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The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center  Awarded a $6.5 Million CDC Grant Image
Press Release

The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center Awarded a $6.5 Million CDC Grant

October 15, 2024

The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center has received a $6.5 million CDC grant to advance community-based prevention research, focusing on improving shared decision-making for older cancer patients. This five-year project will study interventions tailored to patients’ needs, enhancing outcomes in Philadelphia and beyond.

New Framework for Health Policy Evaluation: Target Trial Emulation Enhances Accuracy in Nonexperimental Studies Image
Publication

New Framework for Health Policy Evaluation: Target Trial Emulation Enhances Accuracy in Nonexperimental Studies

October 9, 2024

In Annals of Internal Medicine, Nicholas Seewald, PhD, introduces a framework for target trial emulation, enabling researchers to evaluate health policies with the rigor of clinical trials in nonexperimental studies.

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Glen Lafferty

October 8, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 114)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-898-4691 glaffert@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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Mark Chanel, MBA, MSc

October 8, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 818)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 mark.chanel@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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Sandra Barile

October 3, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 922)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-746-8557 sabarile@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Catherine Vallejo Image

Catherine Vallejo

October 2, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 633)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-4922Fax: 215-573-4865 vallejo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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Marissa Fox

October 2, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 633)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-7393 mfox@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Community Spotlight: Dr. Joseph Romano Image
Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight: Dr. Joseph Romano

October 2, 2024

Joseph Romano, PhD, MPhil, MA is an Assistant Professor of Informatics in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Senior Fellow in the Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI) and an investigator in the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET).

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Natalya Levina, MS

October 2, 2024

Contact Blockley Hall (Room 923)423 Guardian DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19104 Office: 215-573-6167 natalya.levina@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Community Spotlight: Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD Image
Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight: Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD

October 2, 2024

Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD serves as an Associate Professor in the Biostatistics division of the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, and is recognized for her collaboration and impactful leadership in the realms of health, statistical education, and inclusion in the field.

Community Spotlight: Kacie Bogar, MS Image
Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight: Kacie Bogar, MS

October 1, 2024

For almost three years, Kacie Bogar, MS has served as a Research Project Manager for the Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics (CREST) and the Epidemiology division in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics.

Dr. Stephens Shields Honored with 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship  Image
Award

Dr. Stephens Shields Honored with 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship 

October 1, 2024

Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, was selected by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to receive the 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship.

Alumni Spotlight: Rui Duan, PhD Image
Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight: Rui Duan, PhD

September 24, 2024

Before joining Harvard University as an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Rui Duan, PhD, completed her PhD in Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Alumni Spotlight: Edward Kennedy, PhD Image
Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight: Edward Kennedy, PhD

September 23, 2024

Edward Kennedy, PhD is a Penn alum through and through—prior to completing his PhD in Biostatistics in 2016, he earned his BA in Mathematics (2007) and MA in Statistics (2014) from the University.

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Meghann Risell

September 19, 2024

Contact 6th Floor, South Pavilion PCAM Expansion3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Bldg. 421Philadelphia, PA 1910 Office: 215-898-8731 Mobile: 609-784-5116meghann.risell@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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In the Media

Questioning Restrictions on Physical Activity for Risk of Preterm Birth

September 18, 2024

Penn undergraduates assist Beth Leong Pineles, MD, PhD with a study of activity restriction during pregnancy with the goal of “deimplementation” in the Penn Medicine system and ultimately nationwide.

Dr. Michael Harhay Highlights the Growing Impact of Bayesian Statistics on Clinical Research Image
Publication

Dr. Michael Harhay Highlights the Growing Impact of Bayesian Statistics on Clinical Research

September 15, 2024

Michael Harhay, PhD, MPH, co-authors "Bayesian Statistics for Clinical Research" in The Lancet, comparing Bayesian and frequentist methods and highlighting the growing accessibility and impact of Bayesian analysis in medical research.

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Marylyn D. Ritchie, PhD, FACMI

September 9, 2024

Dr. Ritchie is an expert in translational bioinformatics, with a focus on developing, applying, and disseminating algorithms, methods, and tools integrating electronic health records (EHR) with genomics. The mission of […]

Dr. Kit Delgado Featured in Undark for Advancing Health Care with Nudge Theory at Penn Medicine Image
In the Media

Dr. Kit Delgado Featured in Undark for Advancing Health Care with Nudge Theory at Penn Medicine

September 5, 2024

In a recent Undark feature, Dr. M. Kit Delgado, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, discusses how behavioral science and nudge theory are transforming health care decision-making.

Dr. Mingyao Li Explores the Transformative Role of AI in Spatial Omics Research in Nature Methods Image
Publication

Dr. Mingyao Li Explores the Transformative Role of AI in Spatial Omics Research in Nature Methods

August 15, 2024

Dr. Mingyao Li's article in Nature Methods discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing spatial omics, enhancing integration of diverse data and accelerating biological discoveries for improved health outcomes in biomedical research.

When There’s Money to Lose, Phone Usage While Driving Drops Image
In the Media

When There’s Money to Lose, Phone Usage While Driving Drops

July 26, 2024

Can cash incentives make roads safer? A Penn Medicine study led by Dr. M. Kit Delgado reveals how rewards and feedback can significantly cut down handheld phone use while driving.

Jiayin Zheng, PhD, Appointed Assistant Professor of Biostatistics Image
Announcement

Jiayin Zheng, PhD, Appointed Assistant Professor of Biostatistics

July 1, 2024

Join us in welcoming Jiayin Zheng, PhD, as an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics. Dr. Zheng’s research spans data integration, bioequivalence, and survival analysis, collaborating across neurology, cancer, and infectious disease.

Qi Long, PhD, Appointed New Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development Image
Announcement

Qi Long, PhD, Appointed New Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development

July 1, 2024

Qi Long, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, has been appointed as the new DBEI Vice Chair of Faculty Professional Development, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.  

Dr. Nandita Mitra Wins 2024 Cupples Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Leadership Image
Award

Dr. Nandita Mitra Wins 2024 Cupples Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Leadership

May 9, 2024

Nandita Mitra, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, has been awarded the 2024 L. Adrienne Cupples Award for her outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and leadership in biostatistics and public health.

LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, Appointed Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Image
Announcement

LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, Appointed Assistant Professor of Epidemiology

January 3, 2024

Joining the DBEI as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, will support the development of implementation science infrastructure across divisions.

Penn Launches New Epidemiology Track in MPH Program to Address Global Health Challenges Image
Announcement

Penn Launches New Epidemiology Track in MPH Program to Address Global Health Challenges

December 4, 2023

The Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics and Master of Public Health Program at the University of Pennsylvania have established an Epidemiology track within the MPH Program, an interdisciplinary graduate program focused on preparing the next generation of public health leaders.

Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS Receives the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Image
Award

Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS Receives the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award

October 5, 2023

Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS was awarded the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award under the “High-Risk, High-Reward Research” program funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. Established in 2004, the NIH […]

New Study Links Atopic Dermatitis to Higher Risk of Irritable Bowel Disease Image
In the Media

New Study Links Atopic Dermatitis to Higher Risk of Irritable Bowel Disease

September 1, 2023

Joel Gelfand, MD, the James J. Leyden, M.D. Endowed Professor in Clinical Investigation of Dermatology and Epidemiology, and colleagues at Penn found that adults and children with atopic dermatitis (AD) […]

Farrar and Schisterman Named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Ad-hoc Committees Image
Announcement

Farrar and Schisterman Named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Ad-hoc Committees

July 7, 2023

Earlier this year, John Farrar, MD, PhD and Enrique Schisterman, PhD were named to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ad-hoc committees. Farrar serves on “Evaluating the Effects of Opioids and Benzodiazepines on […]

2023 ASA Fellows: Phyllis Gimotty and Alisa Stephens-Shields Image
Award

2023 ASA Fellows: Phyllis Gimotty and Alisa Stephens-Shields

July 7, 2023

In April 2023, the American Statistical Association (ASA) bestowed its prestigious distinction of Fellow on Phyllis Gimotty, PhD, Alisa Stephens-Shields, PhD, and 45 other ASA members for their professional contributions, leadership, and commitment […]

Examining Places Where People Experiencing Homelessness Overdose Image
In the Media

Examining Places Where People Experiencing Homelessness Overdose

February 1, 2023

Elizabeth Nesoff, PhD, MPH discusses her recently published study in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) blog investigating neighborhood features that were correlated with fatal opioid overdoses among the […]

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In the Media

Podcast focuses on developing new ways to identify aggressive breast cancer

January 1, 2023

Anne Marie McCarthy, PhD was featured on the Real Pink Podcast where she discussed the development of new ways to identify people with high risk of aggressive breast cancer.  Understanding your breask cancer risk

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In the Media

Penn Medicine has opened a Center for Living Donation

January 1, 2023

Penn Medicine has opened a Center for Living Donation, bringing under one roof its services for patients who receive kidney, liver, and uterus transplants with organs donated by living people. […]

How outdated rules restrict gay men from donating blood Image
Op-Ed

How outdated rules restrict gay men from donating blood

January 1, 2023

Dr. Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMIA, FACMI shares his experience trying to donate blood as a gay man and discusses how the Unites States has more restrictive rules than […]

Stroke, Clot Risk Halved in Patients with Heart Disease and Arrhythmia Who Took Blood Thinners Apixaban Versus Rivaroxaban Image
Press Release

Stroke, Clot Risk Halved in Patients with Heart Disease and Arrhythmia Who Took Blood Thinners Apixaban Versus Rivaroxaban

October 1, 2022

A difference in the effectiveness against strokes and other blood clots was easily visible in the first year among patients who’d taken the anticoagulant apixaban rather than rival rivaroxaban, according […]

Penn Research Finds Psoriasis Medication Leads to Fat Loss Image
Press Release

Penn Research Finds Psoriasis Medication Leads to Fat Loss

September 1, 2022

First study author, Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, and the investigators discovered that apremilast (brand name Otezla), which has helped psoriasis patients achieve clearer skin and ease the symptoms of their psoriatic arthritis, could […]

Researchers Use AI to Predict Rare Diseases Image
Press Release

Researchers Use AI to Predict Rare Diseases

September 1, 2022

Penn Medicine researchers will help lead the development of an algorithm to flag patients at risk of rare disease thanks to a $4.7 million NIH grant. This 4-year U01 will involve 10 […]

People with Severe COVID-19 Face Increased Risk of Life-Threatening Blood Clots Image
Press Release

People with Severe COVID-19 Face Increased Risk of Life-Threatening Blood Clots

August 1, 2022

COVID-19 has been associated with a multitude of diseases, but can it also increase the risk of dangerous blood clots? Dr. Vincent Lo Re III and colleagues explore the risk […]

False Alarm? Critical Antibiotic Combination Used for Millions of Patients May Not Carry a Previously Reported Risk Image
Publication

False Alarm? Critical Antibiotic Combination Used for Millions of Patients May Not Carry a Previously Reported Risk

July 1, 2022

Patients come to a hospital nearly 36 million times each year in the US, and antibiotics are often part of the picture: One large study showed that clinicians prescribed them […]

Making the EHR Into a Benefit, Not a Burden Image
Publication

Making the EHR Into a Benefit, Not a Burden

July 1, 2022

In 1991, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine declared that computer-based patient records were an essential technology for health care. The new records would not only support patient […]

Mapping Gene Activity Down to the Cellular Level Image
In the Media

Mapping Gene Activity Down to the Cellular Level

June 1, 2022

Advanced spatial transcriptomics techniques are advancing our understanding of cancer and other diseases at the cellular level: “You can zoom in, you can look at the tissue-specific features, how many […]

The Latest on Paxlovid Image
In the Media

The Latest on Paxlovid

May 1, 2022

In a review of current facts about the antiviral drug Paxlovid, Susan Ellenberg, PhD, comments on Pfizer’s unusual release of interim results during an ongoing clinical trial. Read the article […]

Knashawn Morales & Wei-Ting Hwang New ASA Fellows Image
Award

Knashawn Morales & Wei-Ting Hwang New ASA Fellows

April 22, 2022

Knashawn Morales, ScD, and Wei-Ting Hwang, PhD, have been named as new Fellows of the American Statistical Association. The world’s largest community of statisticians, the ASA is known as the […]

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In the Media

Social Media’s Promise for Medical Research

April 1, 2022

For medical researchers who aim to understand the patient experience, “collecting abundant social-media data is cost-effective, does not involve burdening participants, and is available in real time,” Graciela Gonzalez Hernandez, […]

Finding the Right Logic for Masking Rules Image
In the Media

Finding the Right Logic for Masking Rules

April 1, 2022

If Philadelphia’s masking policy aims to prevent spread of Covid-19, emphasizing hospitalization numbers, a lagging indicator, over case numbers isn’t wise, comments Michael Levy, PhD. “It’s like instead of using […]

Innovative Text Messaging Plus a Nursing Team: Dramatic Covid Results Hint at Broader, Equitable Potential Image
Publication

Innovative Text Messaging Plus a Nursing Team: Dramatic Covid Results Hint at Broader, Equitable Potential

February 1, 2022

At the start of the pandemic, professionals working in health systems across the US realized that if a sizable portion of the many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 went to hospitals, […]

Masking Policies for Covid-19: What Does the Science Say? Image
Publication

Masking Policies for Covid-19: What Does the Science Say?

February 1, 2022

Masking policies during Covid-19 have inspired plenty of political debate, but scientific evidence about the policies’ effects has been very limited. This isn’t surprising, given that it is not practical […]

With Climate Change, More Cases of Kidney Stones Image
Publication

With Climate Change, More Cases of Kidney Stones

January 1, 2022

In addition to making events such as catastrophic flooding more frequent, climate change will negatively affect human health in many other ways. Prior research has demonstrated, for instance, that high […]

Many Hospitalized for Other Ailments Test Positive for Covid, Too Image
In the Media

Many Hospitalized for Other Ailments Test Positive for Covid, Too

January 1, 2022

Amid the omicron surge, more patients are coming into the hospital for other reasons but testing positive for Covid-19 once they arrive. M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, says that many […]

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In the Media

Not Really a “˜White Man’s Disease’

January 1, 2022

A diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis finally explained Christi Taylor-Gentry’s throbbing joint pain. But as recently as 2006, when Alexis Ogdie-Beatty, MD, MSCE, became a doctor, she was taught that the […]

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Announcement

Kevin Johnson Named David L. Cohen University Professor

December 10, 2021

Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMIA, FACMI, has been named the David L. Cohen University Professor. Dr. Johnson says that like Cohen, he believes in uniting various sectors to achieve […]

George Demiris Named Mary Alice Bennett University Professor Image
Announcement

George Demiris Named Mary Alice Bennett University Professor

December 9, 2021

George Demiris, PhD, FACMI, has been named the Mary Alice Bennett University Professor. He cites Dr. Bennett’s pioneering policy of respectful care for patients as a great inspiration. Read more.

The Delicate Balance of Pregnancy Research Image
Publication

The Delicate Balance of Pregnancy Research

December 1, 2021

“Pregnant women CAN drink coffee – it could even slash risk of disease for mum and baby,” proclaimed a headline in the English paper The Sun about a recent study […]

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In the Media

Explaining the Increase in COVID-19 VAERS Reports

December 1, 2021

Jeffrey Morris, PhD, commented on how expanded reporting requirements and intense scrutiny of the hundreds of millions administered COVID-19 vaccine doses have driven record-high reporting of potential side effects to […]

A Budding Epidemiologist Tests Positive Image
Op-Ed

A Budding Epidemiologist Tests Positive

December 1, 2021

Epidemiology PhD candidate Katherine Strelau reached a new understanding when she tested positive for Covid-19: We have entered a new era of the pandemic, she wrote in an opinion piece. […]

Can Pandemic Pressure Change Clinical Trials From Now On? Image
In the Media

Can Pandemic Pressure Change Clinical Trials From Now On?

December 1, 2021

“We may have underestimated our ability to pivot and change rapidly,” Peter Merkel, M D, MPH, comments about the many ways Covid-19 has reshaped the way we conduct clinical trials ” […]

Blood Still Needed, Pandemic or Not Image
In the Media

Blood Still Needed, Pandemic or Not

November 1, 2021

Hospitals in Philly are facing a bad blood shortage. During a pandemic, people still get into accidents and get cancer that requires transfusions, says Meenakshi Bewtra, MD, PhD, MPH.  Read […]

Medical School Diversity: Why Aren’t We There Yet? Image
Op-Ed

Medical School Diversity: Why Aren’t We There Yet?

November 1, 2021

Why haven’t medical schools achieved real diversity? Reason #1: We must shift away from an applicant-deficit lens and recognize that diversity failures result from deficiencies in our educational and (supposedly) […]

Turning the Tables on Diseases that Spread Spatially Image
Publication

Turning the Tables on Diseases that Spread Spatially

October 1, 2021

Many human diseases start out with single cells, which establish the problem by spreading out. Spatial transcriptomics, a groundbreaking method, allows scientists to take advantage of that activity, measuring all […]

Government Data Misused to Question COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Image
In the Media

Government Data Misused to Question COVID-19 Vaccine Safety

October 1, 2021

It’s frustrating when vaccine opponents use the government’s VAERS database to stoke false concerns about safety, says Susan Ellenberg, PhD, “especially when they interfere in such major ways with critical […]

Smartwatch Blood Pressure Not Ready for Debut Image
In the Media

Smartwatch Blood Pressure Not Ready for Debut

September 1, 2021

Measuring blood pressure is hard, and getting it right is critical. Can we do it with a smartwatch? That technology is “not ready for primetime yet,” says Jordana Cohen, MD, […]

Booster Shot Shows Promise in Israeli Study Image
In the Media

Booster Shot Shows Promise in Israeli Study

September 1, 2021

A new study showed that older Israelis who received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are much less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 or to develop severe COVID-19 […]

Does Vaccine Power Really Wane? Image
In the Media

Does Vaccine Power Really Wane?

September 1, 2021

Some evidence that the protection of the Covid19 vaccine wanes comes from observational studies ” and so we must view our inferences critically, says Jeffrey Morris, PhD. In everyday life, […]

Achieving a Healthy Weight: More Intensive and Tailored Individual Strategies May Be Best Image
Publication

Achieving a Healthy Weight: More Intensive and Tailored Individual Strategies May Be Best

September 1, 2021

Given rising rates of obesity in the U.S. and the many associated health problems, researchers have tested various strategies for weight loss. Both financial incentives and environmental changes — such […]

What to Expect With a Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection Image
In the Media

What to Expect With a Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection

September 1, 2021

The experience of a Covid-19 breakthrough infection can range “from being asymptomatic to feeling pretty lousy, but typically it’s a shorter course than what we’re seeing for COVID without the […]

Complexities of the Late-Stage Pandemic Image
In the Media

Complexities of the Late-Stage Pandemic

August 1, 2021

An analysis by Jeffrey Morris, PhD, showed how Israel’s Covid19 data were easily misinterpreted: the elderly are both most vaccinated and most at risk for severe illness. The findings were […]

Unpacking a Vaccine Paradox Image
In the Media

Unpacking a Vaccine Paradox

August 1, 2021

Covid-19 vaccines work, but a statistical illusion makes some people think they don’t. This perspective piece prominently cites work by Jeffrey Morris, PhD.   Read the perspective in the Washington Post

Slowing Delta in Philadelphia Image
In the Media

Slowing Delta in Philadelphia

August 1, 2021

To slow spread of the Covid-19 delta variant, Philadelphia needs an even greater, on-the-ground push for more vaccination, comments Michael Levy, PhD: “This thing is just about momentum.” Read the […]

Eviction Risk High, COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Low Image
In the Media

Eviction Risk High, COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Low

August 1, 2021

Michael Z. Levy, PhD, warned that the looming return of evictions comes at a time when COVID-19 vaccination rates in the U.S. have plateaued and while the highly transmissible Delta […]

Festivals on a Different Footing Image
In the Media

Festivals on a Different Footing

August 1, 2021

Can a music festival be safe during the Covid-19 pandemic? It’s not so much about attendees’ personal risk, comments Michael Levy, PhD. It’s about what happens when they bring the […]

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In the Media

Helping Teens to Concentrate on Driving

July 1, 2021

M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, commented on evidence-based tips to help teens reduce distraction when driving. Read the article in the Wall Street Journal

Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Adding to the Options for Relief Image
Publication

Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Adding to the Options for Relief

July 1, 2021

While many studies have looked at how to limit patients to a short course of opioids, few have examined the other side of the issue: Are there some patients for […]

Questions Good AI Should Answer Image
Op-Ed

Questions Good AI Should Answer

July 1, 2021

A good clinician consultant should be able to explain why they arrived at a particular recommendation, and explainable artificial intelligence should also be possible, writes Jason Moore, PhD ”   […]

Breast Cancer Diagnosis in the ‘Between’ Year: Body Mass Index Matters Image
Publication

Breast Cancer Diagnosis in the ‘Between’ Year: Body Mass Index Matters

July 1, 2021

Although mammography reduces breast cancer mortality by 15 to 20 percent, the diagnosis in many cases — approximately 15 percent of all breast cancers — occurs after a patient has […]

Persuading the Vaccine Hesitant: The Numbers Say It All Image
In the Media

Persuading the Vaccine Hesitant: The Numbers Say It All

June 1, 2021

Pennsylvania isn’t tracking all Covid-19 cases in vaccinated residents, but other states’ data show a clear, relevant trend, says Jeffrey Morris, PhD: “The vaccines are really working, and the unvaccinated […]

The Surveillance System We Need for Vaccines Image
In the Media

The Surveillance System We Need for Vaccines

June 1, 2021

To maintain public safety and trust in vaccines, we need an agile, internationally harmonized surveillance system, argue Vincent Lo Re III, MD, MSCE, and colleagues. Read the commentary in BMJ […]

Normality, with a Note of Caution Image
In the Media

Normality, with a Note of Caution

May 1, 2021

Where vaccination rates are highest, we see fewer Covid-19 cases. But if virus activity increases in winter, areas with low vaccination rates will be at higher risk, commented Jing Huang, […]

Despite Local Lags, a Positive Big Picture Image
In the Media

Despite Local Lags, a Positive Big Picture

May 1, 2021

As Pennsylvania nears a Covid-19 vaccination benchmark, Jeffrey Morris, PhD, says county-level variations won’t be a big problem: While we may see some local brush fires, we won’t have a […]

Battling Vaccine Misinformation Image
In the Media

Battling Vaccine Misinformation

May 1, 2021

Some people do misinterpret events reported in the public Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), says Susan Ellenberg, PhD. “But without public access, I think it’s worse. Because then you […]

Consequences of Overturning the Eviction Ban Image
In the Media

Consequences of Overturning the Eviction Ban

May 1, 2021

Michael Z. Levy, PhD, commented on the potential public health consequences of a federal judge’s ruling (later staid, temporarily, by the US Justice Deptl) to end the CDC’s national eviction […]

Halting Evictions Helped Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia Image
In the Media

Halting Evictions Helped Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia

April 1, 2021

The CDC’s order prohibiting evictions in fall ” winter 2020 likely prevented thousands of COVID-19 infections per million metropolitan residents, showed a study co-led by Michael Z. Levy, PhD. Dr. […]

An “End” of the Pandemic? Image
In the Media

An “End” of the Pandemic?

April 1, 2021

It will be hard to say when the COVID-19 pandemic is “over” in the United States, says Michael Z. Levy, PhD. “These things don’t necessarily end cleanly,” he said in […]

Maternity Risks Higher in a Black Neighborhood Image
In the Media

Maternity Risks Higher in a Black Neighborhood

April 1, 2021

A new study found that living in a majority-Black neighborhood in Philadelphia is linked to increased maternal health issues. Mary Regina Boland, MA, MPhil, PhD, commented. Read the coverage on […]

Vaccine Safety and Risk Image
In the Media

Vaccine Safety and Risk

April 1, 2021

Susan Ellenberg, PhD, sorted out recent news about COVID-19 vaccines, and how the public can evaluate various facts. Listen to the Stats + Stories podcast

During the Pandemic, Pressures on Women in Science Image
In the Media

During the Pandemic, Pressures on Women in Science

April 1, 2021

“That first month was really hard,” commented Alisa Stephens-Shields, PhD, about the COVID-19 lockdown. Her infant daughter’s day care was closed, and her five-year-old was at home, not at school. […]

Deciding When to Suspend a Vaccine Image
In the Media

Deciding When to Suspend a Vaccine

March 1, 2021

Susan Ellenberg, PhD, discussed the risks of blood clots connected with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and weighed whether it was necessary to suspend use. Hear the coverage on the BBC

Not a Catch-All Image
In the Media

Not a Catch-All

March 1, 2021

Susan Ellenberg, PhD, said some reports of post-vaccination symptoms may actually be unrelated to the COVID-19 vaccine. “Vaccines protect against one thing: the infection or the infection plus disease,” she […]

On the Ground Strategies Image
In the Media

On the Ground Strategies

March 1, 2021

“When you have the whole world working on something at the same time “the evidence evolves fast,” Meghan Brooks Lane-Fall, MD, MSHP, FCCM, commented about COVID-19 care. “Every time I […]

As COVID-19 Vaccines Become Available, Questions About the Trials Image
In the Media

As COVID-19 Vaccines Become Available, Questions About the Trials

February 1, 2021

“People can make the argument: I volunteered to be in the trial”¦I should be able to get the vaccine right away even if I’m young and healthy,” Susan Ellenberg, PhD, […]

What Is Data Science? Image
Op-Ed

What Is Data Science?

January 1, 2021

Jason Moore, PhD, shares his understanding of his field: Data science, at its heart, is about solving a problem with whatever tools you have at your disposal. Read the article […]

What AIDS Can Teach Us About Covid Behavior Image
In the Media

What AIDS Can Teach Us About Covid Behavior

December 1, 2020

The parallels between AIDS and Covid-19 are striking, comments Robert Gross, MD, MSCE. Both are spread asymptomatically, and shaming over whether one does or doesn’t wear a mask is not […]

Equalizing Access to Clinical Trials Image
Op-Ed

Equalizing Access to Clinical Trials

November 1, 2020

Typically underserved groups are underrepresented in therapeutic clinical trials” so the findings may be less applicable for them. Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD, describes how experimental treatment has benefited his wife […]

How AI Can Help Us Fight COVID-19 Image
In the Media

How AI Can Help Us Fight COVID-19

October 1, 2020

Artificial intelligence and machine learning can help us fight COVID-19, Jason Moore, PhD, told The Washington Post. But if you study only populations that are primarily Caucasian, that may not […]

Why Are So Many Black Americans Dying of COVID-19? Image
Op-Ed

Why Are So Many Black Americans Dying of COVID-19?

April 1, 2020

Across the United States, black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts. If the data from other large cities hold true in Philadelphia ” […]

What a Ventilator Shortage Means During COVID-19 ”  and How We Can Help Image
Op-Ed

What a Ventilator Shortage Means During COVID-19 ” and How We Can Help

March 1, 2020

We believe that as many as one million Americans will need the support of ventilators ” five times the number we have, writes critical care physician Meghan Brooks Lane-Fall, MD, […]

Hongzhe Li Honored by ASA Philadelphia Chapter Image
Award

Hongzhe Li Honored by ASA Philadelphia Chapter

January 9, 2020

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Statistical Association” the world’s largest community of statisticians” has honored  Hongzhe Li, PhD, with its Award for Reseach Excellence. Read more about Dr. Li.

Harmonization of cortical thickness measurements across scanners Image
Publication

Harmonization of cortical thickness measurements across scanners

February 15, 2018

With the proliferation of multi-site neuroimaging studies, there is a greater need for handling non-biological variance introduced by differences in MRI scanners and acquisition protocols. Such unwanted sources of variation, […]

New $1 Million+ Award from PCORI to Rebecca Hubbard and Colleagues Image
Announcement

New $1 Million+ Award from PCORI to Rebecca Hubbard and Colleagues

July 7, 2016

The award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute enables Rebecca Hubbard (pictured) and colleagues Yong Chen and Jinbo Chen, all CCEB senior scholars, to sketch a patient’s true profile. New […]