Brown SPH in the news

A new study by Dr. Michael Barnett published finds found that Tylenol orders fell for pregnant women who visited the ER in the months after Trump’s statements, while prescriptions for leucovorin, a drug the administration touted as a potential autism treatment, rose.

Carolina Haass-Koffler, an associate professor of behavioral and social sciences, praised the design of a new study on the effects of GLP-1s.

In an opinion piece, Lauren Micalizzi, an assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences, and Liz Tobin-Tyler, a professor of health services, policy and practice and associate director of the School of Public Health, argue that laws pertaining to the use of cannabis by pregnant people need to be updated. 

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, provided commentary in this article. 

Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Jason Buxbaum provided commentary for this article.

A study by Brown researchers found that Medicare’s “three-day rule” keeps patients in the hospital longer than needed without improving health outcomes or lowering Medicare costs.

Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Ateev Mehrotra provided commentary in this article. 

Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology and founder of the Community Noise Lab at the School of Public Health, offered commentary on the health impacts of low-frequency noises.

Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice David Meyers provided commentary in this article. 

This article includes commentary from Christopher Kahler, the director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown. 

This article references survey findings from the RI Life Index, an annual survey by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Brown University School of Public Health.

Professor of Epidemiology Jen Nuzzo on continuing measles outbreaks in the U.S. and possibility of losing measles elimination status.

Professor Andrew Ryan and postdoctoral fellow Emily Shearer write how consolidating behavioral health beds and creating a freestanding emergency department could be a solution.

In this interview, Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences Jen Sachek discusses the federal government's new dietary guidelines.

Health Policy and Law Lab Director Erin Fuse Brown provided commentary in this article. 

Christopher Kahler, the director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown, provided commentary in this article.

Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Yashaswini Singh led a study that found private equity firms acquired more than 500 autism therapy centers during the past decade, with nearly 80% purchased between 2018 and 2022.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at SPH, comments on flu spoke seen in December.

A new review of ‘Dry January’ from researchers at Brown’s School of Public Health and Alpert Medical School finds even a short break from alcohol can boost health and help drinkers cut back for good.

A Brown University School of Public Health analysis shows Oregon’s cap on hospital payments for the state employee health plan led to major savings without reducing services, staffing or patient satisfaction.

Research Associate Abdullah Shihipar penned this column on how public engagement and storytelling are intertwined with public health. 

A study led by researchers at Brown University suggests that while other risks remain, smoking marijuana can temporarily cut down how much people drink.

A Brown-led study of the nation’s first state-level SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program finds small gains for some in the Rhode Island program but highlights overall need for better outreach and access.

School of Public Health Dean Ashish Jha writes about three things in public health to be thankful for this year.

Associate Professor Christopher Whaley comments on why health care is so expensive in the US and what can be done.

A new study led by researchers at Brown University suggests that while other risks remain, smoking marijuana can temporarily cut down how much people drink.

Researchers from Brown University School of Public Health, Harvard and RAND report that young people are turning to generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, for emotional support at unexpectedly high rates.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, provided commentary in this article. 

At the Children’s Health Defense conference in Texas, Craig Spencer saw what public health is up against at the anti-vaccine movement’s biggest gathering

Distinguished Senior Fellow Stephanie Psaki argues that the world is at a rare moment in history where science could stop the next pandemic before it starts — if we choose to act.

A study by researchers at the Center for Health System Sustainability shows that a rising premature death rate means Medicare isn’t helping as many people as intended.

Researchers at Brown, including Director of the Center for Climate, Environment & Health Joseph Braun, led a study in that found poor air quality had a negative effect on marathon finish times.

The number of Rhode Island households experiencing food insecurity more than doubled from 18% in 2021 to 38% in 2024, according to survey data from the School of Public Health and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Dean Ashish Jha explains why undermining vaccines will endanger Americans’ freedom in the Boston Globe.

A new study researchers at CAAS on the benefits of going one month sober.

Kaley Hayes, associate director of pharmacoepidemiology at Brown University’s Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, interviewed on pharmacy deserts.

Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice and Biostatistics Alyssa Bilinski and her work on the impact of excluding pregnant women from controlled trials of medications a focus of this news feature.

Experts from the Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research comment on this Providence Journal investigation.

Professor of Behavioral and Social Science Tara White is quoted and her 2021 paper on dignity neuroscience is cited in this Globe Ideas essay.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, commented on the top worries around bird flu in the U.S.

Many parents believe their children are getting plenty of sleep—but new research from Brown University suggests that notion may be far from the truth. “What parents often don’t see is how long it takes for kids to fall asleep or how often they wake up during the night,” explained paper author and behavioral scientist professor Diana Grigsby-Toussaint in a statement.

Biostatistics Alyssa Bilinski led a new study to quantify the impact of excluding pregnant women from controlled trials of medications.

Distinguished Senior Fellow Nikki Romanik wrote this op-ed with Demetre Daskalakis on how the name change of mpox will erode years of progress in vaccination and treatment, undermine trusted mpox communication and stigmatize the communities most impacted.

Among its many painful lessons, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that America’s defenses against a devastating health crisis were far weaker than most had reason to expect. More than 1.2 million Americans lost their lives to COVID, the most of any country. It’s puzzling and frightening to watch the Trump Administration dismantle initiatives aimed at keeping us safe from another pandemic.

The Trump administration’s claims about Tylenol and autism — and the weak science used to support them — must be called out for what they are: reckless, disappointing, and dangerous, says Ashish K. Jha.

Keeping women out of randomized controlled trials has let uncertainty flourish, says Alyssa Bilinksi.

Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University, joins ‘Fast Money’ to discuss new government guidance on Tylenol use during pregnancy, why leading studies show no link to autism, the reaction from obstetricians, and the challenges facing women navigating medication options, and much more.

Commenting for PBS Newshour, Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist who directs the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health says the manner in which the ACIP was reshaped in recent months, and Kennedy’s statements and actions on vaccines, has worked to undermine public health workers and institutions.

Republicans pushed for more oversight, or complete removal, of nonprofits’ tax-exempt status. Democrats warned restrictions could cause hospital closures. Christopher Whaley, associate director of Brown University’s Center of Advancing Health Policy through Research comments.

“It is estimated that essential medicines are unaffordable or unavailable to 1 in 4 people worldwide,” wrote the authors of a recent article published in a JAMA Health Forum that was led by Olivier J. Wouters, PhD, of Brown University School of Public Health.