News
MPH’s Tsosie: Working with Indigenous Communities for Genomics Research
Aug. 5, 2019—Many scientists are interested in studying the DNA of Indigenous populations in an effort to reveal the “human migration story” and contribute to our understanding about the genetic basis of disease. But many in the Indigenous community feel these scientific pursuits have a history of being exploitative, achieved without consideration of the needs or interests...
MPH’s Umutesi: Immunogenicity of Fractional-Dose Vaccine during a Outbreak
Aug. 5, 2019—In 2016, the response to a yellow fever outbreak in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo led to a global shortage of yellow fever vaccine. As a result, a fractional dose of the 17DD yellow fever vaccine (containing one fifth [0.1 ml] of the standard dose) was offered to 7.6 million children 2 years...
Shu, Zheng receive Vietnam’s top honor for foreign scientists
Aug. 1, 2019—The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has awarded two Vanderbilt epidemiologists the Memorabilia Medal “For the People’s Health” in appreciation for their contributions in helping the nation establish a population-based research program for cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. The medal is the highest honor that the Vietnam government bestows upon foreign scientists who have made...
MPH’s DeBaun awarded 2019 ASH Mentor Award
Aug. 1, 2019—Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH, director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease, has been awarded the American Society of Hematology’s 2019 ASH Mentor Award for his sustained and outstanding commitment to the training and career development of early career hematologists. The ASH Mentor Award recognizes hematologists who have excelled in mentoring trainees...
On Marketplace, Dusetzina comments on Senate Finance Committee plans to address drug prices
Jul. 26, 2019—On Marketplace, Stacie Dusetzina, Ph.D., associate professor of Health Policy, commented on the Senate Finance Committee’s plans to address increasing drug prices.
Raffanti lands major grant for AIDS education, training in southeast
Jul. 25, 2019—A five-year, nearly $23 million federal grant will allow MPH graduate Stephen Raffanti, M.D,. M.P.H., and colleagues to continue the coordination of AIDS education and training efforts in Tennessee and seven other southeastern states. Raffanti is medical director of the Comprehensive Care Clinic and professor of Medicine in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The Southeast AIDS Education...
Diamond and Safe Kids Cumberland Valley receive advocacy impact award
Jul. 25, 2019—Led by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Safe Kids Cumberland Valley received the Impact Award for Advocacy for its work to protect children from preventable injuries. The recognition at the Safe Kids Worldwide International Childhood Injury Prevention Convention highlighted the work of coalition members Purnima Unni, M.P.H., Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program Manager...
Everson’s research finds private practice physicians less likely to maintain electronic records
Jul. 24, 2019—Modernizing health records by making them electronic has gained momentum as technology evolves and policies push health care toward digital solutions. But the same trend has not been evident for physicians who remain in private practice, new research finds. The research led by Jordan Everson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy, finds striking differences in...
MPH’s Moore discusses HAV vaccinations
Jul. 23, 2019—In recent years, almost half of all U.S. states have reported outbreaks of person-to-person transmission of hepatitis A virus, especially among people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men. Infectious Disease News asked Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH, a preventive medicine physician and adjunct associate professor of health policy...
NPR turns to Dusetzina to better understand drug pricing
Jul. 19, 2019—NPR recently turned to Stacie B. Dusetzina, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health Policy and Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research at Vanderbilt, to clarify drug pricing.
Patrick’s research finds substance use linked to increase in foster care
Jul. 19, 2019—The nation’s opioid crisis is a factor in the recent increase in the number of infants entering the nation’s foster care system, with at least half of all infant placements now a result of parental substance use, according to a new analysis from researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the RAND Corporation “While Congress...
Kumah-Crystal is rethinking technology in the exam room
Jul. 19, 2019—Yaa Kumah-Crystal, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., self-describes as an early adopter of technology who is seizing on the fast embrace of natural language recognition systems — i.e. Siri and Alexa — to usher in an era of medicine where the tech is just as responsive. Kumah-Crystal, assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics and Pediatric Endocrinology at Vanderbilt...
Sanlorenzo: Benzodiazepines Worsen Opioid Withdrawal for Neonates
Jul. 18, 2019—Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) rates have more than quintupled in recent years, in part due to rising opioid use during pregnancy. The postnatal withdrawal syndrome now affects more than 32,000 newborns in the U.S. each year—but severity varies widely. Some newborns experience increased tone and tremors. Others are unable to feed or sleep, and may even require pharmacotherapy...
MPH’s Schaffner discusses Measles vaccine rates
Jul. 17, 2019—UNICEF and the U.N. World Health Organization reported that the coverage of one dose of the measles vaccine since 2010 has hovered at 86%, below the 95% epidemiologists say is needed to achieve “herd immunity” and prevent outbreaks within communities. The U.S. is experiencing its largest measles outbreak since 1992. As of July 11, the...
Stevenson’s research reveals variable staffing at nursing homes
Jul. 3, 2019—David Stevenson, Ph.D., and colleagues analyzed payroll-based staffing data for U.S. nursing homes and discovered large daily staffing fluctuations, low weekend staffing and daily staffing levels that often fall well below the expectations of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), all of which can increase the risk of adverse events for residents.