Student-led program to fight childhood obesity wins $50K grant
April 28, 2017 Master's student Camille McGirt has been awarded $50,000 from the Kenan Charitable Trust to advance her organization, Healthy Girls Save the World. The nonprofit aims to improve health outcomes for middle-school-age girls through the promotion of healthy minds, bodies and relationships.
Ammerman named first Mildred Kaufman Professor of nutrition
April 27, 2017 Dr. Alice Ammerman has been named the inaugural Mildred Kaufman Professor of nutrition. The professorship was announced at the Gillings School’s 49th annual Fred T. Foard Jr. Memorial Lecture on April 27, pending final university approvals.
Zeisel awarded fellowship in American Society for Nutrition
April 27, 2017 Dr. Steve Zeisel has been inducted into the American Society for Nutrition’s 2017 Class of Fellows. Fellowship is the Society's highest honor, offered to scientists who have had distinguished careers in the field of nutrition.
Mayer-Davis receives ASN’s Excellence in Nutrition Education Award
April 27, 2017 Dr. Beth Mayer-Davis has been honored with the American Society for Nutrition’s 2017 Excellence in Nutrition Education Award. She was recognized on April 23 during the ASN's Scientific Sessions at Experimental Biology 2017, in Chicago.
Doctoral student co-authors two studies on the difficulties of quitting smoking
April 26, 2017 Paul Shafer, health policy and management doctoral student, co-authored two articles that examine aspects of the behaviors of smokers who are trying to quit or who are exposed to antismoking advertising. The articles appear in Preventing Chronic Disease and the Journal of Health Communication.
Heath behavior students claim prize for health equity
April 26, 2017 MyHealthEd Inc., a nonprofit organization co-led by two students in the health behavior department, has won the $25,000 Aetna Foundation Prize for Health Equity Innovation.
Study finds small, mostly-male schools are less likely to have sexual assault policies
April 20, 2017 A new research paper highlights the wide variation in definitions of consent at universities across the United States.
New study explores timing of changes in blood pressure health that lead to larger disparities
April 20, 2017 African Americans and men are more likely to transition from ideal levels of blood pressure in childhood or early adulthood compared to white Americans and women, which puts them at increased risk of developing hypertension earlier in life.
Gillings School authors study online sex education intervention
April 19, 2017 A recent study assessed high school students’ and health teachers’ perceptions of an online sexuality education intervention – and found the tool a valuable resource that provided high-quality health education while improving student engagement, privacy and comfort. Doctoral student Liz Chen and Dr. Clare Barrington are study co-authors.
One year later: Berkeley’s 'Soda Tax' significantly reduced sales of sugary drinks
April 18, 2017 A new study found that a 2015 tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) implemented by Berkeley, Calif., resulted one year later in a drop in SSB purchases and an increase in purchases of non-sweetened beverages, including water. The study, co-led by Drs. Barry Popkin and Shu Wen Ng, and researchers at the Public Health Institute of Oakland, Calif., was published in PLOS Medicine.
