Rutgers Health

01/27/2026

Increasing minimum wage can do more than bolster household income, reduce inequality, and enhance worker well-being: it can also help make pregnancies safer, according to new research from the Rutgers School of Public Health.

The study, led by assistant professor Slawa Rokicki, found that a $1 or greater increase in the minimum wage was associated with 64 fewer cases of maternal hypertensive disorders—a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.—per 100,000 women over five years.

“The federal minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009; it’s a poverty wage and is worth less now than it was in the 1960s,” Rokicki says.

“Increasing the minimum wage is going to have profound impacts on peoples’ lives; the research on that is indisputable. We find it also has important impacts on health during pregnancy.”

01/26/2026

❄️Weather update:

The weekend’s winter storm has passed and the State of Emergency has been lifted. Clinical operations remain fully open, and all other university services and classes will return to their standard operating schedules on Tuesday, January 27.

Please continue to monitor go.rutgers.edu/rhstatus for updates.

If you have specific questions regarding your department or clinical site, please reach out to your direct supervisor or practice leadership.

01/26/2026

What do the new federal dietary guidelines mean for everyday eating and nutrition policy? Rutgers School of Health Professions clinical dietitian Stephani Johnson offers an in-depth look at what is new, what is the same, and how the guidelines may or may not change what we eat.

The university remains open. For changes to schedules on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26, including remote instruction and operations due to expected weather conditions, check rutgers.edu/status.

01/24/2026

WEATHER UPDATE! ❄️
The university remains open. For changes to schedules on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26, including remote instruction and operations, check https://www.rutgers.edu/status

01/22/2026

We’re proud to announce this year’s Graduate Medical Education Professionalism Award recipients!

The Rutgers Health Professionalism Award recognize colleagues who exemplify integrity, respect, and professional conduct. With more than 100 nominations this year, these awards celebrate the dedication and collaborative spirit that strengthen our community and inspire a culture of professionalism across Rutgers Health.

01/21/2026

If it seems like most of your plans have been canceled this winter because someone has the flu, you are not alone. Flu cases earlier this month were double over the number of reported cases last year.

David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, explains what is driving the worse-than-usual flu season and what you can still do to protect yourself this winter.

If it seems like most of your plans have been canceled this winter because someone has the flu, you are not alone. Flu cases earlier this month were double over the number of reported cases last year. 

01/20/2026

Feeling the post‑holiday blues? Rutgers Health experts say you’re not alone, and a few simple habits – like consistent routines, good sleep, moving around outdoors, and connecting with loved ones – can help your brain reset and recharge for the new year.

The holiday season brings joy, connection and a bit of indulgence. But as the decorations come down and routines resume, many people feel the post-holiday blues: fatigue, low motivation, irritability or just a general letdown. 

01/14/2026

The Speech Language Pathology Team in Rutgers School of Health Professions has earned the Rutgers Outstanding Service Award for its exceptional long-term positive impacts in the city of Newark.

Through various programs—including a pro bono clinic delivering over 6,500 hours of free speech therapy for individuals with disabilities last year, summer group therapy collaborations with community groups, and matching 20 graduate students to school campuses across the city—this team is breaking barriers to care.

Congratulations to the team on this well-earned honor!

01/13/2026

Taking acetaminophen can help ease flu symptoms—but taking too much can quickly turn dangerous. Because acetaminophen is found in over 600 products, it’s easy to exceed the daily limit of 4,000 mg. Too much can lead to liver failure, kidney damage, or even death.

Signs of overdose—like nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting—can be subtle and may not appear for days. If you suspect an overdose, don’t wait. New Jersey Poison Control is here to help. Call the 24/7 Poison Help line at 1‑800‑222‑1222 or dial 9‑1‑1 immediately for more severe symptoms like seizures or difficulty breathing.

When using acetaminophen:
💊 Stick to one medicine at a time.
💊 Carefully follow the label.
💊 For kids, base dosage on weight, not age.

Stay safe this flu season and learn more about safe acetaminophen usage from experts at the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School:

Since the start of the current flu season in November 2025, the New Jersey Poison Control Center has assisted in managing numerous cases involving residents who experienced dosing errors while using acetaminophen. The most common mistake — reported in 85 cases — occurred when people took or were...

01/12/2026

When chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis makes even simple movements difficult, surgery often feels like the only option. But at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Abhishek Kumar is offering patients new hope through a minimally invasive procedure called genicular artery embolization.

Instead of major surgery, the treatment uses a tiny catheter to block small arteries that feed inflammation around the knee. It’s done on an outpatient basis, requires no incisions, and patients typically return to normal activities within a day or two. For many, pain relief begins almost immediately and continues to improve over time.

Rutgers is among the first major academic centers in the region to provide this innovative therapy, which has been available at University Hospital since 2024. For people who can’t undergo knee replacement or want to avoid surgery altogether, this breakthrough is changing lives—restoring mobility and offering a future free from chronic pain.

01/07/2026

A new Rutgers Health study is the first to link ultra-processed foods to reduced survival in Black women with breast cancer. The worst offender, researchers found, is processed meats.

“Black women have the highest mortality rate from breast cancer compared with other racial or ethnic groups in the U.S. That's why we wanted to see what factors might contribute to these differences,” says lead author Tengteng Wang, a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Jersey’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, together with RWJBarnabas Health.

Understanding that modifying diet and restricting ultra-processed foods can be difficult or impractical, Wang leaves patients with the following takeaway: "If you can't do everything, at least limit consumption of processed meat."

A study from Rutgers Cancer Institute researchers in eClinicalMedicine is the first to link ultra-processed foods to reduced survival in Black women with breast cancer.

01/02/2026

Meet Katie Zapert, assistant dean for research at the Rutgers School of Public Health and recipient of the Rutgers Gateway Award for Service to Employees.

Zapert didn’t just build the Office of Research from the ground up – she established a vital infrastructure that guides investigators, funding agencies, and the Rutgers Office of Sponsored Programs. She works diligently to identify research opportunities, foster crucial community collaborations, build mentorship teams, and ensure the submission of successful research and practice applications.

Her most critical contribution, however, came during a time of crisis. In March 2025, when the NIH abruptly terminated several ongoing research projects due to federal de-prioritization, Katie immediately spearheaded a multifaceted institutional response.

It was chiefly through Zapert’s relentless advocacy, institutional savvy, and strategic skill in connecting key stakeholders that Rutgers came to be represented in the landmark multistate Massachusetts v. Kennedy lawsuit. This legal action was successfully resolved in June, yielding rapid and exceptional results: Virtually all previously terminated projects have been reinstated.

Zapert is more than an administrator; she is a strategic leader who elevates and empowers our faculty, securing their research future even against federal-level headwinds.