November 14 is World Diabetes Day, and November is American Diabetes Month.

During the global coronavirus pandemic, racial and ethnic minorities with diabetes and multiple chronic conditions had a difficult time accessing routine care. John M. Clements, assistant professor of public health in the College of Human Medicine, looks at three time periods during the pandemic to better understand trends in care, inform an equitable public health response, and improve access to care.

Content warning: This story talks about intimate partner violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). You matter. You are important. 

The Michigan State University Division of Public Health was chosen from a wide pool of entries to receive the Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Awards in the Video or Visual Design category for its passionate work. The awards celebrate the teams, organizations, and agencies whose work positively impacts communities, whether internally, locally, or globally. 

Staff Spotlight with Alan Harris
Meet Alan Harris. He serves as a Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst for MSU Division of Public Health and multiple Flint community organizations; including FCHES, Flint Registry, and Flint ReCAST.

The Flint native talks about working in his hometown, what motivates his work, and analyzing public health data from a geographic perspective. Get to know Alan in this Q&A.

As part of the accreditation process, the Michigan State Master of Public Health (MPH) program has been engaged in a self-study of the program’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement related to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation criteria. Our site visit with the accreditors concluded on November 12, 2021. Having met all 35 criteria, the Council on Education for Public Health Board of Councilors acted to accredit the Michigan State University Master of Public Health from June 15, 2019, through July 1, 2027.

Staff Spotlight with Sarah Egan
Meet dietitian and public health professional Sarah Egan, MPH, RD. She is the Project Coordinator for the Michigan State University-Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative (PPHI), Nutrition team.

She talks about finding her dream job, Flint Kids Cook, overcoming challenges at work during COVID-19, and how transitioning to a virtual class helped reach more kids and brought families together.

Robey B. Champine, PhD, MS, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health Program, where she teaches courses on social and behavioral aspects of public health and program evaluation. Her research involves partnering with communities to design, implement, and evaluate programs for children exposed to potentially traumatic events.

RODLESCIA SNEED: 
FACULTY VOICE
As an undergraduate, I was always interested in doing work related to health disparities and increasing health equity. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I decided to take a few years off before going to graduate school. During this time, I took a position with a social service organization, and that work cemented my interest in public health.

Air pollutant exposures are associated with adverse birth outcomes and worsening symptoms of asthma, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. How can Michiganders track local forecasted air quality? Robert Wahl, DVM, MS, assistant professor in the College of Human Medicine’s Master of Public Health program, explains how.

Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha today testified on safe water infrastructure before the U.S. Congressional Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

Dr. Mona, a pediatrician and public health expert, identified safe drinking water infrastructure as a public health crisis and pressed lawmakers to support President Biden’s proposal in the American Job’s Plan to replace 100% of the nation's lead pipes.

Leah Maschino has always been interested in helping people. She is following her passion by working with the Flint Community to overcome health disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Take a moment to reflect on major environmental trends in our communities and how they shape our health," asks Dr. Robert Glandon, MPH Instructor. There is a growing body of evidence that the built environment influences the health of people who live there. For example, inaccessible or non-existent sidewalks contribute to sedentary habits. These habits lead to poor health outcomes, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.