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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

Informal evictions on the rise during the pandemic, with people of color at most risk

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Despite the implementation of rental eviction moratoriums during the pandemic, preliminary research from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance reveals an increase in the number of reported informal evictions. While moratoriums have legally prevented landlords from formally evicting tenants, this does not guarantee that landlords will adhere to the law. The lack of governmental oversight and costs of challenging an eviction has resulted in landlords informally evicting tenants. Such evictions are done without formal notice,…

Population Health Initiative grants boost wildfire and climate research

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In March 2021, the Population Health Initiative awarded eight faculty-led projects pilot research grants. Three of the research teams provided awards include researchers from the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), addressing critical environmental challenges. Among these projects are two projects that examine the impact of prescribed wildfires. One project examines the impact of prescribed fires in rural communities, characterizing the risks of smoke exposure on community members in Washington’s Okanogan Valley. The other project…

Addressing inequities in speech-language pathology services for children

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According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 8% of children between the ages of 3-17 have experienced a communication disorder. Among this population, disparities in access to and quality of speech-language pathology services exist for children from historically underserved backgrounds. These inequities have yet to be adequately addressed in the field of speech-language pathology and stand as a critical population health challenge. Recognizing the severity of this issue, Sara Kover, associate professor in the University…

Winning papers announced for 2021 Population Health Library Research Awards

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The Population Health Initiative has awarded Population Health Recognition Awards to four students participating in the 2021 Library Research Award for Undergraduates. Award winners were chosen based on the quality of their writing, the innovativeness of their research hypothesis and how well they connected their work to the theme of population health. This award was created in 2017 in partnership with the UW Libraries. It is open to undergraduate applicants from all three campuses. Submitted projects were completed for either…

NatureCollections mobile app realizes results in the wild

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A unique collaboration between researchers from the iSchool and tweens has led to the creation of NatureCollections, a mobile app that connects kids with nature. The app is designed to encourage elementary school-aged children to learn about nature as they navigate smartphone usage. This technology was designed to promote learning opportunities and an appreciation for nature, indirectly limiting screen time by compelling children to go outdoors through the app. The app was recently piloted and demonstrated that children who used…

Initiative-funded COVID-19 population health equity grantees report final results

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative funded 14 COVID-19 population health equity research grants to teams of UW faculty researchers and community leaders in August 2020. These population health equity research grants supported UW researchers in partnering with communities of color – which are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic – to develop COVID-19 research projects that address community-identified needs. The project teams were composed of individuals representing 11 different UW schools and colleges and 26 different community-based organizations….

Population health partnership with the Aga Khan University yields global impact

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Since 2016, the University of Washington and the Aga Khan University (AKU) have collaborated to advance population health, promote education, service, and research opportunities in low- and middle-income countries. The AKU is a private university under the aegis of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The university, established in 1983, began as a health-sciences institution but has since grown to include programs in education, media and communications, and Muslim civilizations. The AKU will eventually become a comprehensive university by introducing a…

Initiative announces summer 2021 cohort of Applied Research Fellows

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The Population Health Initiative announced the award of five Population Health Applied Research Fellowships to three graduate and two undergraduate students. The Applied Research Fellowship program was launched in 2019 in partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology. The fellowship equips students with data analysis, critical thinking and team science skills that will enable them to effectively tackle complex population health challenges and become future leaders in the field. The cohort of students selected…

UW researchers develop first AI system for contactless monitoring of heart rhythms

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Utilizing smart speaker technology, UW researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence system to monitor heartbeats without physical contact. The researchers tested their new system and recently published their results, finding the smart speaker consistently detected heartbeats that closely matched those detected by standard heartbeat monitors. The smart speaker technology detects individual heartbeats by sending inaudible sounds from the speaker and analyzing how the sounds are reflected back to the speaker, utilizing machine learning to distinguish individual heartbeats. After identifying…

Spotlight: Jenna van Draanen bridges disciplines in unique Nursing and Public Health faculty role

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Image of Jenna van Draanen

Dr. Jenna van Draanen, assistant professor at both the University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health, is passionate about upstream interventions and addressing social determinants for health. After receiving her M.P.H. from the University of Toronto, van Draanen worked as a research assistant and research coordinator, allowing her to learn more about the public health landscape and explore various research areas. Among these experiences, she served as a research coordinator for a randomized control study on…