UWF Department of Public Health

Earlier this week, faculty, students, and alumni from the Department of Public Health attended the Florida Public Health Association (FPHA) Annual Educational Conference in Kissimmee, Florida. The theme of this year's conference was Public Health Unbound: Here, There, Everywhere. The UWF Department of Public Health proudly supports this vision by producing impactful, translational research and providing comprehensive, competency-based public health education.

Scroll through the pictures to learn more about how we advance public health in Florida and beyond! 🤩

Want to see more? Comment on this post to receive notifications when more participant photos are added.

Learn more about our programs by visiting our websites:
Bachelor of Science in Public: https://uwf.edu/programs/online/public-health-bs/
Master of Public Health:
https://uwf.edu/programs/online/public-health-mph/

UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

🫁 Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer deaths in the United States. University of West Florida Master of Public Health students are working hard to change that!

During the MPH program, students participate in an applied practice experience (aka practicum or internship) with a public health agency of their choosing. Students can work with one practicum agency, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Platform (HQUIP), to expand access to lung cancer screening services. The American Cancer Society recently recognized one of HQUIP's partner hospitals - the Community Medical Center in Falls City, NE - for screening more than 28% of eligible patients for lung cancer, higher than the national average of only 18%!

Congratulations to HQUIP, the Community Medical Center, and our MPH student interns on this awesome recognition! 🌟

Interested in gaining impactful, applied public health experience? Apply for the UWF MPH program today! https://uwf.edu/programs/online/public-health-mph/

Read more about HQUIP's lung cancer screening success here:
https://rivercountry.newschannelnebraska.com/story/50982928/falls-city-hospital-vigilant-against-lung-cancer

UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

Falls City hospital vigilant against lung cancer Community Medical Center collaborates with Health Care Quality Improvement Platform

Get an MPH | Affordable | Accredited | Online
http://www.uwf.edu/publichealth
Contact us | [email protected]

📣 RESEARCH ALERT! 🤱

Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue's original research article, "Investigating the association between metabolic syndrome conditions and perinatal mental illness: a national administrative claims study," was published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth today. This study of a large, national dataset found that

1) Mothers with any metabolic syndrome conditions (such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.) were more likely to also have a mental health condition after delivering their baby than mothers without any metabolic syndrome conditions.

2) On average, these mental health condition diagnoses occurred about 135 days postpartum, but current treatment guidelines dictate that the last follow-up appointment for pregnancy and delivery happens only about 42 days postpartum.

This study therefore highlights the need to revisit current treatment guidelines to better meet the needs of mothers and their families.

Congratulations and great work, Dr. Chhabria! 🤩

Read the article here:

Investigating the association between metabolic syndrome conditions and perinatal mental illness: a national administrative claims study - BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Background Although the association between mental disorder and metabolic syndrome as a bidirectional relationship has been demonstrated, there is little knowledge of the cumulative and individual effect of these conditions on peripartum mental health. This study aims to investigate the association....

On April 18th, undergraduate students (back, left to right) Amelia Atchison, Collin Groundwater, Hayley Smith, and (front) Claudia Li presented their poster, "The Effects of Food Insecurity among Individuals during the Perinatal Period in Northwest Florida: A Snapshot of Project Development," at the UWF Student Scholars Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase. Dr. Colette Davis (Public Health), Dr. Karishma Chhabria (Public Health), and Dr. Cynthia Smith-Peters (Nursing) were the faculty mentors for the project. Congratulations, all! 👍

And special thanks to the UWF Office of Undergraduate Research for hosting the symposium -- opportunities like these help our undergrad students shine! ☀️

UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

On April 9th, Master of Public Health student Emily Mitchell presented her research poster, "Prevalence of Infant Mortality in Madison County, Florida" at the 2024 Conference of Florida Graduate Schools. The event brought together institutions of higher education from across Florida and featured student presenters from across the state. Great work, Emily! 👏

Help us improve the health of our community and beyond by allocating your gift to Public Health!

We're in third place with less than 4 hours to go. Let's goooo!
Donate Here: https://bit.ly/3xx5kVa

Offering to help with tasks and responsibilities, accompanying your pregnant friends to their appointments, and donating supplies to the pregnant people in your life are all great ways to show your support and love.

Do you know how to spot misinformation on social media? Take some time today to learn from trusted sources how you can protect yourself against online health myths. If you're not sure where to start, check out this article from Boston University: https://bit.ly/49o1OcL

🏠 Thank you to those who participated in the Poverty Simulation on campus with us yesterday! It was a truly meaningful experience that highlighted the importance of creating and maintaining healthy neighborhoods. Didn't get to participate? Come to the next simulation on Monday, June 3 from 2-5pm! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTsrvtPBGf8ALYjVixIIqQhwp4WAwTGkTPV6tZKHtzX4C18g/viewform

Do you know your neighbors? To make your neighborhood a better place, try taking a walk, chatting with your neighbors, or donating to your local food bank. You might be surprised at what you learn and who you meet!

🩸 OneBlood was on campus earlier today, and Program Coordinator Kristin Reichardt stopped by to donate blood in celebration of National Public Health Week. Way to go, Kristin!

Donating blood is a positive way to contribute to your community, even if you have a negative blood type! 😁 Didn't get a chance to donate today? The Big Red Bus will be back on campus tomorrow 4/2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. behind the Commons. All donors receive a $20 eGift card, an insulated tote bag, and a wellness checkup. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Please visit oneblood.org/donate-now and use sponsor code 16296. Can't come to campus? Consider donating at your local blood drive!

Why do you donate blood? Let us know in the comments 💬

🗣 Join us for a virtual Public Health Community Discussion Panel from 12 to 1 p.m. CST today! Faculty and staff will discuss our program, current public health topics, and how public health entities like ours can be more involved in our communities.
Zoom: https://uwf.zoom.us/j/82213133021

Happy National Public Health Week!

Did you know...any time an individual acts as a member of a community, they are exercising ? You can be actively involved in the health of your community by registering to vote, attending a public community meeting, or simply reading your local news.

What other ideas do you have for how we can exercise civic engagement and promote public health? Let us know in the comments! 👇 👇

Online Master's in Public Health (MPH) | UWF Online Experience a high-quality, multidisciplinary perspective on public health with the online master's in public health from UWF.

Department of Public Health looks forward to BSPH and MPH students on stage. Showcase your impactful collaborative work with faculty and practitioners in the field.

Attention Argos!✨ OUR is happy to announce that we are now accepting abstract submissions for the 2024 UWF Student Scholar Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase!

The UWF Student Scholar Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase features scholarly and creative works produced through collaboration between UWF students and faculty. Every year, we celebrate the successes and hard work of the Argo community through the Symposium. This event's presentations are also an excellent opportunity for UWF students to practice professional communication and networking skills!

All UWF undergraduates, graduates, recent graduates, adjuncts, and faculty members are welcome to apply and showcase their work at the Symposium. A student who has participated in an OUR program, such as receiving an OUR Project Award or Travel Award, is required to present their research project at the Symposium. Students will need the endorsement of a UWF faculty member to present their work (the student application will be routed to the faculty member to provide his/her endorsement).

If you are interested in presenting, abstract submissions are due March 18, 2024!

The symposium will occur on April 18, 2024!

Learn more about the symposium, here: https://bit.ly/3HkkuhZ

Apply now, here: https://bit.ly/OURapplication

For any additional questions, please contact us: [email protected] | 850.474.2298



UWF Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering UWF Department of Psychology, Usha Kundu, MD College of Health UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities UWF School of Education UWF College of Business UWF Libraries UWF Career Development and Community Engagement UWF Student Engagement UWF Campus Activity Board UWF Commons & Student Activities UWF Housing & Residence Life UWF Fraternity & Sorority Life UWF SGA UWF CFPA University of West Florida UWF Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government

Start your future in public health with the University of West Florida's Master of Public Health (MPH) program!

💻 100% online
✅ accredited
💲 affordable (90% out-of-state tuition waiver)
🎓 ~98% of graduates employed in public health
3️⃣ three concentrations to choose from
📊 translate research into practice
😃 drive positive change

Visit https://onlinedegrees.uwf.edu/online-degrees/mph-masters-public-health/ today for more information and to apply! Fall 2024 applications are due August 11th, 2024.

This afternoon, Department of Public Health Assistant Professor Dr. Karishma Chhabria gave a presentation on her research to UWF undergraduate and graduate biology students. Dr. Chhabria's research focuses on the intersection between mental illness and physical health, particularly in head and neck cancer patients and perinatal women. Kudos, Dr. Chhabria! 👩‍🏫

Interested in public health research? Students can get involved by reaching out to our faculty. Visit https://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/public-health/faculty/ to learn more about them and their research interests!

UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health | UWF Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering

Transfer students belong at UWF. uwf.edu/transfer

Join us on campus on Thursday, February 29th for UWF's first-ever Healthy Living Summit, Community Health Conference!

Join UWF for their first hosting of the Healthy Living Summit, Community Health Conference!

When: February 29, 2024 from 930AM-130PM.
Where: Center for Fine and Performing Arts

Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM and Catrine Tudor-Locke, PhD, FACSM, FNAK will be the featured keynote speakers at the first Healthy Living Summit at UWF.

Dr. Michael Greger is an internationally recognized nutrition expert and a New York Times bestselling author. His talk will focus on evidenced- based nutrition science in his new book, “How Not to Age.” Based on his reviews of over 13,000 scientific publications, he will present logical and practical “do-it-yourself” interventions to slow the aging process itself.

Dr. Tudor-Locke is an esteemed researcher known worldwide for her work in the field of walking behavior and has set highly referenced guidelines for “how many steps per day are enough” that are used globally. She is presently the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Charlotte.

Register for the free event, here: https://lifestylemedicinewellnessandrecovery.com/events-list/healthy-living-summit-community-health-conference/

UWF Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities UWF School of Education UWF College of Business UWF Libraries UWF Career Development and Community Engagement UWF Student Engagement UWF Campus Activity Board UWF Commons & Student Activities UWF Housing & Residence Life UWF Fraternity & Sorority Life UWF SGA UWF CFPA University of West Florida UWF Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government

STUDENT SHOUTOUT 📣 Anam Khan is an MPH student and teaching assistant for our Biostatistics for Public Health course taught by Drs. Karishma Chhabria and Colette Davis this semester. In November, she visited us on campus and posed for a pic with Dr. Chhabria to celebrate Diwali. ✨

Below, she reflects on her experiences in the program and as a teaching assistant. Way to go, Anam!


UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

"My time as a teaching assistant in UWF’s Department of Public Health for the past year has proven to be an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience. The role of a teaching assistant
was a new challenge for me in the beginning, but everyone in the department made the adjustment into this role feel easy and natural. Throughout the year, I have had the pleasure of
getting to know the faculty, co-workers, and students who comprise the department. Despite working remotely, the department made me feel as though I was there. The collaborative spirit within the department has fostered an environment where ideas are exchanged freely, and innovation is encouraged. As an employee of UWF’s Department of Public Health, I am tasked
with the responsibility of helping students academically grow to achieve their goals. From facilitating virtual discussions to grading assignments, this allowed me to engage closely with the students and contribute to their academic growth. The relationships formed, the lessons learned, and the shared commitment to the field have left an indelible mark on my professional journey. I am excited about the continued growth of the department and look forward to remaining connected with this community even beyond my role as a teaching assistant."

New Year | Journey to a humanitarian career in Public Health | Locally - Globally

Apply | ONLINE Master of Public Health
Visit: Onlinedegrees.uwf.edu

Fall 2023 commencement happening right now in Pesacola, FL.

Congratulations to the these amzing emerging Public Health leaders | Custodians of The Future
Represented here from Bangladesh | Cameroon | Haiti | Georgia | India | Nigeria | Costa Rica | New Jersey

UWF Public Health coming to you from the Georgia World Congress Center. Atlanta, GA for the American Public Health Association annual meeting ongoing November 12-15. Pictures from the Opening General Session. Over 13,000 participants are expected here at this gathering. , our work continues.

UWF Public Health | We are part of a worldwide cadre of caring and compassionate professionals for good health, wellness, and community resilience.

Are you excited about the future of public health? Join us at to learn about the Campaign for the Public’s Health: Shared Priorities, Collaboration, and Next Steps to Modernize the U.S. Public Health System 🌍🤗 apha.confex.com/apha/2023/meetingapp.cgi/Session/67881

Sartuday was football game was a blast | dedicated to the public health of Breast Cancer awareness | It was awesome to see eveyone in Pink shirts and the Pink boots

Public Health | Promote - Prevent | Eliminate breast cancer disparities | uwf.edu/mph

UWF Department of Public Health is proud of our graduates, who make a difference in the community, region, and state.
Public Health Is Our Passion | Our Truth

Psychology BA and MPH alum Brittany Hensley discovered a sense of community and purpose when she joined the UWF Peer Education program. Joining the program not only enriched her college experience but also laid the foundation for her future career. Her story reminds us that embracing challenges, seeking opportunities, and finding purpose can lead to a fulfilling & impactful journey through academia and beyond.

UWF Public Health CARES | Our Passion | Our Creed for Sustainable Community Resilience

Get an MPH | Be Well To Do Well
Visit UWF Global Online: Onlinedegrees.uwf.edu
Fully Online | Affordable | Flexible
Apply Today: Fall classes start August 22, 2023
Contact us @: [email protected]

University of West Florida Online Degrees | Pensacola, FL Join the next generation of big thinkers by earning your degree online from University of West Florida. Choose from programs in business, health, and more.

We Care | A Premier Program Without Borders
Get an MPH Online | Accredited | Affordable | Flexible
Contact us| [email protected]

Earn an MPH | Apply now: https://onlinedegrees.uwf.edu/online-degrees/mph-masters-public-health/

Make a difference with an MPH | No GRE required
Visit UWF Global Online: Onlinedegrees.uwf.edu
Fully Online | Affordable | Flexible

Earn an MPH | Apply now: https://onlinedegrees.uwf.edu/online-degrees/mph-masters-public-health/