HSPH papers recognized as some of 2011’s most influential public health research

ECONOMICAL Formerly a member of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, HSPH's Katherine Baicker now serves on the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Health Insurance Status and its Consequences.

December 8, 2011 — Congratulations to three HSPH papers, which were recognized in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) list of the Most Influential Research of 2011. The foundation chose 20 articles as finalists, based on both “solid research” and the number of visits each paper collected on the RWJF website since it was published—and now they are putting the lineup to a public vote to choose the “Final 5” winning papers. (Vote here)

The HSPH articles selected are:

The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment” (Katherine Baicker, Professor of Health Economics, Department of Health Policy and Management) — the first study to examine the impact of insuring the uninsured using a randomized control trial. Co-principal investigator Backer and fellow authors took advantage of a unique, unprecedented research opportunity to measure the effects of expanding access to public health insurance when, in 2008, a group of uninsured low-income adults in Oregon was selected by lottery to be given the chance to apply for Medicaid. Learn more about the research 

Heart Health When Life is Satisfying” (Laura Kubzansky, Associate Professor, and Julie Boehm, Research Fellow, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health) — research showing that being satisfied with several areas of life, such as relationships, work, standard of living, and happiness with yourself, is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Learn more about Kubzansky’s work on happiness and health

Effect of School District Policy Change on Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Among High School Students, Boston, Massachusetts, 2004-2006” (Angie Cradock, Senior Research Scientist, and Steve Gortmaker, Professor of the Practice of Health Sociology, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health) — the first major study to show a significant decline in consumption of unhealthy beverages following a school policy change. Learn more about the research

Voting for the “Final 5” most influential articles is open on the RWJF site here through December 23 (midnight EST). This year’s winners will be announced in the next issue of Evidence Matters to be released in early 2012. RWJF asks that voters “consider whether the research articles guided the field of policy and practice, influenced how the public thinks about health and health care issues, or changed long-held perceptions of the health care field at large” when making their selections.

Please vote for HSPH research (you can vote for up to 5 articles total) and share this story with your community! Post on Facebook, or use the hashtag #FINAL_5 to talk about the contest on Twitter.