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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

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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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…

Honorees announced for 2021 undergraduate research recognition awards

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The Population Health Initiative announced the award of Population Health Recognitions to 12 students participating in the Undergraduate Research Symposium for their innovative and well-presented research work. This award was created in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Program and was open to students across all three campuses who are presenting at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, May 21, 2021. More than 90 applications were received for this award, which were reviewed by a panel of judges from the…

Exploring physically distant technology access and assistance to support a changing economy

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The COVID-19 pandemic triggered not only massive job losses, but also displaced many workers whose occupations are incompatible with the changing times. Among those impacted, people of color, younger laborers, those with lower levels of education and low-wage laborers are disproportionately affected by the rise of this new economy. As safety restrictions lessen and businesses look to reopen, some employees may return to work, while many others will be displaced. As a result, many workers will need to retrain for…

Initiative announces summer 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows

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The Population Health Initiative, in partnership with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, CoMotion and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, announced the selection of five graduate student fellows for the summer 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program cohort. The fellows will devote 10 weeks over the summer to generate impactful solutions and contributions to sustain the work of preexisting, multidisciplinary innovations developed by University of Washington researchers. Students selected for this summer’s program are: Name Degree Program School Daaniya…

Study links helpful behavior during the pandemic to feelings of connection to others

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According to a recent study led by researchers from the University of Washington, people who recognize their connections with others and identify with all humanity are more likely to cooperate with public health measures and act altruistically amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-disciplinary behavioral study draws on data collected across 80 countries. The findings reveal that those who identify with all humanity, instead of geographic identities, are more likely to cooperate with public health measures and restrictions. The findings will…

Cultivating farmworkers’ COVID-19 health on the air in the Yakima Valley

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the need to stay informed about relevant public health policies and health information has proved vital. Yet, for many, this information is often inaccessible due to language, cultural, or technology barriers. Recognizing this problem, University of Washington researchers from the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) have worked to launch a radio campaign that will disseminate accurate health and safety information, COVID-19 vaccine plans, and community resources. The researchers intend to reach rural…

Spotlight: Francis Abugbilla focuses on post-conflict peacebuilding mechanisms

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Francis Mbawini Abugbilla is a Ph.D. candidate at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and 2020 Population Health Social Entrepreneurship Fellow. His research focus is Peace, Violence and Security, with his dissertation focusing on post-conflict peacebuilding mechanisms in Africa. Abugbilla grew up in the Bawku West District of Ghana, raised as a farmer in a small agricultural community. “I am a first-generation student and the first in my extended family to get a bachelor’s degree,” Abugbilla said. “I…

Addressing and assessing the impact of COVID-19 on Latino immigrant families

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As of February 2021, Latinos comprise 32% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington State, despite accounting for only 13% of the state’s total population. These statistics allude to the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Latino communities in Washington State and beyond. To address the pandemic’s impact on Latino communities, researchers from the University of Washington departments of Health Sciences, Global Health and Epidemiology sought to research the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latino immigrant households…