March 1, 2016

Think about a recent trauma that someone has experienced: perhaps an unsettling or unresolved argument, a car accident, the loss of a job, or the passing of a loved one. These experiences often haunt the person long after the time when they occurred. People may experience lingering stress, anxiety or sadness, or they may change how they make decisions about their actions, sleep or diets.

So what happens when young people experience trauma and how does this experience impact their lifelong health?

'We know that the more bad events a child experiences, the more likely they will be physically and emotionally unwell as adults,' Dan Taylor notes in his reoccurring column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. 'For adults who had four Adverse Childhood Experiences [ACEs], half had current depression. Five ACEs doubled the risk of heart disease. Six or more ACEs led to death 20 years sooner on average than those without ACEs.'

Daniel Taylor, DO, an associate professor at Drexel's College of Medicine, will present his research on how trends in child poverty and early childhood stressors impact short- and long-term health at the Libraries' quarterly ScholarSip event on March 14, 2016.

ScholarSip is an informal event featuring cross-disciplinary conversations with Drexel faculty and professional staff over drinks and refreshments. Now in its fourth year, ScholarSip provides an opportunity for faculty and professional staff to gather for conversation - along with a toast to the end of the academic term. Click here to RSVP or for more details about the event.