These topics air Wednesday January 22, 2014 at noon and 8pm on 90.5 WESA. To leave a question or comment before or after the show dial 412-256-8783. Join the conversation LIVE between 12pm & 1 pm weekdays at 412-246-2002. More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here.
Swine Flu
The H1N1 flu is back and it's striking mostly young adults. More than 90 percent of the flu cases statewide have been identified as the H1N1 strain, commonly referred to as "Swine Flu" since it reemerged in 2009 after lying dormant since the 1960s and 1970s. We'll talk with Marc Itskowitz, an internal medicine physician at Allegheny General Hospital about why the swine flu is hitting young people so hard.
Asthma Study
Studies show the rate of childhood asthma in Allegheny County is around 13 percent, higher than the national rate of 9 percent. An Allegheny General Hospital study is underway to more precisely determine childhood asthma rates in the region and exactly what triggers the respiratory disease. We'll talk about the study with its' co-director Dr. David Skoner, Division Director in asthma, allergies and immunology for the Allegheny Health Network.
Scholar in Residence
This month the Heinz History Center’s Italian American Collection is hosting its inaugural Scholar-In-Residence program. Receiving the honor is Joseph Bathanti, a Pittsburgh native. He is also the Poet Laureate of North Carolina and has written eight books of poetry and the award-winning novel East Liberty.
Pittsburgh Mini-Grant Awardees
Pittsburgh is a melting pot of diverse individuals and groups. The Mini-Grants Initiative: 2014 Civic Inclusion & Engagement Fund is working to support underrepresented groups in the city while championing civic engagement. Melanie Harrington, CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh and Gregg Roman, director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh talk about this year’s grant recipients.
