School of Public Health

SPH Welcomes Students Back to Campus at Fall 2026 Orientation

Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Current and new students were invited to connect with SPH faculty and staff to learn more about the resources available and the groundbreaking initiatives the school has launched over the past year. Dr. Ashish Joshi, SPH Dean and Distinguished Professor, highlighted the upcoming PH-Changemakers call for applications where students can obtain micro-grants to create projects that impact public health on a local and global scale, as well as the SPH Global Hackathons. Dean Joshi also encouraged new students to participate in the Public Health on Wheels journeys throughout the semester, which takes students into the community to experience the impact of public health and meet public health professionals in real world settings.  

“The whole idea is that we are going to listen, respond and make sure things get done,” Dean Joshi told students at orientation about the collaborative approach to learning at SPH. 

Students also had the opportunity to hear from Ilias Kavouras, PhD Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, as well as other faculty including Dr. Ricky Leung Professor and Director of Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who spoke about the pioneering work he is doing around AI in public health.  

New students dispersed into breakout rooms specific to their division of study to learn more about their programs, what to expect and how faculty can offer their support.  
 
53 new students and 14 current students attended the orientation both in person and online, reflecting the growth of the school and interest in public health education.