May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons New research is testing effective ways to communicate with families about chemical exposures Among the last things a mother wants to hear is that chemical compounds found nearly everywhere in the modern environment—our clothing, packaging, plastics and drinking water—could have implications for their child’s development in the womb. Sarah […]
Category: Community Health
Where does AI fit into the big picture of public health?
May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons AI could revolutionize disease prevention—but flawed data risks deepening health inequalities In the view of University of Illinois public health researcher Bruno Nunes, artificial intelligence shapes up as a potent tool to predict and prevent public health problems, such as chronic diseases. But before AI-powered models are deployed in […]
Spring 2026: Message from HK Department Head Kim Graber
May 13, 2026 | Kim Graber Hello faculty, staff, alumni and friends, As we move through another dynamic semester in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, I am continually struck by the breadth and impact of the work happening across our department. This spring, our faculty, students and alumni have advanced important conversations at the […]
AHS Faculty Q&A: Robyn Gobin understands trauma as both professor and clinician
May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Robyn Gobin inhabits many roles—teacher, researcher, psychologist, author—which continue to influence each other. Gobin is a trauma specialist: she works with domestic violence survivors and military Veterans and has published studies about their experiences. Gobin joined the Department of Health and Kinesiology in 2015, […]
Researcher Soyoung Choi pushes Pilates toward evidence-based wellness
May 13, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Pilates promises transformations, but science reveals quieter, longer-lasting health benefits. In the age of algorithm-driven fitness trends and curated wellness aesthetics, reformer Pilates has become a cultural phenomenon, celebrated as much for its sleek studios and celebrity endorsements as for its exercise benefits. But beneath the social media sheen, […]
Jeff Woods’ retirement closes a chapter in the College of Applied Health Sciences
May 08, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Woods leaves a legacy of groundbreaking research and inspired mentorship After a noteworthy tenure spanning more than three decades at the University of Illinois, Jeffrey Woods, Ph.D., the associate dean for research in the College of Applied Health Sciences and a national leader in exercise physiology research, has announced his retirement, marking the end of an […]
From Huff Hall to national impact: American Lung Association CEO visits his alma mater
April 02, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Wimmer’s chance choice leads to national public health leadership When Harold Wimmer returned to the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois, it wasn’t just a professional visit—it was a homecoming shaped by decades of purpose, mentorship and public health leadership. Wimmer, president and CEO of […]
What toddlers eat might shape how they think years later, study suggests
Feb. 02, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo By the time children in Pelotas, Brazil, reached their first day of school, some had already been influenced by decisions made years earlier—at the family table A new analysis from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort suggests that dietary patterns at just two years of age are associated with cognitive […]
How social stress can worsen colitis, and what it reveals about the biology of IBD
Jan. 23, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Study from AHS researchers links stress to gut inflammation via adrenergic oxidative pathways For decades, patients with inflammatory bowel disease have reported a familiar and frustrating pattern: periods of intense stress are often followed by worsening symptoms or full-blown disease flares. Clinicians have observed the same phenomenon, yet the […]
Message from HK Department Head Kim Graber
Oct. 27, 2025 | Kim Graber Dear Alumni and Friends, Now that fall 2025 is underway, I’m excited to share some of the exciting stories from the Department of Health and Kinesiology. Each newsletter reminds me of how fortunate I am to work alongside such passionate faculty, students and alumni who are making a real […]