The University of Minnesota awarded Professor Katy Backes Kozhimannil a Distinguished McKnight University Professorship for her scholarship, leadership, and impact in advancing healthy lives and greater equity in rural places and communities.
Faculty
Wurtz named Distinguished University Teaching Professor
The University of Minnesota awarded Associate Professor Rebecca Wurtz with its highest education honor.
Four key priorities for achieving rural health equity
Professor Katy Backes Kozhimannil and Associate Professor Carrie Henning-Smith outline how addressing gaps in governmental representation, broadband access, racial justice, and climate change are needed to improve the health of rural residents.
Measuring structural racism in Minnesota communities
Associate Professor Rachel Hardeman has started a project to develop and test the Multidimensional Measure of Structural Racism, which determines the amount of structural racism people are exposed to in communities.
Finding better ways to detect and measure infectious viruses in the air
A study led by Professor Peter Raynor found that a two-sampler approach may be necessary to detect viruses and accurately measure their concentrations. (Peter Raynor)
More research needed on how food insecurity affects parent feeding practices
Faculty Katherine Arlinghaus and Melissa Laska say experiences with food insecurity can influence the behaviors and practices parents use to feed their children — and have long-term consequences for everyone.
Study finds young adults practicing yoga are not immune to societal pressures for thinness and muscularity
The study led by Professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer found that people who practice yoga were equally or more likely to practice extreme weight control behaviors, binge eating or use steroids and protein powders/shakes to enhance muscles.
Obtaining specialist care may be harder for rural and lower-income Alzheimer’s patients
Associate Professor Sayeh Nikpay led the study that found specialized geriatric providers are more likely to see higher socioeconomic status and urban patients.
Studying how stress from COVID-19 affects healthcare workers
Associate Professor Ryan Demmer is co-leading the study with the School of Nursing to help healthcare systems determine how to best support the health and well-being of employees during the COVID-19 crisis. (Ryan Demmer)
How skin tone bias and age affect preterm birth rates of Black women
Assistant Professor Jaime Slaughter-Acey found that Black women with medium to dark brown skin tones were more likely to experience a preterm birth with increasing maternal age as compared to women with light brown complexions.
Wei Pan chosen for the U’s Academy for Excellence in Health Research
Biostatistics Professor Wei Pan has been given the University’s highest recognition of health-related research — membership in the Academy for Excellence in Health Research.
Online tool calculates risk of COVID-19 infections for small gatherings — and their snowball effect
The tool developed by Associate Professor Eva Enns uses key data, such as group size, to predict how many new infections and hospitalizations gatherings could trigger in the state.
