On the Heights: April 2025
Departmental news, research highlights, community achievements, and more to help you stay connected with the Michigan Public Health community.
Environmental Health Sciences,Faculty
Michigan Public Health celebrates faculty, staff, students for excellence
Students, faculty and staff from the University of Michigan School of Public Health were commended during the fourth annual Public Health Honors on April 23. The event, held at the Rogel Ballroom in the Michigan Union, recognized the outstanding efforts and achievements of individuals who have exceeded expectations in the areas of public health research, education, community service and public engagement.
Drug that treats flu shows additional benefit of protecting close contacts from infection
Newly published findings of global drug trial show promise for preventing avian flu transmission
One dose of the antiviral baloxavir marboxil lowers the chance of transmitting the influenza virus to family members by about 30%, according to new research in the New England Journal of Medicine from University of Michigan researchers.
50 years of US economic change linked to poorer health, shorter lives for less-educated Americans
According to new research, Americans living in economically stagnant areas were more likely to suffer increased stress and much greater levels of chronic illness, particularly among adults with lower levels of education.
Federal budget cuts and worker safety
Michigan Public Health professor and researcher Rick Neitzel warns that federal cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which has lost two-thirds of its staff, will lead to more preventable workplace injuries and deaths across industries from mining to healthcare.
Biostatisticians use machine learning approach to improve risk prediction for recurrent health events
"Random forest" algorithm outperforms traditional methods for predicting patient flare-ups, even with incomplete medical histories
A new machine learning approach developed by University of Michigan School of Public Health researchers better predicts when patients might experience recurring health events like disease flare-ups or hospitalizations, even when patient follow-up data is incomplete.