MPH Results

Amber Garcia

My experience as a dual degree MPP/MPH student

Amber Garcia, MPP/MPH

Amber Garcia is a dual-degree student at the University of Michigan School of Public Health who is passionate about public health, policy analysis and community-based research in urban and environmental policy. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior & Health Equity and a Master of Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Blake Hardin

Merging research and advocacy with medicine

Blake Hardin

University of Michigan medical student Blake Hardin, who is also pursuing an MPH in Epidemiology, shares his medical school experience in this Q&A, focusing on his interests in disability health and advocacy, surgical outcomes research, medical education and ways to foster belonging at Michigan Medicine.

Hannah Rice

Expanding horizons: Finding career success in unexpected public health role

Hannah Rice, MPH ’25

Hannah Rice, MPH '25, navigated a challenging job market to find meaningful work addressing health disparities in managed care. Her University of Michigan School of Public Health education in Health Behavior and Health Education, combined with coursework in implementation science and health insurance, prepared her for unexpected career opportunities in St. Louis.

Josh Foster-Tucker

The unexpected epidemiologist: Evolving from neuroscience to respiratory virus research

Joshua Foster-Tucker, MPH ’21

When Joshua Foster-Tucker’s wife suggested he apply to Michigan Public Health instead of attending medical school, neither could have predicted it would launch a passion for understanding infectious diseases. Now pursuing his PhD at Michigan Public Health, he studies respiratory viruses, including how they could accelerate immune system aging—research that could transform our understanding of health longevity. His journey, shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, personal challenges and mentorship illustrates how meaningful career paths can emerge from unplanned moments of redirection.

Anand Parekh

Alumnus Dr. Anand Parekh named inaugural chief health policy officer

Veteran policy expert brings decades of federal experience to Michigan Public Health

When Anand Parekh, BA, MPH ’02, MD, was selected as the University of Michigan School of Public Health’s inaugural chief health policy officer, it wasn't just a new job—it was a homecoming that represented the culmination of a remarkable career dedicated to transforming public health.

Laura Arboleda-Merino

From third grade dream to public health innovator

Laura Arboleda-Merino, MPH ’17

An internship at a local health department further crystallized Laura Arboleda-Merino's interests in public health. She was no longer just interested in treating individual patients, but in understanding and addressing systemic health challenges. Her academic journey led her to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. The transition wasn’t just about academic advancement but about finding a community that resonated with her interdisciplinary approach.