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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.

​​2025 tested the Brown University School of Public Health community in profound ways. But despite the challenges, our faculty, students, staff and alumni remained committed to pushing public health forward and advancing the wellbeing of people across our city, and across the globe.

Students in PHP1720 rolled up their sleeves this semester, conducting community-engaged research at 180 local sites, from downtown Providence to the new Pawtucket soccer stadium, revealing disparities in noise pollution and other public health concerns.

Over the past five years, the Brown University School of Public Health has undergone a profound transformation, evolving into one of the nation’s most impactful public health institutions. During the tenure of Dean Ashish K. Jha, the school navigated unprecedented times in public health and higher education, emerging more inclusive, more interdisciplinary and deeply prepared for the challenges ahead.

Young adults are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for mental health advice, highlighting a massive shift in how people seek support. In this interview Dr. Ateev Mehrotra discusses the urgent need to balance AI's capacity for providing accessible, cost-effective care with its potential to cause harm.

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

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.

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.

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.

New book from Pandemic Center’s Seth Berkley recounts how scientific breakthroughs, supply chain bottlenecks and political battles shaped the pandemic response.

Gabriella Stern details the challenge of fighting geopolitical scapegoating and false narratives amid America’s abrupt exit from the WHO at the latest Public Health in Practice Seminar.

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

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. 

A new study linking pharmacy and Medicare data sheds light on pain management regimens for hip fracture patients in rehabilitation, and raises concerns about potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions.

In a world teeming with health data—from smart watch accelerometry to millions of hospital system electronic records—how do researchers find out which medical treatments truly work? Biostatistician Rebecca Hubbard discusses the messiness of real-world data, the limits of randomized controlled trials and how both of these powerful—but imperfect—methods are essential for building a trustworthy ‘edifice of evidence.’

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

The work highlights how current rules may allow health care giants that run both insurance and doctor networks to profit in ways that drive up costs and limit patient choice.

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.

In a new report, STAT Network highlights increasing threats and shows how states are rewriting playbooks in real time to protect American health, safety and economic vitality.

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.

Former Congressman David Cicilline ’83 joined Brown University leaders to discuss civic engagement and population health, detailing the challenges of mistrust and disinformation, while highlighting the strengths of local journalism, health equity zones and national service.

MPH student and CEO Ishan Shah and his co-founder built the Peerakeet platform after realizing the transformative power of peer connection, creating a safe, moderated “digital front door to recovery” for Gen Z.

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.

Amidst a reversal in youth substance-use trends, a new study links experiences of discrimination among young people of color to an increased risk of turning to substances as a coping mechanism.

With measles spreading and long-trusted sources of public health information falling short, Professor Jennifer Nuzzo breaks down the outbreak, the state of public health communications and the Pandemic Center’s tracking report, which publishes key infectious disease data every week.

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.

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.

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.

As the U.S. population ages, a study on the Older Americans Act Nutrition program reveals it delivers more than just food—recipients say it prevents nursing home placements, supports caregivers and provides a crucial daily social link.

In an era where the value of scientific research is increasingly undermined, Brown University public health scholars remain steadfast, showing how high-quality public health science protects people, shapes policy and transforms the health of our nation.

Measles has been declared eliminated in the U.S. for 25 years, but a surge in cases is threatening that status. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, joined Humans in Public Health to break down the outbreak, the chaotic federal response and how her team's tracker is stepping in to provide reliable, life-saving data.

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.