New research finds risk from hot weather depends partly on where you live
July 31, 2023 “As far as we know, this is the first study to determine that among people at high risk for heat-related cardiovascular problems, people living in urban heat islands are especially vulnerable.”
Hudgens to lead Gillings School’s Department of Biostatistics
July 28, 2023 The Gillings School has appointed Dr. Michael Hudgens as chair of the Department of Biostatistics, effective August 1. He has been on faculty in the department since 2004 and has served as associate chair since 2021.
Lady Mireille and Sir Dennis Gillings Global Public Health Fellowships advance the next generation of leaders
July 25, 2023 The Lady Mireille and Sir Dennis Gillings Global Public Health Fellowships are designed to build business acumen on top of scientific experience, which is critical for the next generation of global scientists.
Phillips honored with prestigious Barry Scholarship for University of Oxford study
July 20, 2023 Ethan Phillips, a recent Gillings School graduate in health policy and management, has been named a 2023 recipient of the John and Diana Barry Scholarship, which provides full funding for graduate study at the University of Oxford.
“Natural” claims on fruity drinks mislead parents
July 19, 2023 Gillings-led research has found that claims of “natural” or “100% all natural” on sugary fruit juices increase parents’ interest in buying these beverages for their children and lead parents to the mistaken belief that these drinks are healthier and contain less added sugar.
Researchers link early-life exposure to wildfire smoke with early use of upper respiratory medication
July 19, 2023 Children exposed to wildfire smoke in the first trimester of pregnancy or the first few weeks after birth are more likely to be prescribed upper respiratory medication earlier in life, according to a new UNC-EPA study.
Nearly 10% of rural counties in the South are losing hospitals
July 18, 2023 A new study led by Dr. Arrianna Planey found that approximately 10% of rural counties in the U.S. South lost one or more hospitals to a closure between 2007 and 2018. Rural areas with a higher proportion of Black and Latinx residents had longer travel times to access the second nearest acute care hospital.
Hearing aids slow cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss and at risk for cognitive decline
July 18, 2023 Results from the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders study found that hearing aids slowed cognitive decline in older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss by 48% in a pre-specified set of participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
Up in the air
July 14, 2023 Doctoral candidate Haley Plaas works with local communities to uncover how algal blooms affect air quality.
Gillings faculty support new Creativity Hub focused on mental health
July 14, 2023 Applying innovative data science methods to existing data offers an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of a highly stressed and fragmented mental health system that is failing children across North Carolina.