New Voices From the Field Podcast: Sharing to Survive: Building Resilient Health Communication Research Networks through AI-Powered Collaboration
Recorded during the 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) in Atlanta, NPHIC’s Public Health Speaks podcast continues its Voices from the Field series with a new episode, Sharing to Survive: Building Resilient Health Communication Research Networks through AI-Powered Collaboration.
In this conversation, Dr. Kristen Swain, Ph.D., Associate Profes…
Democratic Women’s Caucus Commends FDA for Lifting Black Box Warning on Estrogen
The House Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) praised the FDA’s recent decision to remove the black box warning from estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT), previously linked to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and dementia based on decades-old studies. The caucus highlighted this as a commitment to science-based regulation and emphasized the importance of continued research on HRT…
Exercise is as Effective as Medication in Treating Depression, Study Finds
new Cochrane review of 73 randomized controlled trials involving 5,000 people finds that exercise—ranging from light walking to moderate activity—can be as effective as medication or therapy in reducing depressive symptoms. Exercise boosts neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, and supports brain neuroplasticity through increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), en…
MMWR: Wastewater Surveillance Offers Early Warning for Measles Transmission
Recent CDC MMWR reports highlight wastewater surveillance as a powerful early warning tool for measles transmission. In Oregon, retrospective testing detected measles virus in wastewater roughly 10 weeks before the first reported case, with viral concentrations tracking closely with the outbreak’s peak—the state’s largest measles surge since 1991.
In Colorado, wastewater detection preceded co…
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health in a Push to Become a Hub for Personal Health Data
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, a dedicated platform allowing users to securely connect medical records and wellness apps to personalize health conversations. Designed to enhance patient engagement and decision-making, the tool flags potential medication risks by integrating user data without training its AI on personal medical information.
Early examples highlight its potential to help p…
These Food Preservatives are Linked to Cancer
A new study published in The BMJ adds to growing evidence linking certain food preservatives commonly found in processed foods to increased cancer risk. Analyzing dietary and health data from more than 105,000 participants over 14 years, researchers found higher cancer incidence associated with additives such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, sulfites, and sorbates—ingredients frequently us…
A Midwife’s Death Days after Childbirth Complications Reignites the Conversation Around Black Maternal Health
The recent death of Dr. Janell Green Smith, a Black certified nurse-midwife in South Carolina, days after giving birth, has reignited national attention on Black maternal health disparities. Despite her expertise and experience delivering hundreds of babies, Green Smith experienced severe preeclampsia and post-surgical complications, underscoring that professional knowledge does not shield agai…