UAlbany Researchers Examine Health Data Policies in the Biden-Harris Administration
As a new presidential administration commences, researchers at the University at Albany are analyzing the potential impact on health data policy and opportunities for improved access. Writing in JAMA Health Forum, authors Erika Martin and Mila Gascó-Hernandez see renewed opportunities for growth and success if the Biden-Harris Administration follows the lead of past practices inaugurated under President Barack Obama.
Preexisting Mental Illness Associated with Elevated Mortality Risk among Medicaid-Insured Women with Breast Cancer
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 24, 2021) – In a recent study, UAlbany School of Public Health alum (DrPH, 2020) Dr. Wayne Lawrence collaborated with several faculty to investigate the impact of preexisting mental illnesses on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers discovered that among women diagnosed with breast cancer, those with preexisting severe mental illness (SMI) at diagnosis were at an increased risk of overall mortality and cancer-specific mortality compared to women without mental illness.
Five Questions with Faculty: Professor Emeritus Gus Birkhead
Guthrie (Gus) Birkhead, MD, MPH is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Until 2015, Dr. Birkhead worked at the New York State Department of Health for 27 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Birkhead worked in the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, was the director of the NYSDOH AIDS Institute and director of the NYSDOH Center for Community Health (CCH), which included the state’s communicable disease, chronic disease, maternal and child health, nutrition and local public health services programs. Dr. Birkhead was also Deputy Commissioner and Director of the Office of Public Health, which included responsibility for the AIDS Institute, the CCH, the Center for Environmental Health and the Wadsworth Center Public Health Laboratory.
Investigating Manogepix Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Invasive Fungal Pathogen, Candida auris
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 10, 2021) – Assistant Professor Sudha Chaturvedi and Wadsworth Center researcher Vishnu Chaturvedi, along with colleagues nationwide, studied the ability of antifungal agent Manogepix (MGX) to inhibit the growth of Candida auris (C. auris). The researchers determined that MGX is highly potent against C. auris isolates.
Research finds people diagnosed with HIV in New York State were more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19
New research out of UAlbany and the AIDS Institute found that through the middle of 2020, people diagnosed with HIV infection were significantly more likely to contract, be hospitalized with and die from COVID-19.
Fewer severe heart attack patients pursued PCI pre-COVID
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 3, 2021) – In a recent study, Distinguished Professor Edward Hannan, Cardiac Services Program Project Director Kimberly Cozzens and colleagues investigated the fluctuation in the number of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York State (NYS). The researchers discovered that the number of patients who pursued STEMI PCIs dropped by approximately a quarter in NYS during the pandemic.
Minority Nurse Practitioners Underrepresented in New York State
A recent study conducted by the Center for Health Workforce Studies examined the racial/ethnic composition of New York’s nurse practitioner (NP) workforce.
35th Anniversary Magazine
Read our 35th anniversary magazine to learn more about the work from School of Public Health faculty, staff and students!