For two years, a group of world-class scientists pitched their idea for a hot new biotech company to investors: a start-up focused on a promising therapy for preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that can become life-threatening. It was cutting-edge science, backed by a Nobel laureate, a Harvard kidney specialist, a leading chemist, and a biologist with … Read more

Eric Juengst will serve as a visiting professor at the University of Antwerp’s Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine from March 1- March 30, 2019, to collaborate with Professor Annelies Van Rie on a study of the ethical implications of phylogenetic tracking for tuberculosis.

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, was awarded a multi-site five year R01 to establish the Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Cohort among parolees in NC, KY, and FL. The estimated HIV prevalence among criminal justice (CJ) involved individuals is three times higher than the general population. Parolees on post-release supervision after release experience multi-level obstacles (e.g., lack of access … Read more

Tonia Poteat, PhD awarded NIH Grant to Study Biopsychosocial Mechanisms Linking Gender Minority Stress to HIV Comorbidities. Project Summary/Abstract Despite a high prevalence of HIV among gender minority women, very little is known about HIV comorbid conditions in this population. Understanding the mechanisms of underlying HIV-related comorbidities in this health disparity population is an important step … Read more

Public policies play a crucial role in shaping how immigrants adapt to life in the United States. Federal, state, and local laws and administrative practices impact immigrants’ access to education, health insurance and medical care, cash assistance, food assistance, and other vital services. Additionally, immigration enforcement activities have substantial effects on immigrants’ health and participation in public programs, … Read more

Medical schools are making headway in meeting the demands of students who want a greater understanding of how health-care policy will affect their patients and practices. Jonathan Oberlander, chair of the Department of Social Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill interview Bloomberg Law 2019.   https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/beyond-cadavers-med-students-learn-to-dissect-health-policy

Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc, Kenan Distinguished Professor in the departments of social medicine and medicine in the UNC School of Medicine and director of the UNC Center for Health Equity Research, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her scholarly work on the practical and ethical issues of engaging communities in research to achieve health and equity.

Social Medicine is thrilled to announce that Tonia Poteat has joined the Department as an assistant professor. She will also serve as a core faculty member in the UNC Center for Health Equity Research. Tonia holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins and an MPH and MMSc from Emory, and is a practicing physician assistant. Her research, teaching, and clinical practice have focused on HIV and LGBT health disparities, with particular attention to the health and well-being of transgender communities.

Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, delivers the 34th Annual Norma Berryhill Distinguished Lecture on Thursday, October 18. Corbie-Smith’s lecture, titled “Leveraging the Power of Collaboration and Engagement to Achieve Health Equity,” can be viewed in full here.

The annual Thomas Jefferson Award recognizes a UNC faculty member who, through personal influence and performance of duty in teaching, writing and scholarship, has best exemplified the ideals and objectives of Thomas Jefferson. UNC faculty members nominate candidates for the honor, which carries a cash prize; a faculty committee chooses the recipient. Chancellor Carol Folt presented the award to Sue Estroff, PhD, at a meeting of the Faculty Council last week.