Faculty

A firefighter putting out a fire with foam

Protecting populations from dangers of PFAS exposure

Jackie Goodrich, a research associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, studies PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear and their health risks like cancer. PFAS alter gene expression and persist in the environment. New EPA rules aim to mitigate exposure and protect public health.

Mehak Bhansali, a Master of Public Health student in Health Management and Policy at Michigan Public Health, has her photo taken in the Diag

Inspiring creative solutions

Michigan Health Equity Challenge encourages student, community-led approaches to health disparities

The Michigan Health Equity Challenge, launched by Michigan Public Health, MolinaCares Accord, and Molina Healthcare of Michigan, engages graduate students in developing solutions to health inequities. Inaugural winners Melissa Zochowski and Mehak Bhansali addressed neurodivergent reproductive care and intimate partner violence.

Five members of PHAST in PHAST T-SHIRTS share a laugh

On a PHAST track

Public health students’ experiences beyond the classroom prepare them for success

The Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) at Michigan Public Health offers students hands-on experience in public health. During the most recent annual trip to Grenada, students worked on projects like promoting voluntary blood donation, enhancing Alzheimer’s care, and supporting disability services, demonstrating the vital role of experiential learning and community engagement in driving public health initiatives.

A plant illustration growing and blossoming

Living fuller lives

Finding innovative ways to foster purposeful living and positive social connections

Americans of all ages face increasing loneliness and mental health issues. Michigan Public Health is addressing this crisis through research by faculty such as Victor Strecher promoting purposeful living, Lindsay Kobayashi studying health impacts of loneliness, and John Piette’s SPEAK! program fostering social connections.

A teen driving simulator

A biostatistics breakthrough: Using data to improve teen driving

In Michael Elliott’s line of work, numbers save lives. Elliott, professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is an expert in the art and science of collecting, interpreting and analyzing data. One of his most recent projects could help save lives of a particularly accident-prone population: young drivers.

From left to right, Justin Heinze, April Zeoli and Marc Zimmerman

Stopping the gun violence epidemic

Michigan Public Health has marshaled its resources to respond to this public health crisis

Michigan Public Health has marshaled its resources to respond to this public health crisis. Faculty with diverse research interests are studying the causes of gun violence, exploring various interventions to address the problem, and helping to shape public policies and programs designed to make Michigan schools and communities safer.