College of Health and Human Services

Roy Fielding, senior lecturer in kinesiology, recently received the Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service from the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross. The award recognizes Fielding’s “sustained performance that has substantially exceeded the volunteer’s original commitment.”

Vivian Lord, interim chair of the UNC Charlotte School of Social Work, recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro. She’s back on campus and shares her story

Social work professor Annelise Mennicke has earned a leadership and service award from a respected national organization in the field. She is the recipient of the 2015 student award for leadership and service from the Group of the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE).

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), one of the largest and longest-running surveys of America’s health and nutritional status, established an outpost on UNC Charlotte’s campus this summer. NHANES field teams conducted more than 300 in-home interviews across the area, and about the same number visited the mobile examination center on campus for a comprehensive physical exam.

A paper co-published by CHHS faculty is demonstrating the capability of new technology that allows in-depth analysis of health outcomes amongst different groups. Published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the research outlines a novel approach to studying public health data.

The technology lets researchers look at distinct populations experiencing high levels of a health problem in a more detailed manner than was possible using previous methods.

Soccer’s popularity continues to skyrocket across the country, resulting in increased interest in heading the ball and the risks of concussions. A new study has provided some answers, but a UNC Charlotte College of Health and Human Services expert warns that questions still remain.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics, the study evaluated the causes of concussions in a large sample of high school soccer players.

The risk of drowning remains a serious issue for children, but a UNC Charlotte water safety expert is taking part in a national effort to help alleviate that danger. To mark the 100th anniversary of its swimming safety efforts, the American Red Cross has launched a program to cut drowning in half in 50 U.S. cities.

A new study showing the negative effects of prolonged high heel use confirms expert consensus on the footwear, according to a UNC Charlotte expert.

The study, published this month in the International Journal of Clinical Practice (IJCP), found that wearing high heels can strengthen the ankle initially, but leads to weakening and instability over time.

The Food and Drug Administration is expanding its efforts to reduce the amount of artificial trans-unsaturated fatty acids (trans fats) in American diets. The federal agency declared trans fats unsafe for human consumption last week, giving companies three years to come into compliance with the new policy.

Trans fats have been linked to weight gain and heart disease, and the FDA says it expects the ban to prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks a year.

Winsor Schmidt, former chair of Urban Health Policy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, is joining the College of Health and Human Services faculty this fall as the Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Public Policy on Health.

A licensed attorney and former law professor, Schmidt has taught public policy for nearly 40 years. He also directed the Health Policy and Administration program at Washington State University prior to his most recent position at Louisville.