Kara Gavin
Research and Policy Media Relations Manager
Gavin draws on more than 25 years of experience in communicating about science, medicine and health policy. She focuses mainly on the health services research done by members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, who work to understand and improve the safety, quality, equity and affordability of health care. As part of the Michigan Medicine communication team, she has lead responsibility for primary care and mental health topics. Contact: [email protected]; Twitter: @Karag
Health Lab
Michigan’s aging brains need more protection, poll shows
Lifestyle changes can reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia but a poll shows many Michiganders over 50 don’t know about or do them.
Health Lab
Emergency EEG study suggests need for faster seizure diagnosis and care options
Study finds emergency EEG study suggests need for faster seizure diagnosis and care options for patients.
Health Lab
5 hot weather tips that could save an older adult’s life
Health professionals offer five tips to help older adults stay safe and healthy during excessive heat wave.
Health Lab
Michigan’s Medicaid expansion improved both health and finances
Michigan’s Medicaid expansion, called the Healthy Michigan Plan, helped individuals’ physical, mental and financial health, and supported the hospitals and clinics used by all Michiganders.
Health Lab
LGBTQ+ people over 50 face more aging-related challenges
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexual and gender minority adults over 50 have higher rates of mental health, disability, social isolation and health care access issues, though they also may have more connections than before to non-LGBTQ+ people in their age group.
Health Lab
NASCAR star’s death shows how sepsis can kill anyone if not caught
Kyle Busch's death from sepsis offers a chance to raise awareness of the importance of recognizing symptoms, and of timely care.
Health Lab
AI chatbots spark mental health concerns, including psychosis risk
Artificial intelligence-driven AI chatbots have been linked to cases of suicide, delusions, psychosis and mental health issues. Three experts from Michigan Medicine explain what’s known and how to respond.
Health Lab
Michigan’s a great place to grow older, say those doing it
Michigan residents over 50 mostly feel that it’s a good or great state to grow old in, but some measures were rated lower by those who are Black, disabled, Northern, or had low incomes or major physical or mental health concerns.
Health Lab
Medicaid expansion helped enrollees’ long term financial health, study finds
Now, a new University of Michigan study shows that enrolling also had a positive and long-lasting impact on the financial health of its first enrollees.
Health Lab
Opioids for dental pain still more common in U.S.
A Michigan Medicine study finds that the U.S. outside Puerto Rico still has a high rate of dental opioid pain medication prescription filling compared with other developed nations, despite steep drops in recent years because of guidelines spurred by the opioid crisis.
Health Lab
What does cannabis 'rescheduling' mean for science and society?
Medical cannabis (marijuana) has been rescheduled on the federal level, which could open the door for much more research than was possible before. Four Michigan Medicine experts comment.
News Release
A night of two national titles for U-M, as scientists and basketball players both triumph
On the same night that the U-M men's basketball team triumphed in the NCAA tournament, U-M cardiovascular researchers won a national tournament of science
Health Lab
Who should pay for older adults' care? Caregivers answer differently
Caregiving experience makes a difference in opinions about whether government or families and individuals should pay for long term care costs, and level of concern about such costs, a study finds.
Health Lab
How to improve mental health safety on social media – not just for young people
With social media companies losing or settling court cases about their products' impact on young peoples' mental health, experts offer tips for reducing impacts for those who use the platforms.
Health Lab
Caregiving without a net: Poll shows who needs help most
1 in 3 people over 50 act as caregivers to adult family members or friends, but a sizable percentage don't feel like they have the support they need, or don't know about or use programs like adult day care or respite care that could help them.
