School of Public Health News
The School of Public Health is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people worldwide. Our departments, programs, and research units work to provide a diverse education, practical training experience, and numerous community involvement opportunities to prepare students to become leaders and professionals in the field of public health.
Current Public Health News
The 30-member team under the direction of Abby Wood took special care after Dec. 6 to repair damage to the Student Union.
News highlights starring UNLV students and faculty who made local and national headlines.
Public Health professor Erika Marquez receives 2024 Community Engagement Award for her work breaking down barriers to reach marginalized communities.
Partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders uses sports to boost body image and mental well-being of teenage girls.
The award administered by UNLV's Office of Government and Community Engagement recognize individuals who are advancing UNLV's Top Tier goals to serve our region.
A roundup of the top news stories featuring UNLV students and faculty.
Public Health In The News
Ticks are the worst kind of pest. Tiny and hard to spot on bare skin, they look like freckles or moles to the naked eye but latch onto hosts, sucking their blood and possibly spreading diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rabbit fever (tularemia) and Lyme disease.In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 63,000 cases of Lyme disease.
Earlier this month, an assortment of Planters peanuts and mixed nuts were recalled over concerns they contained Listeria. Similarly, a variety of chocolate-covered pretzels and cookies were recalled due to fears the snacks were riddled with Salmonella. Recently, over 16,000 pounds of raw ground beef sold at Walmart were pulled from the shelves due potentially being contaminated with E. coli.
We all know that excess (atishaya in Sanskrit) of anything is bad, yet we indulge in excessive pursuits of pleasurable activities. For example, excessive eating at a buffet, excessive accumulation of wealth, excessive work to get fame, excessive gossiping, and so on. What happens with excess? Eventually, it leads to pain either in the short term or the long term. For example, if we overeat, we may, in the short term, have abdominal discomfort. If we continue excessive eating, in the long term, it can lead to us becoming overweight and obese. Hence, all this excess is a barrier on the path of living a harmonious life with nature and thus in our spiritual journey. It ultimately robs us of peace of mind and causes dissatisfaction. Excess of anything leads to raga (likes) and dvesha (dislikes) which are detrimental to the path of the development of our consciousness. How to avoid excess in our actions?
In 1988, a classic double-blind randomized controlled study of aspirin and carotene was conducted among 22,000 American male physicians of the ages 40-84 years. The study provided evidence for a 44% drop in heart attacks for participants who took aspirin. As a result, aspirin was taken by many people over the age of 40 years around the world for primary prevention of heart attacks, many of whom were not even prescribed this drug by their healthcare providers. However, 20 years later, in 2018, many studies reversed this recommendation and only advocated it for secondary prevention or for those who have had a heart attack or stroke. This message needs to be conveyed to people who have not had a heart attack or stroke and still think that daily intake of aspirin is beneficial.
Flag football has grown a lot as a sport since it reached Clark County high schools in 2012. Recently approved to debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the sport has gained attention among girls and people concerned about brain injuries such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. In partnership with the Raiders, UNLV’s School of Public Health developed the RUSH program to address mental health for middle school girls by increasing their awareness of the rapidly-growing sport of flag football. Professor Dr. Jennifer Pharr shares details about the program and the future of high school sports in Las Vegas with co-host Dayvid Figler.
Social Issues Theatre has unveiled the Enable Me Theatre Pilot Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at revolutionizing dementia care. By employing innovative techniques such as role reversal, this program empowers caregivers and cultivates stronger connections between caregivers and dementia patients.