News Archives
2008
May School Celebrates Milestone
Inaugural class of seven graduates to receive bachelor of science in public health degrees at commencement.
Mental Health Care Is Also a Hurricane Victim
Mental health issues top the list of ways Louisianans say the 2005 hurricanes affected their communities, according to a new statewide survey.
To Romania with Love
MD/MPH students Dan Murariu, Shuchin Shukla, Maya Dhanani, Jeannie Rhee, Emily Donaldson-Fletcher, and Rachel Pearline travel to Romania on a medical mission.
April
Study Reveals Plight of Albanian Street Children
Half of the children who work on the streets of Albania's capital experience physical abuse, according to a recent study.
Tulane Professor Earns Prestigious Herbert W. Nickens Award
Freeport McMoRan Chair of Environmental Policy Maureen Lichtveld is the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Herbert W. Nickens Award. School Gets Greener on Earth Day
Paper or plastic? The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Dean’s Office is proposing a contemporary answer to that tired question.
February Wastewater Helps Grow Wetlands
Researchers develop new way to sanitize sewage so that nutrient-rich water can help regrow depleted cypress swamps.
Whole Grains: The Fat Fighters
Whole grains are good for the heart and waistline, study says.
January
Why Diets Don't Work
Environment trumps willpower in battle to shed pounds, according to Tom Farley, chair of community health sciences.
More Fresh Fruits and Veggies, Please
The campaign to improve access to fresh, healthy food for New Orleans residents has taken an important step.
Student Receives $10,000 Scholarship
A Louisiana health association awarded a scholarship to a student who is already taking steps towards being a healthcare leader.
2007
December
Alumna Studies Group B Strep amongst Pregnant Women
Navya Nair admits that completing her international health MPH in a year while applying to medical school was "hectic." But that wasn't all she was doing.
Early Prevention Helps Kids Be Heart Smart
Tulane cardiologist Gerald Berenson is applying lessons learned from Tulane's Bogalusa Heart Study to promote healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices for children.
Students to Receive Fulbright Grants
Two students in the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine received Fulbright-Hays grants for graduate students.
November
Tulane Sets the Pace with $450,000 St. Roch Walking Path
Residents of the historic St. Roch neighborhood are closer to getting access to a major new amenity as they rebuild their community.
Help for the People of Rwanda
Following a civil war and mass killing of hundreds of thousands in Rwanda, Tulane faculty members have been helping Rwandans make strides in regaining their health.
Facts Cure 'Superbug' Fears
Fears about a drug-resistant staph “superbug” may be more contagious than the illness-causing bacteria itself, according to Tulane infectious disease expert Susan McLellan.
September
This semester the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine welcomes back the Humphrey Fellows, the first group of the international scholars at Tulane University since Hurricane Katrina.
Humphrey Fellows Return to Tulane
This semester the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine welcomes back the Humphrey Fellows, the first group of the international scholars at Tulane University since Hurricane Katrina.
Project Preserves Spice of a Neighborhood
The team of Tulane public health students that began hosting a food pantry in St. Augustine's Church for people returning after Hurricane Katrina has expanded into a new project called Treme's Cookin'.
New Degree Focuses on Cancer, Environment
Graduate students seeking to understand the complexity of cancer from the molecular level to the community level have a new degree option at Tulane.
Buekens to Serve Second Term as Dean
The school announces that Dean Buekens will serve a second term beginning July 2008.
Tulane to Receive $14 Million for International HIV/AIDS Program
Tulane University will receive $14 million over the next year to continue programs to fight HIV/AIDS in eight countries that lack the large-scale public health resources to track HIV infections.
August
More Risks For Men Who Smoke
Smoking cigarettes causes cancer and increases the risk of cardiovascular and other diseases, but there's even more bad news for men who smoke.
Tulane's Peru-Based Health Office for Latin America Responds to the Earthquake Disaster
The Lima office is safe following the earthquake. Officials have begun contacting local authorities to determine how the office and school can support relief and rebuilding.
July
Alumna Heads to Zambia as Crisis Corps Volunteer
Alumna Francie Picknell of Seattle is leaving for Zambia to improve HIV/AIDS programs and maternal and child healthcare services as a Crisis Corps volunteer. Accolades Go to Tulane Faculty and Staff
Tulane University faculty and staff members have garnered accolades this summer for their scholarly work and accomplishments in their respective fields.
Tulane Leads Global Maternal and Child-Health Team
The school is slated to receive $2.5 million from the National Institute of Child Health and Development to study a method of preventing preterm babies from dying by treating their mothers just before they deliver in low- and middle-income countries.
Public Health Conference to Examine Post-Katrina Environment
"Urban Environmental Contamination and Health Under the Microscope: The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina" is the theme for this year's Urban Geochemistry and Health Conference, which will be held July 22-25 at the International House Hotel in New Orleans.
June
Tulane Researcher to Combat AIDS with Garden Supplies
Tulane University international health researcher Laura Murphy believes combining garden hoes are part of an important approach to combating the burden of AIDS in Africa.
Gates Foundation Funds Orphans Studies Program
The school earned a $500,000 subcontract to help local community groups that provide critical care to some of the world's most vulnerable children in Malawi and southern Tanzania.
May
2007 Commencement Honors Loyalty and Service, with a Touch of Jazz
In a ceremony of poignancy, the most poignant moment of the 2007 Commencement at Tulane University on Saturday (May 19) occurred midway through speaker Brian Williams' address.
Improving Healthy Food Access
The Prevention Research Center at Tulane University, together with six partner organizations, wants to improve access to fresh, healthy food in New Orleans. April
School Ranks Higher in 2008 Edition of America's Best Graduate Schools
The School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is positioned in the top tier, at No. 13, according to U.S. News & World Report. February
Roundtable Discussion about Latino Health Status in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hosted by the National Council of La Raza and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Visiting Lecturer Discusses AIDS Prevention for African-Americans
The Prevention Research Center hosted Robert E. Fullilove II, a researcher from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. January
PACE Study Promotes Active, Healthy Lifestyles in New Orleans
Tulane University public health researchers are investigating factors that influence how active people will be, according to Jeanette Gustat, clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at Tulane and principal investigator of the study.
Health and Human Rights in Katrina's Wake
Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster of gigantic proportions, devastating the Gulf Coast and flooding much of New Orleans and surrounding communities. 2006 December
Tulane Professor Advises Safe Routes to School
Tom Farley, professor and chair of community health sciences, hopes a new federal grant program will encourage neighborhood improvements so that more children will walk or bike to school.
Research Contradicts Previous Findings about Folic Acid
Contrary to previous studies, folic acid, a B vitamin, does not decrease the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke for people with a history of vascular disease, according to Tulane researchers. Tulane Researcher Nominated for Teaching Excellence Award
Mark James, vice chair of tropical medicine, is among 18 professors nominated for this year's Award for Teaching Excellence granted by the Association of Schools of Public Health and Pfizer's Public Health Group. November
Center Cited as Ambassador for Change
The Tulane Xavier National Center of Excellence in Women's Health (TUXCOE) recently received the prestigious designation of "Ambassador for Change" from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Teach for America Hosts Dinner for Tulanians November 30
Tulane students are invited to a drop-in dinner hosted by Teach for America on Thursday, November 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in room 9 of Newcomb Hall on the Tulane uptown campus. New TB Diagnostic Tool Shows Promise
An international team of researchers working in Peru has concluded that a new method for diagnosing tuberculosis is faster and more reliable than current standard tests for the disease. Redesigning New Orleans Area Health Care
The Louisiana legislature named 40 people to the Louisiana Healthcare Redesign Collaborative, including Paul Whelton, senior vice president for health sciences. Payson Center Team to Lead Child Labor Study
U.S. Secretary of Labor announced the funding of a $4.3 million project to oversee efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa sector of West Africa. Pregnant? See a Dentist
Good oral health care has the potential to prevent diabetes during pregnancy, according to Tulane University researchers. October
Dean's Research Council Scholarship Recipients Honored
Scholarships are provided each year in recognition of excellence among doctoral applicants. Environmental Health Student Earns National Scholarship Award
Scholarships are provided each year in recognition of excellence among doctoral applicants. September
$4.47 Million Awarded to Mentor Public Health Professionals
Tulane is slated to receive $4.47 million from the USAID Global Health Fellowship program to help recruit and mentor public health professionals with an interest in international health and development. Eating Soy Protein Helps Control Cholesterol
A Tulane study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
August
One-Year Remembrances Recall Highs and Lows
Somber audiences on Tulane's uptown and downtown campuses gathered at noon on Tuesday (Aug. 29) for remembrance services to reflect on the record-breaking hurricane that caused massive physical damage and soul-wrenching human anguish. Dental Health May Impact Pregnancy Outcome
Visiting a dentist before or during pregnancy may increase the chance of a healthy birth, says Tulane University epidemiologist Xu Xiong.
Debris Sorting an Important Part of Clean Up
Rebuilding New Orleans has a well-known side effect: piles of debris. While some of those piles strike an emotional chord for residents, environmental health professionals see them differently. July
Study Examines Jordanian Health Issues
Half of all adult men in Jordan smoke, according to survey results released by international health researcher Paul Hutchinson in partnership with the Communication Partnership for Family Health Program and the Jordan Ministry of Health.
Health Websites Need Depth, Expertise for Credibility
With increasing numbers of people going online for health information, health websites should pay attention to credibility, says Community Health Sciences researcher Traci Hong.
June
1918 Pandemic Holds Bird Flu Clues
When scriptwriters started working on a made-for-television movie about a fictional outbreak of bird flu in humans, they consulted with John M. Barry, distinguished visiting scholar at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities and author of The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History. Mental Health, Safe Rebuiliding Ads Hit Airwaves
On June 12, Tulane University public health researcher Christopher Beaudoin and colleagues launched a radio advertising campaign to bring needed health and safety information to the people of New Orleans.
May
Taking Blood Pressure Meds Depends on Family, Access to Doctors
People with high blood pressure are three times less likely to take their medications regularly if they have caretaking responsibilities for children or other relatives, says Marie Krousel-Wood, a researcher at Tulane University. $1.25 million EDA Grant Awarded to New Orleans BioInnovation Center
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded $1.25 million competitive grant for further construction of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC) on Canal Street. National Scientific Body Seeks Local Input on Disaster Preparation, Recovery
The Institute of Medicine and National Academies of Science are inviting experts and Gulf Coast residents to spend two days discussing issues as diverse as debris removal, waste disposal, local emergency planning, wetland restoration, safe home environments, and the healthcare infrastructure.
April
Tulane University Recognizes Health Sciences Researchers
Tulane University held the third annual Health Sciences Center Research Recognition Event to recognize the success of health sciences researchers who attracted more than $110 million in awards for research in 2005, the largest amount of external research funding in its history. AIDS Stigma Less Than Previously Thought
Eight years of investigating elderly parents caring for adult children with HIV/AIDS in Thailand have yielded unexpected information: community attitudes towards the families and individuals living with AIDS are generally sympathetic and much more so than commonly thought.
March
Health Campaigns Should Address Public Norms
Targeting people at highest risk for HIV and STD infection may not be the best approach, says Tulane University public health expert Tom Farley. Reducing Mortality in Darfur
Tulane graduate Caitlin Meredith recently returned from an assignment in the Darfur conflict region of Sudan with the international medical humanitarian agency Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
On the Trail of Malaria
Hunting the killer of millions has taken more than two decades, but Tulane University tropical medicine researcher Donald Krogstad seems to be gaining on his prey.
February
Very Low or High Weights Increase Risk of Early Death
Chinese adults who are either underweight or obese increase their risk of early death, say Tulane University epidemiologists in an article published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina Point Tulane Professor to Recovery Solutions
After braving Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina, Tulane professor Stuart Capper is working on a project to create cooperative medical records systems between healthcare providers so that people don't have to face losing important medical information in a disaster situation. Katrina Goes to Class
How do you measure the environmental health of a city after a disaster? And once you have the data, how do you talk about it? "Those are questions we are answering every day in my classes," says Amy V. Lafreniere.
Tulane, Xavier Offer Students Worldwide Opportunity
New federal funding to Tulane University will allow minority undergraduate and graduate students to get experience in international health research at seven sites around the world. Urban Black Women Underestimate Heart Disease Risk
Two out of three urban black women at high risk for heart disease do not consider themselves at risk, says Tulane University researcher Karen DeSalvo.
January
Inflammation Markers Tied to Narrow, Blocked Arteries
Hardening of the arteries in the legs is strongly associated with biological markers of inflammation, which may be a warning sign of heart trouble, say Tulane University epidemiologists. | 
