Clark Johnson Lee, an MPH alumnus and current PhD candidate at the School of Public Health, is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic locally, in Montgomery County.

Laura Koo, a University of Maryland School of Public Health PhD candidate in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, has been selected as a Rima E. Rudd Fellow. The fellowship will provide up to $30,000 to support Koo’s dissertation research in health literacy. 

Laura Koo, a University of Maryland School of Public Health PhD candidate in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, has been selected as a Rima E. Rudd Fellow. The fellowship will provide up to $30,000 to support Koo’s dissertation research in health literacy.

Leyla Merlo graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in public health science and a minor in sustainability studies. While at the University of Maryland, Leyla was the president of ROOTS Africa, a student organization that works to promote sustainable agricultural practices in developing countries. She traveled to Liberia with the program and received an award from the Do Good Institute for her work.

Renee received her nursing degree from Bowie State University and was working as a bedside nurse at Washington Hospital Center when she became discouraged with patients that seemed to come back over and over again with preventable illnesses. Renee said she was burnt out and called her mentor to ask if there was any way to help prevent patients from having these issues.

Anna Posbergh, kinesiology PhD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, received a grant to explore the “science” of fair play and medicalized ideas of fairness in sports policy, particularly relating to transgender eligibility and gender-verification processes from the Olympics Studies Centre. 

The grant will fund a month-long stay in Lausanne, Switzerland, during which Posbergh will pursue archival research at the Olympic Studies Centre. 

As we usher in the new year and decade, we’re looking back at the School of Public Health’s successes in innovative research, service and education in 2019. 

Here are our top 10 most popular stories published this year. 

Zeina Mohamad Alkhalaf didn’t plan to go into public health, at least not at first. She received a degree in communications and public relations and conducted humanitarian work through a non-profit. But at the age of 23, Zeina was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects around 200,000 individuals in the US every year and can lead to infertility, diabetes and even cancer.

A recent article in The Diamondback profiled a new group at the School of Public Health for LGBTQ+ students and allies. The group’s draft mission statement is to promote LGBTQ+ health equity and social justice by engaging in research, advocacy, education and leadership projects and initiatives at UMD and beyond. 

Victory Plaine (Tori), a community health major, was chosen as the student commencement speaker for the December 2019 graduating class. She has excelled in all of her courses and remained on the Dean’s List while maintaining a full-time work schedule as a clinical consultant at Clinique. Tori hopes to further her career in community health by working to decrease incidence rates of STD/STIs throughout the state.