The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at the University of Memphis integrates the academic study of public health theory with principles of public health practice in order to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and protect the community. Faculty engage in innovative, community-based research to identify best practices, inform public policy, and advocate for the under-served.

Dr. Marian Levy is Director of the MPH Program, which is structured to meet accreditation standards of the Council on Education for Public Health. The program prepares practitioners to address public health concerns of the metropolitan mid-South.

Our program activities include the following:

Public Health Academic Practice Bridges
Academicians from the University of Memphis and public health practitioners from the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department share insights in research and best practices in a monthly roundtable series. Topics have included bioinformatics, geographic information systems (GIS), international tobacco control research, HIV prevention, and community health promotion for vulnerable populations.

MPH practicum 
The Health Department serves as the primary location for MPH students’. To date, student practicum experiences have served in the areas of HIV prevention, breastfeeding, immunization, TB control, community health promotion, and emergency preparedness.

Unnatural Causes
In partnership with the Health Department, the MPH program spearheaded community discussions based on the PBS documentary series addressing the sources of our alarming socioeconomic and racial disparities in health.

Health Care Interpreter Certificate Program
In partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the MPH program offers courses are offered in Basic and Advanced Interpreting. Tennessee Association for Medical Interpreters National training conferences are held annually to facilitate advanced interpreter skills. Healthcare Interpreter Course Information

Cultural competence  
Understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture was promoted via partnership with the Confucius Institute and through an educational exchange with Chinese public health practitioners.

Sustainability
In partnership with Herff College of Engineering's Center for Biofuel Energy & Sustainable Technologies [BEST], the MPH program hosts Sustainable Technologies Awareness Day.

Health Risk Appraisal
The MPH Program partners with the Loewenberg School of Nursing to obtain and analyze health risk data at the Student Health Fair.
Emergency Preparedness.  MPH students supported the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department’s drill to test readiness for catastrophic events.

Academic Presentations
Public Health faculty presented three papers at the 136th American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in 2008., MPH faculty and three MPH students had a total of five posters accepted for presentation at the 2008 Tennessee Public Health Association (TPHA) Conference. Five MPH students presented posters at the 2009 Graduate Research Fair. Presentations