Department of Social and Behavioral Health News
Housed in the 51ԹϺ School of Public Health, the Department of Social and Behavioral Health consists of faculty who engage in research and develop and evaluate community-based programs that promote health and disease prevention. Our students learn to identify high-risk behaviors or trends in specific populations, as well as propose solutions that aim to improve overall public health in communities.
Current Social and Behavioral Health News
The students and faculty of 51ԹϺ are springing into headlines around the country.
After an unexpected start in public health, this professor of social and behavioral health is uncovering the complexities of substance misuse and childhood trauma.
Headlines and highlights featuring the students and faculty of 51ԹϺ.
A monthly roundup of the top news stories at 51ԹϺ, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.
News highlights featuring 51ԹϺ students and staff who made (refreshing) waves in the headlines.
A collection of news stories highlighting 51ԹϺ’s dedication to community and research.
Social and Behavioral Health In The News
I’ve dedicated my career to understanding and improving the lives of older adults, including veterans. That’s why it was devastating to learn that a $1.4 million research grant, approved by the Department of Defense to study Alzheimer’s disease among veterans, was suddenly no longer going to be funded, with no clear explanation other than that our work no longer aligned with “agency priorities.”
Dr. Manoj Sharma, a Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, as well as President of Health for All, Inc., answers queries on caring for a loved one with epilepsy.
Methylene blue is a chemical that is used in treating methemoglobinemia, a rare disease in which hemoglobin in red blood cells has a reduced capacity to carry oxygen to the various parts of the body. It is also used in treating malaria with Plasmodium falciparum, drug-induced encephalopathy (a brain inflammation due to taking ifosfamide, a cancer treatment drug), and for diagnostic purposes, such as in examining the lymph nodes near the breast and parathyroid glands during their removal. It is also used as an antidote for nitrite or aniline poisoning.
Tattoos have become quite prevalent, especially in the younger generation. Tattoos include the administration of exogenous pigments into the deep layer of the skin (dermis) to create a permanent design. Tattoos have been administered for over 5000 years, and at present are a common cosmetic practice all over the world.
Late last month, Brooke L. Rollins, the Trump administration’s incoming secretary of agriculture, unveiled her plan to combat the growing threat of avian flu to animal and human populations. In a commentary published Feb. 27 in the Wall Street Journal, Rollins laid out a five-step strategy to fight the virus. But the title of the piece was not “How we will prevent a new pandemic” or “Five steps to prevent the avian flu virus from infecting millions of Americans.”
The world celebrated World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2025, with the theme of “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, approximately 10.8 million people were affected by TB globally, including 6.0 million males, 3.6 million women, and 1.3 million children. No country or age group has been spared by TB. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, 9,633 cases of TB were reported which was an increase of 15.6% over the previous year. It needs to be noted that TB is preventable and curable. Can we eradicate TB like we did smallpox?
