Public Health Commons^™

Safety Of Carotid Endarterectomy In The Elderly And Octogenarian Population: A Nationwide Study Including 80,000 Patients, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Joanna Roy, Basel Musmar, Wi Jin Kim, Michael Rizzuto, Nathaniel Ellens, Rabab Alshahrani, Victor Staartjes, Adrian Elmi-Terander, Ramachandra Tummala, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Robert Rosenwasswer, Ziad Khabbaz, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an established procedure for stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery stenosis. While CEA is considered safe in younger patients, perioperative risks in octogenarians remain debated, with current guidelines classifying the procedure as "high-risk" in this patient population. This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes of CEA across age groups and to assess whether comorbidity burden better predicts outcomes than chronological age.

METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP database (2013-2020), was used to identify patients eligible for inclusion. The cohort was stratified based on age <  60, 60-80, and > 80 years. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare …

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, 2025, Cason Noll, Anirudh Polagani, Taylor Volk, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on the mental health of youth and adults, as well as the availability of mental health care, across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in 2025. The data are derived from "The State of Mental Health in America 2025,” originally published by Mental Health America (MHA).

Penguatan Pengendalian Persediaan Obat Melalui Integrasi Abc-Ven, Eoq, Dan Rop Di Rumah Sakit Rujukan Nasional, Rasendah Rasendah, Helen Andriani, Dendhi Bagus Andriyanto

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

Drug inventory control is a critical component of pharmaceutical management in referral hospitals with high service complexity. This study aimed to evaluate pharmaceutical inventory control performance at the Pharmacy Installation of RSUP Persahabatan and to formulate improvement strategies using an Operational Research approach. A mixed-methods design with a sequential explanatory approach was applied. Quantitative analysis was conducted on 2,291 drug items recorded in the inventory system during October 2025 using ABC-VEN classification to identify priority medicines, followed by calculations of Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and Reorder Point (ROP). Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with key informants to strengthen …

Analisis Pengaruh Patient-Perceived Hospital Service Quality Terhadap Customer Satisfaction Dan Behavioral Intention Pelayanan Rawat Inap, Launa Inayati Arlina, Dwiky Yuanasika, Mochammad Bagus Qomaruddin, Djazuly Chalidyanto

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

The Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) of inpatient rooms at Mitra Sehat Mandiri Hospital Sidoarjo during 2019-2023 has not reached the ideal standard. The BOR values were 22%, 28%, 37%, 25%, and 20%, with an average of 26.4%, remaining below the ideal range of 60-85%. One of the most influential factors contributing to the low BOR is suboptimal service quality. This study aims to analyze the relationship between Patient-Perceived Hospital Service Quality, customer satisfaction , and behavioral intention among inpatients at Mitra Sehat Mandiri Hospital Sidoarjo. This study employed a quantitative method with an analytical approach and a cross-sectional design. The …

Perceptions Of Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Among Indian Migrants In Australia: A Qualitative Study, Kunwar Kaur, Ma'en Zaid Abu-Qamar, Amineh Rashidi, Nilufeur Mckay, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a global health issue, with people of Indian origin facing earlier onset and more severe cases, leading to higher mortality at younger ages compared to Western countries. Indian migrants maintain similar risks post-migration. Managing modifiable risk factors and improving risk knowledge and health-seeking behaviours are essential, but research on IHD risk perceptions among Indian migrants is limited. Aim: This study explores how first-generation Indian migrants perceive their IHD risk and the factors influencing these perceptions. Methods: As a component of a mixed- method study, a qualitative descriptive study design was employed to examine study …

Beyond "Place Matters": Making Spatial Analysis Accessible With Dashboard-Driven Geography, Stephen Borders

Public Health

This article presents an instructional module that uses Tableau to teach spatial thinking and policy geography through an analysis of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation. Tableau’s ability to integrate custom spatial files with demographic and health data makes it an accessible platform for introducing geographic inquiry without requiring specialized GIS expertise. The lesson guides instructors through building maps, bullet charts, and scatterplots that highlight gaps between eligibility and enrolment, while connecting food insecurity to health outcomes. By lowering technical barriers, Tableau provides a pedagogical bridge that helps educators foster spatial literacy in diverse classroom contexts.

This article was published …

The Enduring Legacy Of Nuclear Tests: Barriers To Managing Type 2 Diabetes Among Marshallese Pacific Islanders In The United States, Bernard A. Muriithi

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Introduction / Rationale: Nuclear tests conducted by the United States caused significant damage to the environment and traditional food sources in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islanders began to depend on imported processed food, but the change of diet resulted in significant increases in chronic diseases, in addition to cancers and birth defects associated with nuclear radiation. Since the 1986 Compact of Free Association, over 15,000 Marshallese have relocated to the United States, and the majority live in one U.S. state. This community of Marshallese has the highest prevalence rate for type 2 diabetes in the world.

Objectives: identify the …

A Rare And Challenging Polymicrobial Pleural Infection Involving Cupriavidus Pauculus In A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Multiple Complications, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Syeda Samiya Kamal, Muhammad Muneeb, Summaya Zafar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

A 58-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a history of treatment consisting of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and chronic prednisolone therapy, presented with fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and left leg cellulitis. She developed septic shock complicated by tension pneumothorax requiring emergency thoracostomy and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Pleural fluid culture grew Cupriavidus pauculus, a rare environmental gram-negative bacillus, alongside Burkholderia cepacia and Candida parapsilosis, indicating polymicrobial infection which was most likely predisposed by patient's immunosuppressed state from RA and prolonged steroid use. Treatment consisted of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, fluconazole, and cardiopulmonary support, and culminated in …

Menopause 101, Stephanie Carlson, Emma Parkhurst, Ashley Yaugher, Cris Meier

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides women with basic information about perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, along with helpful tips and resources to better prepare for or manage these phases of life.

A Pilot Study Evaluating Child Resistant Closures In Pharmaceuticals In The Developing Nation Of Ghana: Informing Global Paediatric Safety And Usability Standards, Samuel Ofosu, Kojo Agyapong Afrifah, Laura Bix

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Despite their proven effectiveness in preventing unintentional paediatric medication poisoning in high-income countries, the performance and usability of Child Resistant Closures (CRCs) remain underexplored in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

To provide pilot data regarding the potential efficacy of using CRCs in LMICs, we conducted a study of the approach in a low-resourced region (Ghana, West Africa) by adapting testing protocols utilized in the United States (16 CFR Part 1700.20). The study utilized a convenience sample of children (n=50; 42-51 months) and adults (n=50; 50-70 years) to develop preliminary data related to the efficacy of a single design of CRC …

Depression, Education, And Quality Of Life In Women With Endometriosis, Ria N. Gajar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecologic condition associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social burden, and depressive symptoms are consistently linked to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among affected women. However, limited population-based research has examined how depressive symptoms intersect with social factors. Guided by Engel’s biopsychosocial model, nationally representative data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)—the most recent cycle to include an item on endometriosis diagnosis—were analyzed among U.S. women with self-reported endometriosis (N = 4,137). Complex samples logistic regression models were used to examine associations between depressive symptoms and HRQoL across general, physical, and …

Asian Reference Values For Handgrip Strength, Gait Speed, Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand Test, Muscle Mass And Calf Circumference, Jozo Grgic, Siew Ling Tey, Dieu Thi Huynh, Yen Ling Low, Zeljko Pedisic, Nina Schaller, Vanessa Kristina Wazny, Weilan Wang, Yasuhiko Saito, Ravindra P. Rannan-Eliya, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Monique Chaaya, Carlos Mendes De Leon, Preeti Gupta, Ecosse L. Lamoureux, Mythily Subramaniam, Edimansyah Abdin, Rahul Malhotra, Angelique Chan, Bayasgalan Tumenbayar, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Background:

Handgrip strength, gait speed, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) performance, skeletal muscle mass and calf circumference are important health outcomes, particularly useful for diagnosing sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to establish reference (normative) values for handgrip strength, gait speed, FTSST performance, skeletal muscle mass and calf circumference by pooling individual participant data from national cohorts in Asia.

Methods:

We conducted a pooled analysis of individual participant data from 20 national cohorts representing 12 Asian countries (China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Sri Lanka). We included cohorts with data on at least …

Association Between Environmental Exposures To Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances And Military Veterans Cancer Determination, Stephen A. Pereira Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study involved evaluating whether cumulative exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was associated with kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and adult leukemia among U.S. veterans. Pooled National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005–2015 were analyzed for sample of 2,500 veterans with available serum PFAS measurements and physician-diagnosed cancer histories. This study employed a cross-sectional, correlational design grounded in a post-positivist paradigm. Inclusion required complete data for (a) serum PFAS concentrations, (b) kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and adult leukemia, and (c) covariates age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and body mass index. Cumulative PFAS was modeled as a …

Group Antenatal Care Model As An Innovative And Sustainable Maternal And Child Health Service Delivery In A Northern Nigerian State, Pius I. Christopher-Izere, Abiola Ajibola, Abimbola Phillips, Dorcas Magbadelo, Ibidun Jolaoso, Obioma Azurunwa, Francis Ogirima, Collins Imarhiagbe, Anthony Onwuegbusi, David Udanwojo, Emmanuel Udeh, Victor Obagunlu, Adebola Adekogbe, Sunday Joseph, Hamza Abubakar, Neyu Iiyasu, Adetosoye Adebanjo, Barlarbe Gaya, Olayiwola Jaiyeola, Damilola Olaniyan, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Deborah Lynn Billings Ph.D., Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The maternal and child health situation in developing countries remains critical and deeply concerning, These regions account for 99% of global maternal and under-five deaths. In Nigeria, uptake of critical life-saving maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services, delivered through antenatal care (ANC), are sub-optimal, leading to poor outcomes. Group antenatal care (G-ANC) is an evolving antenatal care delivery model in low and medium-income countries. G-ANC models can improve quality and uptake of maternal health services.G-ANC model was implemented across 255 primary health facilities (PHFs) to ensure pregnant women receive components of a well-defined package of MNCH services at regular …

“My Heart Was In My Stomach”: Texas-Based Obstetricians’ And Gynecologists’ Experiences Post Anti-Abortion Legislation, Chelsey Kanipe, Precious Chiamaka Anunobi, Anupria D Davenport, Sheryl A Mccurdy, Marie A Brault

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

The purpose of this study is to investigate the downstream effects of anti-abortion legislation on the practice of obstetrics and gynecology in urban Texas.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews until saturation with eleven obstetricians/gynecologists (OBGYNs) to explore the effects of Texas’s abortion laws. Analysis consisted of inductive and deductive approaches.

Results

We identified three main themes regarding the downstream effects of Texas abortion laws: the conflicting role of colleagues as a support system and a source of frustration and distrust for OBGYNs, the lowered standard of care for those with a desired pregnancy, and concerns that anti-abortion legislation will …

Prevalence Of Premenstrual Syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, And Dysmenorrhea In Nursing Students: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, And Evidence-Based Recommendations, Sabyasachi Maity, Bharathi Gadad, Hansapani Rodrigo, Seham Noorani, Ayesha Usman, Chloe Lark, Mona Attarpour, Ivy Mageto, Lucas Schwartz, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Menstrual disorders—including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and dysmenorrhea—are highly prevalent among women of reproductive age and are associated with impaired academic performance, psychological distress, and reduced social functioning. Nursing students are particularly vulnerable due to the combined demands of intensive academic schedules and clinical training, yet prevalence estimates and institutional responses remain inconsistent.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251109363). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL Ultimate, and APA PsycINFO were searched for studies published between 2016 and 2025. Eligible studies reported prevalence or …

Forward Momentum

DePaul Magazine

Mission: Forward, the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in DePaul’s history, is fueling purpose-driven education to solve society’s biggest challenges. Learn and watch videos about DePaul programs and initiatives that exemplify the campaign through academic innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, service-oriented community partnership and activist scholarship.

Experiences Of Care-Seeking Parents With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In India, Yash Navnit Patel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 18 million individuals in India, yet the factors influencing parental care-seeking behavior were not well understood. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how parents’ perceived severity of a child’s symptoms, parental beliefs about the causes of autism, and perceived mental and physical health outcomes of caregiving influence parents’ intention to seek services for children aged 1–10 years diagnosed with ASD in India. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 10 mothers of autistic children. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. …

Abortions In The Mountain West, 2022-2025, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on the number of abortions provided annually in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah between July 2022 and June 2025. The data are retrieved from the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount report,  which includes data on abortion volume across all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. This fact sheet focuses on the administration of both in-person and telehealth abortions in the Mountain West.

Restoring Trust: A Fair Chance At A Bright Smile And The Human Side Of School-Based Dentistry, Rubin Sorrell Ii, Mph, Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Fair Chance at a Bright Smile (FCAABS) program represents a humanistic, community- centered approach to dentistry that redefines access, education, and dignity in oral health. Developed and refined through a year-long pilot partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, FCAABS integrates preventive dental care, oral health education, and career exposure for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. This manuscript argues that beyond clinical outcomes, FCAABS reveals a deeper truth: oral health is intrinsically social, emotional, and moral. It examines the program through the lens of the humanities and ethics, exploring how narrative, empathy, and cultural context inform both …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2a

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care. The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

Individual Characteristics And National Income Modify The Association Between Cognitive Social Capital And Food Insecurity: Evidence From The Gallup World Poll, 2014–2021, Sejla Isanovic, Kegan O'Connor, Audrey L. Richards, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Food insecurity affects >2.4 billion people globally and persists across income levels. Characteristics such as low income, low education, and unstable employment do not fully explain this persistence. Social resources embedded in networks, specifically cognitive social capital involving trust, reciprocity, and support, may offset constraints and buffer characteristics associated with a higher probability of food insecurity.

Objectives: This study examined whether social capital was associated with a lower probability of food insecurity and whether this as sociation varied by individual characteristics and country contexts, consistent with buffering and compensation.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Gallup World Poll (2014–2021), …

Identifying Barriers And Facilitators To Audit & Feedback In General Practice In Italy: A Qualitative Study, Anna Acampora, Andriy Melnyk, Emanuele La Gatta, Angelo Nardi, Laura Angelici, Rosemary Frasso, Nera Agabiti

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Audit & Feedback (A&F) interventions are recognized as effective strategies for enhancing healthcare quality, yet they remain relatively underutilized in Italian primary care settings. Recent literature highlights the importance of examining the factors influencing the implementation of these interventions across diverse clinical and organizational settings. Thus, this study aimed to identify such factors by exploring the experiences of professionals involved in an A&F intervention tailored for General Practitioners (GPs) treating chronic illnesses.

METHODS: Using qualitative research methods, this study organized focus groups (FGs) separately for each professional role involved in A&F: GPs, GPs acting as internal group coordinators, Public …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A Darwish, Patricia J Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H Aboul-Enein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

Methods: A scoping review …

Covid-19 Risky Health Behavior Among College Students, Azait Imtiaz

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

This research explored the behavior of college students before and after the implementation of a mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at a public university in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia with 807 college students. The study assessed various factors, including living arrangements (shared living spaces such as rooms and bathrooms), social behavior (including social gatherings), adherence to mask protocols during gatherings, and hygiene practices (such as hand sanitization). The results indicated significant differences in social behavior (M_before = 19.82, M_after = 25.85, p =.001), mask-wearing (M_before = 20.73, M_after = 31.41, p …

Ecologic Factors Contributing To West Nile Virus Hyperendemicity In Central South Carolina: An Integrated Vector–Human–Environmental Study, Elba S. Fridriksson, Ahayla Muraleedharan, Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller, Madeleine M. Meyer, Kia Zellars, Hiuxuan Li, Melissa S. Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

West Nile virus (WNV) is an endemic arboviral infection in the United States that has undergone phyloge-netic evolution since its introduction 25 years ago. An integrated vector–human–pathogen study was conducted in the summer of 2023 to unearth contemporary Culex quinquefasciatus habitat patterns and human transmission spillover foci in South Carolina, a state with historically little WNV data. A serosurvey revealed WNV seroprevalence 10 times the national average (22% versus 2%, respectively), with unusual epidemiologic risk factors. Female Culex quinquefas-ciatus WNV positivity was low (2.7%), with viral phylogenetics 100% homologous to the WN02 clade. Mosquito vectors clustered in affluent urban neighborhoods …

Multiparent Recombinant Inbred Lines Crossed To A Tester Provide Novel Insights Into Sources Of Cis And Trans Regulation Of Gene Expression, Fabio Marroni, Alison M Morse, Adalena V Nanni, Nadja Nolte, Patricka Williams-Simon, Luis G León-Novelo, Rita M Graze, Paul Schmidt, Elizabeth King, Lauren M Mcintyre

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To understand the relative importance of cis and trans effects on regulation, we crossed multi-parent recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) to a common tester and measured allele-specific gene expression in the offspring. Testing the difference of allelic imbalance between two RIL × Tester crosses is a test of cis or trans, depending on the RIL alleles compared. The study design also enables to separation of two sources of trans variation, genetic and environmental, detected via interactions with cis effects. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in a long-read RNA-seq experiment in female abdominal tissue at two time points in Drosophila melanogaster. …

Epidemiology Of Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis And Meningitis (Hcavm) And Community-Acquired Meningitis/Encephalitis And Evaluation Of An Off-Label Pcr Panel For Hcavm Diagnosis, Jaime Nassur, Katarina Schnell, Christine Dolon, Laura Walters, Devin Weber, Matthew Pettengill

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis (HCAVM) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but rapid diagnostic tests intended to cover microorganisms that typically cause HCAVM are not commercially available. We sought to evaluate the etiology of HCAVM compared to community-acquired meningitis/encephalitis (CAME) at our healthcare system, and to study the utility of repurposing a multiplex molecular panel intended for positive blood cultures for HCAVM cases. Our epidemiologic review demonstrated that HCAVM cases were primarily caused by bacteria and fungi also associated with bloodstream infections, in contrast with CAME cases, which were primarily caused by herpesviruses and Cryptococcus. Eighty-two cerebrospinal fluid …

Fathers, Futures, And Fragile Contexts: Men’S Intergenerational Perspectives On Pregnancy In A Low-Income South African Setting, Urlridge A. Thompson, Johanni Beukes, Michelle Leal, Stephanie Alcock, Stephen Lye, Shane A. Norris, Catherine Draper

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Men’s involvement in their partner’s pregnancy in low-income South African settings is influenced by a complex interplay of contextual factors that influence the nature and extent of their participation. The confluence of these factors contributes to limiting men’s adoption of an intergenerational perspective of their partner’s pregnancy. The adoption of an intergenerational perspective by men may enhance outcomes for maternal and child health, but it remains understudied. This qualitative study explored intergenerational perspectives of men in Soweto, South Africa, regarding their partners’ pregnancies. An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was employed. We conducted in-depth individual interviews with 19 male partners (fathers …

Jefferson Heart Health (Jhh): A Successful Student-Delivered Motivational Interviewing Pilot Program To Lower Cardiovascular Disease (Cvd) Risk, Nicholas Tomasko, Bs, Cindy Cheng, Md, Phd, Rafael Hernandez, Bs, Alessandra Sapon, Bs

Alpha Omega Alpha Research Symposium Posters

Purpose: The Jefferson Heart Health (JHH) program utilizes student health coaching by trained undergraduate and medical students supporting patients to sustain lifestyle changes and subsequently determine: how can we effectively educate patients by improving adherence to lifestyle recommendations? Also, what is the effectiveness of student-delivered health coaching for reducing patient cardiovascular risk? With our unique student-delivered program, we promote cost-effective lifestyle interventions for lowering overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden.

Methods: We successfully completed a four-week pilot with consistent patient attendance. Certified student JHH coaches, supervised by the certified obesity-management specialist and principal investigator, met weekly with 23 patients: 82.6% female/17.4% …