Health Behavior and Health Equity

Darius Moore in a blue/gray suit, white shirt sand salmon tie posing for a portrait photo

Transforming public health education through public engagement

Darius Moore, MPH ’24

Recognized for his advocacy, particularly for people of color, Darius Moore, MPH ’24, has been instrumental in leading seminars and conferences during his tenure at Michigan Public Health. Now a doctoral student in Health Behavior & Health Equity at Michigan Public Health, his work in HIV prevention has solidified his status as an exceptional individual poised to make a lasting impact.

Barbara Israel

Barbara Israel: Driven to give back

Pioneering community-based participatory researcher commits to fostering future public health leaders

Barbara Israel’s career at the University of Michigan School of Public Health has been defined by her unwavering commitment to community-based participatory research (CBPR), health equity and her students. Israel, professor emerita of Health Behavior & Health Equity, has spent the majority of her career fostering and supporting community-academic partnerships aimed at understanding and addressing social determinants of health inequities.

Darrell Hudson

New chair aims to 'eliminate racial, ethnic, socioeconomic inequities in health'

Darrell Hudson, MPH ’05, PhD ’09

Returning to the University of Michigan School of Public Health feels like a full-circle moment for Darrell Hudson, MPH ’05, PhD ’09. As the new chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Hudson brings with him a profound passion for public health, deeply rooted in his experiences growing up in Detroit. He faced many adversities that would later shape his career in public health.

Rachel Varisco

Connecting with community through human-centered, public health lens

Rachel Varisco, MPH ’20

Rachel Varisco, who earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is a project evaluation manager/community engagement associate at the University of California-Irvine, where she is called on to fill many roles.

Ali Jawad

Alumnus is bridging gaps in health technology as a consultant for Deloitte

Ali Jawad, MPH ’19

The routes to a career in healthcare are numerous, with pathways that ultimately produce surgeons, radiologists, technicians and physician assistants. Ali Jawad, MPH ’19, has found that he can best serve the greater community by taking a different avenue. He provides the bridge that ultimately brings the necessary and appropriate care to thousands as a consultant for Deloitte.

Kellie Paich

Alumna 'focuses on entire person' as part of patient care at Movember

Kellie Paich, MPH ’14

Kellie Paich, MPH ’14, is well-versed in prostate cancer treatments and the disease’s prevalence, with more than 200,000 annual diagnoses in the United States. Paich, who earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, emphasizes the need for a sensitive initial patient approach.