ABC 7 Eyewitness News Interviews Harper

May 13, 2021

Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Brian Harper, M.D., M.P.H. was interviewed by ABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News in a segment on fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards. The interview took place following the arrest of a Long Island CVS employee who planned to peddle falsely completed cards to family and friends. Harper, who is also a former Suffolk County health commissioner, notes the larger public health implications of vaccination card forgeries, explaining how they hurt the community's ability to safely reopen and return to normalcy.

 

NY Daily News Publishes Harper Op-ed About Combatting Vaccine Hesitancy

May 12, 2021

An op-ed advocating to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy by learning from what worked in the AIDS crisis has published in the NY Daily News. “How do we reassure communities of color that the vaccines are safe and effective -- and encourage people to get the shots that could save their lives?” Brian Harper, M.D., M.P.H., vice president for equity and inclusion and chief medical officer, poses this question in the piece, co-authored with Michelle McMurray-Heath, M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

Public health workers faced similar obstacles when dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 980s and 90s. Then, like now, doctors and healthcare professionals didn't possess enough influence in minority communities to counteract widespread rumors, the authors write. How did they break through? “By collaborating with people and institutions who already possessed high levels of trust within communities of color,” among many other actions. This strategy succeeded in beating back the HIV/AIDS epidemic and it is what's required to get accurate information on COVID-19 vaccines to people of color today, the op-ed urges.

 

Student Research Highlighted by Local Media

May 11, 2021

As seen in local media outlets such as Huntington Now and Hamlet Hub, New York Tech students presented research at the annual Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). Held virtually on April 23, SOURCE 2021 highlighted both student-faculty collaborations and interdisciplinary education. More than 135 undergraduate and graduate students showcased their research and creative scholarly work.

 

InnovateLI Spotlights New York Tech - Farmingdale State Automatic Admission Agreement

May 11, 2021

An InnovateLI article highlights a new agreement between New York Tech and Farmingdale State College that allows qualified Farmingdale State students automatic admission into select New York Tech graduate programs. The agreement guarantees "admission for qualified Farmingdale State graduates” to NYIT’s College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, in five 30-credit master’s degree programs: Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“We are excited to offer another pathway to our cutting-edge graduate programs in sought-after areas,” Dean Babak Beheshti, Ph.D., said. “We look forward to welcoming the highly qualified students of Farmingdale State to the New York Tech community.”

 

Film Student Featured on News 12

May 04, 2021

James Fitzpatrick, a student in the Digital Film and Television Production, B.F.A. program, was featured on News 12 Long Island for his one-of-a-kind twelve-minute light projection show in celebration of the Star Wars films. As News 12 notes, Fitzpatrick uses his Bethpage, N.Y. home as a canvas to create the display, which features the films’ favorite heroes, as well as some villains.

 

Newsday Seeks Harper's Expertise for Two COVID-19 Articles

May 02, 2021

Newsday featured the public health expertise of Brian Harper, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer and vice president for equity and inclusion, in two articles on COVID-19 vaccination. In the first story, published May 2, Harper discusses why Black and Latino Long Islanders may be underrepresented in the region's vaccination rates.

"In general, the African American and Latino communities may not be accessing care at the higher rate you may see in the general community," said Harper, who is also a former Suffolk County health commissioner. He notes that expanded outreach to Black and Latino communities, including through clergy and other community leaders — "to make sure the minority communities are being made aware and have access to the vaccine" — has helped to reduce the gap.

In the second article, published May 3, Harper emphasizes the critical role of federally qualified health centers in county vaccination efforts, noting that they are the ideal vehicle to help vaccinate underserved communities. "These health care centers have been there for a number of years, and they’ve developed a good rapport with the community, so trust may be less of an issue," he says.

 

Haar Discusses Potato Nutrition in Men's Health

Apr 29, 2021

Men's Health shared insight from Mindy Haar, Ph.D., clinical associate professor and department chair of interdisciplinary health sciences, on the nutritional benefits of potatoes. As the article notes, potatoes can provide satiety, the term dietitians use to describe staying full after a meal. “The humble potato can be a filling, nutrient-providing component to your meal," says Haar. 

 

Newsday Previews Commencement Plans

Apr 26, 2021

Newsday highlights some of New York Tech’s plans for this year’s commencement as part of a roundup story featuring several local schools. The article notes that as part of the events complementing New York Tech’s virtual ceremony on May 23, graduates can “arrange a professional portrait and ‘stroll across the stage’ with their name ‘professionally announced.’”

 

Center for Sports Medicine-NYRA Collaboration Featured in the Media

Apr 26, 2021

As seen in horseracing outlets Paulick Report and Thoroughbred Daily News, as well as local outlet The Island Now, a new collaboration with the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) establishes New York Tech’s Center for Sports Medicine as NYRA’s official concussion management team. Accordingly, the Center for Sports Medicine will take a leading role in the continued development of concussion protocols for jockeys at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. In addition to baseline testing, the Center will provide expert resources in the diagnosis of potential concussions, treatment plans for jockeys seeking a safe return to the racetrack, and continuing education for jockeys and NYRA personnel to ensure a more thorough understanding of concussion prevention.  

 

Raj Shares Mental Health Expertise in Podcast Segment

Apr 23, 2021

NYITCOM’s Anu Raj, Psy.D., assistant professor of family medicine and clinical psychologist at the Center for Behavioral Health, is featured in the Get Witty With IT: Women Talk Tech podcast by Computer Reseller Network (CRN) magazine. The podcast shares perspectives from women in the field, with this particular episode discussing the unique challenges they have faced while telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining female tech executives from across the U.S., Raj shares her clinical psychology expertise to provide insight on the mental health impacts of working remotely (interview begins around 18:48).