Public Health


Notifiable Disease Incidence in New York State

Notifiable Disease Incidence in New York State

Explore comprehensive data on communicable disease incidence in New York State, featuring weekly updates and detailed analyses. This page presents visualizations including heat maps, bar graphs, and longitudinal trend graphs, derived from CDC data. Discover insights into disease patterns and trends, helping public health professionals and researchers monitor outbreaks, assess intervention impacts, and develop targeted strategies.
communicable diseases disease incidence epidemiology public health New York State


New York State Food Establishment Inspection Maps

New York State Food Establishment Inspection Maps

Explore detailed data on food service inspections across New York State, including New York City. This page features interactive maps and tables displaying inspection results, violations, and compliance statuses for food establishments. Users can filter data by location and inspection outcome to assess food safety standards across counties. This tool supports public health professionals, restaurant owners, and consumers in understanding food safety trends and ensuring compliance with health regulations. Discover how these data contribute to improving food safety practices and protecting public health statewide.
food safety environemental health New York State Public Health Restaurant Inspections GIS


Shooting Incidents in New York City

Shooting Incidents in New York City

Explore comprehensive data on shooting incidents in New York City from 2006 to the present. This updated analysis, including citywide maps, trends, and demographic insights, reveals patterns of gun violence across boroughs and neighborhoods. Discover how fluctuations in incident rates, disparities in violence distribution, and trends over time inform public health strategies and crime prevention efforts. Essential for policymakers, public health practitioners, and community leaders aiming to address and reduce gun violence in NYC.
gun violence GIS epidemiology NYC Public Health Crime Trends


Using Three-Dimensional Mapping to Visualize Five Years of Shooting Incidents in New York City

Using Three-Dimensional Mapping to Visualize Five Years of Shooting Incidents in New York City

The map depicts the spatial distribution of shooting incidents in New York City from 2019 to 2023. A three-dimensional elevation model is used to represent incident density, with areas of higher incident counts extruded vertically from the map surface. The color scale is a continuous gradient from dark purple to light yellow, with lighter colors representing higher frequencies of shootings. Neighborhoods with the highest concentration of incidents, such as in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx, are visually elevated and shaded lightest. The map provides a sweeping, 360-degree view of the city’s spatial distribution of shooting incidents.
Gun Violence New York City Three-dimensional mapping Public Health GIS epidemiology


New York Flu Watch: Real-Time Tracking and Analysis of Influenza Data

New York Flu Watch: Real-Time Tracking and Analysis of Influenza Data

Explore the New York Flu Watch, a comprehensive real-time tracker for influenza data across New York State and New York City. Updated routinely, this tool offers detailed insights into laboratory-confirmed cases, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and flu vaccination coverage. Developed by Isaac H. Michaels, MPH using open data, this resource aids in understanding flu trends and informs public health strategies to enhance community protection and response.
communicable diseases data visualization epidemiology influenza New York State Public Health


County Health Rankings Factor vs Outcome Ranks

County Health Rankings Factor vs Outcome Ranks

Explore a comprehensive analysis of county-level health factors versus health outcomes rankings from 2010 to 2023 This page provides detailed graphs and scatter plots for each U.S. state, visualizing trends and correlations between health factors and outcomes as reported by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program. Learn how these data can inform public health interventions and improve understanding of regional health disparities. Access detailed visualizations and statistical insights to enhance public health practice and policy.
Community Health Public Health Social Determinants variation Correlation Analysis


Birth Defect Trends in New York State

Birth Defect Trends in New York State

Explore detailed analyses of birth defect trends in New York State on this page. Featuring data from the New York State Birth Defects Registry, it includes cross-sectional and trend graphs that provide insights into birth defect prevalence by disease, year, and sex. The page offers a user-friendly interface for examining the latest data, understanding patterns, and guiding public health interventions. Discover how these trends can inform maternal and child health strategies across the state.
birth defects maternal and child health epidemiology public health New York State disease incidence epidemiology




DrPH student Isaac Michaels discusses the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

Discover my thoughts on the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in a recent interview with the University at Albany. I discuss my advocacy for an air quality census in New York schools and reflect on how the pandemic has influenced my professional goals. I highlight the ongoing public health issues we face, including low vaccination rates, high COVID-19 mortality, and systemic flaws exposed by the pandemic. My commitment to data transparency and strengthening public health collaborations continues to drive my work.
COVID-19 Public health Data analysis Vaccinations Health equity Air quality census


New York State's public health workforce suffering from long-term staffing shortages, study finds

New York State's public health workforce suffering from long-term staffing shortages, study finds

Uncover the persistent staffing shortages affecting New York State's public health workforce. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health by Isaac Michaels and colleagues reveals a decline in full-time staff and rising vacancy rates across local health departments. The research highlights the critical need for sustained investment and policy reform to address these long-standing challenges and strengthen public health infrastructure. Read the full study for insights and recommendations.
Public Health local health departments public health workforce New York State Public Health Practice Public Health Infrastructure


Research Team Uncovers Disparities in Internet Access and COVID-19 Vaccination in New York City

Research Team Uncovers Disparities in Internet Access and COVID-19 Vaccination in New York City

Discover how disparities in internet access are linked to lower COVID-19 vaccination rates in New York City. A new study by Isaac Michaels and colleagues, published in Preventing Chronic Disease, reveals that communities with limited internet access, particularly in the Bronx and Brooklyn, face significant barriers to vaccination. The research underscores the need for public health strategies that address digital inequities to protect vulnerable populations.
COVID-19 epidemiology New York City GIS Public Health Social Determinants immunization


Tobacco Availability and Advertising Decrease in Albany, NY Food Stores

Tobacco Availability and Advertising Decrease in Albany, NY Food Stores

A study in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease reveals a significant decline in tobacco availability and advertising in Albany, NY food stores over 12 years, though 74.5% still sold tobacco in 2015. Efforts by local tobacco control, pharmacy industry regulations, and increased retailer fees contributed to these changes. Despite progress, the number of tobacco retailers remains high, suggesting a need for ongoing public health strategies to further reduce tobacco access and advertising in the community.
Albany NY Tobacco Control environemental health Public Health Social Determinants epidemiology Community Health chronic disease


Study Examines the Impact of Food Shopping Venues and Neighborhood Food Environment on BMI in Urban Adults

Study Examines the Impact of Food Shopping Venues and Neighborhood Food Environment on BMI in Urban Adults

This study explores how food shopping venues and neighborhood food environments influence BMI among urban Guyanese, Black, and White adults in the US. Findings suggest that supermarkets, ethnic markets, and food co-ops have varying impacts on BMI across different racial and ethnic groups, highlighting the need for culturally tailored obesity interventions.
Community Health chronic disease environemental health epidemiology Health Disparities Public Health


New Study Finds Travel Distance Poses Barrier to Participation in Diabetes Intervention Programs for Guyanese Immigrants at Faith-Based Organizations

New Study Finds Travel Distance Poses Barrier to Participation in Diabetes Intervention Programs for Guyanese Immigrants at Faith-Based Organizations

A new study in the journal The Diabetes Educator reveals that travel distance is a significant barrier for Guyanese immigrants to participation in diabetes intervention programs at faith-based organizations in Schenectady, New York. The research highlights the importance of location in ensuring access to healthcare services for underserved populations.
Public Health GIS chronic disease Diabetes data visualization environment epidemiology Social Determinants


Use Cases for Social Impact Bonds in Schenectady, New York

Use Cases for Social Impact Bonds in Schenectady, New York

Explore the potential of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) to improve public health in Schenectady, NY. This white paper outlines four innovative use cases for SIBs to reduce asthma, falls among seniors, type 2 diabetes, and smoking, while generating savings for the community. Discover how SIBs can align incentives for public health, attract private investment, and transform preventive care in Schenectady.
Social Impact Bonds Public Health health care Health Reform Community Health Prevention Schenectady