Health Equity

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.

Living fuller lives

Finding innovative ways to foster purposeful living and positive social connections

Americans of all ages face increasing loneliness and mental health issues. Michigan Public Health is addressing this crisis through research by faculty such as Victor Strecher promoting purposeful living, Lindsay Kobayashi studying health impacts of loneliness, and John Piette’s SPEAK! program fostering social connections.

Being intentional about equity

The mission of the University of Michigan School of Public Health is to “create a healthier, more equitable world for all.” We’re intentional about including “equity” in our mission because this is a critical goal of our work.

Exploring environmental equity and impacts on human health

Environmental health experts at the University of Michigan School of Public Health are immersed in understanding the connection between the health of individuals and communities and the environment—whether it’s the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, products we use or places we live and work.

Suzanne Gilbert: Bridging eye care to public health

Suzanne Gilbert, MPH ’75 and PhD ’83, has dedicated her life to working in international public health and preventing blindness after co-founding the Seva Foundation with fellow alum Dr. Larry Brilliant, among others, more than 40 years ago. She is the senior director of Research and Strategic Opportunities at Seva’s headquarters in Berkeley, California.

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.