Making impacts, creating ripple effects in this year’s magazine
Nov 2021
What does it take to make a difference – in someone’s life, in a community, in the world? Great moments in the history of public health feel monumental in the
Annual conference celebrates ten years of building toward a healthier Georgia
Oct 2021
The University of Georgia’s College of Public Health (CPH) hosted its tenth annual State of the Public’s Health Conference virtually on October 14. For ten years, the conference has brought
Faculty hiring initiative will boost UGA’s strength in infectious disease dynamics
Oct 2021
The emergence and spread of infectious diseases is a major, growing, and increasingly complex global challenge. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, addressing it requires expertise and tools from
UGA College of Public Health welcomes it new CPH Alumni Board
Aug 2021
The College of Public Health is pleased to announce the launch of the CPH Alumni Board. The board will support the CPH Office of Development and Alumni Relations in its
Emerson named Director of Online Learning
Aug 2021
Kerstin Emerson has been selected to lead the Office of Online Learning at the University of Georgia College of Public Health A clinical associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology
CPH In the Media: July 2021 Roundup
Jul 2021
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of July 2021: Rebecca Wells, clinical assistant professor of health promotion and behavior, spoke to WUGA-FM about “Treasure
Language isolation affects health of Mexican Americans
Jul 2021
New research from the University of Georgia finds that older Mexican Americans who live in low English-speaking neighborhoods are at greater risk for poor health and even an early death.
CPH In the Media: June 2021 Roundup
Jun 2021
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of June 2021: Research by epidemiology professor Toni Miles on the impacts of grief – and specifically in
CPH honors outstanding faculty, students, alumni, community members
May 2021
In celebration of UGA Honors Week and the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, the College of Public Health recognized more than 70 dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community
CPH In the Media: April 2021 Roundup
Apr 2021
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of April 2021: José F. Cordero, physician and head of epidemiology and biostatistics, spoke to 11 Alive’s “Why
CPH In the Media: February 2021 Roundup
Feb 2021
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of February 2021: Related to COVID-19 – Toni Miles, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, discussed the overwhelming sense
CPH In the Media: January 2021 Roundup
Jan 2021
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of January 2021: Related to COVID-19 – Kerstin Emerson, a clinical associate professor at the Institute of Gerontology,
UGA student partners with local Council on Aging
Dec 2020
In January 2020, Jessica Shotwell gave her first lesson at the Athens Community Council on Aging. Just two months later, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about disruption and uncertainty, and Shotwell’s
CPH In the Media: November 2020 Roundup
Nov 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of November 2020: Related to COVID-19 – Faculty members José Cordero and Erin Lipp spoke to Capital Beat
Two CPH faculty members named 2020-21 Service-Learning Fellows
Nov 2020
College of Public Health faculty members Sarah Saint Hamilton and Rebecca Wells were among the eight UGA faculty members selected by the Office of Service-Learning for participation in its yearlong
CPH In the Media: August 2020 Roundup
Aug 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of August 2020: Related to COVID-19 – Kerstin Emerson, clinical associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology, published
CPH In the Media: July 2020 Roundup
Jul 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of July 2020: Related to COVID-19 – Environmental health science professor Travis Glenn, in stories by AARP, offered
Older adults feel stressed, yet resilient in time of COVID-19
Jul 2020
America’s oldest citizens say they’ve been through worse, but many older adults are feeling the stress of COVID-19 and prolonged social distancing measures, according to a new study from the
CPH In the Media: June 2020 Roundup
Jun 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of June 2020: Related to the COVID-19 – Grace Bagwell Adams, assistant dean of outreach, engagement and equity,
CPH In the Media: May 2020 Roundup
May 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of May 2020: Related to the COVID-19 – Grace Bagwell Adams, an associate professor of health policy and
Grad student ‘brings’ pets to group homes
May 2020
Kim Wolf had plans to visit her grandma at a nursing home in Maryland. Then, the global pandemic hit. While COVID-19 has ground much of the world to a stop,
CPH celebrates faculty, student, staff successes
May 2020
In celebration of UGA Honors Week and end of the 2020 Spring Semester, the College of Public Health and its various units recognized more than 45 amazing students, nine dedicated
CPH In the Media: April 2020 Roundup
Apr 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of April 2020: Related to the COVID-19 – Athens CEO and WGAU radio covered the COVID-19 resources produced
UGA Institute of Gerontology launches center to bridge urban-rural gaps in Alzheimer’s care
Apr 2020
Approximately 6 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ARD) or mild cognitive impairment, and that number is forecasted to reach 15 million by 2060.
Public health hackathon produces COVID-19 resources
Apr 2020
In the last few days before instruction resumed at the University of Georgia, over 90 public health students were hard at work crafting infographics, data visualizations, policy briefs and even
CPH In the Media: March 2020 Roundup
Mar 2020
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of March 2020: Related to the COVID-19 – José Cordero, head of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics,
Older adults may suffer more from social distancing
Mar 2020
As COVID-19 continues to spread among communities throughout the U.S., public health and government officials are urging people to stay home and limit interactions with others, a practice known as
Focus on Faculty: Lisa Renzi-Hammond
Dec 2019
Lisa Renzi-Hammond, an assistant professor in the College of Public Health, conducts research that seeks to change how our society understands and supports people living with age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Where
CPH In the Media: November 2019 Roundup
Nov 2019
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of November 2019: Andrea Swartzendruber, assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, is a lead author on joint position
Can a cat improve your grandma’s life?
Nov 2019
A collaborative study out of Athens is trying to determine if having a pet can improve the mental state of older adults. Foster cats are being placed with people 60
CPH In the Media: October 2019 Roundup
Oct 2019
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of October 2019: Kerstin Emerson, a clinical associate professor at the UGA Institute of Gerontology, spoke to Athens
CPH In the Media: August 2019 Roundup
Aug 2019
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of August 2019: A study recently published by alumnae Ayanna Robinson (PhD ’18) found that mom-to-mom breastfeeding support
Beer chosen as one of UGA’s first Innovation Fellows
Aug 2019
Jenay Beer and fellow UGA faculty member Hitesh Handa have been selected as UGA’s inaugural Innovation Fellows for fall 2019. Throughout the semester, the pair will receive a crash course
Delta Omega selects doctoral student Jessica Shotwell to present at APHA 2019
Jul 2019
University of Georgia College of Public Health doctoral student Jessica Shotwell will present her research as part of the Delta Omega poster session at the 2019 American Public Health Association
Amazing Student: Jessica Shotwell
Jul 2019
Doctoral student Jessica Shotwell is passionate about public health and is researching ways to facilitate and improve health care systems and health communication platforms so people receive equitable and equal health
Marsha Davis named dean of UGA College of Public Health
May 2019
Marsha Davis, a nationally recognized researcher and leader in community-based health promotion programs, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Public Health. Davis, a professor in
CPH In the Media: April 2019 Roundup
Apr 2019
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of April 2019: The Georgia Health News featured Lisa Renzi-Hammond, an assistant professor in the Institute of Gerontology
Assistant professor studies the ways robots can help an aging population
Mar 2019
Jenay Beer has been thinking about how people interact with robots since she was a kid. She grew up watching Star Wars, fascinated by the way R2D2 “beep-booped” his way
CPH awards mini-grants to students for community projects
Mar 2019
New experiential learning program builds community connections, research skills The University of Georgia College of Public Health has awarded mini-grants to four student-led community outreach projects focused on addressing health
CPH In the Media: January 2019 Roundup
Jan 2019
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of January 2019: A 2014 study in the American Journal of Public Health by gerontology researcher Dr. Kerstin Emerson and
CPH In the Media: December 2018 Roundup
Dec 2018
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of December 2018: A recent study from Dr. Changwei Li, assistant professor in epidemiology and biostatistics, shed some
Loneliness is a serious health issue
Dec 2018
During the holidays, people suffer more, especially older adults No one likes to be lonely, especially around the holidays. But for most of us, once the decorations are packed away and
CPH In the Media: November 2018 Roundup
Nov 2018
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of November 2018: Dr. Jenay Beer, a faculty member in health promotion and behavior and the Institute of
CPH In the Media: October 2018 Roundup
Oct 2018
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of October 2018: The Athens Wellbeing Project, led by health policy and management assistant professor Dr. Grace Bagwell
Focus on Faculty: Jenay Beer
Oct 2018
As an assistant professor in the Institute of Gerontology and director of the university’s Assistive Robotics and Technology Lab, Jenay Beer conducts research at the intersection of social science and
UGA study finds people can see UV light, opens questions about consequences for eye health
Aug 2018
According to almost any source about the light spectrum, visible light, the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye, is the range of wavelengths between
CPH In the Media: June 2018 Roundup
Jun 2018
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of June 2018: A study led by Timothy Heckman, HPB professor and CPH associate dean for research, found
College sends off Class of 2018 grads with celebration
May 2018
On May 4, the University of Georgia College of Public Health honored 230 public health students receiving degrees during its 13th annual Graduation Celebration held in the Athena Ballroom of the
College praises students, faculty excellence with year-end honors
May 2018
At events held during the 2017-18 academic year, the UGA College of Public Health and its various units recognized 39 amazing students, three dedicated faculty members, four remarkable alumni, four
Search committee to seek dean of College of Public Health
Apr 2018
University of Georgia Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten has appointed a committee to begin a national search to fill the position of dean of the
CPH In the Media: December 2017 Roundup
Dec 2017
UGA College of Public Health news and media mentions for the month of December 2017: Dr. Jia-Sheng Wang’s receipt of the Translational Impact Award from the Society of Toxicology was
Team of UGA researchers exploring older adult health benefits of animal fostering
Nov 2017
Housing and health are essential to overall well-being, a fact as true for animals as it is for people. Now, a team of researchers at the University of Georgia is
Renzi-Hammond to develop new eye care tech as part of UGA’s first I-Corps Cohort
Oct 2017
Lisa Renzi-Hammond, an assistant professor of health promotion and behavior in the College of Public Health, has been selected to join the first group of faculty developing entrepreneurial projects with
College welcomes new faculty, recognizes new roles in new academic year
Aug 2017
The College of Public Health welcomes seven new faculty members this academic year. Spread across four departments and four institutes, the new hires comprise a part of a total of
Plant compounds found to boost brain function in older adults
Aug 2017
The typical diet in the United States is sorely lacking in fruits and vegetables, but a new study from the University of Georgia a compelling reason why more of us should
Pain can predict the onset of loneliness in older adults
Aug 2017
Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million Americans, and that number is expected to grow as the U.S. population continues to age. Today, between 60 percent and 75 percent of
Associate director chosen as president of American Society for Nutrition
Jun 2017
Mary Ann Johnson, the Flatt Professor in Foods and Nutrition in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been named president of the American Society for Nutrition. Johnson, who
Aging in place could save money, benefit health outcomes in public housing for the elderly
Mar 2017
Training service coordinators in low-income public housing to better assist aging residents could not only improve community members’ health outcomes but also save the government money in hospital visits, nursing
Reducing frustration with health care is key for those with chronic medical conditions
Mar 2017
Navigating the U.S. health care system can be frustrating for anyone, but for adults with chronic medical conditions, the frustration can become overwhelming as they juggle multiple providers, medications and
Professor’s interdisciplinary research strives to answer age-old questions
Nov 2016
The middle of an Illinois cornfield, it turns out, can prove fertile ground for a career in academic research. Heidi Harriman Ewen spent her formative years there in the Midwestern
Institute student recognition ceremony celebrates gerontology students
May 2016
On Tuesday May 3, the UGA Institute of Gerontology held its annual Student Recognition Ceremony. Everyone gathered to recognize the outstanding achievements of graduating gerontology students, and IOG faculty member
Gerontology MPH inducted into College’s Phi Kappa Phi Chapter
Apr 2016
Congratulations to Nikaela Frederick, MPH 2015 graduate, who was inducted today into Phi Kappa Phi Chapter #32. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi extends invitations to a highly select
Students get active for Careers in Aging Week
Apr 2016
For Careers in Aging week, the student gerontology club held a contest, asking students across UGA to complete the sentence: “Older adults matter to me because…” Not only did the
Gerontology graduate named Georgia Director of the Division of Aging Services
Feb 2016
Gerontology Certificate Graduate (Class of ’05) announced as Director of the Division of Aging Services ATLANTA – DHS Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden on Monday announced new leadership in the Department’s Division
Loneliness grows from individual ache to public health hazard
Feb 2016
Drs. Emerson and Jayawardhana are quoted in this recent Washington Post article about the public health hazard of loneliness. Posted February 1, 2016.
Gerontology student group acts as Santa to local seniors
Nov 2015
The gerontology students and faculty at the Institute of Gerontology collected gifts and helped wrap packages for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, organized by Home Instead Senior
Student group raises money for the Alzheimer’s Association
Oct 2015
On Saturday the G(erontology) Dawgs team joined the Alzheimer’s Association in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease. Held annually
UGA MSW/MPH Program Expands to Gerontology Concentration
Sep 2015
The UGA Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) dual program has been approved to expand to the MPH Gerontology concentration. Students can now choose an MSW concentration in
USDA Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program organized by UGA
Aug 2015
A USDA Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program was held on August 25 at the ACCA and was organized by UGA’s Department of Foods and Nutrition in the College of Family
UGA holds connections to Georgia Gerontology Society Awards
Aug 2015
The Georgia Gerontology Society held their Annual Meeting August 3-5, 2015 in Young Harris, GA. GGS’s mission is to promote quality leadership in aging for the benefit of older Georgians
Chronic loneliness in older adults leads to more doctors’ office visits, UGA study finds
Mar 2015
Experiences of loneliness and social isolation can lead to increased health care use among older adults, according to new research from the University of Georgia College of Public Health. The
In the News: Taking care of aging loved ones can be complicated and expensive
Mar 2015
Dr. Kerstin Emerson, clinical assistant professor at the UGA Institute of Gerontology and College of Public, shares insights on caregiving with Celeste Headlee, host of the GPB radio show On
Study finds that rate of disability in elders is lower in Mexico than in the U.S
Feb 2015
A recent study published in the Journals of Gerontology Series B contrasts disability transitions among elders in Mexico and in the United States. Lead author and Institute of Gerontology faculty Dr.
Family member’s death can impact personal health, UGA research finds
Nov 2014
Death takes a toll on the living, and in the case of baby boomers, the loss of a family member increases their likelihood of ending up in the hospital, according
Institute hosts Colloquium on Leisure and Well-Being Among Older People in Spain
Sep 2014
On Friday, September 5, the UGA Institute of Gerontology hosted a conversation among faculty and students at the University of Georgia and faculty from the Universities of Deusto and Barcelona. Professors
Georgia creates a state response to Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia
Jul 2014
On Tues. July 1, the Georgia Department of Human Services announced the release of the Georgia’s first Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan. The plan is expected to improve services,
Community, UGA collaborate on Alzheimer’s Registry
Jun 2014
The UGA Institute of Gerontology hosted the Alzheimer’s Disease Registry Stakeholder Conference on June 16 allowing members of the Athens-Clarke County and UGA community to discuss potential elements of and
Institute awards first MPH in gerontology
May 2014
Lindsey Megow is the first to graduate from the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in gerontology. Megow reports that she was drawn to the idea of increasing
In the News: Alzheimer’s Disease and African Americans
Feb 2014
Dr. Toni Miles, professor of epidemiology at the UGA College of Public Health, recently made an appearance on the radio program, Another View the Radio Show. Another View is an
In the News: State task force addressing major aging issues
Oct 2013
The Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force was created this past legislative session to address the growing number of people afflicted Alzheimer’s and dementia. “I couldn’t be
In the News: Tracking death’s impact on public health
Jun 2013
They say after the Rev. Homer Smith’s wife Annie Ruth died early this year, his only wish was to be with her. Twenty-seven days later, his granddaughter Angela Burnett said,
In the News: Mending a Broken Heart
Jun 2013
Being sad can make you sick. How we deal with grief affects our health, says Toni P. Miles, professor of epidemiology at the University of Georgia. She’s spearheading a research project
In the News: State, Region Rank Low in Senior Health
May 2013
Georgia is ranked 43rd in a first-of-its-kind state ranking of seniors’ health status. Overall, Southern states scored low in the report from the nonprofit United Health Foundation. Tennessee came in
In the News: Unresolved grief can be hidden health risk, experts say
May 2013
Whether you lose a loved one to disease, war, or a natural disaster like the tornado that tore apart Moore, Okla., last week, grief is the unwanted visitor that comes
Assistant Professor Dr. Kerstin Gerst Awarded Research in Diversity Seed Grant
May 2012
The Institute of Gerontology is happy to announce that assistant professor, Dr. Kerstin Gerst, was awarded $2,000 from Research in Diversity Seed Grant Program to continue her work on “Disability
Understanding Dementia Prevalence Among Centenarians
May 2012
The Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences has published a new paper by the Georgia Centenarian Study research team titled, “Understanding Dementia Prevalance Among Centenarians.” Dr. Leonard Poon, principle investigator, says that “Two
Photo Gallery: 2012 23rd Annual Southeastern Student Mentoring Conference in Gerontology & Geriatrics
Apr 2012
This year’s Southeastern Student Mentoring Conference in Gerontology and Geriatrics was held in Atlanta, Georgia at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia on March 30-31, 2012. On behalf of the Conference sponsors, we
In the News: Study shows binge drinking higher with older people
Feb 2012
Students who binge drink might be hesitant to tell their grandparents about their drinking habits — but grandparents may binge drink more often than students. A study this month by
