CPH In the Media: April 2020 Roundup
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of April 2020:
Related to the COVID-19 –
Athens CEO and WGAU radio covered the COVID-19 resources produced by CPH students during the recent Hackathon, Online Athens and the Augusta Chronicle specifically highlighted the work done to support homeless populations.
Grace Bagwell Adams, an associate professor of health policy and management, provided expert analysis of how differing local shelter in place policies may burden Southern healthcare systems for a recent Politico article, which was also referenced by Hot Air.
Bagwell Adams was also quoted on a report she authored with Justin Ingels, Meg Bramlett, Ishaan Dave, Micah Gell-Redman and Nicholas Mallis offering insight into the potential surge of patients Athens' hospitals may experience before the end of April. The report as well as reactions to its findings were covered by Online Athens, the Red and Black (#1, #2), Main Street News, The Elberton Star, and WUGA.
Justin Bahl, an associate professor of epidemiology & biostatistics, was asked about whether someone outside your household can quarantine with you (likely no) for Huffington Post and just how badly diagnoses are falling behind the outbreak for the New York Times. He also provided commentary when U.S. cases surpassed China's for CGTN America.
Physician and epidemiologist José Cordero again lent his expert perspective on emerging issues related to COVID-19 for the AJC, including the disproportionate toll the disease has take on African Americans and the role of DPH commissioner Kathleen Toomey in the state response. Cordero also participated in a community panel on coronavirus hosted by Telemundo Atlanta on Facebook Live, and spoke to 11 Alive about why viruses mutate.
Cham Dallas, professor of health policy and management, broke down what Gov. Kemp's shelter in place order mandates for the Red and Black.
Mark Ebell, a physician and professor of epidemiology & biostatistics, spoke with WUGA on tracking local COVID-19 numbers. He also provided context to the hopeful findings of a recent study on the effectiveness of an anti-viral therapeutic developed for Ebola for some severe COVID-19 patients for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The story was also picked up by Herald Mail Media, Detroit News, Click Lancashire, and NNY 360.
Insights on how social distancing may impact older adults from Kerstin Emerson, a clinical associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology, continue to receive coverage from WABE, 11 Alive, the Savannah Morning News and Fox5 Atlanta.
Curt Harris, director of the UGA Institute for Disaster Management, commented on the latest predictions on when the outbreak may peak in South Carolina.
Chrissy Proctor, an assistant professor in health promotion & behavior, provided insights for runners who want to know how to stay safe on the jog for Women's Running.
Grace Bagwell Adams and José Cordero responded to questions about the accuracy of current Georgia COVID-19 data in an article on Online Athens.
Grace Bagwell Adams, Mark Ebell, José Cordero, and Andreas Handel, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, were quoted by a number of outlets across the state in coverage relating to the move to reopen businesses across the state on April 24. Ebell, in an article in Online Athens, Cordero in an interview with Telemundo Atlanta, and Bagwell Adams, in an interview with WUGA-FM, cautioned that reopening the state might be premature. Bagwell Adams and Handel offered insights on the potential for a second wave of cases in reporting from The Daily Tribune News, Walton Tribune, Albany Herald, Cairo Messenger, and The Hartwell Sun.
On UGA Today, Travis Glenn, a professor of environmental health science, offered guidelines on using heat as a tool to disinfect masks and other materials contaminated by coronavirus. The advisory received additional coverage at GPB News.
A UGA study, co-authored by Andreas Handel, estimated that relaxing the social distancing measures in place since March could cause an additional 1,500 deaths from coronavirus in Georgia, plus tens of thousands more cases. The findings were referenced in regional news coverage including White County News.
CPH undergraduate and former Miss UGA Briana Hayes and other officers of UGA's RISE penned an article for the AJC urging UGA to move to pass/fail grading system and acknowledge the unique challenges students, particularly rural students, are facing are facing right now. Hayes and her colleagues from RISE have joined with other college students across the state to petition the University System of Georgia to move to the new grading system. Their efforts were profiled by the WTOC 11.
Kim Wolf, a Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work candidate, and her work with the Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) to bring pets to people struggling with social isolation and loneliness during the pandemic was featured in The Miscellany News. The project was also featured in The Times-Herald Record and McKnight's Long-Term Care News.
Other mentions –
Clinical assistant professor Mumbi Anderson, who is running unopposed for a seat on Clarke County Board of Education, was featured in The Red & Black.
A study from Janani Thapa, professor of health policy and management, found that even with Medicaid expansion coverage gaps remain for individuals who are obese. The findings received coverage from EurekAlert, Health Medicine Network and News Medical.
Environmental health dual-degree student Harris Jamal was feature in UGA's Earth Day coverage, describing the connection between environmental, personal and public health.
Posted April 30, 2020.