SPH IN THE MEDIA
A selection of stories about the School of Public Health
September 1—December 9, 2011
UC Berkeley School of Public Health to launch online degree program
Next semester, the UC Berkeley School of Public Health will launch the first online degree program ever to be offered on campus. Beginning in spring 2012, students enrolled in the new program—the On-Campus/Online Professional Master of Public Health Degree Program—will be able to take a majority of their classes online, with only three on-campus sessions, to earn a master of public health degree. Nap Hosang, director of the school’s interdisciplinary MPH program and head of the new online program, is quoted.
The Daily Californian (12/9/11)
San Francisco Business Times (12/7/11)
UCSF celebrates National Mentoring Month 2012 in honor of late Kevin Mack
Members of the UCSF community are invited to celebrate National Mentoring Month in January 2012 in honor of Kevin Mack, M.D., M.S., a beloved educator and mentor who died on July 14, 2011, in a UCSF shuttle bus accident in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. Mack, a faculty member with joint appointments at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health and the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, served as one of the advisory college mentors in the UCSF School of Medicine and as the director of Educational Technology in the UCSF-Berkeley Joint Medical Program.
UCSF News Center (12/9/11)
Fast-food toy ban no aid to nutrition, study says
Santa Clara County's ban on fast-food toys for kids has had no effect on the nutritional quality of the meals served there, but the restaurants are doing a better job of promoting the right food, or at least not promoting the junk, Stanford researchers say. Professor Pat Crawford, director of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health, is quoted.
San Francisco Chronicle (12/8/11)
Changing how we pay for health care
Professor Richard Scheffler writes in a letter to the editor: "Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel’s column 'Saving by the Bundle' (Sunday Review, Nov. 20) provides insightful and useful suggestions for bending the health care cost curve but may have pushed the numbers too far."
The New York Times (11/30/11)
Wood smoke from cooking fires linked to pneumonia, cognitive impacts
Two new studies led by University of California, Berkeley, researchers spotlight the human health effects of exposure to smoke from open fires and dirty cook stoves, the primary source of cooking and heating for 43 percent, or some 3 billion members, of the world’s population. Women and young children in poverty are particularly vulnerable. Professors Kirk Smith and Arthur Reingold are quoted.
UC Berkeley NewsCenter (11/10/11)
Contra Costa Times (11/30/11)
Environmental News Network (11/16/11)
Healthy SF is innovations award finalist
In a political era in which government is often blamed as a problem rather than a solution, Harvard University's Innovations in American Government Awards hopes to show the converse can be true. And one of its six finalists—out of 563 applicants from around the country—is Healthy San Francisco. Professor Richard Scheffler is quoted.
San Francisco Chronicle (11/28/11)
The language of sexual assault
Lori Dorfman, lecturer and director of the Berkeley Media Studies Group, had a letter to the editor published in The New York Times. In it, she thanks article author Arthur S. Brisbane for reporting on the sanitized language of news reporting on child sexual abuse. She writes, "Your column echoes a finding from a study we released this summer, an analysis of three years of United States newspapers' coverage on the topic."
The New York Times (11/26/11)
Bushmeat: when conservation and child nutrition collide
A new study by researchers at UC Berkeley finds that consuming bushmeat had a positive effect on children’s nutrition, raising complex questions about the trade-offs between human health and environmental conservation. They further estimated that a loss of access to wildlife as a source of food—either through stricter enforcement of conservation laws or depletion of resources—would lead to a 29 percent jump in the number of children suffering from anemia. Christopher Golden, who did the research as a graduate student in public health, is quoted. Professor Lia Fernald, a co-author of the study, is also quoted.
UC Berkeley NewsCenter (11/22/11)
NPR (11/22/11)
Hive Health Media (11/22/11)
Citywide healthcare-for-all program struggles to find funding
San Francisco's landmark plan to provide health care coverage to most of its uninsured residents has been an operational success but is under persistent financial strain, reports the San Francisco Public Press. Dean Stephen Shortell is quoted.
FierceHealthFinance (11/21/11)
SF Public Press (11/16/11)
Berkeley City Council puts cellphone ordinance on hold
Despite public support for an ordinance that would warn of possible radiation from cellphones, Berkeley City Council members continue to wait for the resolution of similar legislation in San Francisco. In San Francisco, an ordinance that would force cellphone stores to hand out fact sheets on potential health effects is currently under debate. Berkeley drafted an ordinance in December last year but has yet to take action. Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health, is quoted.
The Daily Cal
Generation Jobless: Young men suffer worst as economy staggers
Few groups were hit harder by the recession than young men. The unemployment rate for males between 25 and 34 years old with high-school diplomas is 14.4%—up from 6.1% before the downturn four years ago and far above today's 9% national rate. Professor Ralph Catalono is quoted.
The Wall Street Journal (11/7/11)
The Globe and Mail (11/10/11)
City to consider posting cell phone radiation information on its website
Berkeley City Council will consider at its meeting Tuesday a resolution that would post information regarding cell phone radiation on the city’s Public Health Division’s website. If approved, the recommendation would link to information from the World Health Organization and other reputable sources on the division’s website, according to the resolution. Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health, is quoted.
The Daily Californian (11/6/11)
Berkeley teams with Kaiser Permanente to uncover origins of multiple sclerosis
Research into the genetic component of multiple sclerosis (MS) at University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health has been expanded thanks in part to a recent National Institutes of Health grant (NIH/NIEHS) to Professor Lisa Barcellos, who is quoted.
ASPH Friday Letter (11/4/11)
Men need to protect fertility
Since infertility is on the rise and the male is often the culprit, it might be a good idea to take care of your sperm. It starts with what's in your pocket. If it's a mobile phone, especially a smartphone, experts suggest getting it away from your genital area. Joel Moskowitz's research on cellphones and sperm count is referenced.
Calgary Herald (11/3/11)
Biomonitoring pinpoints chemicals absorbed by body
Sophisticated instruments have made it possible to analyze our blood, urine and hair for trace amounts of chemicals in a process known as biomonitoring. The results, a snapshot of exactly what’s in your body, are known as a bioburden, and everyone has one. Professor Rachel Morello-Frosch is quoted.
California Health Watch (11/2/11)
More elderly residents seeking medication advice at no-cost events
More elderly California residents are attending no-cost "Meet the Pharmacist" events to seek advice about their health and prescription medication, HealthyCal reports. Dean Stephen Shortell is quoted.
California Healthline (11/2/11)
Concern over kids, cell phones and radiation
Some doctors say it's not a good idea for younger children to be around the radiation. It's part of an ongoing debate about whether cell phones cause cancer. Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health, is featured in the video.
Fox News (11/2/11)
A "King's Speech" that could help save the world: A discussion with UC Berkeley's Dr. Malcolm Potts
On October 31st, the United Nations officially declared that the human population had hit 7 billion. Forbes speaks with Professor Malcolm Potts about some of the most salient implications and data in his speech at the International Conference on Population Dynamics, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development.
Forbes (11/1/11)
Berkeley public health scholars recognized
Kaiser Permanente, in conjunction with the East Bay Community Foundation, hosted a reception to honor the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health's Kaiser Permanente Public Health Scholars, a group of students committed to serving the underserved. Now in its third year, the Kaiser Permanente Public Health Scholars Program is an initiative designed to meet the increasing need for highly educated public health workers. Dean Stephen Shortell is quoted.
ASPH Friday Letter (10/28/11)
Precautionary warnings for cellphones
Although a recent large study out of Denmark claims there is no link between cancer and cellphones, in May an international panel of experts from 14 countries, including the United States, working for the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified cell phone use as a ‘possible human carcinogen.' Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health, is quoted.
Fox News (10/24/11)
Selvin receives Berkeley's highest honor
Professor Steve Selvin, a professor of biostatistics at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health for the past 40 years, has received the Berkeley Citation for his "distinguished achievement and notable service to the university." Dean Stephen Shortell is quoted.
ASPH Friday Letter (10/21/11)
Berkeley’s Abrams Elected to Institute of Medicine
Barbara Abrams, professor of epidemiology, maternal and child health, and public health nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, is among 65 new members and five foreign associates joining the Institute of Medicine. Dean Stephen Shortell is quoted.
ASPH Friday Letter (10/21/11)
International call for expanded investment in prevention of HIV/AIDS in face of economic downturn
As the world observes the 30th anniversary of HIV/AIDS, experts on the front lines in fighting the global pandemic are confronting a new and unexpected front in the war on this disease—the economic downturn, which has resulted in cuts to HIV prevention, care and treatment programs in the U.S. and poses a significant risk to HIV programs in resource-strained countries in the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The School's Forum for Collaborative HIV Research hosted the summit.
PRNewswire (10/18/11)
Two UC Berkeley faculty named to Institute of Medicine
Two University of California, Berkeley, faculty members have been named to the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM), one of the highest national honors in the fields of health and medicine. One is Professor Barbara Abrams, cited for her contributions to maternal and child nutrition—notably, her studies documenting the association between maternal weight gain and birth outcomes.
UC Berkeley NewsCenter (10/17/11)
Q&A: Barbara Abrams on her prenatal-nutrition research
Newly elected to the Institute of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, Barbara Abrams, professor of epidemiology and of maternal and child health at the School of Public Health, talks about her passion for improving prenatal nutrition.
UC Berkeley NewsCenter (10/17/11)
OB/GYN's solar suitcase saves lives in poor nations
When Laura Stachel M.D., M.P.H. '06 traveled to Nigeria, she was shocked by the country's unimaginable birthing conditions. In response, Stachel, along with her husband Hal Aronson, developed WE CARE Solar (Women's Emergency Communication and Reliable Electricity), which produces the Solar Suitcase. On October 20, Stachel and 14 fellow laureates from around the world will be honored for their efforts in using technology to benefit humanity during Silicon Valley's foremost awards program, The Tech Awards. Laura Stachel, associate director of West African emergency obstetric research for the School's Bixby Center for Population, Health & Sustainability, is quoted about her work.
San Francisco Chronicle (10/16/11)
France toughens conflict rules: Law demands greater transparency for health experts
A draconian new law aims to toughen France's relaxed approach to conflicts of interest for scientists who advise the government on pharmaceuticals. Approved last week by the French National Assembly, the law is intended to restore public confidence in the country's embattled drug regulatory system. It mandates fines of up to €30,000 (US$40,000) for advisers who fail to declare all their competing interests. Francis Megerlin, a senior fellow at the UC Berkeley Center for Health Technology, is quoted.
Nature (10/11/11)
Memo shows how state caved to industry pressure on pesticide, environmentalists say
Environmentalists say a newly uncovered memo shows how the California Department of Pesticide Regulation gave in to industry pressure when it approved the controversial soil fumigant methyl iodide for use in California agriculture at levels more than 100 times higher than those its own scientists recommended. Professor Thomas McKone is quoted.
HealthyCal.org (10/11/11)
Berkeley’s Syme Publishes Memoir on Influences on His Academic Work
Dr. S. Leonard Syme, professor emeritus of epidemiology and community health at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, has recently published a memoir. The book, titled Memoir of a Useless Boy, describes how his difficult early years shaped an interest in social forces that eventually led to pioneering work in developing the new field of social epidemiology.
ASPH Friday Letter (10/7/11)
Safeway launches annual breast cancer research fundraising campaign
Safeway Inc. launched its annual October chain-wide breast cancer fundraising initiative. The company has raised more than $94 million for the cause since 2001. The funds benefit leading-edge breast cancer research projects at some of North America's top cancer centers as well as a range of nonprofit organizations focused on new treatments, raising awareness and enabling early detection. The UC Berkeley School of Public Health is a collaborator on the initiative.
MarketWatch (9/30/11)
Berkeley dean delivers keynote address at Norwegian health conference
Dean Stephen Shortell of the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health delivered the keynote address entitled "Health Services Research: Maximizing the Impact on Public Policy" at the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for Health Services on September 19 in Oslo, Norway. More than 100 health services researchers and policy makers throughout Norway attended the meeting.
ASPH Friday Letter (9/23/11)
Opinion: Proposition 63 succeeding in counties across the state
California is facing substantial changes in how mental health services are organized. Gov. Brown has proposed restructuring the state departments responsible for administering mental health funds and programs, including possible elimination of the Department of Mental Health. A UC Berkeley School of Public Health study is referenced in this opinion piece by Anne Bakar, president and CEO of Telecare Corporation.
Capitol Weekly (9/22/11)
Eating styles rub off on family and friends
A recent study shows eating patterns are shared in social circles. The researchers analyzed the socioeconomic and demographic distribution of eating of 3,418 people. Between 1991 and 2001, the participants had completed two or three questionnaires about what they'd eaten the previous week. The study looked at associations among spouses, close friends, and siblings. Mark Pachucki, a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, is quoted.
WebMD (9/22/11)
Medical Daily (9/23/11)
Just How ‘Germy’ Is A Kiss?
Kissing is a universal sign of amorous affection. But have you ever thought about what kissing means beyond the obvious pleasures? Just how "germy" is a kiss—and are those germs good or bad for us? Professor Arthur Reingold is quoted.
Huffington Post (9/15/11)
After city scandals, lawmakers crack down on car impounds
Bills written to shield illegal immigrants in California from losing their cars to impound have been stalled, vetoed or voted down for years. In the past two weeks, however, two such pieces of legislation reached the governor’s desk with minimal political scuffling. Local corruption was among the most significant reasons why anti-impound bills fared better this legislative session, said Ignacio Hernandez, a lobbyist and Sacramento attorney. Professor David Ragland is quoted.
California Watch (9/14/11)
Study links flame retardants and low birth weight
A common flame-retardant used in homes and automobiles has been associated with low birth weight in babies, according to a UC Berkeley study. The study, which looked at the birth weights of 286 babies whose mothers had had their levels of PBDEs measured during pregnancy, found that higher concentrations of PBDEs were linked to lower birth weights. Professor Kim Harley, lead author of the study, is quoted.
Consumer Reports.org (9/13/11)
Bruce Dan, who helped link toxic shock and tampons, is dead at 64
Dr. Bruce Dan, who as a leading federal researcher helped establish a link between the life-threatening disease toxic shock syndrome and the use of tampons, prompting a major shift in the way tampons are produced, died on September 6, 2011, in Baltimore. Professor Arthur Reingold is quoted.
The New York Times (9/10/11)
How the CDC Would Deal With a Real-Life ‘Contagion’
Hollywood loves to bring us worst-case scenarios: catastrophic twisters, Earth-destroying asteroids or, in the case of the upcoming film "Contagion," a rapidly evolving virus that threatens to wipe out global society as we know it. But while it’s a fun fantasy for moviegoers to ask, "What would I do if that happened?" it’s actually the job description of Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Ali S. Khan. Tomás Aragón, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases & Emergency Readiness, is quoted.
Fox News (9/9/11)
Flame retardants linked to lower birthweight babies
Exposure during pregnancy to flame retardant chemicals commonly found in the home is linked to lower birthweight babies, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health. In the study, researchers found that every tenfold increase in levels of PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, in a mother’s blood during pregnancy corresponded to a 115 gram (4.1 ounce) drop in her baby’s birthweight. Professor Kim Harley, lead author of the study, is quoted.
UC Berkeley NewsCenter (9/1/11)
TopNews (9/1/11)
BioScholar (9/1/11)
U.S. News & World Report (9/1/11)
Health.com (9/1/11)
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