New Yorkers, meet Your Local Epidemiologist

Marisa Donnelly stands outside.
Dr. Marisa Donnelly is an epidemiologist and contributor to Healthbeat through a partnership with Your Local Epidemiologist. She has specialized in infectious diseases and emerging threats in a 10-year career in public health. (Courtesy of Marisa Donnelly)

We have some exciting news for Healthbeat’s New York readers.

This week, we are welcoming a new contributor and the formal launch of our partnership with Your Local Epidemiologist.

Meet Dr. Marisa Donnelly, a research epidemiologist with a decade of experience in public health. She’ll be providing New Yorkers with reports every week on what’s happening, from infectious disease threats to the latest intelligence on vaccines and other important information. Think of her reporting as a community health forecast.

Marisa, who holds a PhD in epidemiology and works at wastewater monitoring firm Biobot Analytics, has more than 10 years experience in public health. She has specialized in infectious diseases and emerging threats, serving at the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She joins the Healthbeat team to translate public health science so people have the information they need to make evidence-based decisions about their health — and the well-being of the people around them.

We’re excited to add Marisa’s reports to Healthbeat as we bring the story of public health to our communities, grounded in data and science.

Your Local Epidemiologist was founded by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, a Healthbeat supporter who has grown her popular national newsletter into a must-read for 268,000 subscribers. Marisa will use her expertise to localize the YLE approach for New York readers.

You can find Marisa’s reports on Healthbeat New York starting Wednesday. Sign up here to get them direct to your inbox a day early. You can sign up here for YLE’s national newsletter.

We’d also love to hear from you about what public health topics Marisa and our New York public health reporter Eliza Fawcett should be pursuing. Fill out this form to send us your thoughts.

We’re listening.

Charlene Pacenti, Editor in Chief

The Latest

High-quality early care and education programs are associated with positive developmental outcomes for children, improved maternal mental health, and increased maternal employment.

The two sides are far apart on issues the union says are non-negotiable for its membership, including health care benefits.

Merging organizations that have overlapping mandates could do more than cut costs. 'One institution with a broader mandate could improve efficiency and be better at building health systems,' one expert said.

Other reasons for older people to be vaccinated are emerging. They are known, in doctor-speak, as off-target benefits, meaning that the shots do good things beyond preventing the diseases they were designed to avert.

One day at Jackie Robinson Park, a longtime resident approached me and said, 'I see you out here every month. Whatever you’re doing — it’s working. My grandkids are back on the swings.'

All three hospitals released statements saying they have brought in nurses to cover those on strike and were prepared to care for patients.