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
Kara Gavin photo
health care worker with face shield giving shot to woman with both wearing masks
Health Lab
Majority of older adults say health care workers should have to get COVID-19 vaccine
Many unvaccinated health care workers will soon be subject to a federal vaccine requirement announced by President Biden. A new poll shows most older adults support a COVID vaccination mandate for doctors, nurses and others.
 woman doing bills in living room with pink shirt and red glasses on
Health Lab
Poll finds tax-free accounts are used less by those who may need them most
Health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA) and other programs that give a tax break for saving for future health costs aren’t used by many older adults and are most used by those who need them least
 senior couple kiss forehead window
Health Lab
Wide variation seen in family caregiver availability for people with dementia
A new study looks at how dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients get caregiving from family caregivers including wives, husbands, daughters and sons, as well as paid help, and disparities in care.
News Release
Brain food: Michigan Medicine hosts month-long food drive to help kids learn and serve neighbors in need
As children return to school, and the Delta variant of coronavirus threatens to disrupt many lives across Michigan, the need for a stable source of food has once again grown urgent for tens of thousands of people in the communities surrounding the University of Michigan.
 drawing of pills in blue ink with lab note written on bottom right in yellow and navy blue
Health Lab
A risky combination of medicines gets riskier when a patient’s prescriptions come from two doctors
Multiple prescribers means higher overdose risk in patients taking a benzodiazepine (such as Xanax, Valium or Restoril) and an opioid (such as Vicodin, Norco or Percocet) at the same time
 white pills medicine bar graph
Health Lab
First-time opioid prescriptions got shorter, less potent after CDC guidelines
Doctors prescribed smaller and shorter courses of opioid pain medications like Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Vicodin after the 2016 CDC opioid prescribing guidelines.
Health Lab
How can nursing homes protect residents from infection? Follow the research
Nursing home residents were hit hard by COVID-19, but other infections threaten their health too including superbugs known as MDROs, and urinary tract infections.
 senior couple on couch with doctor on laptop
Health Lab
What does the future hold for telehealth? New report gives hints
Telehealth including video visits, e-Visits and other telemedicine have ramped up rapidly during the pandemic. New data could shape future use.
 senior woman climbs stairs and holds railing
Health Lab
The pandemic may have increased older adults’ fall risk
Falls are a major cause of injury to older adults but the pandemic led to a drop in physical condition and increase in fear of falling that could increase risk of injury.
 brain colorful drawing active symbols represented inside on white background
Health Lab
A game-changer for mental health: Sports icons open up
Olympic sports stars speaking up about depression, anxiety and mental health challenges, reducing stigma and helping younger athletes know how and when to seek help.
 therapist with patient on couch in purple and sage green
Health Lab
Study suggests need to screen older adults for mental health symptoms as pandemic continues
Living through COVID-19 era has tested the mental resiliency of many older Americans; some groups appear more affected than others. 
 Covid women missed appointments displaying as purple among the clouds
Health Lab
From birth control to mammograms, many women missed out on preventive care for all of 2020
The pandemic made many women miss cancer screenings, STI screenings and birth control care in early 2020, and many never made up for lost time.
 colored pencils coronavirus vaccine vial
Health Lab
10 reasons to put the COVID-19 vaccine on your back-to-school list
Starting the COVID-19 vaccination process in July and August can prepare teens and young adults for a safe school year and protect children who can’t be vaccinated.
 flower petal clock with leaf on washed wood background
Health Lab
“Springing forward” affects early birds less than night owls, study finds
Daylight Saving Time shift that loses an hour of sleep affects people whose genetic profile makes them “night owls” more than it does “early birds”.
 fireworks over the lake in dark blue night sky and fireworks bright orange
Health Lab
Serious fireworks injuries doubled after Michigan law changed
Firework laws in Michigan changed in 2012 to allow purchase and use of airborne pyrotechnics; traumatic injuries from them doubled.
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