Public Health Week receives strong support and participation from campus community

At the recent 2022 National Public Health Week (NPHW), the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health (CPH) and campus community showed up in strong numbers to support various events in shedding light on different public health issues, celebrating the impact public health has on the world, and bringing additional awareness to the field of public health.

Daily events were held throughout the week of Monday, April 4 through Friday, April 8, which were free and open to the public.

Building on this year’s theme, "Public Health is Where You Are,” the UK College of Public Health championed and organized daily events exploring the role of strong communities on mental, physical, and environmental health, and providing opportunities to highlight important research in public health.

“The nature of public health is that the work is usually done by silent heroes who are quietly making a positive impact in the background of everyday life,” said Jillian Faith, senior alumni coordinator at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and organizer of NPHW week. “This week brought additional attention to the impact of these heroes and the field of public health. It was amazing to see the volume of students, faculty, staff, and the community who came out to participate in these events.”

Some of the highlights of this year’s National Public Health Week at the University of Kentucky included:

• Interactive networking event with the Associate Dean for Practice and Workforce Development & Alumni, Janie Cambron, giving many students a fantastic opportunity to network with successful UK College of Public Health faculty, staff, and alumni.

• Strong attendance at the 2022 Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference, which was centered around the topic of climate and health. The event included a valuable keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Bullard, the “Father of Environmental Justice,” climate and health panel discussion, CCTS awards and recognition ceremony. Dr. Teresa Waters, Chair of the Health Management & Policy department at the College of Public Health, was recognized with an early-career faculty mentorship award.

• In collaboration with the CCTS conference, the Department of Biostatistics hosted approximately 50 students from Frederick Douglas High School’s Biomedical Sciences Pathway program to present their scientific posters. Dr. Amanda Ellis, Assistant Professor in the Biostatistics department, collaborated with current Master of Public Health (MPH) student, Jennifer O’Brien, a teacher at Frederick Douglas, to bring these students to campus. They toured the Markey Cancer Center, attended a presentation on future careers in science, participated in a poster presentation, and more.

• Informative research presentations at the UK College of Public Health Research Day, chaired by Doris M. Castellanos, Assistant Dean of Research Operations at the UK College of Public Health. Faculty presentations included Dr. Beverly May, Department of Epidemiology, “The Intersection of Sensemaking and Municipal Water Quality: A Case Study in One Rural Kentucky Community”, co-authored by Dr. Anna Hoover, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, and included community partners and faculty from the UK Colleges of Public Health, CAFE, Engineering, Nursing, and Communication and Information; and Keerthana K. Kumar, MD, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, “Recharge Moments: A Pilot Study to Improve Mindfulness in the Workplace”.

• Impactful community service project by a group of CPH students, faculty, and staff. They packed approximately 100 lunches for the Hope Center’s Hope Mobile Outreach Program, which helps feed the local homeless population (pictured).

• Timely conversation at the “Health For All Y’all” health equity panel discussion which brought together public health leaders to discuss health equity and social determinants of health through a variety of lenses, and to shed light on what can be done to improve the health of all Kentuckians.

• Creative exploration of art therapy methods, provided by UK Integrative Medicine & Health. Attendees learned how art therapy can be beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression, pain relief, and feelings of both physical and emotional well-being.

• College of Public Health students, and a faculty member, were awarded at a special ceremony at the Singletary Center for the Arts for their outstanding achievements. Congratulations to current students Dacey Shook – Howard Bost Undergraduate Award, Cam Asher – Howard Bost Graduate Award, Callihan Moraska – Undergraduate Research Award, Clay Bryant – Outstanding BPH Student, Abbi Strennen – Outstanding MHA Student, Scott Keel – Outstanding MPH Student (Environmental Health), Lexee Long – Outstanding MPH Student (Epidemiology), Keeghan Francis – Outstanding MPH Student (Health, Behavior & Society), Kelsey Gatton – Outstanding MPHA Student (HMP/HSPA), Lincoln Shade – Outstanding Doctoral Student (EPI/BST), and Kristen Van Buren – Outstanding Doctoral Student (DrPH). Dr. Richard Crosby was the recipient of this year’s Golden Apple Award for faculty.

The keynote speaker at the Awards Ceremony, Dr. Joseph L. Fink III, Professor of Pharmacy Law and Policy at the UK College of Pharmacy and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association Professor of Leadership at the University, Professor of Public Health in the UK College of Public Health and in the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, addressed the audience and said:

“The doors of opportunity for you to serve were opened for you when the University decided to launch the College of Public Health in 2004. Part of the motivation for that was the recognition and acknowledgement of UK’s commitment to the citizens and communities of the Commonwealth to advance their health status. Training future leaders for a wide variety of contributions to advance the health of the public, collectively and individually, is something the faculty and staff of the College are honored to do.”

During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation's health.

The UK College of Public Health is proud to lead in the planning, sponsoring, and celebration of National Public Health Week each year at the University of Kentucky. All events are free and open for everyone.