Baby Steps to Viral Hepatitis Elimination: Perinatal Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Allegheny County
Epidemiology and Recommendations for Providers By: Malea Russell, MPH and Vivian Feng, MPH, CIC Early Detection Matters Eliminating viral hepatitis requires coordinated actions across the lifespan. All pregnant people should be tested for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) during each pregnancy and those at increased risk should be tested periodically as long as the […]
Measles in Allegheny County: ACHD Guidance for Physicians
October 11, 2026 The Allegheny County Medical Society is sharing the following clinical guidance from Jillian Irwin, MD, Medical Director of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), to help physicians identify suspected measles cases, coordinate reporting and testing, and review patients’ MMR vaccination status. Printable Physician Handout Download a two-page, print-friendly reference with clinical response […]
A Prescription for Music: The Science Behind Sound and Stress Relief
By: Isabella Lin – Student Health Policy Contributor For most, listening to music is an unconscious and constant habit–from Spotify playlists to the nondescript jazz played in elevators to the booming bass sounding from cars nearby. Music is widely enjoyed, but its uses span greater than simple enjoyment. Because music utilizes a mathematical pattern in […]
Why Public Health Works Better When We Work Together
By: Victoria Baker, Allegheny County Health Department In public health, progress rarely happens in isolation. It happens when people come together, including clinicians, administrators, community organizations, researchers, and decisionmakers, to share insights, confront challenges, and spark new ideas. That is the driving force behind the ACHD Public Health Symposium: a gathering designed to strengthen the […]
Why Growing PBM Concentration Matters to Physicians and Patients
By: Sara Hussey, MBA, CAE – ACMS Executive Director Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) may operate largely behind the scenes of health care, but their decisions can have very visible consequences for physicians and their patients. PBMs administer prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers and employers. Their responsibilities can include negotiating drug rebates, managing […]
ACMS, Local Businesses Partner to Support Physician Well-Being
At the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), physician well-being is a priority, and during National Suicide Awareness Month in September, it is even more important to show our doctors appreciation to help combat burnout. Especially off the heels of an impactful Physician Suicide Awareness Day on September 17. The emotional and physical demands of medicine, […]
The Doctor is Always In, But Who’s Checking In on the Doctor?
They are trained to recognize the warning signs in others. They are expected to remain calm under pressure, work through exhaustion, and put patients first. But when the person in the white coat is struggling, who is checking in on the doctor? For the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), the solution is making physician well-being a […]
The Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation, Beverly’s Babies PGH Team Up to Support National Breastfeeding Awareness Month
Darla Sherlock, senior director of programming and lactation counselor at Beverly’s Babies PGH in the lactation suite at our office in North Huntingdon Throughout National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, the Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation(ACMS) and Beverly’s Babies PGH are highlighting their shared commitment to ensuring families across Western Pennsylvania have access to trusted […]
PA Health Alert Network Is Moving: Providers Must Register by August 28
The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently announced that the Health Alert Network (PA-HAN) will be moving to a new platform, and providers must register by August 28, 2026 to avoid missing any health alerts and advisories. Both current and new users must register with the new platform. People who do not register with the new […]
Responding to Animal Bites and Preventing Rabies in Allegheny County
Contributed by: Leah Pope, MPH – Allegheny County Health Department Each year, around two thousand people in Allegheny County are bitten by an animal, with more bites occurring during the summer months. While rabies infections in humans are rare, they are a serious public health concern. Before 1960, hundreds of people in the U.S. died […]