Fall 2026
Public Health Snapshots
By Shelby Crosier
Bite-sized summaries of must-read research from Rollins.
Untargeted Lipidomics Analysis of Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Exposure and Small-for-Gestational Age (SGA) Delivery: An Exploratory Study in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort, 2014–2020
Journal | Environmental Health Perspectives
The Big Message | Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is linked to poor pregnancy outcomes, including fetuses being small for their gestational age. In this study, researchers investigated how lipids (the molecules that make up fat) might relate to this association. They found that, in blood samples from mothers who had PFAS exposure and whose babies were small for gestational age, there were small molecules present pointing to the breakdown of lipids (fats) from inflammation and stress. This gives us clues about how PFAS affect fetal development.
Rollins Authors | Anne Dunlop, MD; Paula Nesbeth, PhD; Dana Barr, PhD; Carmen Marsit, PhD; Youran Tan; Stephanie Eick, PhD; Parinya Panuwet, PhD; P. Barry Ryan, PhD; Donghai Liang, PhD
Evaluation of a Minigrant Program for Multilevel Interventions to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Rural Communities in Georgia
Journal |Preventing Chronic Disease
The Big Message | Fewer Georgia adolescents get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) in rural areas, so researchers established a mini-grant program to increase vaccine uptake in rural Georgia. Health departments received funds for interventions like provider trainings, transportation support for patients, and vaccination incentives. HPV vaccination across mini-grant sites increased by 26.7%, and health department staff found the interventions easy to implement. Future work needs to explore how to sustain these programs in rural settings that lack staff and resources.
Rollins Authors | Cam Escoffery, PhD; Courtney Petagna; Rithika Chari; Erica Hsu; Rohini Kadoo; Regine Haardoerfer, PhD; Yue Guan, PhD; Alexandra Morshed, PhD; Sarah Blake, PhD
Interpretable Artificial Intelligence for Predicting Blood Transfusion After Surgery for Femoral Shaft Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis
Journal | Indian Journal of Anaesthesia
The Big Message | Patients often need blood transfusions after fracture-repair surgeries, but transfusions can increase the risk of poor health outcomes like infection. Researchers developed an AI model to predict blood transfusions after orthopedic surgery. The model found that age, body mass index, and blood factors like platelet count and hematocrit before surgery were important to predict who would need a blood transfusion. Models like this could lead to better risk management and, in turn, better outcomes after fracture-repair surgeries.
Rollins Author | Rameshbabu Manyam, PhD
Mental Health Service Use and Expenditures Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Depression, Diabetes, and Heart Disease After Cost-Sharing Parity
Journal | Journal of General Internal Medicine
The Big Message | Until 2014, Medicare beneficiaries paid more for mental health care than physical health care. Researchers investigated how mental health service use changed for Medicare beneficiaries with depression and diabetes and/or heart disease after the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act brought mental health care costs down. They found that mental health service use significantly increased for patients with depression and diabetes, and it increased even more for patients with depression, diabetes, and heart disease. Out-of-pocket costs for these patients did not increase. This means that making mental health services less cost prohibitive is an important factor in making them more accessible.
Rollins Author | Victoria Phillips, DPhil
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Rollins Magazine is published twice a year by the Rollins School of Public Health, a component of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, for alumni and friends of the school.