Epidemiology Results

A collage of photos of Josh Knudten wearing a lab coat looking through a microscope and on the wrestling mat in his singlet and headgear

Double helix

How Josh Knudten balances Big Ten wrestling with his public health pursuits

Meet Josh Knudten, a University of Michigan wrestler and first-year master’s student in Hospital Molecular Epidemiology. Drawn to science before sports, he balances Division I training with graduate coursework through discipline and support. Inspired by gene therapy’s life-changing impact, he’s pursuing a career in biotech, drug development and public health.

Interim Dean Lynda Lisabeth

Why we choose public health

How witnessing hardship guides purpose, and how students and faculty turn resolve into action: Why people choose public health often highlights community, equity, and the drive to improve systems that fail people—encouraging prospective students to remember their “why” and keep building change.

Jennifer Head in a field with protective mask and gloves

The first line of defense

Investigating the spread of fungal infections due to climate change

Fungal pathogens are often somewhat of an apparition, an unexpected and seemingly invisible opponent of good health, until they are exposed under a laboratory lens or on a chest X-ray. Jennifer Head is helping to compose the book on understanding these potent vectors of disease, which sometimes can be misdiagnosed as pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancer.

Five members of PHAST in PHAST T-SHIRTS share a laugh

On a PHAST track

Public health students’ experiences beyond the classroom prepare them for success

The Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) at Michigan Public Health offers students hands-on experience in public health. During the most recent annual trip to Grenada, students worked on projects like promoting voluntary blood donation, enhancing Alzheimer’s care, and supporting disability services, demonstrating the vital role of experiential learning and community engagement in driving public health initiatives.

A plant illustration growing and blossoming

Living fuller lives

Finding innovative ways to foster purposeful living and positive social connections

Americans of all ages face increasing loneliness and mental health issues. Michigan Public Health is addressing this crisis through research by faculty such as Victor Strecher promoting purposeful living, Lindsay Kobayashi studying health impacts of loneliness, and John Piette’s SPEAK! program fostering social connections.

Map of the stet of Michigan with the words

Test page

The commitment to public health begins right here in Michigan

The University of Michigan stands out as a premier public research institution and, within it, the School of Public Health is recognized as an epicenter of innovative research and excellence in education. Last year, Michigan Public Health topped $100 million in research expenditures, boasting the highest research expenditure per faculty member across the university.