Blog

An illustration in multiple colors of the University of Michigan School of Public Health building

Class Notes: Spring 2025

Michigan Public Health’s 19,000+ alumni are making an impact across the globe and shaping the future of public health.

Jasmina Cunmulaj posing in Venice

Alumni Spotlight: Leading on a global stage

From Michigan to Brussels: Jasmina Cunmulaj’s inspiring public health journey

Ever since her time at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Jasmina Cunmulaj, MPH ’22, envisioned being able to influence policy decisions and promote better global public health practices at an impactful level. Now, as the strategic partnerships and leadership manager at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), she is positioned to make those dreams a reality.

An animated gif of a robot throwing donots and then getting hit in the face with an apple

Game on

Transforming smartphones into health-boosting tools

What if the power behind the programs that keep us leashed to our devices actually delivered good health, disease prevention—even digital vaccinations? Rahul Ladhania, assistant professor of Health Informatics, Biostatistics and Health Management & Policy at Michigan Public Health, is part of a team of global researchers doing the painstaking work of subverting the formidable powers of computer algorithms into a force for good.

Zhariyah Laughlin, left, watches as Frederique Laubepin shows the class what to do on the whiteboard

Embracing AI in the classroom

A new frontier in public health education

A group of students in an artificial intelligence class taught by Frederique Laubepin at Michigan Public Health created WanderWell, an AI-powered app offering 24/7, stigma-free support. By utilizing GPT-4 technology, a language model developed by OpenAI, these students designed WanderWell to deliver empathetic, culturally competent care, harm reduction strategies, and access to local resources and emergency services.

Jennifer Head in a field with protective mask and gloves

The first line of defense

Investigating the spread of fungal infections due to climate change

Fungal pathogens are often somewhat of an apparition, an unexpected and seemingly invisible opponent of good health, until they are exposed under a laboratory lens or on a chest X-ray. Jennifer Head is helping to compose the book on understanding these potent vectors of disease, which sometimes can be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancer.

FRom left to right, Justin Colacino, Xiang Zhou, Irina Gaynanova and John Piette

The future is here

Michigan Public Health is taking bold steps with AI

AI is not only enhancing the way knowledge is generated and shared, but it’s also redefining the potential for healthcare and public health advancements. Behind its research might, the University of Michigan School of Public Health leads the charge in this transformative paradigm shift.