Health Care

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.

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.

Five members of PHAST in PHAST T-SHIRTS share a laugh

On a PHAST track

Public health students’ experiences beyond the classroom prepare them for success

The Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) at Michigan Public Health offers students hands-on experience in public health. During the most recent annual trip to Grenada, students worked on projects like promoting voluntary blood donation, enhancing Alzheimer’s care, and supporting disability services, demonstrating the vital role of experiential learning and community engagement in driving public health initiatives.

Davontae Nathaniel Foxx-Drew

From LA to Ann Arbor, in pursuit of leadership

Davontae Nathaniel Foxx-Drew’s lived experience sparked his passion for healthcare, his pursuit of leadership

During Davontae Nathaniel Foxx-Drew’s time at the University of Michigan, where he is pursuing a Master of Health Services Administration from the School of Public Health in the Department of Health Management and Policy and an MBA from the Ross School of Business, Foxx-Drew has demonstrated the academic skills and leadership qualities that likely will land him a prominent and impactful position in the healthcare industry.

image with a collage of logos

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.