On the Heights: November 2025
Stay informed with the latest from the University of Michigan School of Public Health community in our monthly digest. Faculty expertise in action, groundbreaking research, policy advocacy, and community engagement highlight our continued commitment to advancing public health and creating positive change.
Leadership and honors
Sari Reisner honored with health equity award at APHA
Sari Reisner, associate professor of Epidemiology, received the 2025 André G. Stanley Memorial Health Equity Award from the American Public Health Association's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Section. The award recognizes Reisner's research focused on understanding and mitigating health inequities for LGBTQIA+ populations, particularly in mental health and substance use, HIV infection, and healthcare access and quality outcomes.
Anand Parekh begins term as chair of National Academies Roundtable on Obesity Solutions
Chief Health Policy Officer Anand Parekh started his term as chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Roundtable on Obesity Solutions. The roundtable brings together practitioners, researchers, funders, health advocates, companies, health systems, government agencies, and individuals with lived experience to explore challenges and opportunities related to obesity with a focus on identifying and sharing insights on solutions.
Research and publications
Building Better Futures grant supports heat-resilient housing research
Carina Gronlund, research associate professor of Epidemiology, is principal investigator on a project selected for the first round of Building Better Futures grants. The program awarded nearly $500,000 across seven faculty-led projects advancing interdisciplinary research. Gronlund's project addresses how indoor heat harms the health of people living in self-built housing in informal settlements in Latin America. Working with residents and housing advocates, the team will test housing improvements that lower indoor temperature and humidity, providing evidence to support heat-resilient housing programs.
Rapid AI adoption in healthcare sector tracked in new study
Thuy Nguyen, assistant professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy, published research in JAMA Health Forum examining artificial intelligence adoption trends across US business sectors. The study found that while AI use in healthcare (8.3%) still lags behind sectors like finance (11.6%) and professional services (19.2%), adoption accelerated significantly in early 2025, with a 481.5% increase in the rate of growth. Outpatient and ambulatory care organizations showed the largest gains, with AI use nearly doubling from 4.6% in 2023 to 8.7% in 2025.
Anonymous reporting systems complement other methods for youth seeking help
Michigan Public Health and Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention researchers Elyse Thulin, Justin Heinze, and Hsing-Fang Hsieh published findings in the Journal of Adolescent Health on factors influencing adolescents' use of technology-facilitated reporting systems (TFRS) to seek help for peers experiencing severe mental distress. The study found that 37.3% of middle school students who suspected a peer was in mental distress used anonymous reporting systems, and these systems complemented rather than replaced other reporting methods. Students with lower perceptions of school safety were more likely to use TFRS, suggesting these systems fill an important gap when students lack trusted school-based adults.
Population health costs of exclusionary immigration policies examined
William Lopez, clinical associate professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity, co-authored a brief published in Health Affairs analyzing how exclusionary and criminalizing immigration policies harm health outcomes for both immigrants and nonimmigrants in the United States. The brief examines the health impacts of expanded immigration enforcement, policy changes affecting healthcare access for lawfully present immigrants, and the broader population health consequences of securitization-focused immigration approaches.
Expert contributions and media
Inaugural patient summit elevates sickle cell disease advocacy
Melissa Creary, associate professor of Health Management and Policy, was featured on a panel focused on sickle cell disease at the inaugural Galien Patient Summit, part of the annual Galien Forum. The Galien Foundation recognizes outstanding achievements in pharmaceutical research and development, and the new patient summit elevated patient voices in discussions about medical innovation and access to care.
Detroit pollution and health impacts featured in national news segment
Stuart Batterman, professor of Environmental Health Sciences, was interviewed by ABC News for a segment examining growing health concerns among Detroit residents due to pollution. Reporter Somara Theodore highlighted the community's air quality challenges, with Batterman providing expert analysis on the health impacts of air pollution based on his yearslong research in environmental health. The segment brought national attention to the ongoing environmental health disparities affecting Detroit communities.
Michigan Senate hears testimony on medical debt relief legislation
Minal Patel, professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity, testified before the Michigan Senate Health Policy Committee in support of legislation (SB 449-451) that would standardize hospital financial assistance and protect Michiganders from medical debt appearing on credit reports. Patel's research shows that medical financial burden forces impossible choices between paying bills, meeting basic needs, and managing health. Nearly 1 million Michigan residents carry medical debt, often from unavoidable medical emergencies, making it a leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. The proposed bills would bring Michigan in line with states like Maryland, Colorado, and New Mexico that have enacted similar protections.
New podcast features conversations on pressing health topics
Sharon Kardia, Senior Associate Dean for Education, launched a new podcast featuring conversations with Michigan Public Health expert faculty on pressing health topics. Three episodes are now available, including discussions with Emily Martin, professor of Epidemiology, on vaccines; Kendrin Sonneville, associate professor of Nutritional Sciences, on ultra-processed foods; and Paul Fleming, associate professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity, on creating healthier communities.
New book examines power of prevention-focused policy
Paul Fleming, associate professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity, was interviewed by WDET about his new book "Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything." Fleming argues that addressing major societal problems—from climate change to income inequality—requires shifting focus to preventing problems before they occur rather than responding after they become crises. The book examines how prevention-focused policy thinking can lead to more effective solutions to complex challenges.
