News

More adults think marijuana safer than tobacco despite similar health dangers, study finds

A recent flood of cannabis advertising makes it harder for officials to explain the different risks of marijuana smoking, vaping and edibles, said Coleman Drake, assistant professor of health policy and management.

Homeless Pittsburgh seniors struggle to find accessible housing, with shelters filling gaps

"It’s a slippery slope for aging residents," said Evan Cole, research associate professor in health policy and management.

Alumni Spotlight: Christa Lese Martin, PhD

For Christa Lese Martin (PhD, HUGEN ’96), you might say the future was in her genes.

Though she had a high school interest in the biological sciences, Martin’s career path gained focus as she prepared for college. “I learned about the field of human genetics and decided then and there that was it,” she says. “And I haven’t turned back.”

How ‘fit’ is Pittsburgh? The American College of Sports Medicine has the answer.

In her research, Rockette-Wagner and her collaborators look at social-cognitive theory-based approaches to why people are or aren’t more active.

Pitt study points to new opportunities for HIV treatment

"It seems that animals with SIV who don't progress (to AIDS) have better inflammation control," said Cristian Apetrei.

Equality isn’t equity: Raising minimum wage linked to growing health disparities gap, despite health improvements

“We need to rethink wage policies in this country from the bottom up and bring in a level of nuance that wasn’t in the original policy,” Dr. Brittany Brown-Podgorski said.

Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research is already preparing for the next pandemic

Amy Hartman, studies a group of mosquito-borne viruses called bunyaviruses. One line of her research is working to understand on a molecular level how the Rift Valley fever virus can infect animals as diverse as mosquitoes, cows and humans.

Microbiome could be key in preventing HIV progression

“It was a previous study with disappointing results that put us on the path to this latest discovery,” said lead author Cristian Apetrei. 

Study looks at race-ethnicity-gender disparities in statin use

Current epidemiology MPH student David Frank and colleagues estimated disparities in statin use by race-ethnicity-gender.

Pitt’s gateway to Africa: Opening doors in Senegal

“Having this group and traveling professionally was very different for me, but it was also wonderful because of the openness that everyone had," said Tiffany Gary-Webb.

James Fabisiak and Bernard Goldstein: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

Air quality will worsen in the coming years, harming human health.

When Fate Calls

“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon, Beautiful Boy, 1980

Pitt alumna, Janet Stout, PhD, (IDM ’81, ’92) loves telling the story about how a simple telephone slip-up serendipitously brought her to the School of Public Health and a full-circle moment years later. 

Pitt Public Health epidemiologist collaborates with schools and advocacy group to support comprehensive sexuality education

“I focus on the social environment: decision-makers, policies and how they influence our lives,” said Dr. Ashley Hill

Code orange air quality alert issued for Monday

Dean Maureen Lichtveld said that while people with health conditions are most at risk during difficult air conditions, smoke-polluted air is not good for anyone.

Millions of people enter later life carrying an extra 10 to 15 pounds. Should they lose the weight?

Since older adults have less muscle to begin with, “if they want to lose weight, they need to be willing at the same time to increase physical activity,” said Dr. Anne Newman