Differences in Neighborhood Food Environment May Contribute to Disparities in Obesity
Researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health examined the association of neighborhood food environments and “walkability” with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in New York City and found that a higher density of BMI-healthy food outlets is associated with a lower BMI and lower prevalence of obesity. BMI-unhealthy food stores and restaurants – although far more abundant than healthy ones – were not significantly associated with higher BMI or prevalence of obesity. The findings are published in the March 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
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New Insights into How Brain Responds to Viral Infection
Scientists at the Mailman School of Public Health have discovered that astrocytes, supportive cells in the brain that are not derived from an immune cell lineage, respond to a molecule that mimics a viral infection using cellular machinery similar to that used by classical immune cells in the blood. While scientists have been aware of the capacity of astrocytes to trigger an innate immune response when encountering a foreign agent, this work provides a new understanding of the complex mechanisms responsible for induction and regulation of inflammation in the brain and has significant implications for both the diagnosis and treatment of brain infections. The study is published as the cover article in the April 2009 issue of The FASEB Journal. 
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Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health Hosts Conference, "Translating Science to Policy"
Over 400 scientists, public officials, community leaders, and advocates for environmental health attended the Mailman School’s Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice (WE ACT) March 30 conference on “Translating Science to Policy: Protecting Children’s Environmental Health.” Focusing on three major environmental health concerns affecting children in urban areas, air pollution from fossil fuel combustion; residential pesticides; and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in common consumer products, the conference featured discussions on the most efficient methods of translating recent environmental health research into improved public policy. 
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National Center for Disaster Preparedness hosts Congressional Briefing
On March 3, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health's National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) hosted a briefing on long-term recovery following disasters at the Congressional Visitors Center in Washington, DC. The briefing, titled “Beyond Preparedness and Response: The Challenges of Long-Term Recovery,” was held in cooperation with the Congressional Hazards Caucus, which provides Congressional members with information and education on preparing for, mitigating against, and responding to natural disasters and man-made hazards. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana provided keynote remarks and NCDP's director, Irwin Redlener, MD, served as the moderator. Joining Dr. Redlener and Senator Landrieu were the Mailman School's David Abramson, PhD, and Andrew Sachs of James Lee Witt Associates.
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Mailman School Mourns the Loss of Jane Knitzer
Jane Knitzer, EdD, clinical professor of Population and Family Health, died peacefully on March 29 after battling cancer for more than a year. Dr. Knitzer served the Columbia University community with distinction since 1994, when she joined the Mailman School’s National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) as deputy director.  Dr. Knitzer was appointed director of NCCP in 2004, a position she held until early 2009 when her declining health made it impossible for her to continue her role.
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Rolling Stone Magazine Names Mailman School’s Wafaa El-Sadr to List of Top 100 Agents of Change in America
In its April 16th issue, Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the nation’s Top 100 Agents of Change, including leaders, policymakers, writers, thinkers, scientists and artists, and included Mailman School of Public Health’s Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, professor of clinical Epidemiology and director of the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) on the list for her work as a “global health visionary who is fighting AIDS one family at a time.”
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Core Courses Receive Accolades for Adeptly Marrying Theory and Practice
Core courses in the Department of Biostatistics and the Department of Health Policy and Management received exceptional scores for the fall 2008 semester. Students raved about the relevance of the lectures and coursework, as well as the engaging teaching style of the instructors, Martina Pavlicova, PhD, assistant professor of Biostatistics, and Michael S. Sparer, PhD, JD, professor of Health Policy and Management and director of the Executive MPH Program.
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M. Monica Sweeney, MD, MPH '92, FACP, Receives Robert L. Clarke Award for Scientific Achievement from Bronx Community College Foundation
On April 2, Mailman School alumna M. Monica Sweeney, MD, MPH ’92, FACP, assistant commissioner of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, received the Robert L. Clarke Award for Scientific Achievement at the Bronx Community College (BCC) Foundation’s annual Gala Awards Dinner.
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Spring 2009 Student Research Diversity Day
On April 6, the Dean’s Office, Diversity Committee, Office of Student Affairs, Public Health Doctoral Students Association, and the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) hosted the spring 2009 Student Research Diversity Day. The half-day event highlighted student work in a variety of subject areas and included a special section open to prospective students and community high school students.
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Presidential Management Fellows Class of 2009 Finalists
The purpose of the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF) is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
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