On the Heights: September 2026

Stylized illustration of the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

September 28, 2026

Stay informed with the latest from the University of Michigan School of Public Health community in our monthly digest. Faculty expertise in action, new research, policy advocacy, and community engagement highlight our continued commitment to advancing public health and creating positive change.

Policy impact & advocacy

Starting the conversation: Center for American Dialogue opens

Anand Parekh, chief health policy officer at the School of Public Health, is leading a new program connecting school faculty, staff, and students with local health departments and community leaders to discuss urgent health challenges.

Policy Brief: School of Public Health research explores the link between lead exposure and dementia

Epidemiology associate professor Kelly Bakulski and colleagues are studying how lifetime lead exposure may affect cognitive health. Their latest work links higher lead exposure with greater risks of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In the media

Paul Flemming on the Servant Leadership Podcast

The associate professor of Health Behavior and Health Equity joined the Servant Leadership Podcast to discuss prevention thinking, human flourishing and the role of imagination in leadership.

Environmental Health Sciences student shares her experience in industrial hygiene

Michigan Public Health graduate student Jacey Johnson joined AIHA’s Healthier Workplaces Show to discuss her experience as a global workplace safety intern at a General Motors manufacturing facility.

Sung Kyun Park on the connection between lead exposure and dementia

The Epidemiology professor spoke with The Washington Post about new research linking lifetime lead exposure with a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Adam Finkel on building the US regulatory system

Adjunct clinical professor of Environmental Health Sciences contributed to The Regulatory Review’s series on rebuilding the US regulatory system.

Rick Neitzel on bone conduction headphone and hearing health

The professor of Environmental Health Sciences spoke with New Hampshire Public Radio about the potential hearing risks of bone conduction headphones.

Charles Holmes on building trust in global health

The Dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health spoke with Ms. Magazine about lessons from his global health work in Zambia and Malawi.

Kate Manz on PFAS concerns surrounding data center growth

The assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences spoke with The Hill about concerns over the use of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in data center cooling systems.

Research highlights

New ARCH program prepares the next generation of HIV researchers

Health Behavior and Health Equity Professor Gary Harper is leading the new Advancing Research Careers in HIV (ARCH) Program, funded by a five-year, $1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. The two-year mentoring program, the only one of its kind in the country, prepares master's students from the schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Social Work to become competitive applicants for PhD programs in HIV-related social and behavioral science research. ARCH builds on the team's NIMH-funded SOAR program for undergraduates, in which 100% of scholars were admitted to graduate school. Harper co-leads the program with Rivet Amico, Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, Leah Neubauer, and Pete Slutzker, with support from graduate students Darius Moore and Jalen Smith. Kristi Gamarel serves as the program's Michigan Public Health advisor on its Executive Committee.

KECC awarded CMS contract to continue kidney care programs

The Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (KECC), housed at the School of Public Health, received a new five-year, $28 million CMS contract supporting federal oversight of kidney care programs. KECC will provide data and reports to help inform quality and safety oversight.

Young adults increasingly transition from cigarettes to e-cigarettes

Professor of Epidemiology, Andrew Brouwer, led a study examining how adults transition between cigarette and e-cigarette use.

Employment stability in midlife linked to healthier cognitive aging

Associate professor of Epidemiology Lindsay Kobayashi contributed to a new study examining how employment patterns in midlife are associated with cognitive health later in life.

School of Public Health Faculty rethink how we approach suicide prevention

The University of Michigan Research Center for Group Dynamics highlights the work of professors Briana Mezuk and Kara Zivin.

Mapping how neighborhoods shape healthy aging

The National Neighborhood Data Archive, or NaNDA, housed at U-M’s Institute for Social Research, will expand its collection by about 30% with an $11 million award from the National Institute on Aging. University of Michigan researchers will build and share national data that track how neighborhood conditions change over time, helping scientists study how local environments affect older adults’ health. Professor of Epidemiology Philippa Clarke, serves as the director of NaNDA.

SWAN receives more than $44 million to continue landmark study of women's health and aging

The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) has received more than $44 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue its research on how menopause affects women's long-term brain, heart, and bone health. For more than 30 years, SWAN has followed a diverse group of women across the country. The University of Michigan School of Public Health is home to one of the study's research sites, based in the Center for Lifecourse Epidemiology and Aging Research (CLEAR) in the Department of Epidemiology.

Honors, fellowships & appointments

Anand Parekh appointed to National Academies strategic advisory committee

The U-M School of Public Health Chief Policy Officer has been appointed to the National Academies’ Strategic Advisory Committee for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture. The committee will help guide work on nutrition, food safety, and agricultural production.

Kelley Kidwell named senior associate dean for faculty affairs

Kelley Kidwell has been appointed senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the U-M School of Public Health. She will lead the Faculty Affairs team and work with school leadership on faculty hiring and promotion.

Katherine Hendy receives NIH award to study genetic testing in chronic pain care

The research assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity has received an NIH R00 award to study how genetic testing could help guide medication choices for people with chronic pain. The three-year project will examine the social, ethical, and clinical considerations of using pharmacogenomic testing in chronic pain care, where patients face growing barriers to treatment.

MI-CARES receives Spirit Award at Researchpalooza

The MI-CARES team received the Spirit Award at this year’s Researchpalooza, where they teamed up with Therapy Paws of Michigan and therapy dog Chip. The team also recently received approval for a new student ambassador program. More details on the ambassador program are forthcoming.