Suchergebnisse

The following excerpt is from an op-ed that first appeared in The Hill on August 26, 2023. Early in the pandemic, unforgettable images of long lines at food pantries across the U.S. became common as the American hunger crisis surged into full public view. These lines eased in part because of the largest-ever increase to payments by the federal […]

Cash transfer programs, which provide a predictable amount of money to impoverished people, are a growing tool to reduce the negative effects of poverty, such as poor health outcomes. The United States is experiencing a boomlet in small-scale, experimental versions of these projects. About 40 time-limited pilot studies are operating now, mostly in cities. Philadelphia […]

"You only got in because of affirmative action." As a group of minority students at elite predominantly-white institutions, we have become numb to this phrase. It disregards the countless hurdles we've overcome to access the same opportunities that others had a head start to. However, these struggles have only strengthened our drive and made us […]

The following excerpt is from an op-ed that first appeared in The Messenger on August 19, 2023. A 24-year-old patient has come to see me for her annual OB-GYN visit. She proffers an array of snacks to her toddler son while she fills me in about wanting emergency contraception in case she needs it. Based on her medical history, […]

Produced in conjunction with the Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV The lethal mixture of xylazine and fentanyl, also known as Tranq dope, may sound unfamiliar to many, but its impact is harming people who use drugs nationwide. Xylazine, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration […]

Medicare Advantage (MA)–the private alternative to traditional Medicare–is now projected to enroll more than half of all Medicare recipients this year for the first time. The surge in MA plans has fueled concerns that the program is overfunded, and enables plans to grow by offering gym memberships, dental care, and other supplemental benefits. Indeed, the […]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of public health information reached unprecedented levels. From daily updates on new cases in local communities to fluctuations in infections, as well as changing guidelines on mask-wearing, individuals were inundated with information. Despite the abundance of pandemic-related statistics, little work has been done to understand how the public responds […]

Going home from the hospital can be a scary time. Many patients and caregivers report feeling unprepared, especially since historically hospital stays have gotten shorter. That lack of preparedness for caregivers is compounded by feeling left out of the discharge planning process. The stakes are especially high for the 20% of elderly patients who get […]

Racial disparities in birth outcomes in the United States are long-standing and by now well-known. Black women are three times more likely than white women to die, or experience severe maternal complications, or have a cesarean birth. Social determinants of health – the conditions where people live, learn, work, and play that affect health– have […]

The following excerpt is from an op-ed that first appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on June 14, 2023. Leading up to the primary, it was clear crime was on residents' minds. Indeed, the Democratic winner — Cherelle Parker — ran on a bold plan to fight crime. But crime is not the only important topic to Philadelphians […]

Housing, transportation, access to quality nutritious food, and other social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people's health, well-being, and quality of life. But doctors and other clinicians often have a limited ability to address these things during the typical office visit or hospital admission. Increasingly, though, community health workers (CHW)—who provide […]

The following excerpt is from an op-ed that first appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on May 16, 2023. During the chemical spill last March that imperiled the city's biggest water treatment plant, nearly one million Philadelphians feared losing access to safe drinking water. Most residents are not used to living with such a threat. But many of […]