New Jersey Medical School In The News 2021


How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Getting Vaccinated

Cosmopolitan – Dr. Robert Lahita shares helpful tips for having productive conversations with family and friends about the lifesaving benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are Experts' Pandemic Predictions for Fall 2021

Mic – Dr. Stanley Weiss discusses a surge in COVID-19 cases and whether the number of hospitalizations and deaths will be as staggering this fall as they were last year.

How the Pandemic Gave Kaylee Harris the Chance to Explore Her Gender Identity

ABC News – Dr. Michelle Dalla Piazza and her patient, Kaylee, discuss what it's like to receive care during a pandemic in a national series highlighting transgender voices across the country.

What Is Hepatomegaly? Here's What Experts Say About This Liver Condition

Health – Dr. Nikolas Pyrsopoulos talks to Health magazine about hepatomegaly the steps patients can take if they are concerned about liver disease.

AP Fact Check: COVID-19 Does Not Spread by Inhalation or Skin Contact

Associated Press – Dr. Shobha Swaminathan serves as a medical expert for a globally-syndicated fact check debunking false theories about COVID-19 vaccines.

University Reproductive Associates: Building Bright Futures

NJ.com – Dr. Sara Morelli is featured in a sponsored content piece highlighting a new training program at NJMS, and treatment options available for those coping with infertility.

How to Find the Right NJ Pediatrician

NJ Family Magazine – Dr. Joseph Schwab discusses how to find the best pediatrician for your family during a pandemic.

8 beach safety tips to keep in mind this summer

Jersey's Best – Dr. Lewis Nelson covers how to safely plan a trip to the beach this summer, from sun protection tips to updated guidance on social distancing.

How frontline moms have coped with parenting during a pandemic

Yahoo News – Dr. Virteeka Sinha sheds light on the experience of being a "frontline mom" and how she balanced the challenges of parenting while working in an ER during a pandemic.

For Black Moms, Not Only is Childbirth More Dangerous, It's More Expensive

Parents Magazine – Dr. Lisa Gittens-Williams discusses how systemic racism affects maternal health outcomes, noting that "access to maternal care is a human right."

Four Med Students Recall Trial By Fire In Year One of Pandemic

Patch – Catch up with 2020 NJMS alumni Drs. Jorge Naranjo and Elizabeth Ginalis, who were among those who graduated medical school early last year in order to serve on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Is Tinnitus? Auditory Condition May Be Linked to COVID-19

Health – Following reports that the CEO of Texas Roadhouse died by suicide after a coronavirus infection led to a severe auditory condition, Dr. Robert Jyung talked to Health.com about the potential link between COVID-19 and tinnitus.

Opinion: Op-Ed: Caring for COVID-19 'Long-haulers'

NJ Spotlight News – Dr. Nizar Souayah pens an op-ed about a new Rutgers clinic for COVID-19 "long-haulers," and the need to provide better care for patients suffering with long-term neurological complications, such as brain fog.

Can You Work Out After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Yahoo News – Dr. David Cennimo explains why there is no reason to believe that exercise adversely affects the development of immunity after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Rutgers Researchers Create New Rapid COVID Variant Test

NJ 101.5 – Dr. David Alland discusses a new test created by Rutgers that can quickly detect COVID-19 variants in a little more than hour.

CDC: If You're Going to the Gym, Wear a Face Mask

Verywell Health – Dr. Lewis Nelson discusses the ongoing risk of contracting COVID-19 at the gym, and the importance of wearing a mask to stop the spread.

COVID-19 and Victim-Blaming has Made It More Difficult to Care for People with HIV/AIDS

The Star-Ledger – Drs. Shobha Swaminathan, Perry Halkitis, and NJMS community educator Travis Love co-author an op-ed urging action to reduce stigma and improve access to care and resources for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Is It Safe to Go Back to the Movie Theater?

The Atlantic – Dr. Robert Lahita discusses whether it's safe to return to movie theaters, noting that he doesn't think theaters should be closed at this point, assuming proper precautions, such as mask requirements, are in place to prevent COVID-19.

Everything I Needed to Know About Handling a Pandemic I Learned in Kindergarten

New Jersey Family Magazine – Dr. Joel Freundlich co-authors an editorial on the importance of compassion and keeping our sense of community in mind as we continue to cope with COVID-19.

The Telling Numbers: How COVID-19 has Hit Black Residents in NJ

NJ Spotlight – Dr. Robert L. Johnson, dean of NJMS, talks to NJ Spotlight about a study by Dr. Michelle DallaPiazza showing more evidence of COVID-19's disparate impact on Black residents in New Jersey.

Leaders Work to Reassure People of Color

The Daily Record – Dr. Amesika Nyaku discusses COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among people of color, stating that without a doubt, she will "resoundingly recommend it to everybody," especially those who are older or have serious medical conditions.

Finding the Cure

NJ BIZ – Dr. Shobha Swaminathan, a principal investigator of the Moderna trial in Newark, discusses New Jersey's groundbreaking role in the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines.

Everything I Needed to Know About Handling a Pandemic I Learned in Kindergarten

New Jersey Family Magazine – Dr. Joel Freundlich co-authors an editorial on the importance of compassion and keeping our sense of community in mind as we continue to cope with COVID-19.

Dos and Don'ts of Making a COVID Vaccine Appointment

ABC – Dr. Stanley Weiss talks to Eyewitness News about the best way to secure a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in New Jersey, noting that the system has been difficult to navigate, especially for seniors.

Epidemiologist on What You Should Know About COVID-19

NJ Spotlight News – An in-depth video Q&A with Dr. Stanley Weiss aims to separate COVID-19 fact from fiction, tackling a variety of topics from vaccine efficacy to double-masking.

Doctors Optimistic on Lasting Immunity

The Star-Ledger – Dr. Shobha Swaminathan, one of the principal investigators of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, discusses the possibility that COVID vaccines will have to be taken annually like the flu shot.

What's it Like to Get the Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine?

WHYY News – Dean Dr. Robert L. Johnson shares his experience receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the on-site clinic at NJMS and University Hospital.

Traveling to the U.S.? Prepare to Take a Coronavirus Test

New York Times – Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh discusses the impact of a new policy that states that beginning Jan. 26 international travelers bound for the United States must show negative coronavirus test results before boarding their flights.

Liver Transplant Center Ranked Best in the Country

New Jersey Business Magazine – Drs. Pyrsopoulos and Guarrera comment on the news that their center has been named the best in the nation, stating that this enhances the awareness of NJMS and University Hospital to the larger world.

Can Eating a Burnt Orange Revive Taste After COVID-19?

Prevention – Dr. Stanley Weiss weighs in on a viral theory that eating a burnt orange mixed with brown sugar can help COVID-19 patients recover a lost sense of taste.

NJ Poison Control Center Cautions About Candy Look-Alikes

Patch.com – Following reports of children who were admitted to hospitals for exposure to large amounts of edible cannabis that looked like candy, Dr. Diane Calello offers safety tips for avoiding unintentional poisonings.

What Is Trypanophobia? How to Cope With Fear of Needles

Health.com – Dr. Petros Levounis discusses how to deal with a fear of needles so you don't have to miss out on securing your dose of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.

Second Doses of COVID Vaccine Administered in New Jersey

NorthJersey.com – On January 4, doctors, nurses and staff at University Hospital and NJMS, including Dean Dr. Robert L. Johnson, received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Is It Safe to Eat Snow? Doctors Explain Possible Side Effects

Prevention – Dr. Diane Calello talks about the risk of consuming snow, noting that a small amount should be non-toxic.

Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Severe Allergic Reactions? Doctors Explain

Prevention – Dr. Stanley Weiss discusses concerns regarding allergies to the new COVID-19 vaccines, noting that "people who have a history of allergic reactions have a higher risk of reacting to something that's new."

Heroes: Why They Volunteered For COVID Vaccine Trials

Courier – The Courier includes Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh in a column about the heroes of 2020, in which she discusses why it's critical for Black people to be represented in vaccine clinical trials.

Rutgers Dean has high praise for the COVID-19 vaccine

NJ 101.5 – NJMS Dean Robert L. Johnson, one of the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey, talks about the Dec. 15 rollout of the Pfizer vaccine at NJMS and University Hospital, noting that it almost feels like "we're going to save the world."

FDA Issues Emergency Authorization for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Healthline – Dr. Shobha Swaminathan comments on news that the FDA has approved Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Swaminathan is a principal investigator of the Moderna vaccine.

New At-Home COVID-19 Test Gets Green Light From F.D.A.

The New York Times – Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh discusses a new at-home COVID-19 test that recently received FDA approval, noting that the fact that all the study's false positives occurred in the asymptomatic group could present certain issues.

Why COVID-19 Can Cause Bluish Lips in Severe Cases

Prevention – Dr. Lewis Nelson discusses uncommon symptoms of COVID-19, including blueish lips, which can be a sign of a severe coronavirus infection.