On the Heights: February 2025
Stay informed with the latest from the Michigan Public Health community in our monthly digest. Departmental news, research highlights, community achievements, and more to help you stay connected with the Michigan Public Health community. Explore the impactful work of our faculty, students, and partners as we continue to advance public health initiatives and celebrate our collective successes.
Department of Epidemiology's DEI committee receives university award
The Department of Epidemiology's 23-24 DEI Committee was recognized for their commitment
to fostering long-term, sustainable DEI efforts within the department with the University
of Michigan Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award. The committee developed the Equity
Impact Assessment Tool to help departmental committees evaluate and improve their
practices through an equity lens, strengthened the role of DEI advocates to ensure
that DEI principles are embedded in decision-making across the department, and presented
their work to the school-wide DEI Committee, reinforcing their commitment to making
meaningful change beyond their department.
“Winning this award is an incredible honor and a testament to the dedication of our team in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Dominique Person, Master’s Academic Program Manager in the Department of Epidemiology and a member of the committee. “Our goal has always been to create sustainable, lasting change, and this recognition reaffirms the impact of our collective efforts. We hope this inspires continued dialogue and action toward a more inclusive academic community.”
Minal Patel appointed to MDHHS advisory council
Minal Patel, professor of Health Behavior & Health Equity, was appointed to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Social Determinants of Health Hubs Advisory Council for 2025. The council's purpose is to guide the implementation of SDOH Hub pilot projects and develop recommendations for future iterations of the SDOH Hub work.
Undergraduate student receives 2025 Martin Luther King Spirit Award
Ryan Mirza, an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, received a Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for his leadership and community service that exemplifies the leadership and extraordinary vision of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mirza serves as a student Admissions Ambassador for the School of Public Health and is involved in a number of university and community organizations, serves as Co-President of the Arab Student Association, and is a member of the Dean of Students Advisory Board.
Kate Manz highlighted as rising star in measurement science
Kate Manz, assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences, was named a 2024 Rising Star in Measurement Science by the ACS Measurement Science Au Journal for her work utilizing state-of-the-art analytical chemistry techniques to monitor chemical transformation in groundwater and soils and to develop new techniques to assess total exposure.
Faculty receive named professorships
Three Michigan Public Health faculty were recognized with named professorships at the February 20 Board of Regents meeting:
- Veera Baladandayuthapani was named the Jeremy M.G. Taylor Collegiate Professor of Biostatistics for a three-year renewable term, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027.
- Darrell Hudson was named the James S. Jackson Collegiate Professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity for a four-year renewable term, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.
- Devon Payne-Sturges was named a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, effective January 1, 2025.
University of Michgian team wins third in challenge to improve data on youth suicide
UM-ATLAS, a team of University of Michigan faculty and students studying US suicide risk over the lifespan, recently won third place in a Driven Data challenge to improve the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), the nation’s most comprehensive registry of suicide mortality.
The University of Michigan team includes Research Center for Group Dynamics (RCGD) affiliates Viktoryia Kalesnikava and Elyse J. Thulin; Lily Johns, Research Coordinator at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and students Aparna Ananthasubramaniam, Silas Falde, Lily Johns, Jonathan Kertawidjaja, Alejandro A. Rodríguez-Putnam, and Emma Spring. The ATLAS Study is led by professor of Epidemiology, Briana Mezuk.