Health in the Headlines

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Experts at the School of Health Professions and Human Services, the Saltzman Community Services Center, the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, 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 – More than 940 cases have been confirmed in 26 states this year, the greatest number reported in the United States since measles was declared eradicated in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts who can discuss the impact of the outbreak on the general population, the misinformation that has spread about vaccinations, the debate over booster shots, and the difficulties faced by municipalities as they struggle to stem the spread of measles include public health professor Anthony Santella, DrPH, family nursing expert Maureen Houck, DNP, and infectious disease specialist Bruce Farber, MD.

Pregnancy and Depression -- New research led by Professor Maria Sanmartin, PhD found that more than half of pregnant women who are depressed do not seek treatment, and many instead turn to alternatives such as drugs and alcohol, marijuana, and painkillers. The study, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, looked at data from the five-year National Survey on Drug Use and Health of 12,360 women of reproductive age (18 to 44 years old) who reported symptoms of a major depressive episode in the last year. She can discuss how healthcare models can be improved to address the needs of this vulnerable group.

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.

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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

Mitchell Schare

Professor of Psychology

Professor of Psychology and Director of the Phobia & Trauma Clinic

Emotional Aftermath of Traumatic EventsAnxiety DisordersPost Traumatic Stress DisorderPsychologySubstance Abuse Disorders

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Apr 7, 2026

1 min

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Ending Birthright Citizenship

Professor of Constitutional Law James Sample and Director of the Law School’s Deportation Defense Clinic Alexander Holtzman at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law were interviewed by Newsday for a report on President Donald Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship for hundreds of thousands of children of parents here illegally or temporarily. The Supreme Court will hear arguments from Trump administration lawyers that the Citizenship Clause of the U.S. Constitution was never intended to grant citizenship universally to everyone born in the country. Professor Sample said the administration’s case lacked merit. The clearest precedent, he said, was an 1898 Supreme Court case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark. He said, “That established clearly that, in the Supreme Court’s view, the language of the 14th Amendment meant that a child born in the United States, including to immigrants, whether documented or not, was a citizen.” He also added that a ruling that overturned this precedent would mark a fundamental change to the American identity. “The notion of birthright citizenship is one of the things that distinguishes us from other countries where citizenship is often a function of lineage,” he said. Professor Holtzman told Newsday that the case was creating anxiety for people who could be negatively affected by a court ruling, which could come as early as this summer. “I’ve had clients who’ve asked me, ‘Are my children safe, or who are pregnant and wonder if their children will be safe.”

Apr 1, 2026

1 min

Blakeman’s Campaign May Face Financial Setback

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, spoke to Newsday about the New York State gubernatorial race and the possibility that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman may not qualify for the state’s public campaign finance program. Raising enough money to compete with incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul has been Blakeman’s biggest challenge to date, Levy explained. “This would be a near existential blow to whatever relatively slim chances he has based on party enrollment, Hochul’s popularity and her huge lead in cash on hand,” he said.

Mar 24, 2026

1 min

Rip Current Simulations Save Lives

Jase Bernhardt, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology, was referenced in a USA Today article about simulations that teach the public about rip current safety. For years, Dr. Bernhardt has been leading research that offers a virtual reality simulation of being caught in a rip current and teaches ways swimmers can navigate to safety. The development of this technology is supported in part by New York Sea Grant (NYSG).