Findings Magazine

Findings Fall 2022

In this issue of Findings, we learn about Oksana Fedorak, a native of Ukraine and Michigan Public Health student. She discusses the courageous and important work she’s doing to address mental health care in her home country as a result of the Russian invasion, as well as combat human trafficking. As Fedorak reflects on her work with a health and human rights organization, she says, “If there is one thing I will take away from my time in public health, it is this: More than governments or institutions, it is the people who will show you the way.” Public health is about listening, learning and working in partnership with communities to come up with the solutions that are best for their people. Public health is a team sport, and we do better when we work together. Throughout this issue of Findings, you’ll read stories that highlight this central value of our field at the state, national and global levels.

Findings is the alumni magazine of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and is published twice each year.

Cover Story

Turning to public health in a crisis

Traditionally, the sunflower is emblematic to Ukraine—but it signifies so much more to the Ukrainian people, and especially Oksana Fedorak. “Our national flower is the sunflower—it means a lot to us and me personally,” said Fedorak, a Master of Public Health student in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Alumnae pair up to help healthcare facilities stay afloat

Colleagues Susan Marsiglia Gray, MPH ’01, and Tasha Akitobi, MPH ’05, share so much common ground, they practically read each other’s minds. That comes in handy because their federal government workplace, the Provider Relief Bureau, is responsible for $200 billion in COVID relief funding. While their partnership is somewhat new—with only about 18 months of being on the job together—their paths to public health have created deep familiarity.

Public Health IDEAS: Pioneering firearms research

Becoming a violence exposure researcher wasn’t initially the plan for Hsing-Fang Hsieh, MPH '06, PhD '12, but an introduction to a University of Michigan School of Public Health faculty member and subsequent work on a youth resilience study paved the way for her new research path. Now she is a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention spearheading firearm violence prevention research, an area that has historically been understudied and underfunded.

A collaboration for health equity

The University of Michigan School of Public Health is collaborating with the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society on a Bank of America-funded program to advance health outcomes for Black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian and Indigenous communities.

Fighting COVID on the Last Frontier

“From the beginning, even though Alaska was somewhat remote, we definitely were the tip of the spear in various ways.” In early 2020, some of the first American flights out of Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, landed in Alaska. It’s a memory Sean Armstrong, MPH ’07, won’t soon forget.

Working with Michigan Farm Bureau to reduce hunger

University of Michigan researchers have partnered with the Michigan Farm Bureau to understand the unique challenges rural families face when accessing nutritious meals through food assistance. Often, these programs are designed without the user perspective in mind and are implemented in ways that many families do not find accessible or respectful.

Getting to know … Tara Allendorfer

Tara has nearly 15 years of experience in higher education, working in alumni engagement and student career development. As director of Alumni Engagement, she works with the Michigan Public Health alumni community, engaging individuals in the life of the school through communications and events as well as leading high-impact programs for students and alumni to connect and learn from each other. Supporting the success of others and ensuring individuals have access to these difference-making experiences is a rewarding experience.

Student Spotlight: Abbey Hutton

Abbey Hutton always believed that her future was somewhere in the health and medical field. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Michigan, graduating in 2021. Hutton, who was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree for three straight seasons with the Michigan field hockey team, is on track to earn a Master in Public Health in Global Health Epidemiology in 2023.

Dean's Letter Class Notes DOWNLOAD PDF

If you are looking for a digital copy of an archived issue of Findings prior to 2018, please email sph.communications@umich.edu.