Abby Varker
Multimedia Fellow
produced by: Boston University School of Public Health
produced by: Boston University School of Public Health
A look at where the presidential candidates stand on issues surrounding immigration, past and present.
Research shows that combining sports betting with drinking raises the risk of alcohol misuse.
Insurance status and chronic health conditions are factors that may increase health care access for immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
On the power of storytelling and how scientists may translate their work into stories that both inform and persuade.
Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, discusses her work and the role of Medicaid in the 2024 election.
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A look at where the presidential candidates stand on issues surrounding health care coverage, past and present.
The more a person interacts with the criminal justice system, the more likely they are to reoffend, resulting in future contacts.
Does closing the toilet lid before flushing keep germs contained to the bowl? Research suggests that there might be more to it.
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 MoreResearch shows that combining sports betting with drinking raises the risk of alcohol misuse.
By communicating openly about the dangers of drug use and impaired driving, parents play a key role in helping teens avoid risky behaviors.
Financial and mental well-being are directly linked, with women, young people, and minorities disproportionately affected by financial vulnerability.
With 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.
A look at where the presidential candidates stand on issues surrounding immigration, past and present.
Insurance status and chronic health conditions are factors that may increase health care access for immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
On the power of storytelling and how scientists may translate their work into stories that both inform and persuade.
Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, discusses her work and the role of Medicaid in the 2024 election.
A look at where the presidential candidates stand on issues surrounding health care coverage, past and present.
The more a person interacts with the criminal justice system, the more likely they are to reoffend, resulting in future contacts.
Despite ongoing safety measures and public education efforts, severe pediatric poisoning cases continue to rise.
While reflective pavement may offer a promising solution for cooling surface temperatures, its effects on air temperatures are minimal.
The places we live likely shape the types of behaviors we engage with, which can lead to changes in personality traits over time.
Neighborhoods experiencing environmental injustices, such as high levels of air pollution, are associated with poorer health outcomes.
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.
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.
Does closing the toilet lid before flushing keep germs contained to the bowl? Research suggests that there might be more to it.
In Washington, some immigrant communities are at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases due to low and declining vaccination coverage.
Younger fathers may face unique challenges and stressors that contribute to poorer long-term heart health.
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%.
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.