Public Health Research at the UNC Gillings School

We are pleased to share that the 18th Annual Harry Guess Memorial Lecture hosted by the UNC-CH Student Chapter of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology will feature Dr. Sean Hennessy who will present a lecture titled “Medications, Weather and Human Health”. ?? April 2, 2025 | 2:30 – 4:00 PM EST Tate-Turner-Kuralt Auditorium, Room 136 We would love to see you in-person, if possible, or via zoom, if necessary. Registration link: https://lnkd.in/esXBzTBd

This study sheds light on the disparities faced by young adult (YA) LGBTQ+ cancer survivors. Written by Austin R. Waters, MSPH and team, the research reveals critical insights into how age, cancer history, and LGBTQ+ identity intersect to impact mental health, substance use, and experiences of discrimination and violence. ?? Key Findings:? - YA LGBTQ+ cancer survivors (ages 18–39) report significantly higher rates of violence, sexual assault, homelessness, PTSD, substance use, and overdose compared to their peers, including middle and older adult (M/OA) cancer survivors.? - Even after adjusting for demographic factors, YA LGBTQ+ cancer survivors continue to experience disproportionately higher odds of negative outcomes compared to M/OA survivors without a cancer history.? - The findings highlight how overlapping experiences of anti-LGBTQ+ stigma, youth, and cancer diagnoses contribute to a unique set of challenges, exacerbating mental and physical health disparities. ?? This research emphasizes the need for targeted support and interventions for YA LGBTQ+ cancer survivors, recognizing the compounded impact of multiple marginalized identities. The findings underscore the importance of addressing these disparities in healthcare, mental health, and social services to improve the well-being. Let's continue to advocate for better resources, policies, and support systems that acknowledge the unique needs of LGBTQ+ cancer survivors, especially young adults who face these challenges at the intersection of multiple identities ???????? https://lnkd.in/grAGAwwQ #LGBTQ #CancerSurvivors #MentalHealth #SubstanceUse #Discrimination #ResearchMatters #HealthEquity #LGBTQHealth #YouthWellBeing #Intersectionality?

This study by Sara Levintow, Courtney Maierhofer, and Kimberly Powers investigates the complex relationships between substance use, depression, and HIV PrEP use and adherence among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults. The findings provide valuable insights into how these factors impact HIV prevention efforts ?? ?? Key Findings:? - Participants with substance use only had higher baseline and 12-month PrEP use, but no difference in adherence compared to those without substance use or depression.? - Depression alone was associated with lower baseline PrEP use and adherence (significant at baseline, but these effects weakened over time).? - Youth with both conditions reported higher PrEP use initially but lower adherence, with these effects diminishing over 12 months. ?? The study highlights the opposing impacts of substance use and depression on PrEP use and adherence. While substance use can boost PrEP initiation, depression tends to hinder use and adherence. Depression treatment may be a key strategy to improve PrEP uptake and adherence, enhancing HIV prevention in SGM youth. Mental health care, particularly for depression, is crucial for optimizing HIV prevention strategies in SGM youth. https://lnkd.in/gSGXtA7e #HIVPrevention #PrEP #MentalHealth #SubstanceUse #Depression #SGMYouth #PublicHealth #HIVResearch #Adherence #LGBTQHealth #YouthHealth #HealthEquity

Comment from Barry Popkin, Shu Wen Ng, and Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD out in Nature Food today: Food industry’s ultra-processed products exploit our innate preferences for sugar, salt, and fat with the goal of encouraging overconsumption and maximizing profit. The result: Increased obesity & other nutrition-related diseases + environmental harms worldwide and accelerating most rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. Authors suggest urgent public policy action — taxes, marketing restrictions, mandatory front-of-package warning labels, healthy food subsidies — and more research on how/why ultra-processed foods harm health. https://lnkd.in/eTHkzGPy

A study by Xiaoning Zhu on opioid management for ICU surgical patients highlights the potential of interpretable deep learning to improve opioid prescriptions, reducing overdose risks and enhancing patient recovery. ?? Key Findings:? - The study developed an interpretable deep learning framework to predict postoperative opioid needs and identify key factors influencing consumption.? - The Deep Neural Network (DNN) outperformed other machine learning models, with the lowest Mean Squared Error (MSE) and the highest Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC).? - Among 25 features analyzed, age, surgery type, and other factors were identified as significant predictors of opioid use (p < 0.05). ?? This innovative framework leverages deep learning to provide precise opioid prescriptions, tailored to each patient’s unique needs. This model enhances patient safety and recovery outcomes. With interpretable machine learning models, we can move toward precision medicine in opioid management, helping prevent misuse and improve post-surgical recovery in ICU patients ?? https://lnkd.in/dnpaA4Ag #OpioidManagement #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #PredictiveModeling #PatientSafety #ICUCare #PrecisionMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #DataScience #OpioidCrisis #SurgicalOutcomes #ClinicalResearch?

A study by Sarah Soppe, MPH, Sharon Peacock, MPA, Jamie Halula, Jennifer Lund, Chris Baggett, and Caroline A. Thompson investigates the impact of different index dates (registry vs. claims-based) on studies analyzing healthcare encounters leading to cancer diagnosis. This research highlights potential misclassification issues, especially in Emergency Department (ED) involvement, which can vary depending on the date used. ?? For accurate healthcare utilization studies, researchers must carefully choose the right index date to minimize misclassification, especially when examining pre-diagnostic interactions. The registry vs. claims-based date choice significantly influences classification of diagnoses and healthcare encounters. When studying healthcare interactions prior to cancer diagnosis, it's crucial to understand how different date sources can impact findings, particularly for ED-related diagnoses. To learn more about this research, check out this publication:? https://lnkd.in/gWt8kfKw #CancerResearch #HealthcareUtilization #MedicalData #CancerDiagnosis #Epidemiology #PublicHealth #DataAnalysis #Medicare #AdministrativeData #ResearchImpact?

A recent study from the UNC Gillings School of Public Health by Stephanie Wheeler, Bridgette Thom, Austin R. Waters, MSPH offers critical insights into interventions tackling cancer-related financial hardship, highlighting the growing importance of addressing financial burdens as part of comprehensive oncology care. ?? The most common interventions include financial navigation programs and specialty pharmacy assistance programs, which provide crucial support for both direct medical costs and cost-of-living expenses (transportation, food).? These programs not only alleviated financial stress but also led to improved patient outcomes, such as:? -Reduced financial toxicity ??? -Fewer missed appointments ??? -Higher clinical trial enrollment ?? ?? Addressing cancer-related financial hardship are not only feasible but vital to improving patient well-being. As cancer care becomes more comprehensive, integrating these programs into routine care is essential— especially until broader social and policy changes can alleviate the root causes of financial hardship. Future research should focus on scaling these programs across cancer care settings. It's time to make financial support a standard component of oncology care, helping patients thrive both physically and financially. To read more about this article, click here:? https://lnkd.in/gSkXwSsP #CancerCare #FinancialHardship #HealthEquity #Oncology #PatientSupport #PublicHealth #ResearchImpact #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #CancerResearch #UNCGillings?

Congratulations to Professors Baiming Zou and Fei Zou on receiving this award! They are developing novel machine learning algorithms and tools that will deepen our understanding of heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) disorders, and identify better, individualized treatment plans for patients to achieve improved health outcomes.

???Join Our Team at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health!??? Are you passionate about public health and eager to shape the next generation of public health professionals? The Department of Maternal and Child Health?at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health is seeking an Assistant or Associate Professor (Tenured or Tenure Track) to join our vibrant academic community. UNC Chapel Hill is a leading institution dedicated to advancing public health through education, research, and community engagement. We are committed to fostering an engaging environment where faculty and students thrive. We are seeking candidates with: ·??????A strong record (or potential) of scholarly research. ·??????A commitment to innovative teaching and mentorship. ·??????A passion for advancing maternal and child health equity locally and globally. How to Apply: For more details and to submit your application, visit: https://lnkd.in/ejjwYGGb Join us in making a difference in public health! ?? Share this post with your network or tag someone who would be a great fit! #PublicHealth #AcademicJobs #MaternalAndChildHealth #UNCGillings #Hiring

A recent study published in?BMC Health Services Research?explores the critical relationship between neighborhood social vulnerability and community-based rehabilitation after stroke. The research, led by Shuqi (Sukie) Zhang, Anna Johnson, and Shweta Pathak, highlights important insights on how social determinants may affect access to post-stroke care—a crucial factor in recovery. Key findings from the study: ?? Low Rehabilitation Utilization:?Only 35% of patients had at least one visit to physical or occupational therapy within 90 days after discharge, with little variation across different levels of neighborhood social vulnerability. ?? Home-Based Therapy:?Patients in more socially vulnerable areas were more likely to receive therapy at home rather than in outpatient clinics. ?? Dual Therapy:?Vulnerable neighborhoods also saw a higher likelihood of patients receiving both physical and occupational therapy, possibly indicating a greater need for comprehensive care. The study points to an important area for improvement: despite the high need for rehabilitation, social vulnerability didn’t always lead to increased access to care. This suggests that both individual and community factors play a significant role in ensuring timely and effective stroke recovery. ?? Moving Forward:?The findings underscore the need for further research into the mechanisms driving these disparities, so that strategies can be developed to ensure equitable access to rehabilitation services for all stroke survivors. https://lnkd.in/gc23JHcZ #StrokeRecovery #SocialVulnerability #RehabilitationCare #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #PostStrokeCare #HealthServicesResearch #CommunityHealth