Class of 2025

From left, Katie Romas, holding their daughter and her husband, AJ Pope, holding their son

US Coast Guard officer navigates path to public health

Katie Romas, MPH ’25

Working with the Coast Guard’s Incident Management Assist Team, Katie Romas tackled real-world challenges, ranging from hurricane response to oil spills. These situations required her to coordinate efforts with other agencies, writing safety plans and minimizing environmental impact. She often found herself impressed by the work of industrial hygienists, the specialists who ensure the safety of responders and subsequently the environment during emergencies.

Dr. Richard Slusher

Former US Army doctor pursuing global health impact

Richard Slusher, MPH ’25

Dr. Richard Slusher, a partner at an orthopedic practice in North Carolina, was looking beyond the examination rooms he now uses, beyond the digitized patient files and the technology on hand when he chose to enroll in the University of Michigan School of Public Health’s Online MPH program in Population and Health Sciences.

Bhaavna Yalavarthi

Ambitious senior tackles health disparities and criminal justice reform

Bhaavna Yalavarthi, BA ’25

Bhaavna Yalavarthi's resumé rivals those of graduate students who have spent many more years at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. That’s because the senior has packed a lot into her four years. As an undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Global Public Health, Yalavarthi has gone above and beyond to demonstrate her commitment to public health, criminal justice reform and policy advocacy.

Gretta Rempel Fisher

Community-driven research fuels public health journey

Gretta Rempel Fisher, MPH ’25

Growing up Mennonite in Iowa City, Iowa, deeply influenced Gretta Rempel Fisher’s values and aspirations, emphasizing community, mutual aid and collective well-being. These beliefs, which coincide with public health principles, permeated her education and career choices. Pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Rempel Fisher’s roots continue to guide her focus on community-driven research and health equity.

Kalee Rumfelt

Transforming challenges into epidemiological success

Kalee Rumfelt, MPH ’21, PhD ’25

Even from a young age, Kalee Rumfelt, MPH ’21, PhD ’25, has always been fascinated by human genetics. Her path to obtaining a doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, however, didn’t come without hurdles. Growing up in a low-income household near Detroit, Rumfelt faced significant financial challenges. Yet, she transformed those hardships into stepping stones toward academic success.

Amina Dada

Ready to transform healthcare for patients

Amina Dada, MHSA ’25

For Amina Dada, the calling to devote her life to the healthcare profession did not come during a presentation by a high school guidance counselor, or from the desire to follow the footsteps of a relative who is a physician or a nurse. Her inspiration originated much closer to home. As a youth, Dada had watched her parents, immigrants from Pakistan, struggle with the complexities of navigating the healthcare system. Her late father was a two-time heart transplant recipient.