Robert Rushing: An Exploration of His Academic Journey and Scholarly Contributions

This article delves into the academic background, research interests, and publications of Robert Rushing, providing a comprehensive overview of his career.

Academic Foundation and Education

Robert Rushing's academic journey began at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991, majoring in both Literature and Philosophy. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Comparative Literature in 1994. Rushing completed his Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley in 1998, marking a significant milestone in his academic career.

Research Focus: Cinema, Biopolitics, and Italian Culture

Rushing's research interests are diverse, combining critical theory, genre studies, and popular culture within a transnational framework. A significant portion of his work examines the intersection of biopolitics and cinema, exploring how media mediates biopolitical interventions. According to Rushing, "Cinema and television mediate state and private initiatives to control and manage life, health, and vitality -- and those initiatives are in turn informed by the narratives from film and television, a combination that I call 'biopolitical fantasy.'" He also maintains a sustained interest in the works of Italo Calvino, focusing on the senses and the body, reflecting a broader interest in phenomenological approaches to literature and film.

Selected Publications: A Glimpse into Rushing's Scholarly Work

Robert Rushing's publications demonstrate the breadth and depth of his scholarly pursuits. His work appears in various academic journals and edited collections, contributing to the fields of Italian cinema, media studies, and cultural theory. Here are some notable examples:

Calvino, Cerrone, and the Catacoustic: An “Echo-logical” Reading (2021): Published in Italian Culture, this article explores the works of Italo Calvino through an "echo-logical" lens, examining themes of sound, space, and perception.

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Cabiria (2020): This contribution to Italian Cinema: From the Silent Screen to the Digital Image provides an analysis of the classic Italian silent film Cabiria, directed by Giovanni Pastrone.
Feet of strength: the sword-and-sandals film (2020): This essay, featured in Shoe Reels: The History and Philosophy of Footwear in Film, examines the cultural significance of footwear in the sword-and-sandals film genre.
Italian transnational masculinity: Jeeg robot, il ragazzo invisibile and milzaman (2020): Published in the Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies, this article explores representations of masculinity in Italian cinema, focusing on themes of transnationalism and identity.
Toxicity: Making the Toxic Visible in Italian Cinema (2020): This article, appearing in Italianist, analyzes the portrayal of toxicity in Italian cinema, examining its cultural and social implications.

Connecting Rushing's Work to Broader Academic Themes

Rushing's work on biopolitics and cinema resonates with broader discussions about the role of media in shaping perceptions of health, vitality, and the body. His concept of "biopolitical fantasy" highlights the complex interplay between state control, private interests, and media narratives in influencing individual and collective understandings of life and death.

His engagement with Calvino's works aligns with ongoing scholarly interest in phenomenology, sensory experience, and the relationship between literature and the body. By exploring Calvino's use of language and imagery, Rushing sheds light on the ways in which literature can evoke and challenge our understanding of the world.

Robert M. Kaplan's Research and Its Relevance

While not directly related to Robert Rushing, the provided text also contains extensive information about the research of Robert M. Kaplan, a faculty member at the Stanford School of Medicine Clinical Excellence Research Center (CERC) and a Distinguished Research Professor of Health Policy and Management at UCLA. Kaplan's work focuses on health outcomes, health policy, and the evaluation of medical interventions. His research is relevant to understanding the broader context of health and well-being that informs Rushing's work on biopolitics and cinema.

Kaplan's Research on Orphan Drugs

Kaplan's research on orphan drugs, conducted with colleagues, reveals disparities in the evaluation of drugs for rare diseases compared to those for more common conditions. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of FDA-approved drugs between 2016 and 2023 found that orphan drugs were approved based on significantly fewer studies, with a lower proportion of studies completed before FDA approval, and were less likely to be evaluated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). This raises concerns about the quality and volume of evidence supporting the approval of orphan drugs.

Kaplan's Work on Frailty Assessment

Kaplan also contributed to research on frailty assessment, a critical area in geriatric medicine. A modified RAND/UCLA Delphi study, involving a panel of experts, established consensus on important, feasible, and usable domains for point-of-care frailty assessment. The study identified eight key domains: Physical Strength, Balance, Cognition, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Depression, Disease, and Social Environment, providing a framework for clinicians to assess frailty in older patients.

Kaplan's Perspective on Population Mental Health

Kaplan's commentary on population mental health, co-authored with colleagues, emphasizes the need for proactive and preventive interventions to build a mentally healthy ecosystem. Drawing on international examples, the authors suggest that nations with population-based mental health services have achieved greater success by utilizing nontraditional providers and leveraging technology. They argue that the United States, with its privatized, for-profit health care system, faces unique challenges in addressing the mental health needs of its population.

Digital Interventions and Health Equity

Kaplan's research also explores the potential of digital non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) to reduce health disparities associated with age-related mental health disorders in older adults. However, the authors acknowledge that disparities in technological access, literacy, and effectiveness can limit the impact of these interventions in disadvantaged groups. They emphasize the importance of designing digital NPIs with health equity in mind.

Payment Models for Behavioral Health Services

Kaplan's work on payment models for behavioral health services highlights the challenges of sustainably delivering and financing these services in the face of an increasing need and a long-standing professional workforce shortage. The article provides an overview of different payment models, such as traditional fee-for-service and alternatives like provider salary, global payments, and pay-for-performance models.

Community Health Navigator Programs

Kaplan's involvement in the Be Well Home Health Navigator Program, a prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT), demonstrates his commitment to addressing environmental health risks in underserved communities. The program aims to reduce contaminants in drinking water by leveraging the trusted relationship between Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Community Educators and rural well owners.

Vaccine Acceptance and Political Polarization

Kaplan's research on vaccine acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the influence of political ideology and education level on individuals' attitudes towards vaccines and vaccine mandates. The study found that liberal political ideology and higher education were significantly associated with endorsing intended vaccine uptake, while conservative political ideology was associated with greater skepticism about vaccine safety and government mandates.

Transparency in Clinical Trials

Kaplan's research on the availability of results from clinical trials of FDA-approved drugs highlights the importance of transparency and complete reporting of information about medications. The study found that a significant proportion of trials used to evaluate drugs approved in 2017 had not publicly posted results prior to FDA approval, raising concerns about potential biases in the information available to health care providers and consumers.

Health Care Costs and Depression

Kaplan's research on the cost consequences of depression and chronic medical conditions underscores the importance of recognizing depression as an equal contributor to overall health care costs. The study found that the incremental annual cost associated with a diagnosis of depression was comparable to that of many common physical chronic conditions.

Telehealth-Based Care and Behavioral Health

Kaplan's work on telehealth-based care coach-supported interventions for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety, or depression suggests that these interventions can lead to cost savings and changes in utilization. The study found that a telehealth-based care coach-supported and behavioral health (BH) provider referral intervention was associated with per-member per-month (PMPM) savings and changes in utilization in a treated group relative to matched controls over 36 months.

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