Laura Cofsky
Recent articles
Get Healthy Philly initiative tackles poverty, tobacco use and obesity
For the past two years, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, in collaboration with numerous members of the Penn community, has been working to revitalize the city of Philadelphia, one photograph at a time.
Penn Med blood center seeks donations from community
Since Nov. 2009, Penn Medicine’s Blood Donation Center has supplied the hospital with blood cells and platelets from members of the Penn community.
Philadelphia County ranks last in state-wide health assessment
The county ranked last out of 67 counties in measures of health outcomes, which include mortality rates and health factors, such as smoking, air pollution exposure, the percentage of health-insured residents and residents’ education levels.
Joke Issue: 'DP' to charge for online content
To emulate The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, The Daily Pennsylvanian will begin charging readers $20 a month to read online content.
Patients with liver cancer more likely to be on transplant waitlist
To the surprise of many in the medical community, patients with both liver disease and a certain kind of liver cancer are eight times less likely to die than those who just suffer from the disease.
Penn researchers discover possible cause for male baldness
After four years of studies, researchers at Perelman School of Medicine have found what may be one of the main causes of male pattern baldness — an mRNA chain called PGD2.
'Drunkorexia' a prevalent disorder on college campuses
Some students suffer from drunkorexia — a combination of an eating disorder and binge drinking.
School of Medicine becomes regional heart center
The Perelman School of Medicine has been selected as a regional center for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Heart Failure Clinical Trials Network for the 2012 to 2018 cycle.
Q&A with new Penn Dems president Andrew Brown
Last Saturday, Penn Dems announced that College junior Andrew Silverstein resigned from his position as president. College sophomore Andrew Brown will assume the position, effective immediately, in leading the student group for the next year.
Medicare finds HUP to have high complication rates
According to a recently publicized Medicare report, many teaching hospitals — including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania — were found to have higher complication rates than the U.S. national rate.
Jimmy John's drops sprouts after E. coli outbreak
The chain, headquartered in Illinois, is currently linked to a five-state outbreak of E. coli.
Norovirus outbreak hits college campuses
What some refer to as “the cruise ship virus” is spreading around many college campuses in the northeast. According to a statement released by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health last month, instances of norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, are on the uptick.
Alcohol most commonly abused drug among students
Alcohol was found to be the number one culprit for students seeking treatment for substance abuse.
Flu season shows little severity
Those complaining that “the bug” is making its way around campus might be surprised to know that this flu season hasn’t been as severe as in years past.
Penn Med finds new vaccine for breast cancer
The cure for cancer remains unknown, but researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine may have developed a way to stop one kind of cancer in its tracks.
Study finds new harm to cell phone use
Researchers are once again citing cell phone use as an obstacle to good health. But the new concern is not another type of cancer nor a fatal disease — it’s neck and back pain caused by texting and checking email on smart phones.
American Psychiatric Association aims to redefine autism
The American Psychiatric Association is looking to redefine autism, which may have a large effect on those currently suffering from the disorder.
SEPTA announces new fare system
SEPTA announced it will unveil a new fare system by the end of 2013. The new fare technology — one of several updates being made to Philadelphia’s transit system — will allow patrons to use train passes instead of tokens. It will also allow people to pay with credit and debit cards.
CHOP clarifies policies regarding medical discrimination
Last week, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia denied three-year-old Amelia Rivera a kidney transplant. Without a transplant or a suitable substitute — such as dialysis — her life could be in jeopardy.
Penn Med study shows ingredient in Muscle Milk may treat concussions
A common nutrient found in weight training supplements such as Muscle Milk and protein powder — might be the key to successfully treating concussions, or at least speeding up the healing process.
