School of Public Health
Dean Joshi Inspires PURE Academy Students to Lead Through Public Health
Wednesday, 02 September 2026
PURE Academy is a nonprofit private boarding school in Memphis dedicated to developing young men through academic excellence, personal growth, athletics, and AgriSTEM education. The school's mission focuses on preparing students for lifelong success through a supportive environment that fosters leadership, independence and community engagement.
During the discussion, Dean Joshi shared several personal reflections and life lessons. He recalled being told at a young age to "make your life purposeful," a message that has shaped his personal and professional journey. He also shared that he arrived in the United States with only $3,876 in his pocket and later took out a loan during his second semester of graduate school. These experiences, he explained, taught him the importance of taking control of his destiny and managing resources wisely.
When asked why he chose Memphis, Dean Joshi described it as a calling. He was drawn to the opportunity to help build an impactful School of Public Health that could address issues facing communities and create meaningful change.
The conversation focused on the meaning and impact of public health. Students shared that health includes being emotionally healthy, physically well, having access to nutritious food, getting adequate sleep, and developing healthy coping skills. They also identified key public health challenges, including mental health, disease and illness and access to healthcare.
Dean Joshi reinforced that public health must begin with prevention and encouraged students to be proactive rather than reactive when addressing health challenges. He challenged them to be determined to make a difference in their communities and emphasized that having a clear purpose is essential for meaningful impact.
Looking ahead, Dean Joshi discussed the power of youth engagement in public health. As a next step, students were encouraged to work together as a team to develop a public health awareness campaign that addresses issues affecting their communities. Dean Joshi shared with the young men the early opportunities for high school students through the University of Memphis School of Public Health.
The students also shared their own career aspirations, which ranged from movie director to agricultural professional. Dean Joshi encouraged them to pursue their interests with passion and purpose, reminding them to "enjoy the journey and don't worry about the outcome."
The visit inspired students to consider how they can use leadership, teamwork and public health principles to improve the well-being of others through a future PURE Academy Public Health Club and participation in the PH IDEAS Hackathon.
SPH Dean, Dr. Ashish Joshi (Center) (Center- Right) Laura Granack, SPH Coordinator accompanied by PURE Academy students.
The Office of Communications at The University of Memphis School of Public Health