Dr. Jennifer Johnson

Maternal mental health is a critical public health component of perinatal care and maternal safety. Postpartum depression can have lasting consequences for the mother, child, and family. After each birth, 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression.

Viviana Quintino-Zavala finds joy in contributing to public health initiatives as a leader within her community in Kent County, Michigan. Her desire to promote health equity in underserved communities inspired her to pursue a career in public health. As she enters the final semester of her degree, Viviana reflects on working in public health and what motivates her.

Learn more about Viviana's experience as an MPH student in this Q&A. 

The Flint Registry Logo

The Flint Registry has reached – and surpassed – its original goal of enrolling 20,000 participants. With approximately 20,276 enrollees (and counting!) and over 30,000 connections to critical support services, the Flint Registry continues to fulfill its mission of improving public health. "Reaching over 20,000 people in our community and connecting them to crucial resources is an important milestone," Nicole Jones, PhD, MS, Flint Registry Director, said. 

Spring 2022 brought two milestones for Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate Catherine Washington: a new degree and a new full-time position. “I went into the job hunt with a very diverse set of experiences and skills. MSU’s MPH program provides opportunities for you to research new topics, develop new skills, and explore the day-to-day of other career paths,” said Washington. 

Sarah Enlow and Jill Vondrasek receive Ragan CSR and Diversity Honorable Mention Award

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. 

Dr. Rick Sadler

We know that structural racism has far-reaching and enduring impacts on the built environment of neighborhoods and on the health of the people who live there. Structural racism both contributes to and is compounded by neighborhood disadvantage, the overconcentration of alcohol outlets, the incidence of firearm violence, the unequal redevelopment of urban areas via gentrification, and rates of childhood obesity.

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 I sat in the vaccine clinic last year, rolling up my sleeve, I felt a small pop in my belly- a tiny movement from my baby. That little kick reminded me of why getting my COVID-19 vaccine was so very important. I was protecting both of us against COVID-19 and the associated complications, which include preterm delivery and severe maternal illness and increased risk of death. I was also giving him antibodies, or immune-fighter cells, that would help him as a newborn and an infant, for up to six months.

In the past year, gun violence has become the leading cause of death in children, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. Though school shootings often gain widespread media attention due to their horrific and tragic nature, they account for only a minority of gun-related deaths in the country. Homicides and suicides are the leading cause of gun-related injuries and deaths, with unintentional injuries and deaths being a smaller proportion.

Each year, the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) recognizes individuals or groups who have contributed significantly to creating and/or implementing policies or policy-based changes that support and positively impact the food and physical activity environment. The 2022 recipient of the Advisory Committee on Public Policy Health Promotion Policy Award is the Flint Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program.

Kendra Shannon

As the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Black Americans and shed a light on the importance of public health, Kendra Shannon knew she had to act. Her commitment to creating lasting change in society led her to pursue her Master of Public Health.

Learn more about what inspires her in this Q&A. 

CEPH Accredited Master's Logo

The Michigan State University online Master of Public Health degree program (MPH) earns accreditation by signifying the highest standards of achievement and a commitment to quality education. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) review team, composed of elected deans and directors, approved MSU’s accreditation at the CEPH Board of Councilors meeting on June 1 – 3, 2022. Accreditation begins from June 15, 2019, through July 1, 2027.