Communicating a crisis

March 24, 2021
During Carolina's Pandemic Year, when University communicators needed to get lifesaving messages to students and employees, they called on top public health experts who also happen to be Carolina faculty.

Brewer named to The Lancet’s commission on vaccine refusal, acceptance and demand

March 5, 2021
Dr. Noel Brewer has been named to The Lancet Commission for Vaccine Refusal, Acceptance and Demand in the USA, which seeks to find practical solutions to vaccine misinformation, hesitancy and refusal in America.

Diggs appointed Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

February 19, 2021
Pam Diggs has been named Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Trainings focused on pain coping skills may also reduce depression linked with perceived discrimination among Black patients

February 16, 2021
Black patients are more likely than members of any other racial group to experience discrimination in health care settings — and discrimination has negative effects on mental health. A new study shows that over-the-phone training sessions focused on skills for coping with pain may reduce the association between discrimination experiences and depressive symptoms.

Diekman explores COVID-19 transmission dynamics, creates resources for health workers at skilled nursing facilities

February 12, 2021
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deployed Dr. Shane Diekman to study how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads in skilled-nursing facilities in Minnesota. While there, he developed a series of tools to aid and protect frontline workers in these facilities.

Graduate student ‘Boundary Spanners’ help NC communities address COVID-19 challenges

February 2, 2021
UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and graduate students created the I4 Boundary Spanners program to address local COVID-19 concerns by combining data analysis with firsthand community perspectives.

Messaging on COVID-19, smoking and vaping link may discourage cigarette use

January 20, 2021
Messages that link COVID-19 to smoking may be effective in discouraging cigarette use, according to a study from health behavior researchers at UNC.

Addressing pandemic problems

January 19, 2021
While COVID-19 has shaken the world, it has also pushed society to be more innovative and creative — two attributes that have been essential to the success of researchers at UNC. Carolina students, faculty and staff are engaged in an abundance of projects, making UNC the most cited university in the United States for coronavirus research.

Alumnus named Chatham County health director

January 19, 2021
Gillings School alumnus Mike Zelek was named Chatham County health director in late November 2020.

Positive messaging could play a key role in increasing COVID-19 mask compliance

January 13, 2021
Experts from the Gillings School and the Hussman School at UNC have published a new study suggesting that positive messages could be critical to increasing the use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.