School of Public Health

UofM SPH Represented at APHA 2026 Annual Conference

Wednesday, 04 November 2026

SPH faculty, students and alumni contributed a total of 20 presentations, including:

• 5 Oral Presentations: Delivered by two faculty members, two current students and one alumnus who submitted during their doctoral studies. 
• 13 Poster Presentations 
• 2 Lightning Rounds 

A total of 17 individual presenters from UofM SPH participated in the conference sessions. The delegation included SPH Dean and distinguished professor, Dr. Ashish Joshi and faculty members Dr. Marian Levy, Associate Dean of Public Health Practice and Community Engagement and Professor and Dr. Yong Yang, Associate Professor with one alumnus who submitted as a Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) doctoral student and 13 current SPH students.  

Dean Ashish Joshi, presented "Recommendations of the ASPPH AI Taskforce on Responsible and Ethical Use of AI in Public Health," which examined the emerging phenomenon often referred to as "Al brain fry," characterized by cognitive fatigue associated with continuous interaction with multiple Al systems. Drawing on organizational research, behavioral science and public health perspectives, the presentation explored how Al may expand cognitive demands through increased pace, task switching and lack of stopping cues. Framed as a systems-level consideration, the presentation highlighted practical strategies to support cognitive well-being in Al-accelerated environments. 

Beyond the academic sessions, the school hosted its annual Alumni and Friends Social during the conference. The event welcomed more than 60 guests, bridging the gap between current academic cohorts and distinguished alumni. Attendees praised the gathering, with one guest calling it “one of the highlights of the meeting.” 

The strong showing at APHA 2026 underscores the University of Memphis School of Public Health’s ongoing commitment to advancing public health education and fostering collaborative research networks on a national stage.