Arnold School researchers study health, financial and security costs of military readiness »

The struggle to find recruits who can meet physical fitness and weight requirements to begin military training is a costly dilemma – in terms of national security, military readiness and dollars needed to treat injured trainees.

A new study from a team of researchers from several institutions, including the University of South Carolina, found the direct medical cost of treating musculoskeletal injuries among U.S. Army recruits was $14.89 million in 2017.
About 48 percent of that amount was used to treat recruits from eight Southern states who suffered injuries that affect the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves or tendons.
Experts agree efforts must be made to increase physical activity and fitness among all young Americans, but there are few easy answers or quick fixes. It’s a research area that faculty at USC’s Arnold School of Public Health have been studying for decades.

What they’re saying: “From children to military recruits, active duty service members and military veterans, we have developed a line of research to optimize human performance and health across this lifespan. USC in many ways is leading the charge in this area and providing information that can be implemented and have real policy impact.” – Shawn Arent, professor and chair of the exercise science department

A wi-fi symbol lights up green on a router.

USC researchers work to improve broadband availability across the state »

An estimated 450,000 South Carolinians lack internet access, but the University of South Carolina is teaming up with the state Broadband Office to bridge that gap.

Researchers from across the university have developed a survey to gauge broadband need statewide, a key step toward accessing federal broadband investments.

Learn more about broadband research.

Maggie Carson awarded Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship »

Environmental health sciences doctoral candidate Maggie Carson will be applying the knowledge and expertise she gained during her time at the Arnold School through one of the most prestigious fellowship programs in her field.

What she's saying: “Water is a precious and essential resource, and I want my research to help protect it and therefore protect human health, because humans can’t survive without access to clean water.”

Meet the Arnold School of Public Health »

For nearly 50 years as South Carolina’s go-to resource, partner and leader in public health research and education, the Arnold School of Public Health is dedicated to improving community health and advancing disease prevention.

Sara Goldsby, brown hair, in gray jacket and black top with beige background.

Alumni perspective

"During my three years in those two programs, I was building a toolkit. That’s what getting those degrees was about for me – getting the skills and knowledge I needed to apply to whatever was next."

— Sara Goldsby, 2015 graduate of the Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health in Health Services Policy and Management combination degree program, director South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services

FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES

Mufaro Kanyangarara, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Connor Ross, Melissa Nolan, epidemiology and biostatistics, and Alain Litwin, School of Medicine Greenville, authored “COVID-19 testing practices, preventive behaviors and factors associated with test positivity: Results from population-based statewide surveys in South Carolina, November 2020-June 2021” in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.

The Montgomery Speech-Hearing-Language Clinic, communication sciences and disorders, won Best Speech Therapy and Best Audiology/Hearing Center Awards from The State.

Agnes Bucko, Marsha Dowda, Russell Pate, exercise science, Dwayne Porter, environmental health sciences, Ruth Saunders, health promotion, education, and behavior, and Lynn Shirley, geography, authored “Walkability indices and children's walking behavior in rural vs. urban areas” in Health & Place.

Emily Farrell, Michael Wirth, Alexander McLain, epidemiology and biostatistics, Thomas Hurley, James Hébert, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, and Steven Blair, exercise science, authored “Associations between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sleep Metrics in the Energy Balance Study (EBS)” in Nutrients.

Jamie Lead, environmental health sciences, authored “Response of Soil Bacterial Diversity, Predicted Functions and Co-Occurrence Patterns to Nanoceria and Ionic Cerium Exposure” in Microorganisms.

Daniela Friedman, health promotion, education and behavior, authored “Trends in prevalence, health disparities, and early detection of dementia: A 10-year nationally representative serial cross-sectional and cohort study” in Frontiers in Public Health.

GOOD READS FROM THE ARNOLD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (glasses, blue suit and red tie) holding a plaque with Arnold School of Public Health staff member Mary Wilson (black dress). Also pictured, public health Dean G. Thomas Chandler (pin stripe suit, white shirt and black tie). Three flags in the background (brown paneling).

Save the date: Clyburn Lecture set for May 2 »

The annual James E. Clyburn Health Equity Lecture will be May 2 at the Columbia Convention Center. Now in its 14^th year, this lecture series was created to honor U.S. Rep. James Clyburn for his support and partnership in reducing and eliminating health disparities.

Hear from Clyburn and other experts and advocates in the field as well as a keynote speaker.
Students, faculty, staff and community organizations are invited to participate in the poster and abstract session to showcase research and practice related to health equity.

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