A person standing in front of a lab bench full of bones. On the wall hangs a poster that reads: "Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs."

The joys and trials of defending a dissertation virtually

When most aspects of university life moved online because of COVID-19, so, too, did the thesis defense for Ph.D. candidates. Despite some challenges, the shift had unexpected benefits.

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A grandparent and a child sit on a park bench in daylight, both wearing masks and sitting six feet apart.

COVID-19 checkup

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, vice provost for global initiatives and a physician, gave an update on the pandemic during a Perry World House virtual earlier this week. He says summer is a good time to open up in stages but cautions about fall.

Kristen de Groot ・

Parent brushes their toddler’s teeth seen in a bathroom mirror

Oral care during COVID-19

Experts from the School of Dental Medicine share tips on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums even when a trip to the dentist isn’t in the cards for the time being and what to expect as restrictions are lifted.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

Inside Penn

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5.27

Human Milk and Breastfeeding

A federal law, part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, requires that employers offer “reasonable break time” and a place that’s not the bathroom for expressing human milk. But there are many limitations that mean many women aren't covered.
Diane Spatz of Penn Nursing leads this webinar about the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding. In part, the talk also celebrates 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, recognized by the World Health Organization.

4:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.

Online

5.28

Managing Stress

Stress ball with a smiley face, clenched by a hand
Care@Work by Care.com presents this webinar that covers stress management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Included are tips to balance work and life while working at home.

2:00p.m. - 2:30p.m.

Online

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Penn providers on the front lines of a pandemic

Morale is high among Penn Medicine health workers at the West Philadelphia parking lot that has transformed into a COVID-19 screening site.

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Penn in the NewsSee all →

The Wall Street Journal

How architects are already planning the future of offices

Marion Weiss of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design spoke about the future of office architecture. “Employers may have fewer people on premises at any one time, but they may need more space per person,” she said.

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The New York Times

All 50 states are now reopening. But at what cost?

Kent Smetters of the Wharton School spoke about the School’s modeling of state reopenings and coronavirus risk. “Everyone wants us to talk about policy, but in fact personal behavior still matters a lot here,” he said.

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Voice of America

Can dogs sniff out COVID-19

Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about efforts to train dogs to sniff out COVID-19. “We need to first confirm that there is an odor associated with the virus and that we can detect it in the samples,” she said.

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The Wall Street Journal

Coronavirus revives debate over drug pricing

Patricia Danzon of the Wharton school said that while the private market does incentivize pharmaceutical innovation, “the real question is whether everything that comes out is worth the price we end up paying for it.”

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Philadelphia Inquirer

What’s up with my bad mask breath?

Mark S. Wolff of the School of Dental medicine explained why mask-wearers are suddenly smelling of their own bad breath. “The mask doesn’t make us have bad breath,” he said. “It makes us more conscious that we have bad breath.”

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ABC News

‘Science by press release’: Sudden rise of vaccine developer Moderna rankles some in scientific establishment

Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on an announcement by Moderna Inc. that they have made progress on their mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine. “There are still many stages that need to be achieved,” cautioned Weissman, who developed and licensed the technique used in the research.

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The Washington Post

Trump’s medical judgment is wrong. The example he’s setting is worse

PIK Professor Ezekiel J. Emanuel co-wrote an op-ed about President Trump’s comments on hydroxychloroquine and his decision not to wear a face mask. “At times of crisis, we look to leaders for guidance and to serve as role models,” Emanuel and his co-author wrote.

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The Washington Post

NCAA moves to allow Division I football, basketball teams back on campus for workouts

Athletic Director M. Grace Calhoun spoke about the end of the NCAA’s moratorium on athletic activities, which may resume June 1. “Allowing for voluntary athletics activity acknowledges that reopening our campuses will be an individual decision but should be based on advice from medical experts,” she said.

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Associated Press

US births fall, and virus could drive them down more

Hans-Peter Kohler of the School of Arts & Sciences commented on the possibility of a further decline in birth rates due to the coronavirus. The question isn’t whether or not there will be decline, but rather if the decline will be lasting, he said.

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The New York Times

How to reduce your risk of PTSD in a post-COVID-19 world

Edna Foa of the Perelman School of Medicine recommended taking breaks to self-soothe amidst the COVID-19 crisis. “If you are obsessed with this pandemic, you need to find ways to distract yourself,” she said.

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