Pittsburgh doctors bring real medicine to Emmy-winning drama 'The Pitt'
For two Pittsburgh-based health professionals, when "The Pitt" took home five Emmys this year, the moment wasn’t just a win for television — it was a triumph for accuracy in storytelling, thanks in part to their real-world experiences "The Pitt" brought to the screen. Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences, who collaborated with producers on the show, said, “When medical dramas work with experts, they can improve public understanding of health, reduce misinformation, and even influence policy. 'The Pitt' shows that entertainment can also be education.”
Meet Matt Hutchinson
Matt Hutchinson has a way of making mental health support feel approachable, personal and even lighthearted. As the embedded therapist at Pitt Public Health, he blends clinical expertise with a genuine passion for helping students navigate the ups and downs of life.
Jean Nachega inducted into the Congolese Academy of Sciences
Jean B. Nachega, MD, PhD, MPH, tenured associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has been formally inducted into the Académie Congolaise des Sciences (ACCOS), the Congolese Academy of Sciences.
UPMC identifies key health priorities
In a partnership between UPMC Western Maryland and the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, a recent community health needs assessment identified significant health needs for the healthcare system. The key findings were a need to promote chronic disease awareness and prevention for issues including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Also identified was improving local access to primary, behavioral health and specialty care providers, decreasing the need to travel outside the area.
Outbreak detection system saves lives
Alexander Sundermann, DrPH, assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology, discusses the development of an advanced outbreak detection system that leverages whole genome sequencing and machine learning to identify hospital-acquired infections more quickly and accurately. During a two year trial at UPMC, the system prevented numerous infections and deaths, while also significantly reducing healthcare costs. The findings suggest that broader implementation of this technology could greatly enhance patient safety and infection control in healthcare settings.
Map shows highest health insurance premium rises by US state
Coleman Drake, a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh, told Newsweek that "increases in premiums caused by the expiration of enhanced subsidies will cause millions of marketplace enrollees to become uninsured because they will no longer be able to afford health insurance. These coverage losses will be largest among lower income enrollees, as they are the most sensitive and vulnerable to premium increases."
Pitt, Kentucky and Yale awarded latest NIH funding to study derailment impacts
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health was awarded $440,000 of the $10 million research initiative that was announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year to assess and address the long-term health outcomes stemming from the 2023 East Palestine derailment.
Strong family support helps kids with obesity build hope and lifelong health
Mary Ellen Vajravelu, assistant professor of pediatrics and epidemiology, studies and treats childhood obesity, especially as it impacts diabetes. She's found that a good approach to treating the condition — one that works over time — includes family support, healthcare education and tools, and listening skills.
Unfiltered: What “Big Vape” viewers really think
Buried in hundreds of social media comments is a candid record of how people think and feel, often in ways that surveys and focus groups can’t capture. Pitt Public Health’s Beth Hoffman, PhD, and Arpita Tripathi, MA, used this material for their study of the Netflix docuseries “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul,” analyzing YouTube comments to understand how viewers responded to the series and the broader conversation around vaping. Their findings appeared in the September 19 issue of JMIR Formative Research.
COVID-19 vaccination: Pitt Public Health experts answer your questions
Although the federal public health emergency ended in 2023, COVID-19 continues to evolve and affect health worldwide. The virus remains part of our daily lives and still poses risks, especially for people vulnerable to severe illness. Vaccination remains a key tool for protecting individuals and communities, much like with influenza.
Undergrads embrace public health at Pitt
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is proudly celebrating the rapid growth and success of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program Since its launch in 2022, the program has expanded to a current enrollment of 499 students, including both internal and external transfers. In April 2024, the first class of nine students graduated, with a second graduating class of 35 students in May 2025.
The hidden link between racism and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers should include historically minoritized communities in studies of these new frontiers in dementia diagnosis and treatment, says epidemiologist Beth Shaaban of the University of Pittsburgh. If adequate attention isn’t paid to diverse populations, communities that already experience disproportionate rates of dementia will be uninformed about their increased risk, how to lower it and how to access diagnoses and care. “We are very concerned that these disparities and the rapid evolution of the new technology could leave people behind,” Shaaban says.
HIV education and training program funding renewed
The Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (MAAETC) received renewed U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration funding of more than $3.2 million for the second year of a five-year project period ending in 2029. Total funding for the project is nearly $18 million.
Undergraduate scholars finish strong
The Public Health Undergraduate Scholars Program wrapped up its third year with 25 students presenting their work to the Pitt community during a poster session on July 30.