Abby Varker
Multimedia Fellow
produced by: Boston University School of Public Health
produced by: Boston University School of Public Health
With appealing flavors and discrete methods of use, smokeless tobacco use is on the rise, particularly among young people.
On the siloes in which science often operates within and how these may challenge—and even undermine—the scientific enterprise.
Organ transplantation may have deeper effects on recipients than previously thought, with 96% of heart recipients reporting a change in physical attributes post-surgery.
As the population ages, we will increasingly rely on older workers. But how can we ensure they can still do their jobs without discriminating against them?
No matter your age, STIs can be an invisible risk. Older adults may not be thinking about this, but they should.
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Exposure to nature not only aids in stress management and inflammation reduction, but also creates opportunities for connection and community.
Racial and ethnic minority children are more likely to have unmet treatment needs for mental health conditions than their White counterparts.
On misinformation and its significant (and growing) threat to the efficacy and utility of science.
Abby Varker is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying health policy and law, and sex, sexuality, and gender. Her passions include establishing policy to promote sexual and reproductive health and low-cost health care. Her background is in psychology, ethics, and the natural sciences, which informs her public health practice. Outside of her public health work, Abby is in an a cappella group and has been singing since she was 4 years old.
Multimedia Fellow
Abby Varker is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying health policy and law, and sex, sexuality, and gender. Her passions include establishing policy to promote sexual and reproductive health and low-cost health care. Her background is in psychology, ethics, and the natural sciences, which informs her public health practice. Outside of her public health work, Abby is in an a cappella group and has been singing since she was 4 years old.
Lia Musumeci is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying community assessment, program design, implementation and evaluation with a focus on substance use and mental health. She has worked in a non-profit community mental health clinic and behavioral health research. She is passionate about drawing on her past experiences to explore mental health and substance use-related diversion programs, as well as to enhance interventions for smoking cessation. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and exploring different types of tea.
Writing Fellow
Lia Musumeci is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying community assessment, program design, implementation and evaluation with a focus on substance use and mental health. She has worked in a non-profit community mental health clinic and behavioral health research. She is passionate about drawing on her past experiences to explore mental health and substance use-related diversion programs, as well as to enhance interventions for smoking cessation. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and exploring different types of tea.
Heather Sherr is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying epidemiology and biostatistics with a concentration in chronic and non-communicable diseases. Her public health interests are informed by her background in developmental biology, genetics, and biological anthropology. In her free time, Heather enjoys listening to live music, visiting science museums, and playing video games.
Writing Fellow
Heather Sherr is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying epidemiology and biostatistics with a concentration in chronic and non-communicable diseases. Her public health interests are informed by her background in developmental biology, genetics, and biological anthropology. In her free time, Heather enjoys listening to live music, visiting science museums, and playing video games.
Jude Sleiman is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying epidemiology, biostatistics, and global health programs. Informed by her extensive travel and experiences living in four diverse countries, Jude is dedicated to understanding how health is perceived and addressed across different cultures. She is passionate about leveraging data-informed health policy to enhance health outcomes worldwide. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new destinations, delving into the latest romance and mystery books, and binging her favorite TV shows.
Writing Fellow
Jude Sleiman is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, studying epidemiology, biostatistics, and global health programs. Informed by her extensive travel and experiences living in four diverse countries, Jude is dedicated to understanding how health is perceived and addressed across different cultures. She is passionate about leveraging data-informed health policy to enhance health outcomes worldwide. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new destinations, delving into the latest romance and mystery books, and binging her favorite TV shows.
Dani Weissert is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health and maternal and child health. She cares deeply about sexual and reproductive health justice, rural health, the ethics of program delivery, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) issues. In her free time, she enjoys reading, rock climbing, and being outdoors.
Writing Fellow
Dani Weissert is an MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health and maternal and child health. She cares deeply about sexual and reproductive health justice, rural health, the ethics of program delivery, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) issues. In her free time, she enjoys reading, rock climbing, and being outdoors.
Jennifer Beard, PhD, MA, MPH, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Global Health and the Associate Editor of Public Health Post. She was a co-principal investigator for the multi-study Ghana Operations Research for Key Populations project, which focused on HIV prevention and other needs of young female sex workers and their intimate partners, prisoners, men who have sex with men, post-secondary female students, women who work in bars, people who inject drugs, and people living with HIV at risk of dropping out of antiretroviral therapy.
Associate Editor
Jennifer Beard, PhD, MA, MPH, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Global Health and the Associate Editor of Public Health Post. She was a co-principal investigator for the multi-study Ghana Operations Research for Key Populations project, which focused on HIV prevention and other needs of young female sex workers and their intimate partners, prisoners, men who have sex with men, post-secondary female students, women who work in bars, people who inject drugs, and people living with HIV at risk of dropping out of antiretroviral therapy.
Michael Stein is the chair of the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at Boston University School of Public Health, executive editor of Public Health Post, and author, most recently of the books Me vs Us: A Health Divided, Accidental Kindness: A Doctor’s Notes on Empathy, and The Turning Point: Reflections on a Pandemic with Sandro Galea. He is a physician and health services researcher who is an international authority on the intersection of primary care, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Executive Editor
Michael Stein is the chair of the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at Boston University School of Public Health, executive editor of Public Health Post, and author, most recently of the books Me vs Us: A Health Divided, Accidental Kindness: A Doctor’s Notes on Empathy, and The Turning Point: Reflections on a Pandemic with Sandro Galea. He is a physician and health services researcher who is an international authority on the intersection of primary care, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Mallory Bersi joined Public Health Post after several years of working as a writer in public health communications. She received her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health with a focus in health communication and promotion and maternal and child health. When she is not getting lost in a good book or (overly) invested in TV characters, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Managing Editor
Mallory Bersi joined Public Health Post after several years of working as a writer in public health communications. She received her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health with a focus in health communication and promotion and maternal and child health. When she is not getting lost in a good book or (overly) invested in TV characters, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
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Learn MoreWith appealing flavors and discrete methods of use, smokeless tobacco use is on the rise, particularly among young people.
Organ transplantation may have deeper effects on recipients than previously thought, with 96% of heart recipients reporting a change in physical attributes post-surgery.
Racial and ethnic minority children are more likely to have unmet treatment needs for mental health conditions than their White counterparts.
While there is buzz about the potential benefits of using psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment, research shows that the risks may outweigh the rewards.
Since the pandemic, older adults have struggled with re-entering society, raising concerns about the mental health impact of their isolation.
Grief after pet loss is not widely understood or respected. Allowing space for this grief can help others feel less alone.
On the siloes in which science often operates within and how these may challenge—and even undermine—the scientific enterprise.
As the population ages, we will increasingly rely on older workers. But how can we ensure they can still do their jobs without discriminating against them?
On misinformation and its significant (and growing) threat to the efficacy and utility of science.
Enhancing food options with an assortment of herbs and spices may encourage people to eat healthy, nutrient-rich meals without all the sodium.
Tariem Burroughs, executive director of external partnerships at Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, discusses his work helping public health students find their niche in the field.
Individuals with household incomes below $50,000 per year had less diverse gut microbiomes compared to those with higher annual incomes.
Exposure to nature not only aids in stress management and inflammation reduction, but also creates opportunities for connection and community.
Only 1 in 4 sunscreens on the U.S. market offer sufficient sun protection and are free of concerning ingredients.
Heat waves are becoming more frequent and severe, highlighting the need to prepare communities to stay cool against this looming threat.
Nail salon technicians are constantly exposed to harmful chemicals, which can have a profound impact on their cognitive health and well-being.
Loud music at concerts and festivals can cause long-term hearing damage, and earplugs may offer a promising solution. If people wear them.
While use of flame retardants has steadily declined, products of the past and present may pose lasting concerns for the health of the public.
No matter your age, STIs can be an invisible risk. Older adults may not be thinking about this, but they should.
For women in violent relationships, an abortion can be the difference between finding freedom from or being tethered to an abuser.
Youth voices are needed now more than ever to improve the sexual health of teens across the United States.
Telehealth abortion services have become a pillar of reproductive care post-Dobbs, offering the unique benefit of receiving care at home.
There are many benefits to breastfeeding, but racial, economic, and educational disparities make doing so difficult for some new parents.
Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive less sexual education than their neurotypical peers. Many believe parents should play a bigger role in filling in the education gaps.
Rising insulin costs are forcing people to make difficult decisions about their care, especially in states that did not expand Medicaid.
People living in poverty are at an increased risk for chronic inflammation, a cause of symptoms linked to diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Incorporating just 500 steps of additional movement into each day can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease death by 7%.
Diabetic children living in rural areas have more difficulty accessing continuous glucose monitors, a convenient blood sugar management tool.
Kimberly Bertrand, a cancer epidemiologist in the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University and co-investigator with the Black Women’s Health Study, shares about her work and some of the key findings from the study to date.
Nearly 83% of alcohol-related cancer deaths could be averted if adults who drink reduced their alcohol consumption to align with dietary recommendations.
Public Health Post is a daily population health publication written by Boston University School of Public Health students and leading public health experts. Every day, we spotlight critical intersections in public health and social justice to advance conversations about health in the United States.