Researchers of the Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, a group of clinical experts and scientists including those from the University of Washington's Department of Global Health, investigated how often, when, and why young children in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia die when admitted to hospitals. 

Kristie Ebi, Professor in the University of Washington's Department of Global Health and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, mentions how toxic smoke caused by these fires can be due to containing more harmful components than we might think. “It’s not just leaves and branches and trees” that are burned, she said. “It’s buildings. It’s gasoline stations. It’s old houses that have asbestos in them. It’s automobiles. There are lots of components of wildfire smoke.”

Kristie Ebi, a professor at the Center for Health and Global Environment at the University of Washington, explains that: “It remains problematic to trade off mortality and morbidity from hot versus cold temperature extremes. People are not fungible. The goal of public health is to prevent as much morbidity and mortality as possible.”

The dedication and innovation from our students in public health practice and research are part of what makes our department great. This summer we recognize several students in our department who have been selected for awards at the University of Washington. We would like to celebrate two of our students – Brekken Selah and Tessa Concepcion – for receiving  School of Public health (SPH) Excellence Awards, and congratulate Grace Umutesi on the Runner Up and People’s Choice Awards for the 2025 UW Three Minute Thesis Competition. Congratulations!