FEATURE STORIES

Securing Abandoned  Homes and Preventing Overdose Deaths

A study led by Eugenia South and Zachary Meisel found a 17.6% drop in fatal overdoses when abandoned houses were secured, suggesting where people use drugs may affect survival.  

Making Clinical Trials More Diverse

Research by Jamie Benson, Bhavik Patel, Alisa Stephens-Shields, and Scott Halpern revealed that offering financial incentives of $200 and $500 eliminated the clinical trial enrollment gap between Black and white participants. 

Are Flavor Bans Working in Youth? 

Andy Tan assessed the impact of Massachusetts’ statewide tobacco flavor ban on youth by comparing outcomes with those in neighboring states without flavor bans.  

Biomarker Tests and Gaps in Legal Protection

Emily Largent examined gaps in legal protections against discrimination for people who test positive for Alzheimer’s biomarkers before symptoms emerge. 

The Power of Storytelling and STEM

In a new editorial, Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem encouraged STEM professionals to share what inspired their careers to help rebuild trust in science and counter misinformation. 

UPCOMING EVENT

What the 2026 Election Means for Health Policy

Friday, December 4, 2026
12:00–1:00 p.m. ET

Virtual Conversation with Daniel Hopkins, PhD, and Margot Sanger-Katz, moderated by David Grande, MD, MPA.

EVENT VIDEO RECAP

States Weigh in on Medicaid Fraud

State Medicaid leaders discussed program integrity and the opportunities and challenges of the Trump administration’s anti-fraud push with nearly 700 registrants from across the country.

IN THE MEDIA

“Vaping Plus Smoking in the Home Might Be Worst for Kids' Asthma.” Brian Jenssen. MedPage Today

“An Ambitious Financial Experiment Tried to Support Struggling Rural Hospitals in Pa. For Years. Did it Work?” Paula Chatterjee. WHYY

“Preterm Babies Often Face Early Language Delays as Children. CHOP Teamed Up With a Philly Mom to Help Reduce This Risk.” Diana Montoya-Williams. Philly Voice

“From Payer Perspective, Bariatric Surgery More Cost-Effective Than GLP-1s.” Maria Altieri. OR Management News

“Fake Shopping Sprees and ‘Happiness Insurance’: The Latest Fintech Apps Reveal Our Financial Anxieties.” Katherine Milkman. MarketWatch

PUBLICATIONS

“Patient, Care Partner, and Clinician Perspectives on a “Good Day” With Dementia.” Carolyn Chow, Maayra I. Butt, Julia McMillan, Melanie Bahti, Jasmine A. Silvestri, Tamar Klaiman, Kristin Harkins, Jason Karlawish, Justin Clapp, Kyra O'Brien, Catherine L. Auriemma. Alzheimer’s & Dementia

“Health-Related Social Needs Screening: From Assessment to Action.” John C. Lin, Corinne M. Rhodes, Jaya Aysola. Journal of General Internal Medicine

“Accuracy and Equity of the End-of-Life Care Index in Predicting 1-Year Mortality.” Rachel Kohn, Katherine R. Courtright, Maria Grau-Sepulveda, Maren K. Olsen, Vanessa L. Madden, Bethany Sewell, Dorothy Sheu, Yazmeen S. Ahmad, Catherine L. Auriemma, Abigail Nimetz, Anne Dennos, Kimberly W. Hart, Beth Creekmur, Janet Lee, Claudia L. Nau, Huong Q. Nguyen, Susan Wang, Grant Boyer, Tammy Lundstrom, Lindsey Postema, Daniel J. Roth, James Vandewarker, Scott D. Halpern, Yuliya Lokhnygina. JAMA Network Open

“Nurse Staffing and Emergency Department Crowding: A 10-State Study.” K. Jane Muir, Linda H. Aiken, Karen B. Lasater, Matthew D. McHugh, Daniela Golinelli. Medical Care

“Use of Artificial Intelligence to Assess Gait Parameters in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.” George Demiris, Liming Huang, Sean L. Harrison, Marjorie Skubic, Justine S. Sefcik, Therese S. Richmond, Nancy Hodgson. Innovation in Aging

Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics is a national leader in advancing health policy through transformative research.