Alumni News
UNC Gillings alumna named CEO of EngenderHealth
September 12, 2018
Gillings School alumna Traci L. Baird (MPH, 1995, health behavior) has been named president and CEO of EngenderHealth, a leading global women’s health and sexual and reproductive rights organization. She will step into the role Oct. 1.
Providing social support to tuberculosis patients can lower rate of treatment default
August 31, 2018
A new Gillings School study has found that combining social services with tuberculosis (TB) treatments in Ukraine lowers the rate of treatment default, which improves patient outcomes and could help stymie the rates of multidrug resistance to the disease. Photo by Rogiro.
Gillings School notes the passing of alumnus and friend Chen-Yu Yen
August 28, 2018
Dr. Chen-Yu Yen,1983 alumnus of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and member of the School’s Public Health Foundation board, died on Aug. 21.
Researchers conduct most diverse genetic study of female reproductive milestones to date
July 25, 2018
A new study is the first to examine multiple genes that influence the age at which a woman starts her period and experiences menopause among a large sample of United States women of diverse ancestries. The findings highlight the benefits of including diverse populations in studies of the genetics of female growth and development.
HPV screening found more effective than Pap test at identifying cervical cancer
July 25, 2018
Cervical cancer screening with cytology – commonly known as a Pap test – is one of the most widely used cancer control interventions in high-income settings. A recent study demonstrated, however, that HPV testing detects cervical dysplasia earlier and more accurately than cytology.
Alumnus DuBois Bowman selected as University of Michigan’s dean of public health
July 20, 2018
Dr. DuBois Bowman, 2000 biostatistics alumnus of the Gillings School, has been named dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, effective Oct. 15. His research has focused upon improving mental health and neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
Study finds policy changes increase access to drug that reverses opioid overdoses
July 6, 2018
A new study found that laws to improve naloxone access increase access to naloxone among Medicaid beneficiaries, a group that experiences a risk of overdose death several times higher than the general population. Naloxone is a life-saving prescription medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Photo by Tom Wolf.
UNC, RTI International researchers assess US travelers’ knowledge of Zika virus, willingness to take hypothetical vaccine
July 2, 2018
A collaboration between researchers at the Gillings School, RTI International and UNC’s School of Medicine has resulted in the first study to assess and compare United States travelers’ knowledge levels about the Zika virus across three regions, as well as their willingness to take a prophylactic Zika vaccine that currently is in development.
Cole, Wilcox honored by Society for Epidemiological Research
June 25, 2018
Drs. Stephen Cole and Allen Wilcox, faculty members in epidemiology at the Gillings School, won important awards recently from the Society for Epidemiological Research. Cole was honored with the Society’s Excellence in Education Award, and Wilcox was chosen for a career accomplishment award.
Hargett, alumnus and foundation board member, selected as one of top health care CFOs
June 10, 2018
Fred Hargett, alumnus and member of the Gillings School’s Public Health Foundation board, was selected by Becker’s Healthcare as a “CFO to know” – one of 150 hospital and health system chief financial officers (CFOs) considered by the organization to be outstanding.