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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

UW co-hosting Global Burden of Disease anniversary on September 26 and 27

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The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and The Lancet are co-hosting the 20th anniversary of the Global Burden of Disease study from September 26 to 27, 2017, at McCaw Hall in Seattle. The morning of September 27 will feature several prominent speakers. UW President Ana Mari Cauce will begin the day by introducing keynote speaker Bill Gates. Mr. Gates will be followed by the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Kim. Other speakers over the…

Supporting touch-screen use for those with motor impairments

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We live in a touch-screen world where making contact with a particular point gets us what we want. That is not the case, however, for the millions of people around the world who experience motor impairments and are thus being left behind. Martez Mott (pictured) is a PhD candidate in the UW’s Information School and an active member of the philanthropy-supported MAD (Mobile + Accessible Design) Lab and the DUB (Design. Use. Build.) Group, where his research centers on making…

Initiative announces winners of inaugural pilot research grants

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative has awarded five pilot research grants of $50,000 each to faculty-led teams from 10 different UW schools and colleges. This first $250,000 in funding was matched by additional school, college and departmental funds, bringing the total value of these awards to nearly $445,000. “We were incredibly impressed by the breadth and innovative nature of the project ideas that were submitted,” shared Ali H. Mokdad, vice chair of the Population Health Initiative and professor…

School of Public Health summer program seeks to increase diversity of health professionals

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Odia Kane

The School of Public Health’s Summer Health Profession Education Program is a free, six-week summer enrichment program committed to increasing the diversity of the health professional ranks. The program involves rigorous academic training in classes that provide a strong knowledge base in the basic foundational sciences and statistics. It targets students completing their freshman year of college, and seeks to build on the students’ knowledge of the social determinants of health and health disparities through the lens of social justice….

Western Forum for Migrant and Community Health seeking abstracts

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The Western Forum for Migrant and Community Health will be held in Seattle from February 22 to 24, 2018. This year’s theme is, “Communities Mobilizing for Health Equity,” and the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association has issued a call for the submission of abstracts for presentations and posters that speak to this topic. Forum sessions are designed for community health professionals and their partners with the aim to improve access to care and health outcomes for the underserved. Abstracts are…

Five new members named to initiative executive council

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Five new faculty have been named to the 30-member Population Health Initiative executive council by President Ana Mari Cauce. They are: Carmen Gonzalez, assistant professor of communication, College of Arts & Sciences Phil Levin, professor of practice, environmental and forest sciences, College of the Environment Julian Marshall, John R. Kiley endowed professor of civil & environmental engineering, College of Engineering Andy Stergachis, professor of pharmacy and global health, and associate dean for research, graduate programs and new initiatives, School of Pharmacy…

UW Livable City Year program completes first partnership

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The University of Washington’s Livable City Year program connects one Washington community with UW faculty and students each year to work on community-identified projects. Livable City Year partnered with the City of Auburn during the 2016-2017 school year, with more than 160 students working on 17 different projects. These projects included a study on preventing food waste in Auburn schools; landscape design of an alleyway into a vibrant public space; a study of Auburn residents’ preparedness for emergencies and disasters; and…

Engineering students bring improvements to Nicaraguan village

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The University of Washington chapter of Engineers Without Borders helps meet human needs through engineering projects that focus on clean water, energy, sanitation, agriculture and structures. The chapter’s newest engagement is a five-year project to connect more households in Tortuga, Nicaragua to connect more households to running water, remove calcium from the water, and expand access to electricity. The students complete the majority of their design, prototyping, and planning work on campus, and will be visiting Tortuga for a second…

Neighborhood poverty may impact how much you drink

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New research from the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and School of Social Work suggests that improving a neighborhood’s quality of life can play a greater role in reducing problem drinking than does access to bars and stores that sell hard liquor. UW researchers found that residents of neighborhoods primarily characterized by high poverty and disorganization tended to drink twice as much in a typical week as those in other types of neighborhoods. Binge-drinking occurred in…

Schools of Dentistry and Public Health both third in new global rankings

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The Global Ranking of Academic Subjects list for 2017 ranks both the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry and Public Health as third best in the world. The ranking were conducted by researchers at the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. “This is wonderful recognition of the excellence of our faculty, students and staff, and a clear sign that their positive impact on our world is being noticed. It’s also a reflection of the strength of our…