A glimpse into the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University

Maya Rossin-Slater: Public Preschool Aids in Developmental, Learning-Related Diagnoses

In a new study, Rossin-Slater and colleagues found that publicly funded preschools in the U.S. help children from low-income families receive earlier diagnoses for developmental and learning-related needs. The findings 
also highlighted that by identifying these needs sooner, diagnosed children and their families can receive treatment and other supports that improve long-term learning and health outcomes.

Rossin-Slater is an associate professor of health policy and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic and Policy Research (SIEPR). She teaches in the HumBio Core in Humbio 3B, Health Policy Analysis and Population Health, where she covers topics such as causation and correlation, social determinants of health 
and health disparities, the opioid crisis, benefits and costs, and the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Photo credit: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images

What We Inherit and Our Genomic Future with Daphne Martschenko and Sam Trejo

On February 3, the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics (SCBE), in collaboration with HumBio, hosted a talk to celebrate the launch of Dr. Daphne Martschenko’s book publication, What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths are Shaping Our Genomic Future. In this talk, Martschenko and co-author Dr. Sam Trejo, an assistant professor of Sociology at Princeton, dive into some of the book’s 
key takeaways and the risks and opportunities posed by new technologies in human genetic research.

Martschenko is an assistant professor at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. Her research focuses on identifying novel ways to examine and enhance the ethical and socially responsible conduct, translation, and interpretation of human genetic research. A guest lecturer in the HumBio Core in HumBio 2A, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Evolution, she introduces students to the world of bioethics.

Connecting Research, Education, and Community Impact

with Dr. Eunice Rodriguez

On a weekday afternoon in a Redwood City middle school classroom, a Stanford student volunteer stands at the front of the room, leading a lesson on nutrition and healthy eating behaviors. The students follow closely, asking questions, role-playing scenarios, and talking through the choices that shape their everyday lives. When the class ends, one student lingers behind and says to the volunteer, “I want to be like you when I grow up.” Moments like this are the result of years of research, teaching, and community engagement by Dr. Eunice Rodriguez, Professor of Pediatrics and the Director of the Cardinal Health Education Collaborative (CHEC). In the classroom and in the community, Rodriguez encourages students to think critically about health disparities and the social forces that shape well-being. Read more.

Global Health Care Systems: Inside HumBio's New Course

What defines a successful health care system? Is it the government-funded plans that ensure universal access, or is it the ability to choose and design one’s own coverage? What challenges do each of these health care systems face in delivering quality care to their populations? And what issues do they create? These are just some of the questions at the forefront of HumBio 123G, Health Care Systems around the World, a new upper-division course taught by Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Natalia Serna Borrero. In the course, Serna introduces students to the diverse roles that health care systems play in societies worldwide, encourages them to think critically about the common challenges these systems face, and explores how different institutional structures respond to these challenges. Read more.

Christopher Gardner: Bio-X: Alternative Proteins – The Evidence Behind the Bite

“Alternative proteins inspire both excitement and skepticism—but what does the evidence actually show?” Drawing on five of his studies, Gardner examines how plant-based alternative proteins compare with animal proteins on key health outcomes such as inflammation, kidney stone risk, and athletic performance. He highlights where alt-proteins may offer benefits, where they perform similarly to animal proteins, and what questions remain for future research.

Dr. Christopher Gardner is the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine. In addition to serving on the program’s awards committee, Gardner teaches two upper-division courses, HumBio 166, Food and Society, and HumBio 130, Human Nutrition. He also advises and mentors students pursuing honors research.



Vicky Fouka: Unequal Encounters – Migration, Sorting, and 
Sociopolitical Cleavages

In this talk, Fouka shares key insights into how residential sorting of immigrants by education shapes social interactions and social identities, contributing to educational divides in immigration policy preferences and political behavior among host populations. This talk is a part of Fouka’s research work as a research fellow on sabbatical at the Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS).

Dr. Vicky Fouka is the Bing Professor of Human Biology, an associate professor of political science, and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). In HumBio, she teaches in the HumBio Core in HumBio 2B, Culture, Evolution, and Society, where she introduces students to the origins, implications, and inequalities of sociopolitical institutions.



Upcoming Event Featuring Dr. Anne Friedlander:

Stanford Medicine SHE Talks on March 10, 8:30 - 11:45 AM

Movement is medicine for nearly every aspect of your health. Exercise bolsters your brain, metabolism, and bones; improves emotional well-being; and helps ward off disease—often with smaller amounts of activity than you might expect. In this talk, lifestyle medicine specialist and adjunct professor of Human Biology, Dr. Anne Friedlander, will explore how movement contributes to overall health by transforming your internal chemistry, reducing inflammation, and rejuvenating tissues.

This talk is part of Stanford Medicine's SHE Talks event, promoting health insights and empowerment. You’ll come away with simple habits you can implement today to add years to your life and life to your years. Learn more about the event and register for the livestream.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Want to stay updated on all things HumBio but not yet on our mailing list? Subscribe to HumBio Highlights now.