Humanosphere: A New Way to Measure Progress in Global Health

By Sean McKee, special to Humanosphere

The world has made tremendous progress in global health during the past 25 years, reducing the impact of some major killers like HIV or, well, childbirth, and greatly expanding access to drugs or vaccines to prevent and treat many millions of the poorest people on the planet.

But sustaining that rate of progress is likely to get a lot harder. And measuring success, or failure for that matter, is likely to get more important.

HealthDay: U.S. Life Expectancy Lags Behind Other Wealthy Nations

By Dennis Thompson

THURSDAY, Oct. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- The United States lags behind other advanced nations when it comes to infant mortality and the life expectancy of its citizens, according to a comprehensive review of global health statistics.

The health of U.S. citizens is specifically challenged by smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, drug abuse and gun violence, said study co-author Dr. Mohsen Naghavi. He's a professor with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle.

NewsBeat: Antiretrovirals Pose Low Risk to Nursing Mothers, Babies

Study involves researchers with UW International Clinical Research Center

By Bobbi Nodell

Researchers have found that breastfeeding mothers taking the antiretroviral drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine have a low risk of side effects. The study, published in PLOS, was conducted by colleagues at the UW International Clinical Research Center and partners in Kenya, Uganda and Johns Hopkins University.

Welcome Letter from the Chair

Dear DGH students,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 academic year! Whether you are a new or returning student, we are delighted and honored you have chosen to work with us in pursing your careers in global health. This is a very exciting time in global health both here at UW and throughout the world.

UW Research in Clinical Medicine Ranked No. 2 Globally

In the 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities for clinical medicine and pharmacy, the University of Washington has moved up to No. 2 in the world (from No. 3 in 2015) and is now second to only Harvard University.

The list, published by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, evaluates more than 1,200 universities. Shanghai Ranking is recognized for basing its rankings on objective indicators, such as the number of alumni and staff who have won Nobel Prizes, highly cited researchers and publications in top medical journals.

Seattle Times: Cuba Rediscovered: US Students Get Free Ride in Cuban Medical School

By Ángel González

Cuba’s renowned health-care system, which flourishes despite the country’s poverty, still has lessons to teach the world, experts say. Hundreds of U.S. students have attended medical school tuition-free in Cuba, including a UW grad who plans on returning home to practice in underserved communities in Kitsap County.

Assistant Professor Paul Drain is quoted.

Read the article

SPH Close Up: Carey Farquhar

By 8:30 most mornings, Carey Farquhar has already exercised, dropped her kids at school and taken part in at least two calls with colleagues in Kenya. A ground-breaking HIV researcher and long-time mentor, she hopes to develop a more diverse student body as well as launch more fieldwork opportunities for students in Asia. She was recently named associate chair for academic programs in the Department of Global Health.

Research Passion: Promoting HIV testing within couples in Africa

Yahoo: Mixed Report for Global Health Progress

By Mariëtte Le Roux

Paris (AFP) - The world has made progress in curbing infant mortality, stunted growth and other poverty-driven problems, while obesity, alcohol abuse and partner violence has risen, a major review of UN health goals said Wednesday.

"Progress varied widely," said The Lancet medical journal which published the assessment of 188 countries' progress since 1990, measured against the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Family Practice News: Oral HIV PrEP Also Protects Against Herpes

By Bruce Jancin

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Oral antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV also reduces the risk of acquiring herpes simplex virus type 2, according to research presented at the 21st International AIDS Conference.

“Given the limited interventions for primary prevention of HSV-2, efficacy against HSV-2 provides additional benefit to oral PrEP,” observed Connie Celum, MD, professor of global health and medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Popular Science: Why We Always Get Sick While Traveling -- and How to Prevent it

By Chelsea Harvey

Last weekend, bystanders watched as Hillary Clinton unsteadily left a Sept. 11 memorial service in New York City, stumbling as aides helped her into her waiting vehicle. Shortly thereafter, Clinton’s physician released a statement explaining that the Democratic presidential nominee had recently been diagnosed with pneumonia.

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