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Health Sciences
Penn Medicine: Origin of Human Malaria Parasite Linked to Primates in Africa
An international team of scientists has traced the origin of Plasmodium vivax, the second-worst malaria parasite of humans, to Africa, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
Kevin Volpp and Steven Joffe Named Vice Chairs of Penn Medicine's Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy
Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, and Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, have been named Vice Chair of Medical Ethics and Vice Chair of Health Policy, respectively, in the Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Penn Study in Fruitflies Connects Protein Misfolding, Sleep Loss and Age
Pulling an “all-nighter” before a big test is practically a rite of passage in college. Usually, it’s no problem: You stay up all night, take the test, and then crash, rapidly catching up on lost sleep. But as we age, sleep patterns change, and our ability to recoup lost sleep diminishes.
Penn Medicine: Trauma Patients' Insurance Status May Influence Hospital Transfer Decisions
Each year trauma injuries account for 42 million emergency department visits and 2 million hospital admissions across the nation. Timely care in a designated trauma center has been shown to reduce mortality by up to 25 percent. However many patients are not transferred to trauma centers if they are first seen in a non-trauma center facility.
Penn Medicine and Wistar Scientists Create Precise Tumor Classifier for Glioblastoma
A newly developed, more specific approach to classifying tumors by molecular type can help cancer researchers to determine tumor characteristics and guide treatment strategies.
John Legend to Speak at Penn’s 258th Commencement
John Legend, a nine-time Grammy Award-winning soul artist, philanthropist and Penn alumnus will deliver the address at the University of Pennsylvania’s Commencement on Monday, May 19, Leslie Laird Kruhly, Vice President and University Secretary announced.
Sweet Taste Receptors Are Primary Sentinels in Defense against Bacterial Infections in the Upper Airway, Penn Medicine Study Finds
The body uses mucus as a protective barrier to defend against pathogens, toxins, and allergens in the upper respiratory tract that can lead to such conditions as chronic sinusitis. Aiding in this defense are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a diverse group of small proteins found in mucus that kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
University of Pennsylvania Student Wins Gates Cambridge Scholarship
University of Pennsylvania senior Sonya Davey has been awarded a 2014 Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in social anthropology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Penn Medicine Launches Nationwide "Impressions of Philadelphia" Photography Contest
Penn Medicine, in partnership with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, today announced a new opportunity for photographers to have their work displayed in a unique setting.
Mental Health Patients up to Four Times More Likely to Be Infected with HIV, Penn Medicine Study Finds
People receiving mental health care are up to four times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population, according to a new study published Feb.
In the News
UPenn hosts free online panel for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion
The Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative, led by José Bauermeister and Jessica Halem of the School of Nursing, will host a free online panel in April on the integration of LGBTQ+ people in the workforce.
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How to die in good health
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that incessantly preparing for old age mistakes a long life for a worthwhile one.
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Mayor Parker’s plan to ‘remove the presence of drug users’ from Kensington raises new questions
Shoshana Aronowitz of the School of Nursing and Ashish Thakrar of the Perelman School of Medicine comment on the lack of specificity in Philadelphia’s plan to remove drug users from Kensington and on the current state of drug treatment in the city.
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How many patients would recommend their Philly-area hospital to family and friends? Check your local hospital
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been named one of the most recommended acute-care facilities by patients in the Philadelphia area.
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Homeward bound: When a Penn Medicine nurse was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she turned to the service dogs she helped to train
A profile highlights Maria Wright of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, from her volunteer work connecting people with service dogs to her cancer diagnosis and her own journey applying for a service dog.
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