Health Care Results

Two photos of Melissa Creary, one with her looking to the left and one straight with graphic elements of red sickle cells

The weight of knowledge

How living with sickle cell shapes Melissa Creary’s mission for health justice

Melissa Creary, associate professor of Health Behavior & Health Equity and Global Public Health, turns a delayed childhood sickle cell diagnosis into two decades of science, policy and advocacy. From building CDC surveillance to researching racism and “bounded justice” in Brazil, she centers lived experience and community voices—insisting innovation like gene editing must deliver equity, not stigma.

Jessica Holloway in front of the 2nd Avenue bridge near the Edsel Ford Highway in Detroit.

A passion for policy

Summer internship at Henry Ford Health transforms understanding of healthcare policy’s real-world impact

Michigan Public Health faces unprecedented challenges to life-saving research. As federal funding threats emerge, alumni and supporters must act now—share research stories, advocate for public health, and provide critical financial support. Your contribution secures discoveries that save lives worldwide.

An animated gif of a robot throwing donots and then getting hit in the face with an apple

Game on

Transforming smartphones into health-boosting tools

What if the power behind the programs that keep us leashed to our devices actually delivered good health, disease prevention—even digital vaccinations? Rahul Ladhania, assistant professor of Health Informatics, Biostatistics and Health Management & Policy at Michigan Public Health, is part of a team of global researchers doing the painstaking work of subverting the formidable powers of computer algorithms into a force for good.

Zhariyah Laughlin, left, watches as Frederique Laubepin shows the class what to do on the whiteboard

Embracing AI in the classroom

A new frontier in public health education

A group of students in an artificial intelligence class taught by Frederique Laubepin at Michigan Public Health created WanderWell, an AI-powered app offering 24/7, stigma-free support. By utilizing GPT-4 technology, a language model developed by OpenAI, these students designed WanderWell to deliver empathetic, culturally competent care, harm reduction strategies, and access to local resources and emergency services.

FRom left to right, Justin Colacino, Xiang Zhou, Irina Gaynanova and John Piette

The future is here

Michigan Public Health is taking bold steps with AI

AI is not only enhancing the way knowledge is generated and shared, but it’s also redefining the potential for healthcare and public health advancements. Behind its research might, the University of Michigan School of Public Health leads the charge in this transformative paradigm shift.

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.