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Public Health
Despite their efficacy, life-saving drug prescriptions are denied by insurers
Despite their efficacy, life-saving drug prescriptions are denied by insurers
A new Penn study shows that both private and public insurers continue to deny coverage for effective hepatitis C drugs at high rates.
Examining 20th-century America’s obsession with poor posture, a forgotten ‘epidemic’
Examining 20th-century America’s obsession with poor posture, a forgotten ‘epidemic’
Poor posture was considered a real threat to the nation’s health through much of the 20th century. Beth Linker of the School of Arts and Sciences is investigating the history of this forgotten “epidemic” and how its legacy is reflected in notions of health and disability today.
Incarceration’s impact on communities and people of color
Incarceration’s impact on communities and people of color
At a day-long workshop, held at the School of Nursing, public health and criminal justice experts addressed how health and well-being are affected not only during incarceration, but after release, as well.
How to avoid food poisoning from E. coli and salmonella
How to avoid food poisoning from E. coli and salmonella
There are numerous ways for your food to be contaminated with bacteria, and also numerous ways to avoid getting sick. Understanding the science behind what lies inside or on your food is key to staying safe and enjoying your meals.
Making an IMPaCT on community health services
Making an IMPaCT on community health services
Training community members as healthcare liaisons originated as an Innovation Accelerator at Penn, and is now a branded product on the health care market across the country.
Future doctors take to the community
Future doctors take to the community
A course developed at the Perelman School of Medicine connects medical students with high-risk patients in Philadelphia through apprenticeships with community health workers.
A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction
A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction
New research revealed that FDA-approved drugs to treat diabetes and obesity may reduce cocaine relapse and help addicts break the habit. Such medications work by targeting receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone in the brain.
The human story of coal’s downturn
The human story of coal’s downturn
A forthcoming report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy will offer a range of strategies to directly impact the economic and mental health crisis in coal country.
Putting data to work to solve pressing health issues
Putting data to work to solve pressing health issues
The first-ever Research Day at the Smilow Center for Translational Research showed how the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics links clinical epidemiology and biostatistics within the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Health System, and Penn community.
Simple solutions help children in Mexican orphanage fight infectious disease
Simple solutions help children in Mexican orphanage fight infectious disease
With the President’s Engagement Prize, senior Alaina Hall, is building a project she calls “Healthy Pequeños,” or “Healthy Little Ones,” which aims to help children in a Mexican orphanage fight infectious disease.
In the News
Philadelphia Gay 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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Philadelphia Inquirer
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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FactCheck.org
Posts mislead about COVID-19 vaccine safety with out-of-context clip of FDA official
Jeffrey S. Morris of the Perelman School of Medicine says that many adverse medical events, even those clearly unrelated to vaccines, have been reported an order of magnitude more for COVID vaccines during the pandemic than any time before.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Philadelphians hope a cleaner city will reduce gun violence. Will Oh or Parker make it a reality?
A $3 million blight reduction project in Philadelphia is informed by Penn research showing that cleaning up trash and revitalizing vacant lots can reduce gun violence rates by as much as 29%.
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Business Insider
Universal basic income is working—even in red states
Researchers at Penn concluded that a basic income program in Stockton, California, could have profound positive impacts on local public health.
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CBS Philadelphia
NJ’s Camden County deploying virtual reality to teach students about naloxone
Penn partnered with New Jersey’s Camden County to create a virtual reality training video for administering the opioid-reversing drug Narcan.
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