News

spring panelists
March 21, 2024

Sharing stories and creating space

Experts in community engagement share insights at Pitt Public Health symposium  

When asked for words of wisdom gleaned from conducting community-engaged work, experts from academia and public health advocacy spoke of truth telling, finding joy, being present, remaining flexible and showing compassion.

Photo credit: Associated Press
March 21, 2024

Pitt receives nearly $870,000 in grants to study aftereffects of East Palestine train derailment

“These two grants are very much addressing community concerns,” said Dean Maureen Lichtveld. 

Source: Wikipedia
March 18, 2024

Echoes of the East Palestine derailment

For a close-knit, family-centered community like East Palestine, Dean Lichtveld says that forced migration is exceptionally traumatic.

Credit: Conor O'Donovan/Concern Worldwide
March 14, 2024

Massive public-health experiment sends vaccination rates soaring

“The investigators made a great effort to bring vaccines to remote communities,” says Jean Nachega associate professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Epidemiology.

Rebecca Thurston
March 13, 2024

Talking with Dr. Rebecca Thurston on how sleepless nights could be putting your heart at risk

Rebecca Thurston, professor of epidemiology joined KDKA to talk about a recent study at Pitt that followed middle-aged women from across the US for more than 20 years. 

Annika Spencer and Rachel Turkington
March 11, 2024

It takes two: Undergraduate students thrive at Pitt Public Health

Two School of Public Health undergraduate students presented scientific posters of their research at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, on  March 10-14, in Salt Lake City.

Photo credit: Cleveland Clinic
March 8, 2024

How quickly could measles outbreak spread? Here’s what ‘worst-case scenario’ looks like

Now that there’s a measles outbreak in Florida, Mark Roberts, professor of health policy and management, is considering updating his simulator to show the measles risk in Florida post-COVID pandemic.

Anne Newman
March 8, 2024

Anne Newman honored for careerlong contributions to aging research

Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH, UPMC Chair in Geroscience and distinguished professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health, has received two awards for her decades-long research on aging and longevity.

Coleman Drake
March 5, 2024

Programs intended to reduce health insurance premiums may make coverage less affordable for the middle class

“People are less likely to buy insurance when it costs more, and being uninsured has been linked to an increase in mortality," said Coleman Drake, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management.
Photo Credit: AP photo ron harris
March 4, 2024

CDC announces relaxed isolation guidelines for respiratory illnesses

"All [the guidelines are] saying is that we are out of the pandemic phase,” said Dean Maureen Lichtveld.

Richard Garland“If they’re going to raffle off something, raffle off something positive,” Garland said. “Maybe books or a scholarship to a university.”
February 29, 2024

Off target? Mount Washington youth sports group offers AR-15 as raffle prize.

“If they’re going to raffle off something, raffle off something positive,” Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Garland said. “Maybe books or a scholarship to a university.”

Dean Maureen Lichtveld
February 29, 2024

Pitt experts predict the changes that will shape their field before the next leap day

“On a good day in public health nothing happens globally," said Dean Maureen Lichtveld. 

Quasar S. Padiath
February 28, 2024

Quasar Padiath Appointed Human Genetics Chair

Department of Human Genetics Associate Professor Quasar S. Padiath has been appointed to the position of chair of the department, his academic home since 2011.

Padiath has served as interim chair since October 2023 and also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurobiology at Pitt’s School of Medicine.

Dr. Anne Newman
February 28, 2024

15 Pitt faculty members won 2024 Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards

Congratulations to Professor of Epidemiology Anne Newman on receiving the 2024 Chancellor’s Distinguished Award!

 KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY VIA GETTY IMAGES
February 28, 2024

Florida has a measles outbreak. Here's what that actually means for you.

“What most people forget ― because we haven’t had a lot of measles in the United States for a long time ― is that measles can be a relatively serious disease,” said Professor of Health Policy and Management Mark Roberts.