Institute News

The unpredictable nature of food allergy often places the well-being of affected children in the hands of the general public.  Dr. Ruchi Gupta of the Institute for Healthcare Studies and colleagues at Northwestern University and Children's Memorial Hospital sought to characterize food allergy knowledge and perceptions among the public in order to identify areas for improvement to keep food-allergic children safe.  The team administered the validated Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey for the General Public to more than 2100 respondents across the United States.  Respondents answered 65% of knowledge-based items correctly on average although those with prior knowledge/familiarity of food allergy generally scored higher. Respondents did well on items addressing symptoms and triggers of food allergy, but had trouble distinguishing food allergy from food intolerance.  Many also incorrectly assumed that a cure exists for food allergy and were unaware of current means to treat food allergy.   Respondents expressed a variety of opinions regarding food allergy but many tended to minimize the stigma of food allergy and to oppose specific food allergy policies in schools.  The research team concluded that increased knowledge and greater public awareness are needed to improve the health and well-being of children with food allergy.  Read more:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32762148/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

Gupta RS, Kim J, Springston EE, Pongracic JA, Wang X, Holl J.  Food allergy knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in the United States. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2009; 103:43-50.


The Graduate Programs in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety are now accepting applications for Summer 2010 admission.

The Master of Science Degree Program in Health Services and Outcomes Research is now accepting applications.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

Awards & Achievements

Elisa J. Gordon, PhD, MPH has been elected by the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) to their Board of Directors for a 3-year term.   The ASBH promotes the exchange of ideas and fosters multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional scholarship, research, teaching, and policy development, among people engaged in endeavors related to clinical and academic bioethics and the health-related humanities. 

Muriel Jean-Jacques, MD received the Milton W. Hamolsky Junior Faculty Award for her presentation titled "Changes in Healthcare Disparities Following the Implementation of a Multifaceted Quality Improvement Initiative" at the 32nd annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine held in Miami Beach, Florida from May 13 - May 16, 2009.  The Hamolsky Award is given to individuals who are in their first two years of a junior faculty appointment "for outstanding scientific presentation at the Annual Meeting."  Co-authors were: Stephen Persell, Romana Hasnain-Wynia, Jason Thompson, and David Baker.

Michael Wolf, PhD, MPH has been awarded the Pfizer Health Literacy in Advancing Patient Safety Award from the National Patient Safety Foundation at this year’s Annual Patient Safety Congress in Washington, DC in recognition of his significant strides in improving the health literacy of constituents and community in order to improve patient safety and quality of care.  His success in bringing the issues of health literacy and patient safety to the forefront of research and policy, most particularly in the area of medication safety, was highlighted in his nomination.

Dr. Ruchi Gupta was interviewed by Chicago Tonight regarding Chicago Neighborhood Asthma Prevalence.  You can watch her interview via Youtube.

Master's Program in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
For more information please call 312-503-5533

Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
For more information please call 312-503-5533

Faculty Development Program in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
For more information please call 312-503-5533

Events

Institute for Healthcare Studies Seminar Series

Every Thursday from 12:00pm-1:00pm
Weiboldt Hall 339 E. Chicago Avenue Room 421

Upcoming speakers:

November 26th, 2009 - University Holiday.  Seminar Series cancelled.

December 3rd, 2009 - Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, The Institute for Ethics at the American Medical Association.  "Pay-for-Performance and Medical Professionalism: The Promise and the Peril."

December 10th, 2009 - Will Shrank, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

December 17th, 2009 - Teresa Savage, PhD, RN, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "Controversies in Research Ethics."