News and Events
NIAMS Mourns the Loss of Institute Director Dr. Steve Katz
The holiday season was a somber one for the NIAMS family. Many of us can still hear echoes of the joyful voice of our Institute Director, Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., as he sang at a December staff gathering shortly before his untimely passing. His death on December 20, 2018, left all of us numb. For many, Steve was the only Institute Director we ever knew.
Plan Your Activities for National Minority Health Month Now!
National Minority Health Month begins on April 1, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) is raising awareness about the important role an active lifestyle plays in keeping everyone healthy. This year’s theme, Active & Healthy, highlights the health benefits from even small amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity throughout the day. Every move counts! Physical activity promotes health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases and other conditions that are more common or severe among racial and ethnic minority groups.
Visit the OMH website to learn more about National Minority Health Month, and sign up for the National Minority Health Month mailing list to be notified about new tools and resources to support your #NMHM19 events and programs!
Lupus Studies Seeking Patients
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that involves many systems and organs of the body. Drugs used for lupus can have serious side effects. Also, the drugs do not help some people. Researchers want to find new, more effective and safe treatments. See current studies seeking volunteers here.
Featured Resources
Promote Healthy Bones in Your Community
The NIAMS has updated the booklet, Bone Health for Life, which contains general information about bone health and is available to order in both English and Spanish. The online version of Bone Health for Life is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. This publication describes what osteoporosis is, who’s at risk of getting it and ways to know if you have it. The booklet also discusses ways to make your bones healthier and contains information about how to join a research study.
Order free copies of this publication on the NIAMS Publication Ordering System!
Educate Your Community About End-of-Life Care
Caring for a person at the end of life can be complicated. The National Institute on Aging has resources in both English and Spanish to help. Newly translated Spanish-language articles include:
- Proporcionar cuidados de confort al final de la vida (Providing Comfort at the End of Life)
Read about how to provide physical, emotional and spiritual comfort to a loved one who is dying. - Entender las decisiones sobre la atención médica al final de la vida (Understanding Health Care Decisions at the End of Life)
Get information about what to expect from being a health care proxy for someone and making end-of-life care decisions.
Explore the Latest Research Strategies To Improve Minority Health
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) recently published an American Journal of Public Health special issue, New Perspectives To Advance Minority Health and Health Disparities Research, which presents 30 research strategies to chart a new course for the next generation of research in minority health and health disparities. The supplement is the culmination of a two-year science visioning process with input from experts across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and externally to help the NIH determine the science needed to address health disparities. NIMHD Director Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable and NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins introduced the special issue in an Editor’s Choice editorial. This publication helps raise awareness and interest in the new research strategies that will guide implementation of the forthcoming NIH Strategic Plan on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Vacancy Announcement: NIMHD Seeking Deputy Director
The Deputy Director, NIMHD serves as the second-in-command for the Institute, assisting the Director in managing a staff of approximately 86 full-time employees and a budget of $314 million. He/she is primarily responsible for implementation of the Institute’s Strategic Plan and management of the Institute’s daily operations. The Deputy Director aids the Director as a champion and guarantor of the intellectual and administrative environment at the Institute and serves as an ambassador and spokesperson in the absence of the Director.
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 28, 2019.
New! FDA’s “Patients Matter” Video Series
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Patient Affairs staff recently launched a video introducing a new series entitled “Patients Matter.” The videos aim to educate patients and other stakeholders about the FDA, encourage them to share their perspectives on living with a disease or condition and provide information about how to contact the Agency.