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
Coronavirus Case Counts Are Going to Go up - but That Doesn't Mean Social Distancing Is a Bust
Abram Wagner
The last few weeks have brought previously unimaginable changes to the lives of people throughout the United States. Americans everywhere are waking up to a new reality in which they can’t go to work or school outside the home and they have to stay six feet away from others. More than 80% of Americans are under such stay-at-home orders. Read more
Another Housing Crisis Is Coming--And Bailouts and Eviction Freezes Won't Be Enough to Prevent Many from Losing Their Homes
Roshanak Mehdipanah
Millions of Americans are suddenly out of work as the financial and economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic deepens. Without an income, most of these people will have a hard time covering their expenses, including keeping a roof over their heads. Read more
Coronavirus and Immigration: ICE Reductions Are Too Little, Too Late
William D. Lopez and Nicole L. Novak
In the face of decades of mistrust and fear, the operational changes proposed by ICE are paltry. Now more than ever, say Lopez and Novak, is the time to prioritize human dignity and public health and to allow immigrant communities to shelter safely in place. Read more
Viruses Live on Doorknobs and Phones and Can Get You Sick--Smart Cleaning and Good Habits Can Help Protect You
Joseph Eisenberg
Professor and Chair of Epidemiology Joe Eisenberg highlights some of the things that you can do to mitigate the risk of transmission of viruses and other bugs. His suggestion? Properly and frequently clean the things you touch with disinfectant. Read more
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Coronavirus, Kids, and School Closings: A Public Health Expert Answers 4 Questions
Aubree Gordon
The World Health Organization has declared a coronoavirus pandemic, and more cases have been announced in several states. School closings, such as the statewide closure of schools in Ohio, Oregon, Maryland, New Mexico, and Michigan announced March 12, are often one of the actions that officials consider. Public health scholar Aubree Gordon explains why. Read more
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Human Resilience, Positive Engagement, and Building on the Strengths of a Great City
Marc Zimmerman
Why do some youth end up engaging in bad behaviors and others do not? Marc Zimmerman has spent his career studying one half of that question—the many positive things youth bring to their communities. For decades, Zimmerman has partnered with colleagues in Flint to explore the many strengths of that city and the most basic forms of community engagement can have huge, positive impact. Read more
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Sleep 101: Why Sleep Is So Important to Your Health
Erica Jansen
What is sleep and how is it related to our overall health? How much sleep do we need? When should the school day begin? As we approach daylight saving time 2020, nutritional sciences expert Erica Jansen talks about sleep, nutrition, mental health, and how to catch more ZZZs. Read more
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The (Mis)Education of US on Climate and Health: Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome's Health Sciences 2020 MLK Lecture
Jalonne L. White-Newsome, PhD '11
On Monday January 8, 2020, Michigan Public Health alum Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome visited the University of Michigan to deliver the University of Michigan Health Sciences 2020 MLK Lecture titled "The (Mis)Education of US on Climate and Health." Read more
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State of Maternal Mortality: The Inequitable Burden on Black Mothers
Kyle Simone Nisbeth
In the US, Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. The majority of these deaths are preventable, introducing tough questions for health care. Through awareness and advocacy, says Kyle Nisbeth, we can ensure that these burdens are mitigated and that Black mothers and babies receive the care they need to thrive. Read more
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How Can We Prepare for the Coronavirus? 3 Questions Answered
Aubree Gordon
Public health officials in the US warned that the coronavirus, which has in large part spared the US, is coming and that the country needs to be prepared. But just what does this mean for you, as well as for public health officials? Aubree Gordon, public health scholar at the University of Michigan, explains. Read more
