Public Health | Penn Today

Polio was once the most feared disease in the U.S. A new Annenberg poll shows most Americans know little about the virus, despite recent N.Y. outbreak

A survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that most people are unfamiliar with polio and how it’s spread, with a quote from Kathleen Hall Jamieson.

Why the tourniquet, a relic from the earliest days of medicine, is back amid the gun violence epidemic

Lewis J. Kaplan and Elinore Kaufman of the Perelman School of Medicine discuss the use of tourniquets to close off blood vessels and stanch wounds from bullets and IEDs.

HIV: Greater parental involvement needed with young men who have sex with men

Dalmacio Dennis Flores of the Perelman School of Medicine notes the promise of a pilot study on parent-focused interventions for gay or bisexual high-school aged cisgender sons.

A gloved hand holds a COVID-19 Vaccination Record card. Blurred in the background are a closed needle, a vial of medication, and a sheet of paper that reads "COVID-19 Testing/Vaccination."

Unpacking barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in Latino communities

A study from Penn Nursing and others finds that for Latino or Hispanic populations in the U.S. four main barriers come into play: access to health care services, money, immigration concerns, and misinformation.

Europe is ahead of the U.S. on gender equity. So why is abuse in HE rife?

In an opinion piece, Susan B. Sorenson of the School of Social Policy & Practice contrasts Europe’s pronounced efforts to reduce gender inequality with recent studies which find alarming rates of gender-based violence in European universities.

Almost all ‘natural’ skincare products contain allergens, scientists warn

According to a quoted opinion piece by Bruce Brod of the Perelman School of Medicine and PSOM alumna Courtney Blair Rubin, consumers and physicians should demand that the clean beauty movement back up its claims with evidence.

Flu and colds are back with a vengeance—why now?

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine says that a more immunologically naïve population will be the cause of the strong resurgence of influenza and RSV.

Preterm birth drug Makena ignites argument over health equity

Holly Fernandez Lynch of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there needs to be a truly expedited pathway for withdrawal once a drug is deemed unfit for the market.

Paul Offit, Philly’s most vocal vaccine advocate, on science, truth, and why he’s not a fan of the latest COVID boosters

A profile examines the life and career of the Perelman School of Medicine’s Paul Offit, from his advocacy for vaccines to his criticism of FDA attitudes toward the new bivalent boosters.

Study: Racial wealth gap leads to shorter life expectancy for Black Americans

A study by Atheendar S. Venkataramani of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues finds that the odds of death are 26% higher for Black Americans than for white counterparts, largely due to wealth differences.

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