Hamann discusses distracted driving, Iowa’s handheld device law

On July 1, Iowa law enforcement will begin distributing warnings for the handheld use of electronic devices while driving. Experts including Cara Hamann, director of the UI Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Safety Lab, offer reminders for reducing distractions while driving. (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Published May 29, 2025

Pentella offers food safety tips for cookouts

Professor Michael Pentella, director of the State Hygienic Laboratory and clinical professor of epidemiology, offers some food tips for safe summer gatherings and cookouts. (Iowa Magazine)  Published May 28, 2025

Charlton discusses cancer in Iowa, impact of federal budget cuts

Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, recently discussed the "Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project" and how federal funding cuts and layoffs have impacted statewide work to advance cancer prevention and control in Iowa. (Iowa Public Radio) Published May 16, 2025

Nash discusses Iowa’s high cancer rates and the 99 Counties Project

Sarah Nash, the director of research, analytics, and dissemination with the Iowa Cancer Registry and an assistant professor of epidemiology, recently commented on the 99 Counties Project, which aims to visit all 99 counties in Iowa to present local data and discuss cancer rates and risk factors. (The Gazette)  Published May 13, 2025

Plugged in to Public Health: The Iowa Cancer Registry and the ’99 Counties Project’

In this episode, Lauren welcomes Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, to the podcast to discuss the Iowa Cancer Registry's "99 Counties Project." Published May 8, 2025

Announcing the NEW ESA Board

ESA Board 2025-2026 Katie Fuhrmeister (She/Her/Hers) PhD Representative Top 4 Favorite Songs of All Time: Faith Elenwa (She/Her) PhD Representative Top 4 Favorite Songs of All Time: Prithvi Raj Daliboyina (He/Him/His) At-Large Representative Top 4 Favorite Songs of All Time: Lauren Johnson (She/Her) MS Representative Top 4 Favorite Songs of All Time: “Picking favorite songs […] Published May 8, 2025

May Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Betsy Chrischilles Hometown: Iowa City, IA Alma mater: The University of Iowa Field of research: Pharmacoepidemiology Topic or title of current project: Infrastructure for Conducting Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research. PCORnet®️, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network Quickfire Queries: This or That? Quiet influence Loud impact Drawing DAGs by hand Using DAGitty Mentor hat […] Published May 1, 2025

Epi Summer Reads

Non-Fiction Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonksby Jonathan Schwabish Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgotby Mikki Kendall Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgotby Mikki Kendall Indigenous Statistics: A Quantitative Research Methodologyby Chris Andersen, Maggie Walter, Tahu Kukutai, Chelsea Gabel Abundanceby Ezra Klein & Derek […] Published May 1, 2025

May Student Spotlight

Spring & Summer 2025 Epidemiology Graduates Not featured: Sauda Abdullahi, MPHMaria Bozoghlian, MSRachael Chittum, MPHChristopher Strouse, MSMaree Elliott, MPHAndrew Goldsmith, MPHKlaudia Hernandez, MPH Published May 1, 2025

Charlton comments on federal cuts and cancer research

Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, says the registry has long been under pressure to cut costs from the NIH, where it gets most of its funding. She's concerned that additional cuts could mean the registry has to ask the state for funding or start charging hospitals for the data. (Iowa Public Radio) Published April 25, 2025