Is it safe to go back to the doctor?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: YES. Please don’t let fear keep you from seeking needed medical care! Nerdy Guest Dr. Eve Bloomgarden, a co-founder of Dear Pandemic partner organization Impact (impact4hc.com), has kindly shared helpful and reassuring guidance for health care seekers. Impact is a physician-led organization developing and disseminating evidence-based advice to patients, policymakers, and other decision-makers impacted Read more…
Can you settle the controversy around hydroxychloroquine? What is the latest news around this drug?
Treatments Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) made headlines recently because a published observational study that raised alarms about its safety was retracted by the studyās authors. What does this mean? The results of scientific studies traditionally go through a rigorous review process by other researchers who were not involved in the original study. After this process, the article Read more…
What do we know about COVID-19 and pregnancy?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The Nerdy Girls posted on this several weeks back, but recent research has provided us with some updates. Here are a few key points based on available data: -Pregnant women are no more likely to have high disease severity than than non-pregnant adults. -We do not know if COVID-19 increases risk of adverse effects Read more…
Iām traveling this summer. Any tips for safely staying at a hotel? A vacation rental?
Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three key things to remember (beyond the always-applicable WASH THE HECK OUT OF YOUR HANDS and wear a mask): (1) Ask about infection control protocols before booking; (2) Beware high-touch surfaces and public spaces; (3) Time is your friend ā if at all possible, try to find a booking that will have a Read more…
I live with a toddler. How can we all survive the summer together?
Families/Kids Mental Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: YES. Please don’t let fear keep you from seeking needed medical care! Nerdy Guest Dr. Eve Bloomgarden, a co-founder of Dear Pandemic partner organization Impact (impact4hc.com), has kindly shared helpful and reassuring guidance for health care seekers. Impact is a physician-led organization developing and disseminating evidence-based advice to patients, policymakers, and other decision-makers impacted Read more…
Can you settle the controversy around hydroxychloroquine? What is the latest news around this drug?
Treatments Uncertainty and MisinformationSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) made headlines recently because a published observational study that raised alarms about its safety was retracted by the studyās authors. What does this mean? The results of scientific studies traditionally go through a rigorous review process by other researchers who were not involved in the original study. After this process, the article Read more…
What do we know about COVID-19 and pregnancy?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The Nerdy Girls posted on this several weeks back, but recent research has provided us with some updates. Here are a few key points based on available data: -Pregnant women are no more likely to have high disease severity than than non-pregnant adults. -We do not know if COVID-19 increases risk of adverse effects Read more…
Iām traveling this summer. Any tips for safely staying at a hotel? A vacation rental?
Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three key things to remember (beyond the always-applicable WASH THE HECK OUT OF YOUR HANDS and wear a mask): (1) Ask about infection control protocols before booking; (2) Beware high-touch surfaces and public spaces; (3) Time is your friend ā if at all possible, try to find a booking that will have a Read more…
I live with a toddler. How can we all survive the summer together?
Families/Kids Mental Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) made headlines recently because a published observational study that raised alarms about its safety was retracted by the studyās authors. What does this mean? The results of scientific studies traditionally go through a rigorous review process by other researchers who were not involved in the original study. After this process, the article Read more…
What do we know about COVID-19 and pregnancy?
Families/Kids Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The Nerdy Girls posted on this several weeks back, but recent research has provided us with some updates. Here are a few key points based on available data: -Pregnant women are no more likely to have high disease severity than than non-pregnant adults. -We do not know if COVID-19 increases risk of adverse effects Read more…
Iām traveling this summer. Any tips for safely staying at a hotel? A vacation rental?
Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three key things to remember (beyond the always-applicable WASH THE HECK OUT OF YOUR HANDS and wear a mask): (1) Ask about infection control protocols before booking; (2) Beware high-touch surfaces and public spaces; (3) Time is your friend ā if at all possible, try to find a booking that will have a Read more…
I live with a toddler. How can we all survive the summer together?
Families/Kids Mental Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: The Nerdy Girls posted on this several weeks back, but recent research has provided us with some updates. Here are a few key points based on available data: -Pregnant women are no more likely to have high disease severity than than non-pregnant adults. -We do not know if COVID-19 increases risk of adverse effects Read more…
Iām traveling this summer. Any tips for safely staying at a hotel? A vacation rental?
Staying Safe TravelLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three key things to remember (beyond the always-applicable WASH THE HECK OUT OF YOUR HANDS and wear a mask): (1) Ask about infection control protocols before booking; (2) Beware high-touch surfaces and public spaces; (3) Time is your friend ā if at all possible, try to find a booking that will have a Read more…
I live with a toddler. How can we all survive the summer together?
Families/Kids Mental Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Yes! Three key things to remember (beyond the always-applicable WASH THE HECK OUT OF YOUR HANDS and wear a mask): (1) Ask about infection control protocols before booking; (2) Beware high-touch surfaces and public spaces; (3) Time is your friend ā if at all possible, try to find a booking that will have a Read more…
I live with a toddler. How can we all survive the summer together?
Families/Kids Mental Health Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Pair the live-in-the-moment attitude of Dory with the caution and planning of Marlin from Finding Nemo. Toddlers thrive on attention and routines. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has added more to the plates of adults while altering most daily routines. You can and will get through this! Here are a few suggestions inspired by your questions: Safety Read more…
Should I get an antibody test?
Biology/Immunity Testing and Contact TracingJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe Treatments
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
Q: Will it help me know if Iām already immune and can safely go about daily life? A: Noā¦.not yet. While the many antibody test being marketed are improving rapidly, there are still too many fundamental challenges in order to use these as a tool for knowledge about your *individual* exposure or immunity. Very briefly, Read more…
If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe?
Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Staying Safe TreatmentsAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19 (see link below for symptom list), or suspects they have been exposed to COVID-19, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms Read more…
Can anything even be done about racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19?
Social and Racial JusticeSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A. Although the reasons for the disparities are numerous and complex, a few of our posts this week point to potential targets for intervention (e.g. segregation, healthcare system, and others). Clinicians and scientists have also offered data and policy solutions to address the high burden COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths that are disproportionately impacting minority Read more…
What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes for communities of color?
Social and Racial JusticeSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
Q: I hear that communities of color are experiencing more severe illness and death from COVID-19. What role does the healthcare system play in contributing to worse outcomes? A. One way to think about the healthcare system is to imagine links in a chain. Researchers have used a framework like this (ācascades of careā) to Read more…
Any recent news on the treatment/vaccine front?
Treatments VaccinesLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial Justice
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Yes! Three happy pieces of news this week: (1) The launch of an early-stage clinical trial for what’s believed to be the worldās first antibody treatment against COVID-19; (2) A Stat News interview with Dr. Fauci showcasing his cautious optimism about vaccine development; (3) New data on the anti-viral Remdesivir indicating the treatmentās effectiveness Read more…
Why are we seeing such disparities in COVID cases and deaths?
Social and Racial JusticeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
Today we welcome Dr. Bridgette M. Brawner as a guest Nerdy Girl to discuss racial disparities and COVID-19. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Find her on Twitter at @DrBMBrawner. A. One word: racism. In all of its forms (e.g., individual, institutional, structural). There is no genetic or Read more…
Nerdy Guest Dr. Michael Levy on CDC Reporting of COVID-19 Test Results
Data and MetricsAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
Today’s Nerdy Guest post is from Dr. Michael Levy, associate professor of epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy studies disease ecology and control of vector-borne infectious disease. He likes bugs. Dr. Levy’s post addresses the CDC’s reporting of COVID-19 test results. He is quoted in this story. Read more…
How might I make decisions about home repairs and maintenance in the age of social distancing?
Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Even if that leaky faucet or chipped paint wasnāt bothering you before the pandemic, chances are your extended exposure to these major and minor home issues is getting to you now. When making choices about how to approach home repairs and regular maintenance, here are a few guidelines. 1) What happens if this waits? Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
Whatās brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazineās recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* Itās a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. Whatās in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
I see advertisements for Covid-19 antibody tests. Is it worth getting tested? What will an antibody test tell me?
Testing and Contact TracingAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Antibody tests are important in understanding Covid-19 and its spread through a population, but the information might not be as useful on a personal level just yet. When considering a serology test, we encourage you to think about why you are getting the test, where you will receive the test, and how it will Read more…
Whatās my personal risk for a bad COVID outcome should I become infected?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: A variety of ārisk calculatorsā have been developed to help you answer this very question (Links below). BIG CAVEAT: There are huge margins of error on the results, often making the risk scores MORE PRECISE THAN ACCURATE. Background: As much of the country continues to move through re-opening phases, we as individuals are having Read more…
Is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Let’s start with the facts. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) noted that up to 45% of Americans reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. This appears to be more than the one in five Americans who are Read more…
What is this news about an antibody ā100% cureā I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
TreatmentsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 āgame-changerā news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
