Jose Bauermeister recently  used data from a national cross-sectional survey of young sexual minority men (N = 1,484; ages 18-24 years) to examine the relationship between parental gender policing during childhood and adolescence and subsequent substance use and psychological distress.  Abstract here.

The Penn Current recently conducted a Q&A with Senior Fellow Charles Branas. He  discusses his body of research, the challenges in pursuing gun violence-related research, and why some people still don't consider gun violence a public health problem. Read the full interview here. 

Karen Glanz, along with Neha Vapiwala from Penn Medicine, are working on an empowering project to increase education and awareness about prostate cancer.  To overcome the stigma and get men to open up more about prostate cancer, they  are working on a project to empower people by providing respected and trusted community and religious leaders with basic information about prostate cancer. Then, if approached, they can provide important facts and knowledge, serving as a bridge to make sure those who need assistance can get it. Full article here. 

David Grande recently published an article on a study with an objective to explore the health care experiences and expectations of new Medicaid expansion beneficiaries in the immediate post-enrollment period. Abstract here. 

James Guevara and collaborators  sought to determine feasibility and acceptability of parental depression screening in urban pediatric practices. They found that electronic alerts improved screening rates from 45 / month to 170 / month. Fifteen clinicians completed interviews and endorsed screening to provide help for families, build stronger ties with parents, and improve outcomes for children. However, insufficient time, need to complete activities with higher priority, lack of mental health availability, few resources for parents with limited English proficiency, and discomfort addressing depression were thought to limit screening. Find the abstract here. 

This study by David Mandell and colleagues  examined the problem-solving behaviors of parents and teachers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Results showed that parents and teachers displayed limited use of the core elements of problem-solving. Teachers displayed more problem-solving behaviors than parents. The findings suggest that teacher and parent training programs should include collaborative approaches to problem-solving. More here. 

A new study from the School of Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) and co-lead by Matthew McHugh shows that older black adults are not only more likely to be readmitted following an elective hip/knee replacement, than otherwise similar white patients - they may also be more adversely affected by insufficient hospital nurse staffing. Read more here. 

Daniel Polsky was recently featured in a podcast with Knowledge@Wharton. He discussed the pros and cons of narrow-network health care plans and the larger changes underway in the insurance industry on the Knowledge@Wharton show on Wharton Business Radio on SiriusXM channel 111.

Listen to the podcast here. 

Richmond joins 12 other nationally recognized subject matter experts in health promotion, disease prevention, epidemiology, health literacy, communication and law to serve on the Committee.Over the next two years, the Committee will examine current scientific evidence and submit recommendations to the HHS Secretary with rationales to inform the development and implementation of the nation's disease prevention and health promotion objectives for Healthy People 2030. More here. 

Dr. Phyllis Solomon, who is internationally known for her research on clinical services and service system issues around adults with severe mental illness, has been named the Associate Dean of Research at the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2). More information. 
 

This fall, Susan Sorenson combined two of her long-standing courses, "Guns & Health" and "Violence in Relationships," into one. The new version of the class approaches these topics from a population-based perspective and creates an active learning environment for students. Read more about her work and the course here. 

Micheal Harhay evaluated the three-year community-based FXBVillage poverty-alleviation model, which provides extremely poor families with sustained social support and graduated material support for education, healthcare, housing, nutrition, and income-generation. Read more about the study and findings here. 

Anne M. Teitelman will co-lead a study that will design an awareness program on the usage of the daily oral medication Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an FDA-approved drug taken by at-risk women to prevent acquisition of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  She will identify the obstacles women face in accessing PrEP, healthcare, and ultimately determine the most effective ways to help raise awareness for the current prevention options available. More here. 

Joyce Lee was an Invited Speaker for the FitCity PHL conference this Fall. Fit City PHL 2 is a day-long symposium designed to explore the concept of active design, and strategies for improving health by promoting physical activity and healthy eating. It brought together architects, planners, designers, landscape architects, developers, and public health professionals to learn about how our built environment can have a positive impact on the negative health trends our communities are facing. Read more about Joyce Lee's work here. 

Penn receives grant to continue tobacco-free campus initiatives

The American Cancer Society and CVS Health recently announced that Penn is one of 20 colleges to receive a $20,000 grant as part of the Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative to accelerate the adoption of tobacco-free campus policies.

A Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) will be opening in Philadelphia in 2017.  It will be located at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.  An FSRDC provides approved researchers with a secure environment to access restricted-use microdata from the Census Bureau, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Center for Health Statistics, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.  More information about the FSRDC network is available at  http://www.census.gov/fsrdc .

Penn Bike Commuter Reimbursements 

Beginning January 2017, Penn will reimburse all full-time benefits-eligible faculty or staff who bike to work more than half the time. Coverage will be up to $20 per month or $240 per year in reimbursements.This benefit will be on top of salary without being considered taxable income. Read more 

For those interested in beginning to bike to work, or switching up their route, The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia created several maps of bike lanes in Philadelphia, including one that shows all bus stops located within a quarter mile of the region's circuit trails.  Maps can be found here. 

Family Planning Options More Accessible in Pennsylvania

Be sure to check out the  ASPPH Friday Letter  for News, Events, and Opportunities.  Click here  to sign up to receive the letter.