December 2025
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Welcome to the December 2025
Welcome to the December 2025
Simmons MPH Monthly
Simmons MPH Monthly
In the Simmons MPH Monthly we share news, media, and other highlights important for public health and health equity. We aim to amplify voices and perspectives from the Simmons community and beyond.
In The News
In The News
A few things we want to be sure you don't miss.
CDC vaccine advisers voted to scale back a decades-long policy recommending universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth, instead limiting the recommendation to infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus or whose status is unknown. The decision has raised concerns among pediatric and infectious disease experts who warn that weakening the guidance could increase the risk of hepatitis B transmission in children and undermine decades of progress in prevention.
Public health communicators are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to improve how health information is shared, from real-time language translation and chatbots to culturally relevant messaging and visuals. As AI adoption accelerates across government and health agencies, experts emphasize the importance of ethical use, human oversight, and maintaining public trust.
People with disabilities face significantly higher risks of substance use while also encountering major barriers to care, including stigma, communication challenges, and limited provider training. New research highlighted by The Nation’s Health shows elevated rates of cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, and prescription drug misuse among people with disabilities—often linked to pain, anxiety, and stress—yet access to appropriate, inclusive treatment remains far more limited than for the general population.
Cuts and freezes to NIH funding have begun to ripple through cancer research, slowing progress and pushing scientists out of the field. At Harvard Medical School, a breast cancer lab led by Dr. Joan Brugge lost staff and momentum after a major federal grant was paused, even as the research showed promise for preventing tumors before they form.
Media Corner
Media Corner
Some of our favorite articles, podcasts, and videos.
The Alabama Solution is a documentary series based on a six-year investigation into the Alabama prison system–one of the country's most dangerous. In this series from directors Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, incarcerated individuals in Alabama tell their own stories, using contraband cell phones to capture shocking footage and depict the institutional dysfunction and cruelty that characterize many penal facilities in the US.
Most of us remember holiday toys that stood out the most and shaped our own gifting from one year to the next. The Stuff You Should Know podcast's 12 Days of Christmas Toys series covers nostalgic toys from Easy Bake Ovens to Nintendo and aims to answer the question, "What makes a must-have Christmas toy?"
On a recent episode of Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Margaret Kiljoy and Jamie Loftus introduce us to Nonhelema, a Shawnee warrior and leader who lead the Shawnee resistance in battle against the U.S. Government and also worked towards peace during the American Revolution. Hear Nonhelema's story on Nonhelema: The Six Foot Six Warrior Woman of the Shawnee Who Fought the Empire.
Season 5 of the How Human Work Podcast is all about social cohesion. In the episode Friends, Tribes, and Social Cohesion, Professor Robin Dunbar delves into the evolutionary foundations of human relationships, explores kinship, and looks at the deeper nature of our social lives.
Feature Interview
Feature Interview
This month we highlight interviews we've been happy to share over the past few months! We talked to practitioners about some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in public health right now: mental health, reproductive justice, achieving food security, and artificial intelligence. We appreciate everyone who took the time to sit down and share your time, expertise, and insights with us!
On Our Radar
On Our Radar
Events focused on health, wellness, equity and education.
January 5–6, 2026 (Washington, DC) – Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences (CAMOS) 2026 Spring Meeting
This in-person meeting at the National Academy of Sciences will convene sponsors and members of the AMO science community to discuss key issues and priorities shaping atomic, molecular, and optical sciences. The open session will provide an opportunity to hear perspectives from across the field on emerging topics and future directions, while maintaining the National Academies’ commitment to evidence-based, nonpartisan dialogue.
January 6, 2026 (Online) – Finding the Way Forward: Professional Goal Setting for Prevention Practitioners
This interactive and uplifting session is designed to help prevention practitioners reflect, reset, and plan for the year ahead. Participants will explore best practices for professional goal setting, identify evidence-based approaches to strengthen protective factors, and consider the resources and supports needed to turn goals into action. Through guided discussion and practical exercises, the session encourages attendees to take stock of their current experience, re-energize their work, and develop clear, achievable action steps for advancing prevention efforts throughout 2026.
January 7, 2026 (Online) – Leadership that Transforms Rural Healthcare: Why Leadership Development for APPs Matters
This one-hour webinar explores why leadership skills are essential for advanced practice providers working in rural and resource-limited settings. Participants will examine how leadership development enables Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to address complex healthcare challenges, drive innovation, strengthen team performance, and expand access to care. The session also highlights how leadership growth can boost confidence, reduce burnout, and improve job satisfaction—benefiting both clinicians and health systems.
January 21–23, 2026 (Virtual) – In-House Counsel Virtual Training
Designed for new and aspiring in-house counsel in health care, this interactive three-day program focuses on building the skills needed to succeed inside complex organizations. Through expert panels, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will learn how to approach contracts, compliance, governance, financial and operational issues, manage outside counsel, and communicate effectively with leadership.
We want to hear from you!
We want to hear from you!
Please let us know what you'd like to see in this monthly update...news, events, or your own updates!
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