Category: Public Health

Equity, Food Systems, Public Health

The Impact of Structural Racism on Access to Healthy Foods

By Emma Vinella-Brusher, Angles Managing Editor Access to good, nutritious food is essential to our ability to survive and thrive as human beings, but this is not a right afforded to all Americans. Despite being a nation of abundance, the U.S. is plagued by food insecurity and poor diet, though these impacts are disproportionally felt by lower-income families and communities of color. For example, an … Continue reading The Impact of Structural Racism on Access to Healthy Foods

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Land Use and Environmental Planning, Public Health

From the Archives: Saving Patients but Harming the Planet? Hospitals as Stewards of the Trash Crisis

This post was originally published on December 3, 2019. As we enter year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reflect on another global consequence – mountains of waste. A July 2021 study by MIT found that the pandemic alone has generated 7,200 tons of medical waste every day, largely disposable masks. By Emily Gvino, MCRP/MPH ’21 According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% … Continue reading From the Archives: Saving Patients but Harming the Planet? Hospitals as Stewards of the Trash Crisis

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Climate Change, Hazards, Original Research, Public Health

Assessing Extreme Weather and Climate Impacts on Public Health Practitioners

Last summer, Emily Gvino (MCRP and MPH 2021 alumna), teamed up with Dr. Ferdouz Cochran to conduct a needs assessment of public health practitioners across the southeastern United States to understand the impact of extreme weather and climate events in their work. With support from Carolina Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA), the duo surveyed 108 professionals from emergency management and disaster services, healthcare coalitions, hospital … Continue reading Assessing Extreme Weather and Climate Impacts on Public Health Practitioners

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Equity, Public Health

Call for Papers: CPJ Volume 47

Carolina Planning Journal is accepting abstracts for papers relating to:PLANNING FOR HEALTHY CITIES “The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic, or hospital”– Dr. Mark Hyman, physician Planning has been deeply intertwined with the need for healthier urban populations from the very beginning, with early planners such as Ebenezer Howard and Frederick Law Olmsted attempting to balance public health … Continue reading Call for Papers: CPJ Volume 47

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Public Health

From the Archives: Got Green Space?

This post was originally published by Anna Patterson on November 24, 2017. As COVID-19 has limited much of our activity and movement to our homes, many people are turning to the outdoors for a bit of refuge. Exploring the importance of green spaces- particularly on public health- this piece is once again relevant. Planning for Preventative Health Urban green space provides a place to escape … Continue reading From the Archives: Got Green Space?

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COVID-19, Public Health, Transportation

Getting Around Getting Around: A Pandemic’s Impacts on Transportation

By Doug Bright Collectively, we’re doing a lot less moving these days. For many, including the UNC Chapel Hill community, the ongoing pandemic means that virtual meetings have replaced our daily commutes. Driven by both personal concern and government action in the form of stay-at-home orders, our non-essential trips have also been slashed in order to reduce interpersonal contact and infection rates. Some services, activities, … Continue reading Getting Around Getting Around: A Pandemic’s Impacts on Transportation

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Personal Reflections, Public Health, Transportation

COVID-19 and Our Futures

By Evan King When speaking about the role of public transportation in modern society, I often bring up this article published by the Foundation for Economic Education. In it, the author essentially argues that the proliferation of telecommuting has removed all need for public transportation. If you take this line of thought to its logical, extreme conclusion, then we must be on an unstoppable trajectory … Continue reading COVID-19 and Our Futures

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Original Research, Public Health

Senior Honors Thesis: Greenspace and Health

By Lizzie Tong In the decades to come, cities must grapple with a myriad of challenges – climate change, increasing population density, rising inequality – and develop mitigation strategies through smart urban design. Cities around the world, including Singapore, Vienna, and Shenzhen, have turned to greenspace as a way to address these concerns and improve overall quality of life for its citizens.  Greenspace can mitigate … Continue reading Senior Honors Thesis: Greenspace and Health

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Land Use and Environmental Planning, Public Health

Saving Patients but Harming the Planet? Hospitals as Stewards of the Trash Crisis

By Emily Gvino According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more trash than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, generating 1 million tons more waste every week during this time frame[1]. However, the life cycle of this country’s waste poses a critical issue throughout the year. Urban planners, public works departments, and local officials are already dealing with the downstream impacts of … Continue reading Saving Patients but Harming the Planet? Hospitals as Stewards of the Trash Crisis

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