August 21, 2024

Extreme heat, drug prices, COVID vaccines, “slapped cheek disease,” the “sloth virus,” germs in toilet plumes, plus other news stories with VUMC sources

(iStockphoto) (iStockphoto)

Eva Parker, MD, assistant professor of Dermatology, was quoted by Mother Jones magazine in a story about the health effects of working outdoors in extreme heat, effects that are especially acute for people with chronic illnesses.

Stacie Dusetzina, PhD, professor of Health Policy, was quoted by numerous national news outlets about Medicare lowering the cost of 10 common, high-cost drugs. Among those seeking her opinion: The New York Times, NBC News, Reuters, Politico and Axios.

William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by Verywell Health and NBC News in stories about parvovirus (AKA “slapped cheek disease”); USA Today, The Beacon News, The Washington Post and CNN about COVID and COVID vaccines; Prevention in a story about oropouche, (AKA the “sloth virus)”; and The Washington Post (again) in a story headlined “Can you get sick from the germs in toilet plumes?”

StyleBlueprint reporter Jenna Bratcher interviewed Tamia Potter, MD, neurosurgery resident, for a story about her being VU’s first black female neurosurgery resident.

Undark magazine science journalist Jyoti Madhusoodanan interviewed Elizabeth Phillips, MD, professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, for a story about some of the issues with implementing pharmacogenetic testing in clinics, including the NATIENS trial and her work on developing HLA-B*57:01 as a screening marker for abacavir prescriptions. 

Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Andrew Patterson, a postdoctoral research fellow, are quoted in a Times of India report on their research into connections between metabolism and immunity.

A story in The South African about growing rates of cancer in younger people cites research from Cathy Eng, MD, professor of Medicine.