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CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy


Digital health literacy higher in lower-income countries, 30-country survey finds

A 30-country survey found that digital health literacy is highest in low- and middle-income countries, where social media plays a key role. The study also highlights variation in trust for credible sources, with medical providers being the most trusted, followed by verification through multiple sources.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Health·TypeSurvey·DateApr 28, 2026

CUNY SPH honors activist Byllye Avery with nation’s first endowed professorship in sexual and reproductive justice

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy has launched the nation’s first endowed professorship in Sexual & Reproductive Justice, honoring activist Byllye Avery. The professorship will build upon her model of scholar activism and advance teaching, research, and public engagement in SRJ.

CUNY SPH Assistant Professor Phil Kreniske awarded $5 million to improve mental health and HIV care for adolescents in Uganda

A new research project, STREAMS, aims to improve mental health and antiretroviral treatment adherence among adolescents living with HIV in rural Uganda. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention combining mobile technology, economic empowerment, and medication support.

CUNY SPH expands curriculum with concentration in sexual and reproductive justice and health

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy has launched a new master of public health concentration in sexual and reproductive justice and health. The program prepares students to address social, political, and economic forces shaping sexual and reproductive health outcomes through research, policy, law, leadership, an...

Watching our language

The editorial board endorses the shift from 'non-pharmaceutical interventions' to 'public health and social measures', emphasizing their scientific legitimacy and societal value. Effective responses require combinations of non-medical interventions, which language can obscure if not framed correctly.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 5, 2025

Journal of Health Communication publishes inaugural Society for Health Communication special issue

The Journal of Health Communication has published its first special issue, featuring nine peer-reviewed research papers on successful and unsuccessful health communication campaigns. The issue aims to increase access to critical health communication research, science, and practice, offering insights into the consequences of campaigns a...

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateApr 7, 2025

Communicating a slow-motion health catastrophe

A special issue of the Journal of Health Communication highlights climate change communication challenges, including misinformation, disinformation, and complex nature of climate events. The issue offers strategies for overcoming these challenges through interdisciplinary research on communication strategies, media, message understandi...

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateSep 11, 2024

Pandemic fatigue and vaccine hesitancy continue to affect global public health, new 23-country study in Nature Medicine reports

A new survey of 23,000 respondents from 23 countries reports mixed signals on the current acceptance of vaccines generally, especially COVID-19 boosters. The study found that global uptake of at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose rose to 87.8%, but intent to get a booster was lower compared to previous years.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateApr 29, 2024

Study reveals higher injury and assault rates among NYC food delivery gig workers dependent on the work

A study by CUNY researchers found that NYC food delivery gig workers are at a high risk of injury and assault, particularly those who rely on gig work for their main income. The study analyzed data from 1,650 delivery workers and found that fully dependent gig workers are 61% more likely to experience injury and 36% more likely to expe...

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Urban Health·TypeSurvey·DateApr 29, 2024

$318 million New York City community parks initiative is associated with increased use of urban parks in low-income neighborhoods

A new study found that NYC's Community Parks Initiative increased park use and physical activity among residents, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. The study tracked changes in park use over three years, with intervention parks showing a greater net number of users, while control parks saw decreased use.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateApr 11, 2024

Eliminating socioeconomic disparities in youth physical activity can save over $15 billion

A new study shows that eliminating disparities in physical activity levels between low and higher socioeconomic groups could save over $6.93 billion in direct medical costs and $8.67 billion in productivity losses. The study suggests tailoring physical activity interventions towards lower income groups to maximize cost savings.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 15, 2024

Reaching federal youth sport participation goal could save US billions of dollars

Achieving the Healthy People 2030 youth sports participation goal could save $80 billion by improving children's physical and mental health. The study found that increasing youth sports participation by 12.6% could decrease overweight and obesity prevalence by 3.37%, resulting in 1.71 million fewer cases of overweight/obesity.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2024

A universal coronavirus vaccine could save billions of dollars if ready before next pandemic

A new study suggests a universal coronavirus vaccine could have saved millions of lives and prevented suffering by offering some degree of protection against a range of strains. The study found that having a universal vaccine at the start of the pandemic would have been cost-saving even with low efficacy rates.

In journal special edition, researchers present strategies for pandemic-related communication

This special issue highlights research and commentaries on improving future pandemic-related communication, acknowledging failures and successes of current approaches. Researchers suggest new strategies to disseminate accurate information and combat misinformation, with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJul 6, 2023

Medical cannabis for chronic pain may help patients on long-term opioid treatment reduce dosages

A study found that receiving medical cannabis for thirty days or more can lead to a significant reduction in prescription opioid dosages among patients on long-term opioid therapy. Patients who were on higher baseline dosages of prescription opioids experienced larger reductions in opioid dosages.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance increased globally in 2022

A new survey of 23 countries found that global willingness to accept a COVID-19 vaccine increased from 75.2% in 2021 to 79.1% in 2022. However, eight countries experienced an increase in hesitancy, and nearly one in eight vaccinated respondents were hesitant about receiving booster doses. The survey also revealed variations in vaccine ...

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateJan 9, 2023

Study shows increase in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance around the world

A new study found that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance increased 3.7% worldwide between 2020 and 2021, with concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy being the primary drivers of hesitancy. The study also revealed that vaccine mandates were strongly supported among international travelers but had lower support among schoolchildren.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalNature Communications·TypeSurvey·DateJul 6, 2022

Continuing face mask use could save U.S. billions of dollars

A new study suggests that maintaining face mask use for two to 10 weeks beyond reaching vaccination coverage thresholds of 70-90% fully vaccinated could prevent a substantial number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, while saving businesses and taxpayers money. The study found that this could save $2.9 billion in direct medical co...

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateMar 8, 2022

New study estimates prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in children in sub-Saharan Africa

A new study by CUNY SPH researchers estimates that nearly 40% of children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are undiagnosed, highlighting the urgent need for improved pediatric testing coverage. The study found that only 55% of children on ART had suppressed viral loads, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Major disparities in use of preferred HIV medication may result in worse outcomes for women

A large observational cohort study of 134,672 people with HIV found significant disparities in the uptake of dolutegravir, a preferred HIV medication, among women of reproductive age. Only 29% of female patients aged 16-49 years had initiated dolutegravir, compared to 58% of male patients.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateNov 30, 2021

Center for Innovation in Mental Health at CUNY SPH awarded NIH grant for Harlem Strong Collaborative

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy has received a nearly $2 million NIH grant to develop a multisectoral coalition to implement a community-wide collaborative care model to address mental health and socio-economic risks in Harlem. The initiative aims to close the mental health treatment gap for ethnic minoritie...

CUNY SPH and the NYC Health Department to study long-acting antiretroviral therapy for HIV

The APPLI study aims to assess the perceptions and preferences of people living with HIV on long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapies. The study will explore how to support adherence and integrate these therapies into Ryan White HIV care settings, potentially improving health outcomes for those struggling with daily oral medicati...