UW PhD Program in Health Services

Many influencers claim that drinking hot lemon water first thing in the morning boosts weight loss, improves digestion, and more. But is it really true? Judy Simon, dietitian and clinical instructor in HSPOP, teamed up with other dietitians and scientists to break down the science behind the trend. Read more at:

Does Hot Lemon Water Have Any Health Benefits? Influencers claim it helps with weight loss, digestion and more. We dug into whether that’s true.

Congratulations to Dr. Donald Chi for receiving the prestigious PECASE Award! This honor recognizes his outstanding contributions to dental research and public health. Dr. Chi’s work addresses the root causes of health inequities at both the individual and community level. He is paving the way for healthier communities, read more about his work and achievements at

Dr. Donald Chi wins PECASE award Dr. Donald Chi, the UWSOD’s Associate Dean for Research, has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from outgoing US President Joe Biden. This prestigious award,...

Tony Gomez, clinical instructor of Health Systems and Population Health, received the Alex Kelter Vision Lifetime Achievement Award from the Safe States Alliance. The award honors Gomez’s invaluable contributions to violence and injury prevention in King County, Washington state and the U.S. Read more at:

Tony Gomez receives lifetime achievement award for violence injury and prevention - Health Systems and Population Health Tony Gomez received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Safe States Alliance for his work on violence and injury prevention.

Health Services PhD candidate Zoe Pleasure recently received the F31 predoctoral fellowship for her study in Veteran health care. Pleasure’s PhD will explore the intersection of chronic disease and reproductive decision-making within the Veteran population. Veterans with autoimmune conditions face many of the same barriers to contraception access as civilians, only compounded by a host of Veteran-specific challenges. Around 10% of Veterans are women, and the Veterans Administration has acknowledged persistent gaps in their care. “Veterans who receive VA care are usually navigating a Veteran health care system that was originally created for men,” Pleasure explained. “The availability of sex-specific care, like contraception, gynecological care, and cervical cancer screening, is really variable across sites.” To learn more about Pleasure and her work head to

Pleasure receives NIH fellowship for Veteran health care research “Veterans who receive VA care are usually navigating a Veteran health care system that was originally created for men.”

In today's era of synthetic drugs, the number of available substances has swelled to more than 200, with more hitting the streets every day, including sedatives, animal tranquilizers and an industrial chemical used by plastic manufacturers. Caleb Banta-Green, adjunct professor in HSPOP, warns that the increasingly “messy drug supply,” is making street drugs more dangerous, as their potency and contents are almost impossible to know without extensive testing. "Some people use fentanyl a dozen times a day, every day of the year, and every one of those is an overdose opportunity because the fentanyl here is so unpredictable," he warns. Learn more about what Banta-Green and his colleagues at the UW Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research are doing to help at:

WA sees spike in new chemicals in street drugs Washington researchers and care providers are struggling to keep up with new chemicals in the region’s illicit drug supply.

Limited and increasingly expensive egg options for Washington consumers are becoming common amid the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. With a roughly 45% increase from January to November 2024, Judy Simon, a registered dietitian nutritionist and clinical instructor in HSPOP, warns the surge, “could definitely have an impact on protein intake, especially for families and individuals.” To learn more about alternative sources of protein from Simon, click here:

Why eggs are expensive and scarce in WA Bird flu outbreaks are driving up egg prices and affecting availability. Experts say the spread among wild birds makes the outbreak harder to control.

Long-term care is a significant yet often overlooked risk for retirees, and many are left with the financial burden of providing care to aging family members. Stipica Mudrazija's research highlights the staggering costs of unpaid caregiving, with a $67 billion opportunity cost for caregivers. As the market for long-term care insurance shrinks, it’s crucial for retirees to plan ahead, explore options, and have conversations with potential caregivers. Read more on how to plan for long-term care in retirement at

Plan for potential long-term care in your senior years in terms of family and finances Medicare doesn’t pay for most long-term care charges.

Calling all clinical care professionals! Whether you're an MD, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, midwife, nutritionist, therapist, paramedic or any other healthcare provider, we want your insights! Take a quick survey to share your thoughts about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on clinical work.

📋 3 questions to get started, with an option for a deeper dive (12 more questions)

⏳ Survey closes: February 28, 2025

👉 Take the survey here: https://ow.ly/6srJ50UnMQI

🔗 Learn more about the study at: https://ow.ly/nBSu50UnNs9

Your voice matters—help shape the future of healthcare!

Americans are entering retirement with more debt than ever before, with individuals aged 70+ owing a staggering $1.63 trillion. This growing financial burden is putting retirees at risk of serious challenges, from health crises to potential eviction. Experts like Stipica Mudrazija, assistant professor at HSPOP, stress the need for policy changes and better financial planning. Learn more at

Retirement in the red: Addressing financial struggles for older adults - Health Systems and Population Health Retiree debt now exceeds $1.63 trillion, policy interventions are needed to mitigate financial vulnerabilities among older adults.

From the court to the community, UW volleyball player and HPSOP masters student Sophia Tulino is making an impact with teamwork and heart. 💜 Discover how she champions leadership and public health values both on and off the court at

Sophia Tulino Champions Community On and Off the Court - Health Systems and Population Health As a student-athlete and masters student in HSPOP, Sophia brings a strong sense of teamwork and community to everything she does.

What can the U.S. learn from Portugal? While spending less on healthcare, Portugal has achieved longer life expectancy and better health outcomes by focusing on prevention, primary care, and equitable access. Public health experts like Stephen Bezruchka from HSPOP and André Peralta-Santos, alum of the PhD in Global Health program, highlight how Portugal’s smart, community-centered approach delivers big results with fewer resources. Could the U.S. transform its healthcare system by following suit?

Read more:

Spending less, living longer: What the U.S. can learn from Portugal’s innovative health system Instead of spending money on gleaming new hospitals and expensive drug therapies, Portugal focuses on old fashioned primary care and public health

With a new administration poised to take charge at a crucial time for health in the USA, The Lancet has devoted an entire issue to health policy titled “A Presidential Briefing Book.” The publication brings together the best evidence on the state of health in the USA and solutions for improving it.

One of the featured articles was written by HSPOP’s Megha Ramaswamy and Marc Stern and Dr. Lara B. Strick of UW medicine. In it the authors address the effects of incarceration on public health. “Carceral health is public health,” write the authors, “Incarceration is not an opportunity to provide health care to an underserved population, but rather an indicator showing how well our community-based systems meet the nation's social and health-care needs.” To read the full article and see the whole briefing book visit: https://ow.ly/oPv550UpAoX