Alumni

Declining childhood vaccination: An interview with Michigan's top doctor

Declining childhood vaccination: An interview with Michigan's top doctor

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, discusses challenges related to childhood vaccinations post-COVID, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust and explore innovative solutions in a compelling interview with Michigan Public Health professor Matthew L. Boulton.

reproductive justice

Abortion access and reproductive justice - Part 1

In the last year, abortion access and reproductive rights have been a key issue in politics and the national discourse. We spoke with our experts about the health outcomes of limiting access to this care and why abortion is a public health issue.

Illustration of a person holding a sign that says

Abortion access and reproductive justice - Part 2

In the last year, abortion access and reproductive rights have been key issues in politics and the national discourse. We spoke with our experts about the health outcomes of limiting access to this care and why abortion is a public health issue.

A drawing of healthy foods

Healthier people need healthier foods

When people have access to better quality, more nutritious foods, their risk of disease decreases. However, for many, there are a number of barriers to accessing the kinds of foods that support good health. But food availability isn’t only one issue that our modern food systems can create. Getting the food to your plate can entail large-scale production that may have a big environmental footprint. Understanding more about how our food is produced can help us make food choices that are better for our individual health and for the environment. In this episode, learn about the impact our food production systems can have on both human health and the environment around us. We’ll also explore how one health department is leveraging local farms and produce to facilitate good health by using food as medicine.

illustration of puzzle pieces

Increasing diversity in Public Health

Effective change takes effective changemakers. Today, we talk to a few changemakers who are dedicated to improving diversity in public health and healthcare leadership. Research has long shown that the most effective way to improve health for any community is to have public health leaders from that community involved in the day-to-day decision making around the care of that population. Pipeline programs, like the University of Michigan’s Summer Enrichment Program, create avenues for students from underrepresented communities to be exposed to careers in public health, healthcare management, and policy-making. Increasing diversity in public health is both a macro mission, taken on by universities and programs around the country, as well as an individual one, best exemplified by committed mentors who do what they can to support their students.

illustration of puzzle pieces

How food insecurity shapes children and families

In this episode of Population Healthy Season 3: Race, Inequity, and Closing the Health Gap, we talk with two nutritional sciences experts at the University of Michigan School of Public Health about what food insecurity is, why it’s been increasing in the US, and what we can do to address this devastating public health crisis.