Johns Hopkins BSPH Department of Health Policy and Management

“At the time, you know, there were folks working in firearm policy, firearm violence prevention but not very many from a public health perspective. And to my knowledge, none or very few of them personally owned firearms.” -HPM Associate Professor Cassandra Crifasi In this installment of #HumansOfHPM, Associate Professor Cass Crifasi shares what motivates her to study firearm policies, how crocheting helps her decompress, and what advice she'd give to her younger self. Watch Cass' full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eseZbHUw

A recent study led by HPM Assistant Scientist Olivia Sugarman published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine examines firsthand accounts from people who use drugs via their postings on social media platform Reddit, Inc. and offers a unique perspective on the rapidly growing issue of xylazine contamination in the U.S. drug supply. Three major themes emerged from this analysis, including individual experiences with Xylazine, behavioral changes in response to contamination, and lack of treatment options and self-treatment approaches. The researchers found that people on the platform reported negative experiences with Xylazine, describing the effects as overwhelmingly sedative without any euphoria related to opioids. Reports of severe and sudden wounds were rampant, as were the intense symptoms of withdrawal. Users reported that xylazine withdrawal was often more painful than opioid withdrawal and described overdoses related to Xylazine as intense and highly disorienting, with reports of blacking out or losing their memory. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGQ5NAwm

A study led by HPM Professor Craig Pollack dives into the role of housing mobility on long-term health care use. Researchers linked decades’ worth of hospital discharge and Medicare data to participants in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Moving to Opportunity program and found that hospital admissions and long-term health care use were significantly lower for children in the program. "There is strong evidence that housing policies, particularly those that reduce childhood exposure to neighborhood poverty, can have long-term health benefits," said Pollack. "The large reductions in hospitalizations not only for asthma but also for mental health suggest that improving neighborhood environments is an important public health intervention." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dEE6CTjH

JOIN US for the Topics in Aging and Disability Journal Club! Our journal club provides a space for student and faculty to engage with cutting-edge research on aging and disability in the United States. We explore articles from various disciplines, including public health, demography, and medicine, reflecting a rang of analytic approaches and perspectives. This is a great opportunity to: ➡️ Engage with interdisciplinary research on timely toipcs ➡️ Develop a deeper understanding of the methodologies used in aging and disability studies ➡️ Collaborate and connect with peers across different fields Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2CyEf_M

On Indigenous Peoples Day, HPRS honors the wisdom, resilience, and contributions of Native communities to health policy and practice. We proudly celebrate our Indigenous scholars who are leading the way in building a Culture of Health that embraces Indigenous knowledge systems and promotes equity. Some of their research includes: - Exploring co-management of public lands to impact Native community health - Investigating maternal health outcomes and prenatal care access for American Indians - Addressing food and nutrition security - Studying the cultural importance of revitalizing traditional fire practices - Researching military and Native American youth suicide prevention - Promoting Indigenous well-being and health sovereignty in HIV prevention - Creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous people - Examining identity and Indigenous sovereignty - Studying U.S. Settler Colonialism and the impact of Indigenous knowledge on lawmaking - Examining how labor policies affect the health of workers in rural communities We invite everyone to join us in recognizing Indigenous peoples' rich history and ongoing impact in shaping a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all communities. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #HealthEquity #CultureofHealth RWJF Johns Hopkins BSPH Department of Health Policy and Management

It is official! Last night was the induction ceremony for the the National Academy of Medicine's Class of 2023! What a special time!

Last month, Health Economist and HPM DrPH Candidate Danielle Bargo was featured on the "Prescription for Healthcare" podcast via WFHB FM 91.3, 98.1, 106.3, 100.7 to discuss the issues around how hospitals set their prices in Indiana and compare Indiana's system to Maryland's all-pay rate setting system, which sets hospital prices uniformly throughout the state. "One of the biggest benefits of this system, in my opinion, is that people can make their health care choices based on what they need rather than what they can simply afford." -Danielle Bargo She caught the attention of the Prescription for Healthcare podcast hosts after getting her opinion pieces on this topic published by Indiana-based news organizations such as The Indiana Capital Chronicle and The Herald-Times last October. Listen to the full podcast episode: https://lnkd.in/enzQ5q3q Check out Danielle's published articles on the subject: ➡️ The Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Why do Indiana hospitals charge more in poorer communities?" https://lnkd.in/euBSJqAm ➡️ The Herald-Times, "Column: States could ensure fairness in rural hospital pricing. Here's how" https://lnkd.in/ePQDzAcc

Congratulations to HPM Associate Research Professor Christina Yuan and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Rheanna Platt for being awarded funding for their pilot project! With funding from the University of California San Diego’s “Center for Team Effectiveness to Accelerate EBP Implementation in Children’s Mental Health Services," Christina Yuan and Rheanna Platt will use their pilot project to understand how mental health care is delivered to and received by children and families who prefer languages other than English within community child mental health clinics in the Johns Hopkins Health System. They will also identify potential strategies for improving mental health care delivery with interpreters. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eJSbsNkM

HPM Associate Practice Professor Susan Chemerynski has recently been named the Jacob I. and Irene B. Fabrikant Chair in Health, Risk and Society! The professorship was established by Dr. Irene Fabrikant, a distinguished teacher and researcher in the pathogenesis and prevention of infectious disease, in 2000 in memory of her husband, Jacob, who was a pioneer in environmental radiology and a faculty member at the Bloomberg School and at the School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Chemerynski's career and research interests: https://lnkd.in/eMpDJUSZ

In her monthly column, HPM Department Chair Keshia Pollack Porter talks about the cultures and communities we honor in October. She also highlights the important work of the Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) program and announces that the Call for Applications for the ninth and final HPRS cohort will be released in January 2025. "HPRS brings together full-time doctoral students from marginalized backgrounds who have a vision for a better world. They come from a wide range of research-focused disciplines and are dedicated to improving health, well-being, and equity; challenging longstanding, entrenched racist and oppressive systems; collaborating across disciplines and sectors; strengthening their leadership skills; and learning to effectively use policy as a lever for change." Read Keshia's column to learn more: