Congratulations to SPPH’s 2017 Fall Graduates!
Congratulations to our graduates on the culmination of all their hard work!
Study finds no added risk for home births in rural areas
Elizabeth Nethery, a PhD student in the school of population and public health, compared the outcomes for rural women who have babies at home to those in other, more populated, parts of the U.S., to investigate access to care in rural areas. Photo credit: Jason Lander / flickr. This photo has been cropped
Student Research: Integrating therapy for stimulant use with treatment for long-term opioid-dependence
School of Population and Public Health doctoral candidate and 2017 Killam Doctoral Award winner Heather Palis is working on an innovative solution to the opioid overdose crisis. Credit: Providence Health Care
Research Highlight: Investigating how injured construction workers can get back to work quickly and safely
Associate Professor Chris McLeod’s project looks at how injured construction workers can get back to work as soon as they are healthy to do so, in a sector with a high incidence of injuries, and a challenging environment for accommodating work injuries.
Young Indigenous people who use drugs in BC 13 times more likely to die than young Canadians
A new study by The Cedar Project demonstrates that young Indigenous people who use drugs in BC are dying at an alarming rate – nearly 13 times Canadians their age.
SPPH researchers part of teams to receive MSFHR Reach awards
SPPH researchers are part of 16 teams to have received 2017 Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Reach awards.
Future health professionals receive new training to better care for Indigenous people
Students from 11 of UBC’s health-related programs will come together for the first time for a new learning experience designed by the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health to help students better serve Indigenous people.
A lesson for Canada: Quebec pharmacare system creates winners and losers
Quebec spends $200 more per person than the rest of Canada to provide prescription drug coverage to everyone in the province, finds new research that could inform plans for a nationwide universal drug plan.
Ethical and social implications of Learning Health Systems
Million Dollar Med$: exploring Canadians’ access to life-saving medicines
Meet our alumni: Shannon Waters, PHPM Residency Program
As a family doctor, Shannon Waters became frustrated at seeing people coming in to her clinic still unwell, despite having treated them previously. So she decided to pursue a residency in Public Health & Preventive Medicine.
New tool maps nature across Vancouver to boost mental health
Emily Rugel, a PhD candidate at SPPH, has been studying the link between access to natural spaces and mental health. In a recently published study, Rugel created a Natural Space Index to more precisely measure exposure to nature across Metro Vancouver. Photo credit: 12019/Pixabay
One step closer to a Hepatitis C vaccine
New research has confirmed that infection with one hepatitis C virus type does not protect against subsequent infection with different types of the virus, and that a prophylactic vaccine consisting of a cocktail of virus types might be the way forward.
Early guidance can help future moms fight fear of childbirth
A new University of British Columbia study suggests that providing women with early knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth could help reduce the numbers of unnecessary C-sections.
Health care, education key to keeping women out of prison
Women in provincial prisons require health care to address trauma, addiction and chronic diseases in order to lower reincarceration rates, according to a new study that of women leaving a B.C. correctional centre.
Preventable dental problems land many in the emergency room
More than 12,300 visits to B.C. emergency rooms (ER) every year for non-traumatic dental problems could be prevented if people had better access to dental care, according to new UBC research.
Back to School: Meet MSc student Raymond Khanano
As part of the Back to School series, we spoke with Raymond Khanano, a Master of Science student who is looking forward to completing and defending his thesis, and whose public health hero is none other than John Snow.
Every person counts in effort to reduce HIV infection
A recent study that reveals the most accurate estimate of the number of Metro Vancouver men who have sex with men (MSM) is providing a better understanding of the scope of HIV among this at-risk population.
Vancouver Summer Program: changing perspectives, training future practitioners
The Vancouver Summer Program wraps up this week, with 35 students from countries including China, South Korea and the Philippines, due to head home after an introduction to population and public health.
SPPH students and fellows win CIHR doctoral, postdoctoral awards
School of Population and Public Health students and fellows have won Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral awards and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research fellowship.
Celebrating Health Research: Sharing SPPH stories
Share your research in the Celebrating Health Research storybook compiled by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research! Professor Carolyn Gotay speaks about advocating for “hands on” approaches to cancer prevention.
$6-million donation creates largest ever endowed scholarship at UBC
The University of British Columbia has created its largest ever endowed scholarship, thanks to a $6-million donation from the Faculty of Medicine’s first two members — Constance Livingstone Friedman and Sydney Friedman.
Programs that teach emotional intelligence in schools have lasting impact
Social and emotional learning programs for youth not only immediately improve mental health, social skills, and learning outcomes but also continue to benefit children years later, according to new research from UBC, University of Illinois at Chicago and Loyola University.
Build bikeways and they will come
Cycling is a fun and healthy way to get to work, combining exercise and the great outdoors with a necessary trip. So what should cities keep in mind when it comes to getting people on their bikes? Credit: waferboard/flickr
PhD student Stephanie Lake wins 2017 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship
Doctoral student Stephanie Lake has won the 2017 Pierre Elliott Trudeau doctoral scholarship, the fourth School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) student to do so.
MHA Candidate Micheli Bevilacqua receives 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Award
Master of Health Administration candidate Micheli Bevilacqua has been awarded the 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Award.
Drug costs vary by more than 600% in study of 10 high-income countries
Costs for prescription drugs in the largest categories of primary care medicines varied by more than 600 per cent among 10 high-income countries with universal health care, according to joint research by SPPH and Harvard Medical School.
SPPH Faculty awarded six CIHR Project Grants, one Bridge Award
School of Population and Public Health faculty have won six Canadian Health Institutes of Research (CIHR) Project Grants and one Bridge Award in the Fall 2016 competition.
Prenatal education text messaging service launches throughout Northern B.C.
SmartMom, Canada’s first prenatal education program delivered by text messaging, has launched throughout the Northern B.C. region.
Mid-pelvic forceps, vacuum deliveries associated with higher rates of trauma for mothers and babies
Rates of maternal and infant trauma are higher in deliveries by mid-pelvic forceps or mid-pelvic vacuums compared with cesarean deliveries, according to new research by the Faculty of Medicine.
SPPH students Celestin Hategeka and Mohammad Karamouzian win Vanier scholarships
Congratulations to SPPH students Celestin Hategeka and Mohammad Karamouzian, who have been awarded Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships!
SPPH researchers co-author chapter in first WHO World Report on Health Policy
School of Population and Public Health researchers have co-authored a chapter in the first World Health Organization (WHO) World Report on Health Policy and Systems Research.
Meet Our Alumni: Nela Graham, industrial hygienist
As an industrial hygienist for Metro Vancouver, Nela was drawn to prevention in the workplace as a way to preserve people’s health where they spend a large portion of their lives.
SPPH co-authored paper wins Article of the Year
A paper co-authored by School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) researchers has won the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) 2016-17 Article of the Year award.
Meet Our Alumni: Judith Anderson, industrial hygienist
Industrial hygienist Judith Anderson works for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the union that represents airline cabin crew for 18 airlines across the United States.
Fetal reduction in multi-fetal pregnancies associated with better birth outcomes
Faculty of Medicine researchers have found that reducing twin and triplet pregnancies to singleton or twin pregnancies was associated with a substantial reduction in complications, such as pre-term birth and very pre-term birth.
Understanding how to prevent cancer, 300,000 people at a time
A pan-Canadian project involving more than 300,000 volunteers providing health information over 30 years is “open for business,” with a third round of funding beginning in April.
Betting on excellence: Mike Marin wins UBC Killam Teaching prize
SPPH senior instructor Mike Marin has been recognized for excellence in teaching with a 2017 UBC Killam Teaching Prize, and details how a love of games of chance set him on the path to outstanding statistics teaching.
UBC study confirms that two doses of HPV vaccine provide long-lasting protection
University of British Columbia researchers have provided the most conclusive evidence that two doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine provides just as much protection – for as long as five years – as the previous standard regimen of three doses.
Seven faculty and one staff member receive Long Service awards
Seven School of Population and Public Health faculty members and one staff member have received Long Service awards – congratulations to the award winners!
Tool launched to help parents allow ‘risky play’
A free online tool to encourage parents to allow their children to take part in ‘risky play’ is now live, developed by School of Population and Public Health and Department of Pediatrics Associate Professor Mariana Brussoni and her team.
Michael Brauer named 2017-2018 Wall Scholar
Professor Michael Brauer is one of 10 Peter Wall Institute Wall Scholars for 2017-2018, and will research the relationships between health and the design of cities, and the delivery of city services.
SPPH signs Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Provincial Department of Education
The School of Population and Public Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hunan Provincial Department of Education, with both organizations expressing a wish for future collaboration.
MSc OEH student Noreen Ma wins American Industrial Hygiene Association award
Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc OEH) student Noreen Ma has won the A.L. Reigert award, adjudicated by the BC Yukon American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Consumer behaviour causing premature deaths from air pollution
Professor Michael Brauer is drawing attention to the human cost of our consumer behaviour by examining the number of deaths caused by air pollution from manufacturing goods. Credit: DaiLou/Flickr
First peer navigators ready to guide prostate cancer patients
The first peer navigators are ready to help newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients navigate the healthcare system.
FNHA and UBC establish chair to prevent cancer and improve wellbeing
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the University of British Columbia have created a faculty position dedicated to improving cancer outcomes and overall wellness among First Nations and Indigenous people, based in the School of Population and Public Health and the FNHA. Credit: Lindsey Donovan Photography
Investigating the secret to a long and healthy life
An SPPH study is looking into the diets of ‘super seniors’ – people who have reached 85 years and older without developing a major age-related disease – to discover what foods could have helped keep them healthy.