News

Sorry, kids: Poor air quality in Western Pennsylvania pauses many summer outdoor activities

Kids with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, are of concern, agreed Dr. Sally Wenzel. 

Project Silk offers a safe space for young LGBTQ+ people of color

Project Silk started in 2012 as a focus group by the Pitt Public Health as a way for the community to talk about HIV, particularly in young, queer people of color. 

Meet Suresh Kuchipudi

New IDM Chair Arrives July 1

In the waning days of 2019, a novel pathogen called SARS-CoV-2 most likely crossed species from animals to humans and delivered a 21st century reminder—needed or not—that the war between man and microbes is not over.

Draconian laws deter pregnant women from treating drug abuse

Marian P. Jarlenski, says that this care can fall through the cracks because many obstetricians are less inclined to treat addiction than they are a pregnancy.

How youth can battle extreme heat in their communities

EHN spoke with heat equity experts about how young people can work toward protecting the most vulnerable from extreme heat and advancing climate justice.

TV dramas effectively prompt middle schoolers to talk about vaping dangers

“Something surprising, which we wouldn’t have known without these focus groups, is that although all of the students knew the term ‘vaping,’ several said they did not know what e-cigarettes were,” said Hoffman.

Federal air monitoring investment could lower southwest Pennsylvania cancer rates

Five new air monitoring projects will be community-led and could reduce cancer-causing exposures. The challenge? Turning data into action.

Sarah Annalise Sanders: We can improve Black maternal outcomes by enhancing access to community birth

Sanders, a postdoctoral associate, writes: "It is essential for advocates for racial health equity and access to birth center care to understand and respond to the racist history of maternal care in America."

Expert insights: Why gas stoves are under fire

Certain neighborhoods in Allegheny County linked to greater risk of severe asthma, study finds

“We wanted to see if living in an EJ tract had a relationship to the severity and controllability of asthma,” said Dr. Sally Wenzel. 

Muscle fat content predict risk of cognitive decline: Study

"Our data suggest that muscle adiposity plays a unique role in cognitive decline, distinct from that of other types of fat or other muscle characteristics," said Caterina Rosano.

A nurturing and ever-evolving path

A year after graduation, BCHS alumna Monica Henderson reflects on her personal and professional journey.

Healthy vascular fat during menopause may stave off dementia later in life

A new study shows how taking care of your heart helps take care of your brain.

The quantity and quality of fat surrounding the heart’s largest artery at midlife may predict a woman’s risk of developing dementia in her later years, according to a new study by University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health scientists that followed women through menopause and for more than a dozen years after.

Oral estrogen-only use riskier than patch or vaginal cream for menopausal women, study says

"The lack of information on weight was especially significant," said Samar El Khoudary.

When viewed as public art, gardens grow mental health

“This is a critical space to explore because it impacts people at individual levels, but also how we relate to others and build community," said Sara Baumann.