Publication Date
2-1-2020
Abstract
Dr. Joel Hillhouse
Associate Dean for Research, College of Public HealthProfessor, Department of Community and Behavioral Health
JOHNSON CITY – Dr. Joel Hillhouse, associate dean for research in East Tennessee State University’s College of Public Health, has co-authored an editorial that challenges the tanning bed industry’s attempts to change the conversation about the dangers of tanning bed use.
The editorial titled “Industry influence in indoor tanning research” was co-authored with Dr. Jerod L. Stapleton of the University of Kentucky. It was published this month in the British Medical Journal (the BMJ), one of the world’s top four most cited general medical journals.
The editorial addresses the multibillion dollar indoor tanning industry’s attempts to fund research to reanalyze the data on risks and identify any benefits of tanning bed use.
“Our editorial concludes that until contrary evidence from unbiased studies supporting the safety of tanning beds begins to accumulate in respected academic journals, there is no reason to change prevailing advice encouraging people to avoid use of commercial indoor tanning beds,” Hillhouse said.
Hillhouse’s research focuses on skin cancer prevention, health promotion and cancer control, and he has published numerous articles on the effects of tanning on health.
“In recent years, our senior faculty have been increasingly asked to write expert editorials on issues of broad public health importance,” said Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of the College of Public Health. “I believe that this is a further step forward in our maturation as a research enterprise in the ETSU College of Public Health.”
To learn more about ETSU’s College of Public Health, visit www.etsu.edu/cph.
Document Type
News Article
