Dane C. Peterson, president and COO of Emory Healthcare, became interim CEO on Sept. 1. In this role, he will be responsible for the overall performance of the Emory Healthcare enterprise and continue to hold the roles of president and COO. The appointment follows the announcement from Jonathan S. Lewin that he would step down from his roles as CEO and chairman of Emory Healthcare, executive vice president for health affairs of Emory University and executive director of the WHSC. Lewin will be joining the Emory University faculty in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences. Read more.

Following a successful pilot program in 2020-2021, RSPH researchers are preparing to launch the largest nationwide mailed HIV self-testing program in US history. Together TakeMeHome (TTMH) will deliver 1 million tests across the country, funded with $8.3 million for the first of a five-year CDC award. By early 2023, TTMH will begin distributing a free HIV self-test to people who enroll through its website. Orders will be processed through Amazon and mailed in discreet packages to all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Emory researchers will evaluate the program by assessing who used the tests, how many new diagnoses were made, and how many began HIV treatment or pre-exposure prophylaxis. Read more.

Emory Healthcare is the first health care system in Georgia offering a noninvasive ultrasound treatment for patients living with essential tremor or tremor from Parkinson’s disease. The innovative treatment, approved by the FDA, uses Insightec’s high intensity focused ultrasound technology guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients living with essential tremor or Parkinson’s-related tremor that is not adequately responding to medication. The procedure is performed in a single session in an outpatient imaging center and typically takes two to three hours. Read more.

The SON’s Bachelor of Science program is now ranked No. 2 in the nation, according to rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This is only the second year undergraduate nursing programs have been ranked, with the SON rising in this year’s rankings from the No. 4 to the No. 2 spot. The school now has three top-10 programs, with its master’s degree program ranking second and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program coming in at No. 6. Read more.

The availability of rapid antigen tests has significantly advanced efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, but every new variant of concern raises questions about whether diagnostic tests will still be effective. A new study published in Cell attempts to address these questions by evaluating how rapid tests will perform when challenged with future SARS-CoV-2 variants. The research team, led by Emory and funded by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech program, developed a novel method for evaluating how mutations to SARS-CoV-2 can affect recognition by antibodies used in rapid antigen tests. Read more.

Little is known about why people living with HIV have a much higher rate of oral human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) than the general population. Emory researchers Lisa Flowers (pictured above left), director of colposcopy and anoscopy services at Grady Cancer Center, and Canhua Xiao (pictured above right), Winship researcher and associate professor in the SON, are leading a study that will examine the role of the oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people with HIV. Read more.

Emory researchers have found that the use of temporal artery (forehead) thermometers, which measure temperature through the skin using infrared technology, do not detect fevers as accurately as oral thermometers in hospitalized patients who are Black. Missed fevers could lead to delays in diagnosis, delays in antibiotics, and possibly even an increased death rate in Black patients, according to the researchers. Read more.

Internationally recognized breast cancer and bioethics researcher and radiation oncologist Reshma Jagsi will join SOM and Winship Cancer Institute as chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, effective Nov. 7, 2022. Jagsi is currently the Newman Family Professor, deputy chair and residency program director in the Department of Radiation Oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan. Read more.

You still have time to register for the Winship 5K, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1. Whether you run, walk or stroll, compete in person or log your miles virtually, one thing is certain—if you participate in this year’s race, you will be helping to support research advances against cancer. Register and learn more.

Emory's new Employee Referral Program, "It Pays to Have Friends," offers a $500 bonus to current employees who refer their friends or family members for jobs at the University. The bonus is paid for each successful referral (no maximums). The program is open to staff members and postdocs who currently hold a regular full-time or part-time position and are in good standing. Get more information here.

With Election Day approaching, many members of the Emory community are engaged politically. Whether you are sharing research and expertise with lawmakers and voters, volunteering at Emory's election site, or spending your personal time on the campaign trail, it is important to understand how Emory, as a tax-exempt nonprofit, interacts with elected officials. Learn more on Emory, advocacy, and lobbying.

Stephen W. Thrasher will discuss his new book, The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll when Inequality and Disease Collide, on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 3 p.m.–4 p.m. This community event is part of Emory’s Center for Faculty Development and Excellence’s university course entitled “Pandemic Reflections” led by Jodie Guest, RSPH vice chair of epidemiology. The course focuses on HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 as two ongoing pandemics that have taught us about science and disease while bringing into sharper focus issues surrounding stigma, religion, communication, inequity, and politics. Register for the Zoom webinar here.