Michigan Public Health is built on diverse perspectives and community voices. We engage with countless fields and diverse populations, and together we help drive forward the dialogues that guide the future of public health.
SPOTLIGHT
Racism: The Root Cause of COVID-19 Disparities in Washtenaw County
Jeremiah Simon
Black residents of Washtenaw County, like elsewhere in Michigan, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In the fight to gain racial justice in the US, it is critical that we examine how racism contributes to health inequities right here in our backyard. Read more
What Makes a "Wave" of Disease? An Epidemiologist Explains
Abram L. Wagner
With daily deaths from COVID-19 in the US rarely going below 600 for months, the US is not yet in a second wave. Instead, we seem to be sustaining an ongoing first wave that just continues to crest. What will it take to get the US to a much-needed trough? Read more
Pregnancy in Puerto Rico: Protecting the Health of Women and Children by Reducing Metal Exposures
Pahriya Ashrap
During gestation, the human body grows at tremendous speeds, and even slight changes to a child’s biology during this sensitive time can dramatically alter health outcomes. Recent studies in Puerto Rico and elsewhere provide further support for the need to address even low levels of lead exposure for all pregnant women. Read more
Mental Health, Incarceration, and COVID-19
Chanese A. Forte
In the US, ten times more people with mental health disorders are in jail or prison than in mental health facilities. The coronavirus pandemic further complicates this matter, putting incarcerated individuals at increased risk of infection. Read more
-
A Family Perspective Approach on Pediatric IBD for Public Health Professionals
Kaitlyn Rau
For young children with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, family and adult caregivers can make all the difference. Public health professionals working with pediatric IBD can employ a family perspective approach to support improved quality of life for children and their families. Read more
-
The Worst Disease You've Never Heard Of: Caring for Children with Epidermolysis Bullosa
Bailey Brown, BS ’20
Children with epidermolysis bullosa are often called butterfly children—their skin seems to be as fragile as a butterfly’s wing. While there is no cure for EB, ongoing clinical trials have developed treatments to manage symptoms. Public health clinicians can help patients and their families build support networks by connecting them to local support groups and other families caring for children with EB. Read more
-
Pouring from a Full Cup: Maintaining Health and Wellness for Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Disease
Alex Eanes, MPH ’20
The constant demands of caregiving can create physical and psychological stress with little opportunity for adaptation, potentially resulting in negative physical and mental health outcomes for the caregiver. These burdens can be reduced by following proper measures for self-management. Read more
-
Will COVID-19 Be a Catalyst for Paid Family Leave Expansion?
Batsheva Honig
Paid family leave is needed now more than ever. The United States is the only developed country without mandated paid family leave policy for all employees, a fact thrown into sharp relief by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
-
We May Be Safer Now From Coronavirus Than We Were Three Months Ago, but We're Not Totally Safe
Ryan Malosh
With social distancing guidelines and mandates mostly lifted, people have begun to head back to beaches, parks and restaurants in many parts of the U.S. But you may ask: What’s so different now compared to the situation back when social distancing began in March and April? Coronavirus still lurks. Are we really safe? Read more
-
Understanding Lupus, the Disease Treated by Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine
Ekemini Hogan, Akpabio Akpabio, and Utibe Effiong
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are important therapies for those suffering from lupus, a complex auto-immune disease. As the world battles to overcome COVID-19, we must ensure continued availability of antimalarials to patients whose lives literally depend on them. Read more
