Stay informed with the latest public health research, insights, and evidence-based analysis from our team of experts.
Just an interesting bit of reflection today, I quit smoking on this day back in 2008. 16 years ago! I also quit drinking in 2017. What I also think is interesting is that I still get cravings for cigarettes, but nothing for alcohol. I’m sure a neuropsych person could tell me why my brain has […]
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HHS set to see cuts, overhaul to its agencies Obviously, this is the big story. In a controversial reorganization plan led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will cut 20,000 positions and shut down entire agencies responsible for community health and addiction services, despite concerns from […]
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In 2025, working within the federal system—whether as a researcher, contractor, or civil servant—has never felt more fraught. Programs supporting veterans, mental health, and suicide prevention are being gutted. Equity-focused initiatives are under political siege. The chilling rise of online “watchlists” targeting DEI professionals sends an unmistakable message: dissent will be punished, and even neutrality […]
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In our previous post, we explored how researchers can adapt to new federal restrictions on using Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) language in grant proposals. Now, we turn to public health practitioners in policy, government, and contracting roles. These professionals are on the front lines of implementing programs and writing policy briefs under evolving […]
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Every year, millions of workers call out sick, leading to lost productivity, increased stress on coworkers, and financial strain on businesses and economies. The numbers are staggering—a 44% increase in sick leave between 2006 and 2020 in Europe alone. And yet, despite decades of research, we still struggle to find effective ways to keep workers […]
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Plenty of science still coming up next week. They can stop the funding, but it’s going to be hard to stop a bunch of angry scientists from putting their research out there. Let us not forget, public health is GLOBAL. Here’s some of the research coming up next week. Also scroll down for some of […]
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Have you ever left a virtual meeting feeling inexplicably drained, even though you were just sitting in front of a screen? You’re not alone. The shift to online communication during the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a new phenomenon: Zoom fatigue. This exhaustion, linked to the frequent use of video conferencing platforms, affects students, educators, […]
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Picture the powerful crescendo of a symphony, the electrifying guitar solo at a rock concert, or the driving beat of a jazz performance. For musicians, sound is their medium, their passion, and their livelihood. But what if the very thing that defines their art is also putting their hearing at risk? A new scoping review […]
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So, we’re based in Pennsylvania (Amish Country, specifically), so we some good news for a change. In a strategic move to strengthen Pennsylvania’s public workforce, Governor Josh Shapiro has signed Executive Order 2025-01, aimed at streamlining hiring processes and attracting skilled federal employees to fill critical vacancies across the state. With 5,600 job openings in […]
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Something slipped by last October when America’s attention was focused on the election. The NSF Politicized Funding report, chaired by Texas’s Ted Cruz and released by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s minority staff, asserted that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has increasingly allocated funding to research projects influenced by diversity, equity, […]
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Online research recruitment is a powerful tool—until it backfires. We recently learned this the hard way when we and our colleagues over at Dawn Chorus posted a call for participants on Facebook for parents to share their experiences and perceptions of substance use patterns within a specific community. What happened next left us stunned, frustrated, […]
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Stress and burnout are on the rise, particularly in high-pressure jobs like healthcare and public service. With increasing workloads, tight deadlines, and demanding expectations, employees often struggle to maintain their well-being. Many organizations have turned to resilience-based interventions to help workers cope with stress, enhance productivity, and improve job satisfaction. But do these interventions actually […]
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