Now more than ever, ASPPH and our community must come together, stand firm in our values, and advance our mission. Public health is driven by education, research, and action. Academic public health plays a critical role, shaping policy, fueling innovation, and preparing the next generation of leaders. To amplify that impact, we’ve gathered stories from across our community, including students.
From the Microbiology Lab Bench to Advocating for Antibiotic Stewardship on College Campuses
Okeoghene Marcel Edafetanure-Ibeh
Texas A&M School of Public Health
My commitment to antibiotic stewardship began long before my doctoral training, long before I even knew the term. As an undergraduate Medical Laboratory Science student concentrating in medical microbiology, I...
Why Public Health Will Always Matter
Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH
Public health is ultimately a discipline a way of looking at the world identifying health problems and then working across sectors to make sure that communities are physically socially emotionally...
When Experience Becomes Advocacy: Empowering Public Health Through Accessibility
Grace Harmoush
American University of Beirut
Accessibility isn’t just an educational issue, it’s also a public health necessity. I chose public health as a career because I grew up understanding that health is shaped less by...
What Drew Me to Public Health
Blender Muzvondiwa
University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences
Growing up, I have always been ardent about communities and health, and my acquaintances know me as a people person. My professional journey began as a District Nutritionist under Gweru...
Turning Science into Action
Hilary Godwin, PhD
My path into public health is a little non-traditional. I actually got my PhD in chemistry and was a chemistry professor as an associate professor and I got into public...
Turning Loss into Purpose: A Journey into Public Health
Ashish Joshi, PhD, MBBS, MPH
What really inspired me to be in public health is that I lost my father when I was in a medical school, and the first thing came to my mind...
The Value of Life in Public Health
Reed V. Tuckson, MD, FACP
The most important things facing public health educators today is the sense of caring about whether we live or whether we die. Human life seems to be much devalued these...
The Titanic, Sociology, and an Introduction to Public Health
Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD
Actually, it may be a surprise to many people but I do not have a degree in public health. I was actually working on a PhD in demography and sociology....
The Magic and Responsibility of Science in Shaping Public Health Policy
Boris D. Lushniak, MD, MPH, RADM, USPHS (Ret.)
The definition of science is what? Science is magic but it’s real, so we take magic. We get that aspiration of what could be, but it’s based on reality, and...
Share Your Stories!
We are seeking stories from those who benefit from public health—patients, families, and community members, as well as public health professionals working on the frontlines and our members. Your stories will help us change the narrative about the importance of public health funding and programs at the local, state, and national levels.
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Public health is everything—it touches every part of our lives and communities.
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Everyone deserves a life made better by public health.
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Public health = clean air, thriving lives, and justice for all.
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Stories move hearts; data drives decisions.
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Science and facts must lead our communication—now more than ever.
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Prevention, education, and empathy are the backbone of public health.
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Public health saves lives and saves money.
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Diversity, cultural competency, and service strengthen public health for all.
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We must support public health students through meaningful internships and training.
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Public health is essential for a healthier world, a stronger economy, and a safer future.
- I get to make changes within the communities I live, learn, and play. From the ground up!
- I was inspired to pursue public health because I wanted to make systemic change. I find myself in academia and my alma mater supporting public health students to make amazing changes.
- International public health students bring valuable perspective and skills! #supportinternationalstudents
- APE (Applied Practice Experience) Projects can help strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations in research, funding, and advocacy.
- To fight for the right reasons! Public health saves lives!
- Chronic infections live. TB is real! We need to team-up with other public health and clinical/healthcare professionals and ensure the rates decrease.
- I was inspired to pursue public health by the ability it gave me to contribute to the health of my communities from local to global.
- The ability to create your opportunities!
- I would not exist if it weren’t for research into pre-RhoGAM options for mothers. Thanks to UTMB Galveston and the U.S. Public Health Service.
- Inspired by wanting to advocate for rights of people who don’t have the same privileges as us.
- My path to public health was unplanned and just a story of doing “the next right thing” (to quote Elsa).
- I got to work with dedicated, passionate folks when I was young, and I wanted to be just like them!
- Opportunity to create systemic changes that benefit entire communities.
- The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Training the next generation of public health experts/superstars!
- HBCUs for public health.
- I love teaching in public health and environmental health because I enjoy inspiring the next generation and also getting inspired by them.
- I got my first public health job through a faculty connection during my MPH. Academic public health works!
- Collaboration between schools of public health across the world.
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Public health is a career for people who care about activism, science, and health.
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It’s the heart of our communities—prevention, equity, advocacy, and access.
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Public health = mental health, environmental health, and health policy.
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All health is public health. So is all law.
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Community engagement and communication are essential public health tools.
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It’s about teaching, research, service, and practice—all integrated.
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Public health means caring for everyone, inclusively and without borders.
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Embrace conflict to find better solutions.
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Data justice, antiracism, and access to a healthy life for all.
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Real public health is love, life, and liberation.
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Public health is protecting people and the planet. One Earth.