Meet our Public Health Communications Fellows — four #MPH students who are gaining the skills to communicate effectively and with empathy in a broad range of public health settings. We thank @BWFUND for their generous support of science communications!

"We need a mandatory, eye-catching, front-of-package food label that clearly communicates which products to limit. Americans deserve it and should not need to wait another 15 years to see it." — Dr. Marissa Hall

An online resource, aims to reduce food insecurity among college students in North Carolina by raising awareness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The website offers a quiz that helps students determine eligibility.

The FDA wants to add nutrition information to the *front* of food packages, with the goal of nudging shoppers to make healthier choices. Nutrition epidemiologist Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie is in favor, but worries the current design won't be effective.

Dr. Heather Wasser focuses her work on safe infant feeding, which became an immediate concern after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina.

Hey, Gillings School community! Nominations are open for six important awards for faculty, teaching assistants and alumni. Tell us who your favorites are by Feb. 14!

Your Local Epidemiologist is OUR Commencement speaker for 2025! 🎓 Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is the founder of YLE, a free newsletter that delivers evidence-based public health science info twice a week to 310,000 inboxes, helping readers make informed choices:

#Norovirus, which causes diarrhea & vomiting, may be on the rise because of an antibody-dodging variant & post–COVID socializing. A vaccine is in the works, but will be up against what Dr. Ralph Baric calls “one of the most infectious viruses in nature.”

Dr. Hongtu Zhu bridges #BigData and #Health to improve our understanding of the brain. He also develops algorithms to ensure health care solutions are equitable across diverse populations — plus, he runs a small farm in his spare time! 🐐

Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, professor of health policy and management, calls the growing tensions between health systems and #insurance companies providing Medicare Advantage plans the 'clash of the titans.' He says, “Patients are often caught in the middle.”

The values undergirding the idea of a “#crunchy” lifestyle have shifted — a lot. Today, 'there is an individualism at the heart of the crunchy realm,' says Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie, associate professor of nutrition at the Gillings School.

Meds like #Wegovy are all over the news. But are they right for you, especially if you’re older than the average user? “Safety data in older adults is lacking. In people over age 75, it’s virtually nonexistent,” says Dr. John Batsis.

Awards from the #Rural Research, Engagement and Advancement Fund recognize community-campus partnerships based in rural North Carolina and led by UNC faculty members. Many of these projects are led or co-led by public health experts at the Gillings School.

Those in the baby boomer generation are entering the longest phase of elderhood in history — full of potential but also fraught with challenges. Elders may balk at the role reversal of younger relatives claiming to know what’s best, says Dr. Samuel Baxter.

With wildfires raging across L.A. and strong winds carrying smoke and pollutants, much of the area is experiencing unhealthy air quality. If you're shopping for an air purifier, Dr. Will Vizuete suggests checking in with the California Air Resources Board.

The Gillings Research Office has announced the winners of their Award for Excellence in #HealthEquity Research. Dr. Sarah Mills, Austin Waters, Fred Tusabe and Emile Charles work to identify and combat factors that contribute to health inequities.

UNC's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week, which honors the civil rights leader’s bridge-building legacy, includes events highlighting our commitment to social justice. Despite the challenges of today and tomorrow, we hold onto Dr. King’s dream.

Is dried fruit healthy? “You need to watch your serving size; it's not a one-to-one [for fresh fruit],” says Amanda Sawyer, a registered dietitian and associate professor in the department of nutrition at the Gillings School.

Polarization leads us to make bad health choices, says Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, a health policy scholar at UNC. This article references his essay on how political division degrades people’s health through effects on both individuals and elected officials.

RT @UNCSPHdean: At today’s Gillings Multicultural Festival. Our students are so much fun!