Sheps Center

At the Academy of Communication in Healthcare’s (ACH) 2025 International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH), #UNCPharmacy Regional Associate Dean Betsy Sleath was awarded the 30th Annual George L. Engel Award! This award recognizes Betsy’s outstanding research contributing to the theory, practice and teaching of effective healthcare communication and related skills. Betsy is a long-time… Read more »

Congratulations to Bianca Allison, MD, MPH on being a recipient of the 2025-26 Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine! Dr. Allison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and also a researcher with the Child and Adolescent Health Services Program at the Sheps Center. The Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine is amongst the most… Read more »

A recent study, led by Dr. Brittany Raffa and team, highlights the unique challenges undocumented Latina mothers in North Carolina face when accessing healthcare and public benefits for themselves and their U.S.-born infants. Conducted through 20 in-depth interviews in Spanish, the research sheds light on how anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric shape these mothers’ decisions during… Read more »

Dr. Bianca Allison, Child & Adolescent Health researcher, had always been passionate about improving the lives of young people. She is the lead author on a recent systematic review on the effectiveness of contraceptive decision aids for adolescents and young adults. This review, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, highlighted the temporary… Read more »

Phil Hughes, PhD, research assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy and researcher with the Child & Adolescent Health Services Program at the Sheps Center, published a paper in May 2024 titled Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope-of-Practice Expansions which was featured in recent issue of AHRQ News Now as the top article… Read more »

In an exciting development for the Sheps Center’s Child & Adolescent Health Services Program, researcher Ty Ridenour has been appointed as the Specialty Chief Editor for Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health. This role recognizes Ridenour’s significant contributions to the field and his dedication to advancing mental health interventions for adolescents. Ridenour’s appointment is a testament… Read more »

Dr. Allison Bianca, Child & Adolescent Health researcher at the Sheps Center, has published an article, titled Trends in Continuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Adolescents Receiving Medicaid, in the Journal of Adolescent Health. This study on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use among Medicaid-covered adolescents in North Carolina found that implants were initiated more than… Read more »

Child & Adolescent Health Services researcher, Dr. Bianca Allison, MD, MPH, recently authored an exciting article titled, “The Perceived Impact of a Post-Dobbs Landscape on U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults” in the Journal, Contraception. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, a nationwide survey conducted through the MyVoice project reveals the nuanced perspectives and knowledge… Read more »

Congratulations goes to Sheps Center child health researcher and Assistant Professor of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Bianca Allison, MD, MPH! Dr. Allison co-authored a paper that was recently included in the “Distinguished Dozen” by the Journal of Adolescent Health.  This initiative is in it’s fourth year and the goal is to amplify important contributions… Read more »

Brittany Raffa, MD, MPH, Primary Care Research Fellow and pediatrician with the UNC School of Medicine, recently published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) with colleagues from Duke University. In their article, Promoting Health for Latino Immigrant Families—A Call for Improved Systems and Policies, they examine the current systems affecting… Read more »

Dr. Betsy Sleath and colleagues recently published a paper on the development of educational videos for teens with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their parents aimed to enhance engagement during pediatric ADHD visits. The videos, guided by Social Cognitive Theory, were developed through focus groups with teens, parents, and providers. Several themes were identified in… Read more »

A new descriptive analysis from the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (DPOP) at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy found that children living in lower opportunity neighborhoods, areas that lack the vital conditions necessary for health, wealth and well-being, had the highest rates of poor physical and mental health status and fewest ambulatory care visits… Read more »

Bianca Allison, MD, MPH was recently named as a TraCS K12 Scholar.  She will receive up to three years of funding to support her research.  Below is a brief description of her proposed project.  Dr. Allison is a Research Fellow at the Sheps Center, working with the Child & Adolescent Health Services Program and is… Read more »