Expert Pitches

With MLB up to bat for opening day (July 23), two West Virginia University astrophysicists are hurling a fastball of science at us to better understand the game.

West Virginia University telehealth experts Dr. Margaret Jaynes and Steve Davis believe that this approach to healthcare is cost-effective, beneficial to the most vulnerable and rural residents in West Virginia and can help flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread because there’s no live face-to-face interaction.

Even during the COVID-19 global pandemic, West Virginia University pediatricians Dr. Lisa Costello and Dr. Kathryn S. Moffett recommend parents and caregivers continue their children’s routine well child visits to screen for health and development and immunizations to prevent outbreaks of more common diseases.

The benching of the Redskins name for Washington’s NFL franchise is a touchdown for social progress, and even the economics of the team and the league, according to experts at West Virginia University. Monday’s (July 13) decision comes on the heels of weeks of racial tension across the country and corporate sponsorship pressure, particularly from FedEx, which owns the naming rights to the team stadium.

The Trump administration’s plan to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, effective July 6, 2021, could reshape global diplomacy and weaken public health efforts at home, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to West Virginia University experts in health and public policy.

Brian Lego, research assistant professor in the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said the real economic impacts of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s cancellation will likely be felt to an even greater extent on the ability to develop Marcellus and Utica shale gas resources from extraction all the way through to downstream processing activities.

The deck was stacked against the U.S. Postal Service a decade before President Trump took office, according to Matthew Titolo, professor at the West Virginia University College of Law , also an expert on American public-private contracts and the outsourcing of core public functions to the private sector. The USPS has faced continuous financial shortfalls since 2006, but even a presidential push to privatize the service that delivers roughly 150 billion pieces of mail annually is unlikely without broad congressional and public support, Titolo said.

Stephanie Lorenze and Melissa Sherfinski, faculty members in the West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services, discuss some of the complexities of planning for—and carrying out—in-person instruction in public schools during a pandemic, including non-traditional schedules, airflow and mindfulness activities. Whatever the officials decide, teachers, custodians and other school employees will have to comply with measures that keep COVID-19 from spreading among students. And that’s no simple task.

This year, the annual celebration of Pride Month in June comes on the heels of both a pandemic and wide-ranging protests demanding racial justice and an end to police brutality. Two West Virginia University experts in LGBTQ+ rights say this year presents a “window of opportunity” for both higher education policies and Pride events.

Zoom fatigue. Eye strain. Body aches. Working remotely can create challenges for your body and mind. Finding time to take breaks throughout the day can help alleviate stress, improve your mood and boost work performance. Lauren Weatherford, West Virginia University Extension Service Families and Health agent in Fayette and Nicholas counties, provides some tips on how to take effective breaks to improve focus and productivity.