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Northwestern University’s Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) envisions a future where all people are able to realize their highest possible health and well-being.
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Director's Message: COVID-19
April 14, 2020
Last week was National Public Health Week, which is organized annually by the American Public Health Association to recognize the impact of public health initiatives and to highlight issues of importance to improving our nation's health. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded not only of the critical importance of public health but also of its interconnectedness with policy, science, healthcare, and the economy.
Prompted by the emergence of Chicago’s first case of COVID-19 on January 23, 2020, the public health community leapt into action to identify and track more than 370 contacts of this individual. Initially this was done to contain and understand the rapid spread of this new virus, but these efforts quickly led to uncovering new channels for surveillance involving partnerships with communities, health systems, industry, and academia. The public health sector also partnered with multiple universities to develop epidemiologic prediction models to forecast the spread of COVID-19 cases and to urge elected officials to implement social distancing policies to slow its community transmission.
Over the past six weeks, the public health sector has continued to coordinate more directly with healthcare systems and others to implement thoughtful approaches for diagnostic testing in the midst of supply shortages, track hospital admissions and outcomes, identify possible capacity constraints, and identify approaches for meeting needs for personal protective equipment and other supplies as demand has continued to grow. The public health sector also has been working to identify and contain hot spots occurring in locations such as long-term care facilities and correctional centers, where social distancing has been more difficult to implement, as well as to identify and address unequal burden of the epidemic on other vulnerable population groups such as the homeless, racial and ethnic minorities, and the aged.
We currently find ourselves at a critical juncture in which tensions are building between a desire to reopen businesses and schools and a near-certainty that the epidemic will re-erupt should social distancing policies be relaxed too prematurely. In this context, there is hope for a compromise that hinges on the forthcoming availability of more rapid diagnostic tests for case detection and technology-mediated contact tracing as new components of a coordinated approach for controlling spread of the virus while attempts are made to relax some, but not all, of our existing social distancing policies. These innovative approaches are encouraging but also will need to be supplemented and supported by more traditional public health action and containment efforts.
Until there is a vaccine, these are the best approaches to limit the spread of the virus. I am confident we all will continue to adapt and will ultimately prevail. In its long history, Chicago has overcome many epidemics, with its public health community playing a critical role in each of them. In the midst of our current challenge, there remains a tremendous need for people with skills and expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, global health, community health, health services and outcomes research, healthcare quality and patient safety, and other areas of public and population health. If you are inspired by recent events to pursue a career in one or more of these areas, please visit IPHAM’s Center for Education in the Health Sciences, which serves as a nexus at the Feinberg School of Medicine for education and training in these and other related areas. I hope you will join me in recognizing the public health community for its remarkable and ongoing role in fighting the spread of COVID-19.
Stay Healthy,
Ronald T. Ackermann, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine & Medical Social Sciences
Senior Associate Dean for Public Health
Director, Institute for Public Health and Medicine
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Tara Lagu, MD, MPH, associate director of the Institute for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science and associate professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has been named director of the Center for Health Services and Outcomes, as part of the Institute of Public Health and Medicine. She will also serve as a hospitalist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
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“I am incredibly excited to join IPHAM as the director for the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research. The vast resources and talent at Northwestern offer an unparalleled opportunity to build bridges, increase collaboration, foster multidisciplinary research and bring together health services researchers, health policy researchers and quality improvement-oriented faculty across Feinberg.”
—Tara Lagu, MD, MPH
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IPHAM's Center for Community Health, in collaboration with the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research, is providing financial support for community-based organizations providing services and resources to communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have immense economic, personal, and social consequences for individuals and families, and the negative impacts are disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. In Chicago, over 70% of deaths from COVID19 have been in the Black community, and evidence is showing that socially and medically vulnerable people are at high risk for becoming infected.
During pandemics, community-based organizations play a critical role in reducing health disparities and enhancing community resilience by responding to the needs of communities and providing essential services to marginalized populations. Community organizations and leaders have knowledge about the needs and available resources within vulnerable communities. Now more than ever, the Center for Community Health (CCH) is committed to supporting community-based organizations who are facing a surge in demand for services and resources.
Size of Award: We anticipate the average award will be about $5,000 and encourage applicants to submit proposals of that size. Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: The number of award will depend on the number of applications. Because this is a rolling application process, we may not be able to fund every application. Eligibility: Funds can be used to provide services or supports DIRECTLY related to the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis in the Chicagoland region OR to cover general operating costs or expenses to address demands and operational challenges at this time.
Applications will be accepted continuously until May 31, 2020. Grants will be distributed on a rolling basis to allow for the most flexible response to evolving needs. CCH leadership and CCH community partners will review applications. All applications will receive confirmation of receipt within 24 hours and a decision on funding within 7 days. The number and amount of grant awards will be dependent on available dollars.
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One of 16 IPHAM centers, IPHAM’s Center for Education in Health Sciences (CEHS), sponsors four master’s degree programs (Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Biostatistics, Master of Science in Health Services and Outcomes Research, and Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety), the Health Sciences Integrated PhD Program, and the Integrated Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program in Health Services and Outcomes Research. The CEHS also oversees Northwestern’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality T32 pre-doctoral training program. The Center’s goals are to: (1) offer substantive, cutting-edge didactic courses and programs; (2) integrate interactive and experiential learning; (3) use innovative, technology-based graduate teaching and learning methods; (4) educate & train the next generation of top-tier students and fellows in the public and population health sciences.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, IPHAM has been updating this page to gather and disseminate resources and tools for researchers and the public around COVID-19. These are curated resources developed both internally and externally. Our listing includes the following:
- Chicago COVID-19 Resource Repository
- Chicago COVID Coalition
- Community Engagement
- Published Research & Op-eds
- Educational resources
- Galter Health Sciences Library at Northwestern
- COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
- Institute for Global Health COVID-19 Resources
- COVID-19 Bioethics Resources
- Curated Library of PubMed Papers on COVID-19
- COVID-19 Pandemic: National Scientist Volunteer & Equipment Availability Form
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A team of authors, many of whom are IPHAM members, co-wrote an original research article in the Annals of Internal Medicine that aimed to to determine COVID-19 awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and related behaviors among U.S. adults who are more vulnerable to complications of infection because of age and comorbid conditions.
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The Breakthroughs podcast from Northwestern University Feinberg School of medicine featured a number of IPHAM members in recent episodes.
- Institute for AI in Medicine with Abel Kho, MD. Abel Kho, MD, is the director of the new Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Medicine at Feinberg. He discusses his vision for the institute and how AI can enhance healthcare.
- COVID-19 and the Epidemiological Response with Chad Achenbach, MD, MPH. As an epidemiologist and infectious disease physician, Chad Achenbach, MD, MPH, has shared his expertise on a variety of global public health crises such as Ebola and Zika outbreaks. In this episode, he sheds light on the global emergence, epidemiology and response to COVID-19.
- Staying Positive During Social Isolation with Judith Moskowitz, PhD, MPH. Judith Moskowitz, PhD, MPH, is a social psychologist and professor of Medical Social Sciences at Feinberg who studies the impact of positive emotion on health-related and other life stress. She discusses her research and things you can do to increase positivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Publications & Center Newsletters
- Publication: "Identifying Geriatric Oncology Competencies for Medical Oncology Trainees: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study." Hsu T, Kessler ER, Parker IA, Dale W, Gajra A, Holmes HM, Maggiore RJ, Magnuson A, McKoy JM, Hurria A. The Oncologist, 2020;25:1–7.
- Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics Newsletter: New Evaluation Resource.
- Center for Health Equity Transformation VOICES Newsletter: April 7th COVID-19 Updates and Resources
- Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research: March 2020 Newsletter
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: LOI DUE MAY 15, 2020
A Chicago Center for Excellence in Learning Health Systems Research Training (ACCELERĀT) is an institutional K12 training opportunity for faculty at Northwestern and Chicago-based medical schools, including collaborating health care organizations in the Chicago area. We are now accepting letters of intent from interested applicants. Subsequently, a formal application will be requested for aligned applicants with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2020 for successful candidates. This K12 program is designed to support the early research career development of junior faculty who will be engaged in advancing patient centered outcomes research (PCOR) within learning health systems. Specifically, ACCELERĀT will develop skills to both conduct high quality research and to facilitate rapid implementation of evidence into health systems to improve the quality and outcomes of care.
The deadline to submit an LOI has been extended to May 15, 2020.
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Submission deadline: May 4, 2020
Northwestern Memorial Insurance Company (NMIC) has established the NMIC Patient Safety Improvement Grant program. Through these grants NMIC endeavors to improve patient safety and reduce adverse outcomes across Northwestern Medicine. Grants will be awarded on an annual basis for one year and must be related to programs indemnified by NMIC.
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IPHAM Researchers in the Media
- "AHA News: Is Reducing Stress the Key to Lowering Heart Disease Among African Americans?" - US News & World Report, April 10, 2020, featuring Dr. Clyde Yancy
- "Northwestern researchers find racial, socioeconomic disparities in Chicagoans’ concern over the coronavirus pandemic" - Chicago Tribune, April 10, 2020, featuring Michael Wolf
- "A Few Minutes With a Therapy Dog Might Help Lower ED Clinicians' Stress" - MedScape, April 10, 2020, featuring Stewart Shankman
- "'She Can't Get Away': U.S. Lockdowns Trigger Surge in Domestic Violence" - HealthDay, April 10, 2020, featuring Lori Post
- "Feeling Scatterbrained? Here’s Why" - New York Times, April 9, 2020, featuring Inger Burnett-Zeigler
- "Can Antibiotics Treat Coronavirus?" - US News & World Report, April 9, 2020, featuring Dr. Jeffrey Linder
- "Pandemic puts medical ethics to real-world test" - Crain’s Chicago Business, April 10, 2020 featuring Dr. Kelly Michelson
- "COVID-19: Bioethics…who gets a ventilator?" - WGN, April 10, 2020 featuring Dr. Kelly Michelson
- "As hospitals enforce strict rules, parents are using FaceTime to see their newborns" - CNN Business, April 7, 2020, featuring Dr. Craig Garfield
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Please see the IPHAM Careers page to see all current openings within the Institute for Public Health and Medicine. To apply for jobs, please go to the Northwestern Careers page. Select whether you are an internal or external candidate, choose the Advanced Search option and enter the appropriate job ID number. Contact Kara Pederson, Associate Professional Affairs Administrator, at kara.pederson@northwestern.edu with any questions.
Faculty Positions
Center for Education and Health Sciences
- Director - Associate or Full Professor (Internal search)
Buehler Center for Health Economics and Policy
Center for Behavior and Health
Center for Health Information Partnerships (CHIP)
Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes
Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC)
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Staff Positions
IPHAM Research Administration - Department of Preventive Medicine (DPM)
Center for Applied Health Research on Aging (CAHRA)
Center for Community Health (CCH)
Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research (CFAAR)
Center for Health Information Partnerships (CHIP)
Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research (CHSOR)
Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes
Center for Translational Metabolism and Health (CTMH)
Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC)
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