The School of Public Health proudly recognizes the accomplishments of 540 undergraduate, 74 master’s and 13 doctoral graduates who completed their degrees this spring! Congratulations to all our Public Health Terps!
National Initiative Taps Trusted Barbers and Stylists to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination
President Biden announces "Shots at the Shop," a collaboration between the Maryland Center for Health Equity, the Black Coalition Against COVID and SheaMoisture to train 1,000 Black-owned barbershops and hair salons nationwide to encourage people of color to get COVID-19 vaccinations
All eligible students, faculty, and staff who will be on University System of Maryland campuses this fall, including UMD, are required to be vaccinated against COVID. Find details and guidance on the 4 Maryland site.
At the University of Maryland School of Public Health, we are driven by a passion to break down the barriers that keep individuals, families, communities and populations from attaining optimum health and wellness. Explore some of the ways we work to promote health, prevent disease and prolong active, high-quality lives through the topics below.
Make a difference with a degree from UMD Public Health
Our mental health is an integral part of our overall health, yet barriers to mental health care and persistent stigma about mental illness make it difficult for everyone to achieve their best mental health. At the UMD School of Public Health, we are working to improve access to mental health care, and the quality of that care for underserved groups such as LGBTQ+ people, older adults and communities of color.
A national survey of LGBTQ+ college students, conducted by SPH doctoral student John P. Salerno, finds that large numbers are struggling with substance use, psychological distress, and social isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report recommends actions that university leaders should take to support the mental health of these vulnerable students.
Read a summary of the survey findings
Health literacy is about how people find, understand and use health information and services to decide on and take action to protect and promote health.
At the UMD School of Public Health, we aim to improve health literacy and increase health equity through clear communication strategies and techniques.
HealthyMe/MiSalud is a smartphone app to find and receive personalized health information aligned with health goals and personal and family histories. The Center for Health Literacy research team is developing this app for African Americans and Spanish-speaking Hispanic users.
Healthy Me/Mi Salud
The health and well-being of our children and families is the basis for a thriving and sustainable world. At the UMD School of Public Health, we examine how childhood experiences and family dynamics influence our health throughout life, and pursue research and policies that support the well-being of all families, caregivers and children.
Educational inequities that existed before the pandemic have become even deeper and difficult to bridge. A report by the Department of Family Science provided a wake-up call and recommendations for school systems to better support student engagement and success, particularly for Black and Latino K-12 students.
Report: Pandemic Exposes Educational Inequity Challenges
From exposure to extreme weather and worsening air pollution to the spread of food and water borne diseases — climate change is a health emergency. At the UMD School of Public Health, we are studying the ongoing health impacts of climate change in our communities and developing strategies to mitigate harm, promote sustainability and advocate for environmental justice.
The Maryland Climate and Health Profile report, produced by the UMD SPH in partnership with the state health department, provides an assessment of how climate change is affecting or will likely affect the health of Marylanders.
Maryland Climate and Health Profile Report
Physical activity is essential to maintaining health throughout life. At the UMD School of Public Health, we’re studying physical activity’s role in health from the cellular to the societal level. Programs examine impacts of activity on cognitive health and preventing injury and disease as we age and the role of our built environments in supporting active lifestyles.
Adults should do at least 2.5 hours to 5 hours a week of moderate-intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes to 2.5 hours a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Read the Physical Activity Guidelines
Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. At the UMD School of Public Health, we conduct research, lead interventions and inform policies that remove obstacles to health and aim to improve the conditions in which all people live, learn, work and play which can impact lifelong health and well-being.
Building trust in the COVID-19 vaccine in underserved communities of color is an important part of ensuring an equitable vaccination rollout. The Maryland Center for Health Equity has hosted a series of webinars to address questions and concerns from African American and Latino communities.
Visit the webinar playlist
Life expectancy in the US is on the decline, yet we spend more on medical care than any other nation. To promote health and well-being, the UMD School of Public Health is studying the benefits of investments in programs focused on preventing disease and care coordination in reducing health disparities and health care costs, while improving access to high-quality and affordable care for diverse populations.
A new $2M NIH grant (R01) to Professor Jie Chen will focus on identifying ways that public health departments and health systems can coordinate care and improve health equity for African Americans, Latinos and people who receive federal housing assistance who have risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Learn more about this research
Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the global coronavirus pandemic was identified, UMD School of Public Health experts have been at the forefront of the response. Our contributions have included research on how COVID-19 spreads, health communication guidance to keep people safe, and dispelling vaccine misinformation. We’re also addressing the disproportionate impacts of this crisis on different groups, including families of color and LGBTQ+ people.
At the University of Maryland School of Public Health, we are driven by a passion to break down the societal barriers that keep individuals, families, communities and populations from optimum health and wellness everyday. Join us on a fearless journey to do public health good!
2800+
Undergraduate and Graduate Students in the School of Public Health
SPH research is making a difference in critical areas, from climate change’s impacts on health, physical activity’s benefits to aging brains and culturally competent mental health care's role in LGBTQ+ persons' health, among others.
