Student Q&A: Brenden Smith

After graduating from MSU’s James Madison College with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy, Master of Public Health (MPH) student Brenden Smith was inspired to pursue a career that combined his quantitative analysis skills with his passion for helping create healthier communities.

Now preparing to complete the program at the end of April, Brenden reflects on his MPH experience in this Q&A.

10 Years Later...MSU Experts are Available to Comment on What's Next for Flint

Michigan State University has a long-standing relationship with the city of Flint, Michigan. MSU Extension has been working with people in Genesee County for more than 100 years and continues to offer programs to help residents thrive. MSU Medical students have been studying, volunteering and working in the community since 1971. Over 300 students from the colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and Nursing are engaged in Flint, along with faculty, staff and researchers.

Flint Rx Kids Receives Silver ADDY Award for Website

Congratulations to the Rx Kids communications team on winning a Silver ADDY® award for its online interactive website for consumers from the American Advertising Federation Greater Flint. 

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting nearly 30,000 entries every year in local AAF Club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Improving Michigan Child and Family Outcomes

The Michigan State University Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Initiative and the Flint Odyssey House have been awarded a total of $100,000 in research and service “sister” grants from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. This community-academic team will evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Flint Odyssey House’s enhanced parenting services for pregnant and postpartum women receiving substance use disorder treatment in Flint and Saginaw, MI.

MSU Researchers Create a New Health Equity Evaluation Tool for Genesee County and the City of Flint

Community-based organizations, nonprofits, policymakers and local residents will benefit from the first Health Equity Report Card, or HERC, for Genesee County and the city of Flint. The online tool helps people understand the overall landscape of community health by comparing 50 health-related indicators from 26 public sources.

Flint Spartan Scholar Q&A: Alexandria Liquia

Michigan State University is excited to congratulate Alexandria Liquia as the 2023 recipient of the Flint Spartan Master of Public Health Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming Master of Public Health (MPH) student who lives or works in the greater Flint community.

In this Q&A, she shares her experience as a Flint Spartan Scholar.

Key Mental Health Services Could Reduce Jail Time

Counties could save money and keep more people out of jail by improving access to community-based mental health and substance use disorder services, according to a study led by a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine professor. 

The study published by Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association, identified 59 recommended mental health practices, but found that United States counties, on average, offered only a few of them.  

From Public Health to Peace Corps

Immersive experiences in the field cannot be taught in a classroom. The key to becoming a successful global health professional is stepping out of your comfort zone and traveling somewhere new. Master of Public Health (MPH) alumna Jenna Koelsch, MPH ’23, is gaining meaningful experiences in the Peace Corps as an HIV/AIDS Youth and Adolescent Health Advocacy Volunteer in Lesotho, Africa.

Providing Resources When People Need Them Most

Warning: This story talks about suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call, text or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You matter. You are important.

According to Jennifer Johnson, C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health in MSU’s College of Human Medicine in Flint and Chief Translation Officer with the MSU Office of Health Sciences, suicide can be avoided with proper behavioral intervention. The key, of course, is to connect the right people with the right resources at the right time.

Rx Kids All We Need is Love Launch Bash

FREE community event celebrating Rx Kids. 

Dress in red for a celebration of health, hope, and opportunity on Valentine’s Day.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Six Students Honored as Inaugural Delta Omega Inductees

The Epsilon Pi Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at Michigan State University is pleased to announce the College of Human Medicine’s inaugural spring 2024 inductees. Each year, Delta Omega elects new students, faculty, alumni, and honorary members based on high academic standards and outstanding performance in scholarship, teaching, research, and community service. Election of membership in Delta Omega is intended to recognize merit and encourage further excellence in and devotion to public health work.

Enrollment Open: Flint Makes History with Launch of Rx Kids

On January 10, 2024, at 10 am, City of Flint pregnant moms and newborns started enrolling in Rx Kids, the first citywide maternal and infant cash prescription program in the nation.

Joined by Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Michigan State University Interim President Teresa Woodruff, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation President Ridgway White, and Rx Kids families and newborns, Governor Gretchen Whitmer kicked off the historic launch at a 10:30 am press conference at Hurley Children’s Hospital.