Student Spotlight Celebrating our students’ achievements, impact, and excellence—inside the classroom and beyond.

Interior wall display reading “School of Public & Population Health” above a large blue abstract artwork

SPPH Climbs 27 Spots to Enter the Top 100 in U.S. News Public Health Rankings

SPPH rose from No. 116 to No. 89 in the 2026 U.S. News public health rankings, the largest gain among current top-100 programs. The post traces public health education at UTMB back to 1891 and includes faculty perspectives on what prospective students should prioritize when choosing a program.
A student in a patterned shirt holds folders while speaking with a partner during a standing conversation at the mixer.

Career Connections Mixer Shows Students Where Their Skills Fit

During National Public Health Week, SPPH's Career Connections Mixer brought 25+ organizations to campus, from oil and gas companies to government agencies to data consultancies. Students explored jobs, APE placements, and the CDC's PHAP fellowship while building connections across sectors.
Clinician in protective gown and gloves examines an older man wearing glasses and a face mask during a medical visit.

Wellness Visits Tied to Fewer Falls in Dementia Patients

A study led by MD/MPH student Sheheryar Ali and SPPH biostatistics faculty found that Medicare Annual Wellness Visits are associated with reduced falls and fractures in 1.6 million older adults with dementia, with greater benefit from more frequent visits. Published in Age and Ageing, March 2026.
Jillian Clack, Sivi Palanisami, Nevaeh Hayden, and Innovation Lab facilitator Sarah Axelson hold certificates of completion next to the ASPPH Innovation is Public Health sign outside the Grand Ballroom at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

SPPH Students Win Audience Choice Award at National Public Health Design Competition

Jillian Clack (Epidemiology), Nevaeh Hayden (Public Health Practice), and Sivi Palanisami (Bioethics) competed in the 2026 ASPPH Innovation Lab in Arlington, VA. Their project, SwipeSmart, prototyped five tools for safer online dating among young adults and earned the Audience Choice Award.
Group photo of UTMB School of Public and Population Health students with Dr. Philip Keiser and Galveston County Health District staff during a Public Health Practice II visit at GCHD.

SPPH Students Visit Galveston County Health District

SPPH students visited the Galveston County Health District in Texas City, where Dr. Philip Keiser walked them through outbreak response, Narcan distribution, emergency preparedness, and a real shelter investigation that tested the limits of local health authority.

We are indescribably pleased to congratulate M.D.-PH.D. student Grayson Jackson on the successful oral defense of his dissertation this week!

We are indescribably pleased to congratulate M.D.-PH.D. student Grayson Jackson on the successful oral defense of his dissertation this week! We are honored to be able to continue to support Grayson as he prepares for a return to UTMB's John Sealy School of Medicine to complete his MD. Congratulations, Dr. Jackson!
Four people smile and pose together in a crowded auditorium during Match Day

MD/MPH Students Match into Residencies Across the Country on 2026 Match Day

Eighteen SPPH MD/MPH students opened their match envelopes on March 20, 2026, at UTMB's Levin Hall ceremony. The cohort matched into 11 specialties at programs in seven states, from child neurology at Baylor to interventional radiology at NYU and UC San Diego. Eight will stay in Texas.
A colorful artistic representation of a cell under a microscope

Carmen Haynes Asks What Happens When Emerging Technology Meets an Imperfect System

Carmen Haynes turned a classroom discussion on artificial womb technology into her first peer-reviewed publication. Now a PhD student at UTMB SPPH, she explores how emerging medical technologies intersect with child welfare policy and maternal health, bridging law, history, and bioethics.
A professional headshot of Amie Hufton

Amie Hufton, PhD ‘23, Traces Path from Hurricane Response to Higher Education Leadership

Hurricane Ike changed Amie Hufton’s direction from marine science to public health. At UTMB School of Public and Population Health, that shift led to disaster research on older adults and a teaching career now shaping hundreds of Ohio State students.
A collage of photos representative of people working in epidemiology and public health practice

MPH Epidemiology vs. Public Health Practice: How to Choose (Careers, Skills, and Fit)

Epidemiology or public health practice? Compare day-to-day work, skill stacks (analysis vs implementation), and common job screens so you can choose a concentration—and build a portfolio employers recognize.
Group shots of UTMB students who volunteered at narcan distribution event

UTMB Public Health Students Distributed 72 Boxes of Free Narcan at Galveston's Mardi Gras

At Galveston’s Mardi Gras, 13 UTMB students ran a Marmo Plaza booth distributing 72 free Narcan (naloxone) boxes and teaching overdose response. Their survey and volunteer notes show how stigma shaped reactions and how reframing Narcan like CPR or an AED helped more people engage.
Leila Brammer stands by a podium during talk

SPPH Welcomes Communication Expert Dr. Leila Brammer for Professional Development Sessions

UTMB SPPH welcomed Dr. Leila Brammer (University of Chicago) for interactive sessions with staff, students, and faculty. Participants practiced engaged listening and meeting techniques designed to surface quiet perspectives and reduce polarization.