UW PhD Program in Health Services

Many influencers claim that drinking hot lemon water first thing in the morning boosts weight loss, improves digestion, and more. But is it really true? Judy Simon, dietitian and clinical instructor in HSPOP, teamed up with other dietitians and scientists to break down the science behind the trend. Read more at:

Does Hot Lemon Water Have Any Health Benefits? Influencers claim it helps with weight loss, digestion and more. We dug into whether that’s true.

Health Services PhD candidate Zoe Pleasure recently received the F31 predoctoral fellowship for her study in Veteran health care. Pleasure’s PhD will explore the intersection of chronic disease and reproductive decision-making within the Veteran population. Veterans with autoimmune conditions face many of the same barriers to contraception access as civilians, only compounded by a host of Veteran-specific challenges. Around 10% of Veterans are women, and the Veterans Administration has acknowledged persistent gaps in their care. “Veterans who receive VA care are usually navigating a Veteran health care system that was originally created for men,” Pleasure explained. “The availability of sex-specific care, like contraception, gynecological care, and cervical cancer screening, is really variable across sites.” To learn more about Pleasure and her work head to

Pleasure receives NIH fellowship for Veteran health care research “Veterans who receive VA care are usually navigating a Veteran health care system that was originally created for men.”

Americans are entering retirement with more debt than ever before, with individuals aged 70+ owing a staggering $1.63 trillion. This growing financial burden is putting retirees at risk of serious challenges, from health crises to potential eviction. Experts like Stipica Mudrazija, assistant professor at HSPOP, stress the need for policy changes and better financial planning. Learn more at

Retirement in the red: Addressing financial struggles for older adults - Health Systems and Population Health Retiree debt now exceeds $1.63 trillion, policy interventions are needed to mitigate financial vulnerabilities among older adults.

From the court to the community, UW volleyball player and HPSOP masters student Sophia Tulino is making an impact with teamwork and heart. 💜 Discover how she champions leadership and public health values both on and off the court at

Sophia Tulino Champions Community On and Off the Court - Health Systems and Population Health As a student-athlete and masters student in HSPOP, Sophia brings a strong sense of teamwork and community to everything she does.

With a new administration poised to take charge at a crucial time for health in the USA, The Lancet has devoted an entire issue to health policy titled “A Presidential Briefing Book.” The publication brings together the best evidence on the state of health in the USA and solutions for improving it.

One of the featured articles was written by HSPOP’s Megha Ramaswamy and Marc Stern and Dr. Lara B. Strick of UW medicine. In it the authors address the effects of incarceration on public health. “Carceral health is public health,” write the authors, “Incarceration is not an opportunity to provide health care to an underserved population, but rather an indicator showing how well our community-based systems meet the nation's social and health-care needs.” To read the full article and see the whole briefing book visit: https://ow.ly/oPv550UpAoX