Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Awards School of Public Health to Advance Academic Equity

The University of Memphis School of Public Health (UofM SPH) is proud to be one of seven schools of public health in the nation funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into their culture and operations. Funding from the RWJF’s Transforming Academia for Equity initiative allowed us to implement an interprofessional model to support strategic change.

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Research Roundup: U of M, Shelby County Health Department score $13.83M grant from CDC

Dec 21, 2022 - The Shelby County Health Department and the University of Memphis School of Public Health have forged a partnership, with the goal of strengthening the area’s public health care infrastructure. And recently, they received support from a major national agency. Late this fall, the two groups were awarded a five-year, $13.83 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The grant — part of $3.2 billion the CDC awarded to local, state, and territorial governments — is set to bolster the county’s existing public health infrastructure, while helping recruit, retain, and train the current and future public health workforce.

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Public Health Newsletter, Winter 2022

I am proud to share with you the inaugural issue of the University of Memphis School of Public Health - REAIM Public Health IDEAS, which describes the diverse collaborative culture of our school. And as reiterated earlier, we aspire to make this school a place that will be able to provide the much-needed solutions to the public health challenges through its public health interventions, programs, and policies that support community health efforts at multiple levels of participation- at the student level, at the faculty level and through community engagement. This inaugural issue is aimed to highlight some of the many activities organized by the School of Public Health.

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Dr. Ashish Joshi named Dean of the School of Public Health at the UofM

Dr. Ashish Joshi has been named dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis, effective Aug. 1. Joshi is currently senior associate dean of Academic and Student Affairs and professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy-New York. He joined CUNY in 2014 as a founding assistant dean of student affairs. In 2016, he was promoted to associate dean of Student and Alumni Affairs. He was appointed to his current position in 2018. More about Dr. Joshi >

Dr. Joshi recently received a tremendous honor at his current institution:  the inaugural CUNY SPH Legacy Award. 

SPH Recruitment Info Session

The School of Public Health Info Session was held on Thursday, Oct. 27th, 2022.

Donuts with the Dean

The Public Health Student Association invited students to meet with Dean Joshi and enjoy a snack on Thursday, Oct. 20th.

PHSA Faculty/Student Mixer!

In September, the Public Health Student Association sponsored a Faculty-Student Mixer that featured music, games, food, and fun! Enjoy photos from the party (link to Photo Gallery)

SPH well represented at TPHA 2022 Annual Conference

The School of Public Health was honored to be a Gold Sponsor of the Tennessee Public Health Association's 2022 Annual Conference, where several faculty and students presented their research. Dr. Matt Smeltzer presented his work related to the CDC-funded Sickle Cell Registry, PhD student Allison Plaxco presented her COVID-19 research, PhD student Nick Rummel presented his work on refugee health, and Dr. Marian Levy was an invited speaker discussing the future of Public Health. Additionally, MPH alumnus Sarah Boop received the TPHA Member of the Year award. Additional photos may be found here.

Congratulations to Duha Magzoub, MPH, 2022 on Program Coordinator Position at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Duha Magzoub (MPH, 2022) has recently accepted a position as Program Coordinator with the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Duha was a graduate intern with the HPV Cancer Prevention Program while completing her master’s degree.

Congratulations to M. Paige Powell, 2022 John D. Thompson Prize Recipient

Dr. Paige Powell, Director of the Master of Health Administration Program in the School of Public Health, is the recipient of AUPHA's 2022 John D. Thompson Prize. This national award recognizes contributions to the field of health administration.

Congratulations to M. Paige Powell, PhD, MHA, Associate Professor of Health Systems Management & Policy at The University of Memphis School of Public Health, for being selected as the recipient of the 2022 John D. Thompson Prize. The Prize recognizes faculty based on their overall contributions to the field of health administration, broadly defined. The Prize will be presented at the Awards Presentation session on Thursday, June 9th, during AUPHA’s 2022 Annual Meeting. 

MPH alumna accepts new Epidemiologist job

Orpita Nilormee, BDS, MPH has accepted a job offer as an Epidemiologist with Brown County Health and Human Services- Public Health Division in Green Bay Wisconsin. She was formerly a Public Health Strategist with the organization.

School of Public Health Student Achievement Awardees for 2022

Each year, the School of Public Health provides Student Achievement Awards to recognize outstanding students in our Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs of study. These awards are highly competitive and reflect outstanding academic achievement, research accomplishments, and contribution to the field of public health. The Dean's Office provides a prize of $500 for doctoral awardees and $300 for bachelor's and master's awardees.

We are pleased to announce the recipients:

• PhD in Epidemiology: Bandar Saud Shukr
• PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences: Cheri Kilmurray
• MPH: Duha Magzoub
• MHA: Savannah Rosevear-Goetsch
• BSPH: Jessica Warren

Dr. Melton-Fant Provides Insight on Public Health Preemption

Dr. Courtnee Melton-Fant, Assistant Professor of Health Systems Management & Policy, shared her expertise concerning public health preemption, in which state governments seek to prevent local governments from setting public health policy. Learn more >

SPH Student Achievement Awards - Nominations Now Being Accepted

The School of Public Health is pleased to offer Student Achievement Awards to recognize one outstanding student in each of our Master's and Doctoral Programs. Students may be nominated by faculty or nominate themselves for this award, which includes cash prizes of $300 for Master's students and $500 for Doctoral students. The application deadline is March 1, 2022. Click here for announcement for each award: (MPH Student Achievement Award) (MHA Student Achievement Award) (Student Achievement Awards EBE) (Student Achievement Award SBS). An Undergraduate Public Health Award will be given to one undergraduate student upon recommendation by BSPH faculty on the basis of grade point average (GPA), quality of coursework, community engagement, and leadership ability.

In Loving Memory - Professor George Relyea

It is with great sadness that the School of Public Health shares the devastating news that our beloved colleague, Professor George Relyea, died on Friday, January 28, 2022 at his home in Memphis, TN.   Professor Relyea was a gifted teacher, outstanding mentor, and kind soul. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed.  His legacy continues with the students he inspired.  Please read about his life (George Edwin Relyea) and expressions of gratitude from the School of Public Health (Condolences from the School of Public Health)