that are affected even if some people may not recognize climate change as a threat.
Jessica Burke and Sara Baumann
August 23, 2024

New funding to empower youth in Madagascar through comprehensive sexuality education

Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Professor Jessica Burke, PhD, MHS, and Assistant Professor Sara Baumann, PhD, MPH, have received $400,000 in funding from the Spencer Foundation.
Jaia Gallegos and Prathiksha Sivakumar
August 22, 2024

2 Pitt graduate students were named public health ambassadors

Master's candidates Jaia Gallegos and Prathiksha Sivakumar, were selected for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s (ASPPH) 2024-25 This Is Public Health Ambassador Cohort.
A nurse takes a sample from a child who potentially has mpox.
August 19, 2024

Mpox outbreak in Africa was neglected – it could now turn into the next global pandemic

Associate Professor of Epidemiology Jean Nachega discusses how the Mpox outbreak in Africa has been neglected, despite its potential to escalate into a global pandemic.
Dean Maureen Lichtveld
August 19, 2024

Connecting dots: Pitt health expert explores intersection of climate change and COVID-19

Dean Maureen Lichtveld discusses the intersection of climate change and COVID-19.
dairy cow
August 19, 2024

Expert Insights: Could the next pandemic be lurking closer than we think?

Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Chair Suresh Kuchipudi provides insight on bird flu preparedness.
wrist fracture
August 19, 2024

Women's fracture rates, risk vary by race, ethnicity

"This study is the first to provide novel fracture incidence data in many racial, ethnic, and origin groups that have been understudied in the U.S. and highlights the need to understand the factors that underlie these differences," lead author Jane Cauley.
mpox particles
August 19, 2024

This mpox outbreak isn't like the last one

“The 2022 global outbreak was clade 2, and mortality was less than 1 percent,” says Jean Nachega, associate professor of epidemiology. “Now we’re talking about a strain which can have up to 10 percent mortality.”