Health Sciences

The transforming power of global aid on health care—and care giving

Foreign aid makes up close to half of Mozambique’s national health care budget. In a new book, Ramah McKay of the School of Arts and Science lends a critical eye toward how this influx of global health dollars is felt on the ground, by caregivers and patients alike.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Technology, aging patients, and the people who care for them

In a quest to ease the care process for older adults and the very sick, as well as their family-member caregivers, PIK professor George Demiris is studying the intersection of smart-home technologies and health informatics.

Michele W. Berger

‘Candy aspirin,’ safety caps, and the history of children’s drugs

When St. Joseph Aspirin for Children was introduced in the 1940s, it was formulated to be attractive in taste and color to its young audience. Dubbed “candy aspirin,” the product became popular—fast. As a consequence, aspirin poisonings of children under five skyrocketed.

Michele W. Berger

Assets in the opioid epidemic, working dogs can also become its victims

The opioid epidemic is at crisis levels in the U.S., and humans aren’t the only ones at risk. In an interview with Knowledge@ Wharton, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Cynthia Otto explained the vulnerabilities of working dogs who get exposed to opioids, and how to keep them from harm.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Science and politics: a Q&A with Molly Sheehan

The School of Engineering and Applied Science postdoc researcher discusses what fascinates her about science, her unique path in science and technology, and the role scientists should play in political office.

Ali Sundermier

Different diseases elicit distinct sets of exhausted T cells

A new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found that immune systems that are battling long-term infections or chronic diseases are left fatigued, and identified nine distinct varieties of exhausted T cells, or Tex. 

Penn Today Staff



In the News


KFF Health News

Rural jails turn to community health workers to help the newly released succeed

According to Aditi Vasan of the Leonard Davis Institute and Perelman School of Medicine, evidence is mounting in favor of the model of training community health workers to help their neighbors connect to government and health care services.

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The New York Times

When it’s time for an aging driver to hit the brakes

Lauren Massimo of the School of Nursing says that losing the ability to drive is a major and dehumanizing loss for older adults.

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Everyday Health

What is food noise and how do you get rid of it?

According to Thomas Wadden of the Perelman School of Medicine, people taking GLP-1 drugs are finding that daily experiences that used to trigger a compulsion to eat or think about food no longer have that effect.

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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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The New Yorker

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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