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

A presenter speaks with attendees in the hallway during the poster session at the UTMB Public Health Symposium.

Student Research at the 2026 Public Health Symposium

The poster session at UTMB's 2026 Public Health Symposium featured research from students across GSBS, SHP, SON, JSSOM, and SPPH alongside virtual presentations from Badya University in Egypt. Said Abdelrhman presented on sleep disturbances and late-life disability, Sinaan Momin on oral health gaps in Texas Medicaid, and Dr. Umair Shah delivered the keynote.
Speaker presents in a classroom-style event space during a keynote talk, with the presentation title displayed on large screens behind him.

Dr. Umair Shah on Trust, Technology, and the Relentless Pursuit of Health

Dr. Umair A. Shah, former Washington State Secretary of Health and current CMO of Jaan Health, keynoted UTMB's 2026 NPHW Symposium with a talk on why science alone cannot sustain public trust, how AI should serve real workflows, and why the field must build systems of excellence across political lines.
Projected slide from a Badya University student presentation shown on a large screen during the poster session, with the presenter visible in a small video window.

Badya University Students Present Research at UTMB Public Health Symposium 2026

Six second-year medical students from Badya University in Cairo presented original research on lifestyle factors and gastrointestinal health at UTMB's Public Health Symposium. UTMB faculty from multiple schools engaged with live Q&A, and the session was described as a milestone for medical education in Egypt.
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.