Students at commencement
We Create Healthier Communities
We prepare students to apply theories, concepts, and methods of the various social and behavioral science disciplines to the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that prevent illness and promote health.

News

Pirates infielder Connor Joe. Photo credit: PG

Amid TikTokers erroneously linking sunscreen to cancer, here’s what dermatologists want you to know

“This doesn’t mean all sunscreen is harmful or that all science in this field is discredited,” said Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences.

Parks township nuclear waste dump. Photo credit: Louis B. Ruediger

Parks Township nuclear waste cleanup faces awareness gap

Preliminary results from a survey sent out by Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences master’s degree candidate Ariana Scott suggest a startling lack of awareness, with a majority of respondents indicating they aren’t attending community information meetings.

Beth Hoffman

Class explores how media impacts perceptions of health issues

“For better or worse, media is such a large part of our lives,” notes Beth Hoffman, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences who started a new class this spring, “Entertainment Media and Health.” The challenge is to harness it for good, she says.