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The Pursuit is a thought-leadership blog featuring articles by University of Michigan School of Public Health students, staff, alumni, and faculty. Contributors write about public health topics for a general audience, covering everything from trending issues to research insights and field experiences. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the individual authors.
Spotlight
What is sleep and how is it related to our overall health? How much sleep do we need? When should the school day begin? Nutritional sciences researcher Erica Jansen talks about sleep, nutrition, mental health, and how to catch more ZZZs.
William Lopez, clinical associate professor at Michigan Public Health, highlights the vital role of storytelling in restoring trust and driving change, presenting stories written by his students to communicate key public health issues.
Public health professor Brian Zikmund-Fisher breaks down the risks from raw eggs and flour in homemade dough—and explains why store-bought "ready to eat" options are now his go-to for satisfying cravings more safely.
Michigan Public Health student Sophia Martinez helped gather powerful stories from teens nationwide about school safety and active shooter drills, revealing deep emotional impacts and inspiring a call for youth-driven change.
After breaking her leg, Katie Paulot, currently a master’s student at Michigan Public Health, reevaluates years of internalized fatphobia and disordered eating, highlighting the harms of weight stigma and advocating for holistic, inclusive well-being.
After surviving childhood trauma and debilitating panic attacks, Cristal Quijada, now a master's student in the online MPH program at Michigan Public Health, became a public health nurse advocating for trauma-informed, equitable mental health care.
Diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 21, Angela, now a Michigan Public Health online MPH student, shares her cancer journey and need for emotional support, highlighting the barriers of insurance and treatment far from home.
A sister reflects on growing up with her autistic brother, highlighting milestones, challenges with support services, and the need for better resources and societal acceptance to ensure disabled adults can live fulfilling, independent lives.
A case of severe stomach pain is dismissed as a “stomach bug” until a persistent doctor diagnoses C. diff infection, highlighting the importance of listening to patients and the dangers of being ignored in medical care.
As the nation approaches winter, it's time to talk about protecting ourselves and our loved ones from respiratory viruses through vaccinations. But before we talk about vaccines, let's spend a moment to discuss why these constantly changing viruses even matter in the first place.