Health in the Headlines

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2 min

Experts at the School of Health Professions and Human Services, the Saltzman Community Services Center, and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell are available to offer commentary on the most important health and wellness topics of the day, including:

Measles – Infectious disease expert Bruce Farber, MD and public health expert Anthony Santella, DrPH can discuss the rising rate of measles in the U.S., which is nearing record levels this year, the value of vaccinations, and the impact of the outbreak on the general population.

Suicide - Psychology professors William Sanderson, PhD and Mitchell Schare, PhD, director of the Phobia & Trauma Clinic, can discuss how to talk about this sensitive topic with vulnerable individuals including children, who went to ERs for suicidal thoughts and attempts in 2015 at twice the rate they did in 2007. Public health professor Martine Hackett, PhD can discuss trauma and traumatic grief as an underlying cause of many public health issues, including infant mortality, maternal mortality, substance use disorder, and sexually transmitted infections. She can also address how “diseases of despair” have contributed to a decline in life expectancy in the United States for two years in a row.

Aging and disability – People with joint issues such as aching, pain, and stiffness who get at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every week are more likely to be disability free after four years than those who do not get exercise, according to a new study. Experts in orthopedics and geriatrics can discuss why preserving mobility and independence are so important as a generation of Americans ages – more than 78 million people will be 65 years or older by 2035, according to recent Census figures. Public health professor Corinne Kyriacou, PhD can also address public health policy and social justice issues related to aging in America.

USA Today: Booming measles cases rocket toward record: Up nearly 100 from last week

Connect with:

Martine Hackett

Associate Professor of Population Health

Dr. Hackett's research focuses on public health and health inequities, particularly in the American suburbs and minority communities.

Public HealthHealth CommunicationResearch MethodsMaternal-Child HealthInfant Injury

Corinne Kyriacou

Vice Dean of Health Professions and Human Services and Associate Professor of Population Health

Vice Dean for Administration, HPHS and Vice Dean of Health Professions and Human Services and Associate Professor of Population Health

Health Care System Organization, Financing, Delivery and ReformHealth and Aging PolicyPublic Health LeadershipPlanning, Implementation and Evaluation of Community Health ProgramsIntegrated Care

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Oct 15, 2026

1 min

People Likely to Turn to Influencers for Fitness and Nutrition Information

Martine Hackett, associate professor and chair of population health, spoke with Newsday about health and wellness advice disseminated by social media influencers. People looking to make a lifestyle change are likely to look at posts by influencers. Dr. Martine Hackett, chair of the population health department at Hofstra University, said posts from these influencers can be helpful to people looking for detailed wellness information that they might not be able to get at a routine office visit with their doctor. “You can go for your annual health checkup, but if you are younger and don’t have a chronic disease, you might be told to exercise, but they don’t have the time to tell you how,” she said. “And you may not be able to go to a nutritionist or a trainer.”

Oct 7, 2026

1 min

Auction of LI’s Oheka Castle Draws Bidders with Big Dreams

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, spoke to Newsday about the auction of Long Island’s Oheka Castle, which will take place later this month in Manhattan. The property has been called “a real-life Gatsby estate” and “one of the rarest trophy properties in the country.” Buyers could include hedge funds interested in developing condos, a boutique hotel chain or a catering company. “It would be broadly appealing once the economic backdrop improves in terms of being able to borrow to finance construction and purchasing,” Levy said.

Oct 1, 2026

1 min

Nor’easter Caused Widespread Damage, Worsened Beach Erosion

Following a rare September nor’easter, Dr. Jase Bernhardt, associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability, talked to Newsday about the damage caused by the storm, including its effects on beach erosion. The slow-moving storm, which began overnight on Friday, September 25, and continued through Monday, September 28, resulted in local flooding, power outages, and thousands of downed trees. “It is unusual but not quite unprecedented for a nor’easter to linger for so long,” said Dr. Bernhardt. “It is possible that the time of year played a role, as the ‘blocking’ pattern that allowed this storm to linger for so long would be more likely to occur at this time of year versus during the winter, when nor’easters are more common.”