Welcome to Findings
What drives someone to pursue public health? Often, it begins with witnessing hardship—and refusing to accept it. In this issue of Findings, meet faculty, a student-athlete and an alumna whose personal experiences shaped careers dedicated to change. From food security to sickle cell disease equity to gene therapy, their stories remind us why this work matters. This is why.

The weight of knowledge
How living with sickle cell shapes Melissa Creary's mission for health justice

Double helix
How Josh Knudten balances Big Ten wrestling with his public health pursuits

Science rooted in community
How Jennifer Garner's upbringing drives her nutrition research

How a biostatistician found her calling in climate action
How Candice Ammori, MS '20, went from finance to founding Climate Vine — connecting climate professionals across policy, investment, tech and science.

Collaborators shaping public health through advocacy, storytelling
Faculty authors Paul Fleming and Bill Lopez discuss their new books on prevention policy and deportation trauma at "Libros at Lunchtime."

Exploring public health in a galaxy not so far away...
CDC scholar and Star Wars Club president Owen Chun channels leadership and self-taught coding into public health advocacy.

Why we choose public health
How witnessing hardship guides purpose, and how students and faculty turn resolve into action.

Class notes
Michigan Public Health alumni are making headlines, led by Ali Abazeed, MPH '17, named Detroit's new chief public health officer.

Michigan Public Health faculty rank among most cited researchers
Study names 58 faculty among the world's top 2% most cited scientists.
Past Issues
- Fall 2025
- Spring 2025
- Fall 2024
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- Spring 2021
- Spring 2020
If you are looking for a digital copy of an archived issue of Findings prior to 2020, please email sph.communications@umich.edu.
Listen to
the experts
The Population Healthy podcast provides a deeper dive into the stories, science, and people driving public health progress. Listen when you want thoughtful, in-depth conversations that unpack complex issues in an accessible, narrative-driven format—perfect for your commute or whenever you have time to dig in.




















