Journal of Community Health最新文献

{"title":"Assessing Bias in Medication Administration in Relation to Incarceration History in a New Orleans Student Clinic Population.","authors":"Haley Watts, Diane Hurwitz, Jonathan Hurley, Ellen Terry, Christopher Saker, Thomas Stall, Vidhatri Raturi, Anjali Niyogi, Helen Pope","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01633-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01633-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Formerly incarcerated individuals experience a disproportionate burden of disease and face greater barriers to accessing healthcare. This population also represents a significant proportion of patients seen in New Orleans' student-run clinics. This study examines the chief complaints among formerly incarcerated patients and evaluates whether prescribing patterns differ for this group, with the aim of identifying potential biases in treatment practices. Data for this study were obtained from REDCap surveys administered to patients at student-run clinics. Patients were categorized by chief complaint, and chi-square analysis was used to assess whether incarceration status was associated with initiation of the corresponding treatment. Analyses were performed in SPSS, with p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Logistic regression was subsequently conducted to evaluate potential confounders and to confirm associations identified in the chi-square analysis. No significant differences were observed in overall chief complaints or overall medication prescribing between formerly incarcerated and non-incarcerated patients. However, after adjusting for demographic factors, formerly incarcerated patients presenting with respiratory symptoms were less likely to receive cough and cold medications. These findings suggest a potential bias in prescribing practices, as formerly incarcerated patients presenting with respiratory symptoms were less likely to receive cough and cold medications compared to their non-incarcerated counterparts.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148887701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychosocial Correlates of Exclusive and Dual Nicotine Use among Adolescents in a Context of E-Cigarette Sales Prohibition.","authors":"Barbara de Freitas Quitério, Patricia Paiva de Oliveira Galvão, Sheila Cavalcante Caetano, Zila M Sanchez, Juliana Y Valente","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01632-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01632-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although the sale of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has been prohibited in Brazil since 2009, experimentation among adolescents has increased substantially in recent years. Understanding the psychosocial factors associated with different nicotine use patterns in this regulatory context may help inform more effective prevention strategies. This study examined sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial factors associated with exclusive EC use, exclusive conventional cigarette use, and dual use among Brazilian adolescents. A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted with 2,939 adolescents from public schools in São Paulo State, Brazil. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with exclusive EC use, exclusive conventional cigarette use, dual use, and non-use. The lifetime prevalence of exclusive EC use, exclusive conventional cigarette use, and dual use was 13.3%, 2.9%, and 12.9%, respectively. Girls were more likely to report exclusive EC use (RRR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.16-1.88) and dual use (RRR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.20-1.93), whereas boys were more likely to report exclusive conventional cigarette use. Perceived peer use and ease of access were strongly associated with both exclusive EC use and dual use, with consistently stronger associations among dual users. Adolescents who believed that ECs help reduce cigarette smoking were more likely to report exclusive EC use and dual use, whereas perceiving ECs as highly addictive was associated with lower odds of both exclusive EC use (RRR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.35-0.67) and dual use (RRR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.25-0.77). Psychosocial factors were differentially associated with nicotine use patterns among adolescents living in a context where EC sales are prohibited. These findings have important implications for community- and school-based prevention initiatives by highlighting the need to address perceived accessibility, peer norms, and misconceptions about electronic cigarettes in addition to regulatory measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148865053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Stigma among Algerian University Students.","authors":"Mohamed Lounis, Djihad Bencherit, Lamia Ziouani, Narimane Rabia","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01624-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01624-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a serious global public health concern. While Algeria is considered a low-prevalence country, existing statistics indicate that HIV incidence is increasing in the last years. This study was conducted to assess the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV-related stigma in a sample of Algerian university students. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting students living and studying in Algeria between March 7, 2024, and April 13, 2025. Results showed that a mean proportion of 62.4% of correct responses was obtained from a total of 422 students who answered the questionnaire. While students were aware of the major modes of HIV transmission, including sexual intercourse (98.6%), infected needles and syringes (96.2%), and blood transfusion (96.9%), some misconceptions persisted incriminating saliva (73.7%), sharing swimming pools or hot baths (51.9%), kissing (48.3%), sharing dishes (47.4%), and sneezing or coughing (43.6%). High levels of knowledge were observed among Health Sciences students (OR: 7.919, 95% CI: 3.558-17.627, p < 0.001), Natural and Life Sciences students (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.329-5.88, p < 0.001), and postgraduates (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.125-4.132, p = 0.022). Stigma was present among more than half of the participants (50.2%) and was negatively correlated to the level of knowledge (OR: 1.595, 95% CI: 1.081-2.354, p = 0.019). Results of the current study suggest the need for targeted educational campaigns to educate students about the less common modes of transmission of HIV that could help to reduce the level of stigma and thus contribute to the battle against this public health threat.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148865043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contribution of Community Health Workers to Strengthening the Health System in Mali: Impact and Challenges, 2010-2024.","authors":"Borodjan Diarra, Oumar Sangho, Bakary Diarra, Cheick Abou Coulibaly, Abdoul Salam Diarra, Abou Sogodogo, Nouhoum Telly, Housseni Dolo, Ibrahim Terera, Hamadoun Sangho","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01622-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01622-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Faced with a critical shortage of qualified personnel (6 health workers per 10,000 inhabitants compared to the 23 per 10,000 recommended by the World Health Organization) and limited access to healthcare, Mali institutionalized community-based essential health care in 2009. This study assessed the contribution and impact of community health workers on maternal and child health from 2010 to 2024. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to August 2025. It covered the first five regions ( Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, and Mopti) to implement community-based essential health care in Mali. Retrospective modeling was performed using the Lives Saved Tool integrated into the Spectrum software, along with qualitative interviews with 385 stakeholders and beneficiaries. High acceptance of community-based essential health care (97.9%) was observed among users. Between 2010 and 2024, infant and child mortality fell by an average of 42.02 per 1,000 live births nationally, with Kayes recording the largest decrease (45.53 points). Maternal mortality also declined (from 121.88 to 101.28 per 100,000 live births). However, the reduction remained marginal for neonatal mortality (2.52 per 1,000 live births), particularly in Koulikoro (0.33 per 1,000 live births). Regarding gender, 75.2% of respondents believe that female community health workers (CHWs) benefit from greater social acceptance. The Community Health Strategy (CHS) in Mali has proven its effectiveness through a major reduction in infant and child mortality, driven by strong social acceptance and access to care.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148793981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions and Vaping Use among Adolescents and Adults in Southern Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Mohammed A Jad, Bandar M Abuageelah, Iman A Ahmed, Abdullah M Bashah, Mohammed M Al Mhary, Aljory M Alqahtani, Muzun S Alkoban, Mohammed B Jandli, Thkra F Abuthamrah, Seham B Mdawi, Mohammed E A Elhussiny, Abdulhakim M Al Jumayh, Fahad H Balharith","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01625-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01625-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased rapidly, especially among adolescents and young adults, driven by social acceptability and online promotion. Nicotine exposure may lead to dependence, and population-level risks remain uncertain, particularly for young non-smokers. Evidence from Saudi Arabia suggests notable uptake among youth and adults, but data from southern regions are limited, and few studies concurrently assess knowledge, perceptions, and practices with multivariable predictors. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among residents aged ≥13 years in Jazan and Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using a convenience online sample via social media platforms. An Arabic questionnaire adapted from a CDC vaping-related instrument assessed sociodemographics, vaping-related knowledge (categorized as poor/moderate/good), perceptions (negative/neutral/positive), and vaping practices. Chi-square tests examined associations with vaping status, and binary logistic regression identified independent predictors (p < 0.05). A total of 1,305 participants were included (mean age 24.53 ± 7.91 years; range 13-68; 67.7% female). Overall, 34.0% were ever or current vapers. Vaping prevalence peaked at 28-32 years (50.5%) and was lowest in 13-17 years (11.7%) and ≥38 years (19.9%). Most participants had good knowledge (75.8%), while perceptions were mainly negative (59.2%). Knowledge level was not associated with vaping (p = 0.418). Perception showed a strong association: 90.0% of those with positive perceptions and 75.1% with neutral perceptions were vapers, compared with 5.1% with negative perceptions (p < 0.001). In adjusted regression, vaping was independently associated with male sex (OR 4.42; 95% CI 3.22-6.09), age 28-32 years (OR 7.01; 95% CI 3.69-13.31), and perception (neutral vs negative: OR 38.65; 95% CI 25.13-59.45; positive vs negative: OR 135.11; 95% CI 54.12-337.30), while knowledge remained non-significant. Vaping prevalence in southern Saudi Arabia was high and concentrated in early adulthood. Perceptions, not knowledge, were the strongest predictors of vaping, highlighting the need for interventions targeting misperceptions and social norms, particularly among young adults and males.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148793945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Out of Pocket Expenses for Birthing in Public and Private Birthing Facilities Among Women Aged 15 to 49 Years in Bihar, India.","authors":"Prince Yadav, Dr Shamshad","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01610-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01610-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Institutional delivery refers to the birth of a child in public and private health facilities under the supervision of trained, skilled healthcare professionals, thereby enhancing neonatal survival and reducing maternal mortality rates. The low- and middle-income nations continue to have substantial disparities in the proportion of pregnant women accessing healthcare facilities to give safe and healthy births at affordable out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure. The entire research work aims to analyse the delivery expenses incurred for availing institutional & non-institutional health services and the relationship with socio-demographic factors among women in their reproductive period in Bihar. The entire research work highlights the importance of addressing health to achieve universal coverage; it is a fundamental component for diminishing mother and child mortality and morbidity within the SDGs-3 framework. This research work is solely based on secondary sources compiled from NFHS-5, 2019-21. By applying ArcGIS techniques and statistical tools, such as binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The district boundaries of the state have been considered a small unit of Bihar. The overall analysis of the present study reveals that the proportion of institutional delivery increased from 23.1 per cent in NFHS-1 to 55.8 per cent in NFHS-5. The odds ratio for women aged under 20 years was elevated (OR = 1.127, 95% CI = 1.01-1.22, p = 0.03) and higher education of 12 or more years (OR = 5.63, 95% CI = 5.14 - 36.16, p = 0.00) is strongly positively associated with age of mother, place of birth, mother schooling caste and region, indicating that women with average health expenditure are more likely to deliver in public institutions. The odds ratio for women under 20 years was elevated (OR = 1.127, 95% CI = 1.01-1.22, p = 0.03) are out-of-pocket expenses for delivery in private health facilities are much more than in public health facilities, while scheduled caste women (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.76-0.86, p = 0.00) are significantly less probable to incur average health expenditure than women from other castes. The high out-of-pocket expenses act as an economic and psychological burden on mothers during their gestational period.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148793957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention on Medical Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Human Papillomavirus.","authors":"Akarsh Lal, Laila Al-Jerdi, Dola Pathak, Thanh Cong Bui, Radhika Gogoi","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01630-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01630-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health concern due to its rising incidence and strong association with cancers of the head, neck, and genitalia. High-risk HPV types are responsible for cervical, oropharyngeal, and various anogenital cancers. Despite proven vaccine efficacy, vaccination rates remain low in adolescents and young adults. This study assessed whether an educational infographic improved medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward HPV. Medical students (years 1-4) at Wayne State University completed electronic pre- and post-intervention surveys regarding an infographic covering HPV, HPV-related cancers, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination guidelines. Surveys included demographic questions and pre- and post-infographic items assessing HPV knowledge and attitudes using a Likert-scale format. 234 paired responses were analyzed using paired t-tests. Students demonstrated significant post-intervention increases in knowledge of HPV types (p < 0.001), transmissibility (p < 0.001), vaccination schedule (p < 0.001), and side effects (p < 0.001). Likelihood of encouraging vaccination to family members within three months increased (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed in likelihood of recommending vaccination to future patients, likely due to high baseline agreement. Similarly, recommendations for increased HPV-focused education in medical school remained high post-infographic. The educational intervention significantly improved medical students' HPV knowledge and willingness to promote vaccination to family members. These findings highlight knowledge gaps that can be addressed in medical curricula. Future research can assess whether improved knowledge translates into real-world vaccination discussions and explore geographic differences in HPV-related knowledge and attitudes across medical schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148793954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers, Facilitators, and Training Preferences for HIV PrEP Among Physicians in the State of Louisiana, USA.","authors":"Deborah Gurgel Smith, Patricia Pichilingue-Reto, Catherine G Dean, Corey D Smith, Luis Enrique Espinoza","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01627-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01627-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV infection, yet its implementation remains suboptimal in the Southern United States. This study examined barriers, facilitators, and training preferences related to PrEP implementation among physicians at an academic medical center in North Louisiana. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted between January 2024 and April 2025 among physician faculty, residents, and fellows. Participants reported perceived barriers and facilitators to PrEP implementation, preferred training topics and modalities, and demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, and linear regression identified factors associated with physicians' PrEP implementation training scores. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of provider training, insurance and cost-related concerns, lack of clinical protocols, staffing and time constraints, and limited knowledge of laboratory monitoring. Frequently identified facilitators included access to clinical protocols, peer support, pharmacist support, and electronic medical record (EMR) order sets. Physicians most frequently requested training on PrEP eligibility, side effects and toxicity, and contraindications, with in-person training as the preferred format. Physicians identified substantial educational and structural barriers to PrEP implementation despite strong support for institutional strategies that facilitate prescribing. Expanding physician education while integrating standardized protocols, pharmacist support, and EMR-based decision tools may strengthen PrEP implementation in high HIV-burden regions of the Southern United States.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148794004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hypertension Identification using Mobile Health Outreach Project (HI HOPE): A Pilot Study.","authors":"Rose Baumann, Jonathan D Kirsch, Kimberly Clinch, Maggie Eckerstorfer, Rishi Sharma, Ritwick Banjeree, Shahidali Jaffer, Haitham M Hussein","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01605-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01605-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Racial disparities in the management of hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, are prevalent. Mobile health clinics, including the University of Minnesota (UMN) Mobile Health Initiative (MHI), seek to mitigate these disparities by providing underserved individuals with access to screening for elevated blood pressure. However, the impact of this process on subsequent care, including diagnosis and management of hypertension, is unknown. Individuals with elevated blood pressure at UMN MHI screening events were provided with a free self-monitoring blood pressure device (SMBP) and a follow-up phone call two weeks after the event. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants reached with a follow-up call; secondary outcomes included SMBP usage and arrangement of primary care follow-up. Fifty-six participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 57 ± 14 years, half were women, and more than 80% self-identified as non-white. Thirty-seven (66%) participants were successfully reached with a follow-up phone call. The average time to reach participants was 36 days. Fifteen (41%) required more than one phone call attempt. Of the 37 participants who were successfully contacted, 33 (89%) had used SMBP, 27 (82%) reported using the SMBP at least weekly, and 21 (57%) had contacted their primary care doctor by the time of the follow-up phone call. Participant use of SMBP devices was high; however, contacting individuals for follow-up via phone calls was challenging. Distribution of SMBP devices and follow-up phone calls may be a useful way for mobile health clinics to help individuals with hypertension improve their management through increased awareness and by creating a bridge to primary care follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148701468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Irving Roy Rathgeb, Jr., MD (1913-1943). Physician, Surgeon, and Member of the United States Army Medical Corps.","authors":"Pascal James Imperato","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01623-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01623-5","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Irving Roy Rathgeb, Jr., MD was a young physician and surgeon who was born in Highland (Ulster County), New York on 7 March 1913. His father, Irving Roy Rathgeb, Sr. was a co-owner of the Rathgeb Knitting Mills which specialized in the production of sweaters. Rathgeb was an excellent student in primary and high school and later attended Colgate and Cornell universities. In 1934 he entered the Long Island College of Medicine from where he received his MD degree in 1938. Graduating in the upper third of his class, he obtained an internship at the Norwegian Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Because of his desire to become a surgeon, he was then accepted into the Department of Surgery at the St Louis Railway Company Hospital in Texarkana, Texas. Soon thereafter he joined the Texas National Guard while still continuing his training in surgery at the hospital and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 111th Medical Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Completing his residency in surgery at the hospital he was transferred to the US Army Medical Corps as a Captain. Once the US entered World War II, the 36th Infantry Division was transferred overseas and Rathgeb promoted to the rank of Major. The functions of the 111th Medical Regiment, of which Rathgeb was an essential part, was to serve as an evacuation hospital. This entailed the collecting and evacuating of the wounded soldiers from the front lines and taking them to medical facilities well behind the battle lines. This was a very high-risk responsibility since it regularly placed Rathgeb and his fellow medical personnel in the line of fire. In 1942 the 111th Regiment was temporarily posted to Eritrea in Eastern Africa. In early 1943 they were ordered to Cairo, Egypt in preparation for the allied invasion of Italy. On 23 March Rathgeb and seven of his medical team boarded a military plane for a flight to Cairo. About 50 miles south of Cairo, the plane encountered a severe sandstorm, and eventually crashed into a mountain peak and fell into a canyon. Initial search parties were unable to find the crash site and thus it was provisionally concluded that the plane might have crashed into the Red Sea. Rathgeb's family and the families of others on the flight were told that they were missing in action. After many months the crash site was found and the deceased victims of the accident removed and buried in a common grave in Suez, Egypt. Five years later in 1948, Rathgeb's remains and those of seven of his military companions were transferred to a common burial plot in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2026 a slide rule bearing Rathgeb's name neatly printed and black ink both inside and outside of the rule's leather case was found in a desk drawer whose content had once belong to Duncan W. Clark, MD. Clark had graduated from the Long Island College of Medicine in 1936, two years before Rathgeb. Following his graduation, he had a close relationship with ","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148701585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}