Class Notes: Fall 2025
University of Michigan School of Public Health alumni success stories.
PhD
'The point is human health'
Doctoral student feels compelled to help others
When Jennifer Smith considers the role researchers should play as environmental disasters devastate communities across the map, she is guided by her concern for the individuals connected to the countless personal stories, and an awareness of the immeasurable pain involved in places such as Flint, Michigan, and East Palestine, Ohio.
Welcome Class of 2021: Photo Gallery
Recent graduates from the University of Michigan School of Public Health share their thoughts about distance learning, the many things they learned as students, and the personal and communal resilience that helped them navigate multiple public health crises while working toward graduate degrees.
Patient Discrimination during a Health Care Encounter
A new paper looks at patient experiences of discrimination in the US health system, finding that the types of discrimination a person can encounter in a health care setting varies, with 21% of non-institutionalized, English-speaking US adults experiencing discrimination while seeking medical care.
Disordered Eating in Female Athletes Fueled by Body Image Ideals, Coach-Athlete Power Dynamic
A new study shows that body-image ideals and the power dynamic between coach and female athletes may contribute to an athlete’s risk of disordered eating and body image disturbance. The research of current and former female NCAA Division I female distance runners highlights the importance of prevention and intervention programs.
How Hospital Chaplains Are Helping People Deal with the Pandemic
The majority of Americans say they are aware of chaplains and desire their services, yet few report previous experience with them in health care. Geila Rajaee, a doctoral candidate at the U-M School of Public Health, discusses how chaplaincy is perceived in the US, and how that might be changing during the pandemic.