Media Coverage

Newsday Taps Nizich for Cyberattack Anniversary Story

Sep 10, 2023

Newsday tapped cybersecurity expert Michael Nizich, Ph.D., director of the ETIC and adjunct associate professor of computer science, for an article about the one-year anniversary of the Suffolk County ransomware attack. He notes that the reason the county has taken so long to restore its services is likely because it lacked a written disaster recovery plan. 

“The preparation that's supposed to be in place in a textbook world doesn't seem to have been in place at all,” said Nizich, who noted corporate recovery times from such attacks are typically measured in hours, not weeks or months. “In a perfect environment, they should have gone back to September 7 [to their backup systems] and been back up in a day or so,” or a week at most, he said.

 

Local Media Publicize Federally Funded Research Projects

Sep 10, 2023

Newsday, in its weekly Winners column, reported on three federally funded research projects by NYITCOM faculty. The awards, which total approximately $1.4 million, include the medical school’s first grant from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and two competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On September 10, the column featured NIH-funded research by Associate Professor Maria Alicia Carrillo Sepulveda, Ph.D., which investigates obesity-related hypertension; on August 20, the column highlighted DoD-funded research by Associate Professor Haotian Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., which investigates a rare form of brain cancer found mainly in children; on August 6, the column publicized NIH-funded research by Professor Qiangrong Liang, M.D., Ph.D., which aims to prevent long-term heart damage in cancer survivors previously treated with a potent chemotherapy drug.

Coverage of these prestigious grants also appeared in InnovateLI.

 

Sep 08, 2023

Associate Professor and Chair of Family Medicine Nancy Bono, D.O., and Assistant Professor of Clinical Specialties Eleanor Yusupov, D.O., shared their medical expertise for a Gastroenterology Advisor article about the potential effects of semaglutide-containing drugs, such as Ozempic. In addition to other points, the NYITCOM physicians discuss how clinicians should differentiate between symptoms of gastroparesis (vs. other factors or conditions, such as diet), and ways that physicians should consider managing gastroparesis symptoms in patients taking semaglutides.

 

Parade Features Insight from Nutrition Expert

Sep 01, 2023

Comments from Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, clinical associate professor and department chair of interdisciplinary health sciences, are featured in a Parade article about the nutritional benefits of clementines. Haar, who is one of nine registered dietitians quoted in the article, shares, “Vitamin C plays a vital role as an antioxidant, maintains healthy skin, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage, aids in wound healing, and facilitates iron absorption. With most people getting too little fiber—which is necessary for optimal gastro-intestinal functioning—the three grams of fiber in the two-fruit serving can help you reach optimal fiber intake.”

 

Fortune Publishes Lopez's Op-ed

Sep 01, 2023

A Fortune op-ed by Alexander Lopez, J.D., OT/L, associate professor of occupational therapy, advocates for K-12 schools to be required to have occupational therapists or other autism specialists on staff to support students and provide proper intervention. Lopez notes that while awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased, and the number of children diagnosed has risen dramatically, U.S. school systems have not implemented new strategies to help students with ASD. In addition, some school practices may marginalize them.

“This is where policymakers must step in. We need changes at the state and federal levels to ensure that appropriate ASD intervention continues beyond preschool. K-12 schools should be required to have occupational therapists or other autism specialists on staff,” he writes.

Additional media outlets that ran the op-ed include Yahoo Finance, AOL.com, and MSN.com. 

 

Hazel Explains Anti-Bullying Policies in Care.com Article

Aug 31, 2023

Care.com featured comments from Cameka Hazel, Ed.D., associate professor in the School Counseling, M.S. program, in an article about anti-bullying policies in K-12 schools. Hazel explains that schools in all 50 states must have anti-bullying policies, which include definitions of bullying, characteristics for bullying behaviors, and school district policy requirements.

“Schoolwide anti-bullying policies are put in place to ensure parents that their children are provided with an environment that is safe, secure, and free from harassment and discrimination—and that there is accountability if and when bullying occurs in schools,” says Hazel. She also notes that while all schools should now have anti-bullying policies, some do not carry out school-wide assessments to see how effective their policies and strategies are, which can be problematic.

 

Exercise Science Expert Quoted in Real Simple

Aug 30, 2023

Alex Rothstein, coordinator and instructor for the Exercise Science program, is quoted in a Real Simple article about pilates exercises to strengthen glute muscles. Rothstein explains that the glutes are comprised of three muscles, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus, and “have a central role in controlling movements of the lower extremity, as well as movements of the trunk.” He adds, “Any dysfunction or weakness in this muscle group can cause issues with other areas of the body that are called upon to compensate,” noting that this can occur in the hamstrings, which are often recruited to compensate for weak glutes.

Similar coverage also appeared in Yahoo News and AOL.com. 

 

Prominent Outlets Feature Researcher's COVID-19 Insight

Aug 25, 2023

During the month of August, multiple outlets featured COVID-19 insight from Rajendram Rajnarayanan, Ph.D., assistant dean of research and associate professor at NYITCOM-Arkansas, who manages a coronavirus sequencing dashboard. In National Geographic, Rajnarayanan discusses the surge of the EG.5 variant; in Fortune and The Daily Mail, he shares insight on COVID-19 in pets and a potential new variant called BA.X, respectively. His comments were also featured in later articles that appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, and others.

 

Haar Provides Nutrition Advice for Parade's Readers

Aug 24, 2023

Nutrition expert Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, clinical associate professor and department chair of interdisciplinary health sciences, is quoted in a Parade article about the ideal time to eat breakfast. 

“Eating before work or school with a breakfast that includes whole grains, protein from plant sources such as nuts, seeds, and legumes, or animal sources such as low-fat dairy or moderate amounts of eggs, fruit and/or vegetables can be wonderful if your schedule and routine allow for that,” says Haar. However, she also advises readers that if their morning schedule does not accommodate this, they should simply adjust. “My advice is typically choosing the time when eating a healthful breakfast is most feasible. Determining a specific time when the only seemingly realistic option is to grab a doughnut will not be helpful.”

 

Abraham Quoted in Leprosy Article

Aug 21, 2023

Carl Abraham, M.D., infectious disease physician and assistant professor at NYITCOM-Arkansas, is quoted prominently in a HealthNews.com article about rising leprosy cases in Florida. In addition to discussing potential drivers of the outbreak, Abraham explains that leprosy, which is caused by M. leprae bacteria, is easily treated with antibiotics, especially at its early stages. However, it can be difficult to recognize the illness, as most people in the United States, including healthcare providers, have never seen a case. 

"Any person with one or multiple patches of skin that are lightening in color and have decreased sensation (for example, numbness) should be tested for infection with M. leprae. The patch may be flat or raised," says Abraham. 

He also warns that it may take a year or more for those infected to develop symptoms.