May 25, 2021
Population health partnership with the Aga Khan University yields global impact
Since 2016, the University of Washington and the Aga Khan University (AKU) have collaborated to advance population health, promote education, service, and research opportunities in low- and middle-income countries. The AKU is a private university under the aegis of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The university, established in 1983, began as a health-sciences institution but…
May 21, 2021
Initiative announces summer 2021 cohort of Applied Research Fellows
The Population Health Initiative announced the award of five Population Health Applied Research Fellowships to three graduate and two undergraduate students. The Applied Research Fellowship program was launched in 2019 in partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology. The fellowship equips students with data analysis, critical thinking and team…
May 20, 2021
UW researchers develop first AI system for contactless monitoring of heart rhythms
Utilizing smart speaker technology, UW researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence system to monitor heartbeats without physical contact. The researchers tested their new system and recently published their results, finding the smart speaker consistently detected heartbeats that closely matched those detected by standard heartbeat monitors. The smart speaker technology detects individual heartbeats by sending…
May 19, 2021
Spotlight: Jenna van Draanen bridges disciplines in unique Nursing and Public Health faculty role
Dr. Jenna van Draanen, assistant professor at both the University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health, is passionate about upstream interventions and addressing social determinants for health. After receiving her M.P.H. from the University of Toronto, van Draanen worked as a research assistant and research coordinator, allowing her to learn more…
May 12, 2021
Honorees announced for 2021 undergraduate research recognition awards
The Population Health Initiative announced the award of Population Health Recognitions to 12 students participating in the Undergraduate Research Symposium for their innovative and well-presented research work. This award was created in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Program and was open to students across all three campuses who are presenting at the annual Undergraduate Research…
May 11, 2021
Exploring physically distant technology access and assistance to support a changing economy
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered not only massive job losses, but also displaced many workers whose occupations are incompatible with the changing times. Among those impacted, people of color, younger laborers, those with lower levels of education and low-wage laborers are disproportionately affected by the rise of this new economy. As safety restrictions lessen and businesses…
May 6, 2021
Initiative announces summer 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows
The Population Health Initiative, in partnership with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, CoMotion and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, announced the selection of five graduate student fellows for the summer 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program cohort. The fellows will devote 10 weeks over the summer to generate impactful solutions and contributions to…
May 5, 2021
Study links helpful behavior during the pandemic to feelings of connection to others
According to a recent study led by researchers from the University of Washington, people who recognize their connections with others and identify with all humanity are more likely to cooperate with public health measures and act altruistically amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-disciplinary behavioral study draws on data collected across 80 countries. The findings reveal…
April 29, 2021
Cultivating farmworkers’ COVID-19 health on the air in the Yakima Valley
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the need to stay informed about relevant public health policies and health information has proved vital. Yet, for many, this information is often inaccessible due to language, cultural, or technology barriers. Recognizing this problem, University of Washington researchers from the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) have worked…
April 27, 2021
Spotlight: Francis Abugbilla focuses on post-conflict peacebuilding mechanisms
Francis Mbawini Abugbilla is a Ph.D. candidate at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and 2020 Population Health Social Entrepreneurship Fellow. His research focus is Peace, Violence and Security, with his dissertation focusing on post-conflict peacebuilding mechanisms in Africa. Abugbilla grew up in the Bawku West District of Ghana, raised as a farmer…