School of Public Health

UofM SPH Welcomes Dr. Perry N Halkitis at First Dean’s Grand Rounds of the Semester

Friday, 18 September 2026

During his presentation, Dr. Halkitis challenged the traditional disease-centered approach to public health and emphasized the importance of viewing health through a human-centered lens. Drawing from his personal experiences and decades of research on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, mental health, substance use, and LGBTQ+ health, he demonstrated that health outcomes are shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, social, cultural, and political factors. 

A key focus of the talk was the biopsychosocial model of health, which recognizes that health and illness cannot be understood through biology alone. Dr. Halkitis highlighted how factors such as stigma, discrimination, poverty, misinformation, social environments, and public policy influence health behaviors and contribute to health disparities. 

Using lessons learned from both the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics, he underscored the critical role of empathy, trust, community engagement, and prevention in advancing public health goals. He noted that effective public health strategies must address not only disease transmission but also the emotions, beliefs, experiences, and social conditions that shape individual and community health. 

Dr. Halkitis encouraged greater collaboration among public health, medicine, psychology, technology, and community partners to create more equitable, effective, and compassionate approaches to improving population health with a Call to Action to “put people before pathogens” by reimagining public health around the whole person. Dr. Halkitis encouraged greater collaboration among public health, medicine, psychology, technology, and community partners to create more equitable, effective, and compassionate approaches to improving population health.