In early March, shortly after World Birth Defects Day (WBDD) and before COVID-19 travel restrictions took effect, the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) held its annual conference in Arlington, Va. The conference’s 150 participants, including USF College of Public Health (COPH) faculty, students and staff who manage the USF […]

While smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of health problems for developing babies, such as preterm birth, low birth rate and birth defects of the lip and mouth, could there also be an association to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare musculoskeletal birth defect? USF College of Public Health alumna […]

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month Birth defects are a huge public health challenge. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 4.5 minutes a baby in this country is born with a birth defect. In recognition of National Birth Defects Prevention Month, we posed some […]

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month An increasing number of infants are being born with a syndrome resulting from exposure to opioids while in the womb, according to USF College of Public Health’s Dr. Russell Kirby. However, he says tracking it has become a new challenge. Infants born to […]

On April 5, the USF College of Public Health recognized two graduates who improve the public’s health and do it exceedingly well. This year’s recipients of the 2017 Outstanding Alumni Award are Drs. Zuber D. Mulla and Jason Salemi. The presentation was part of the college’s National Public Health Week […]

Birth certificates are not effectively capturing birth defects, according to a new study conducted by public health researchers. Their findings, “Evaluation of the Sensitivity and Accuracy of Birth Defects Indicators on the 2003 Revision of the U.S. Birth Certificate: Has Data Quality Improved?” has been published in Paediatric and Perinatal […]

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month; Folic Acid Awareness Week is Jan. 8-14, 2017 Dr. Russell Kirby, USF distinguished professor and Marrell Endowed Chair in the College of Public Health’s Department of Community and Family Health, has co-edited a special issue of Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and […]

A congenital birth defect causing an infant’s intestines to protrude through the abdominal wall is increasing in prevalence, according to USF College of Public Health researchers. Dr. Russell Kirby, USF distinguished professor and principal investigator of the USF Birth Defects Surveillance Program, and Dr. Jason Salemi, COPH alumnus and assistant […]