Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
@cancormanyfrla.bsky.social
Professor at UNT in public health. Epidemiology, childhood cancer, Down syndrome, liver disease, environment. Leaning in and trying not to fall over.
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
A drop in precancerous growths in women who hadn’t received the HPV vaccine suggests the existence of a ‘herd effect’ against the virus
go.nature.com/4sMpF0H
go.nature.com/4sMpF0H
HPV vaccine could help to protect the unvaccinated against cervical cancer
A drop in precancerous growths in women who hadn’t received the jab suggests the existence of a ‘herd effect’ against the virus.
go.nature.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:18 PM
A drop in precancerous growths in women who hadn’t received the HPV vaccine suggests the existence of a ‘herd effect’ against the virus
go.nature.com/4sMpF0H
go.nature.com/4sMpF0H
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
I have some more bad news.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
An impressive number of graduate applications this year used the phrase “curiosity-driven approach” 🤔
January 17, 2026 at 11:03 PM
I have some more bad news.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
Anyone who thinks #Texas is a lightly regulated state never went the laborious multi-year ordeal of obtaining a TX driver’s license for a teenage child.
January 3, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Anyone who thinks #Texas is a lightly regulated state never went the laborious multi-year ordeal of obtaining a TX driver’s license for a teenage child.
Between 2010 and 2020, Texas lost twenty-six rural hospitals. Half of Texas counties have no obstetric providers.
Important piece in Dallasnews.com
Important piece in Dallasnews.com
Childbirth in Texas should be a blessing, not a gamble
Despite meaningful progress, nearly half of Texas counties are considered maternity care deserts.
www.dallasnews.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Between 2010 and 2020, Texas lost twenty-six rural hospitals. Half of Texas counties have no obstetric providers.
Important piece in Dallasnews.com
Important piece in Dallasnews.com
H5N5!
Washington resident hospitalized with virus never seen in humans
Washington resident hospitalized with virus never seen in humans
Washington resident hospitalized with virus never seen in humans
The patient, an older adult with underlying conditions, was hospitalized in early November after suffering from a high fever, confusion and severe breathing difficulties, officials said.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
H5N5!
Washington resident hospitalized with virus never seen in humans
Washington resident hospitalized with virus never seen in humans
Happy to vote today in favor of a fund for Alzheimer’s and other neurologic research in Texas. It would be great for Texas and great for patients.
November 4, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Happy to vote today in favor of a fund for Alzheimer’s and other neurologic research in Texas. It would be great for Texas and great for patients.
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
My department is hiring an Assistant/Associate Professor in Epidemiology! #Episky listings.jobs.gmu.edu/jobs/global-...
Global and Community Health, Assistant/Associate Professor in Epidemiology - Fairfax, VA, Virginia, United States - Other, Virginia, United States
Department: College of Public Health
Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty
Job Category: Instructional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairf...
listings.jobs.gmu.edu
October 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
My department is hiring an Assistant/Associate Professor in Epidemiology! #Episky listings.jobs.gmu.edu/jobs/global-...
Unbelievable. 😆😆 I was interested in finding the incidence of pediatric liver disease in the United States. Could not find it published anywhere. #episky #medsky #liverdisease
1/
1/
November 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Unbelievable. 😆😆 I was interested in finding the incidence of pediatric liver disease in the United States. Could not find it published anywhere. #episky #medsky #liverdisease
1/
1/
Typhus, salmonella enterica, and borrelia recurrentis spelled doom for Napoleon’s conquest of Russia.
Dead soldiers’ teeth reveal diseases that doomed Napoleon’s army
Scientists analyze ancient DNA to uncover the diseases that killed Napoleon's troops in 1812.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Typhus, salmonella enterica, and borrelia recurrentis spelled doom for Napoleon’s conquest of Russia.
Confounding? But it’s an interesting question.
Longitude Position in a Time Zone and Cancer Risk in the United States
Abstract. Background: Circadian disruption is a probable human carcinogen. From the eastern to western border of a time zone, social time is equal, whereas solar time is progressively delayed, produci...
aacrjournals.org
October 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Confounding? But it’s an interesting question.
I trust that Megan McArdle has never served on a Faculty Search Committee. She may be surprised to hear that faculty candidates are not asked to complete a questionnaire on their political views. Instead we attempt to recruit people with the best research and teaching records. @washingtonpost.com
Opinion | The sweetheart deal is over for academia
Universities must rebuild public trust starting with viewpoint diversity.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I trust that Megan McArdle has never served on a Faculty Search Committee. She may be surprised to hear that faculty candidates are not asked to complete a questionnaire on their political views. Instead we attempt to recruit people with the best research and teaching records. @washingtonpost.com
New article! Prenatal pesticide exposure and neuroblastoma. Many thanks to Darcy Van Deventer and the team. #neuroblastoma #episky
Https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1lxC73Ao6BKXN
Https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1lxC73Ao6BKXN
October 15, 2025 at 9:57 PM
New article! Prenatal pesticide exposure and neuroblastoma. Many thanks to Darcy Van Deventer and the team. #neuroblastoma #episky
Https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1lxC73Ao6BKXN
Https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1lxC73Ao6BKXN
This is becoming more and more common.
153 unvaccinated students quarantining after measles exposure at South Carolina schools
More than 150 unvaccinated students exposed to measles in South Carolina schools are quarantining, according to local health officials.
www.cbsnews.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:26 PM
This is becoming more and more common.
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
September 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
Exclusive: The US Department of Defense is continuing to bankroll projects to develop vaccines against deadly pathogens
go.nature.com/46AcHbZ
go.nature.com/46AcHbZ
Exclusive: RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
The Department of Defense is continuing to bankroll projects to develop vaccines against deadly pathogens.
go.nature.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Exclusive: The US Department of Defense is continuing to bankroll projects to develop vaccines against deadly pathogens
go.nature.com/46AcHbZ
go.nature.com/46AcHbZ
God help us
RFK Jr.-Backed Panel Advises Against MMRV Combo Vaccine for Young Children
New members of a key committee tweak routine childhood vaccine guidance as some states and insurers go their own way.
www.wsj.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
God help us
@morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social please do not offer your platform to non-scientists who proclaim unsupported theories about the causes of cancer. Diet and cancer has been extensively, extensively studied and the results show that the impact of diet on cancer is modest at best.
August 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
@morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social please do not offer your platform to non-scientists who proclaim unsupported theories about the causes of cancer. Diet and cancer has been extensively, extensively studied and the results show that the impact of diet on cancer is modest at best.
Many people may not appreciate that the NIH’s definition of “diversity” includes people from rural areas. These practitioners are the most likely to return to the communities where they grew up and open medical practices, where it is desperately needed.
I Came from Rural Texas to Harvard’s MD-PhD program. Now, Trump Defunded that Program.
These decisions affect not just the archetypal Ivy League student many imagine—they affect people who grew up in places like Lindale.
www.texasobserver.org
August 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Many people may not appreciate that the NIH’s definition of “diversity” includes people from rural areas. These practitioners are the most likely to return to the communities where they grew up and open medical practices, where it is desperately needed.
Brazos County.
Texas reports first West Nile illness case of 2025
West Nile virus is a moquito-borne illness. Last year, the virus killed an estimated 56 Texans.
www.dallasnews.com
July 4, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Brazos County.
Reposted by Julia Heck, PhD, MPH
⚖️ HUGE day today in the NIH terminations cases
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
⚖️ HUGE day today in the NIH terminations cases
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
Unexplained chronic kidney disease in which heat stress plays a role.
How a mysterious epidemic of kidney disease is killing thousands of young men
Repeated damage from extreme heat over time seems to be a leading factor causing kidneys to fail.
www.nature.com
June 8, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Unexplained chronic kidney disease in which heat stress plays a role.
@morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social older adults are not recommended to take PSA tests or mammograms. This is because of cost- benefit analyses showing there is little benefit. In layman’s terms, given the slow growth of many cancers It’s likely someone that age will get old and die of something else.
May 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
@morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social older adults are not recommended to take PSA tests or mammograms. This is because of cost- benefit analyses showing there is little benefit. In layman’s terms, given the slow growth of many cancers It’s likely someone that age will get old and die of something else.
In addition to losing investment in basic science research, the NIH also normally funds considerable prevention research. Disease prevention efforts save lives, but also save money for insurance companies, businesses, and government.
The US is losing its next generation of health scientists
The U.S. research and training infrastructure is under attack by the Trump administration, and there have been destructive consequences.
thehill.com
April 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
In addition to losing investment in basic science research, the NIH also normally funds considerable prevention research. Disease prevention efforts save lives, but also save money for insurance companies, businesses, and government.