APRIL 3, 2023 — The UTSA Department of Public Health, in cooperation with UT Health San Antonio and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health), is celebrating Public Health Week from April 3 to 7.
As the Department of Public Health grows and strengthens its collaborations with city agencies and other local universities, it continues to adapt its curriculum to produce graduates ready to tackle large-scale issues in the workforce, in keeping with UTSA’s Classroom to Career Initiative.
The Classroom to Career Initiative develops and promotes experiential learning opportunities for students, including those that occur outside the classroom such as internships, service learning, undergraduate research, study abroad and more. Public Health Week directly connects students with our community members through panels, research competitions and career fairs, leading to internships and career opportunities.
“At UTSA, we are proud to celebrate Public Health Week and our efforts to develop the next generation of skilled public health professionals who will find innovative solutions to address the complex health issues facing our communities,” said UTSA Provost and Senior Vice President Kimberly Andrews Espy. “By engaging directly with our community, our students learn by doing, leveraging valuable Classroom to Career experiences into opportunities to build a healthier San Antonio through knowledge, advocacy and service.”
Created by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the theme for this year’s Public Health Week, “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health,” hits home with UTSA’s urban serving mission to educate students who have the skills its city, state and nation need to address society’s grandest challenge.
“We want to highlight and recognize the way our communities and their diverse cultures have demonstrated resiliency and continue to influence our hard work to make the U.S. a healthier, more equitable and just nation,” said Georges C. Benjamin, APHA executive director. “By coming together and learning from our cultural differences, we can use our collective power and knowledge to make the greatest positive impact.”
OswaltThe Department of Public Health, housed in UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP), has planned a slate of activities to bring awareness to public health week and the discipline as a whole.
“We’re very excited to be hosting the second annual Public Health Week at UTSA,” said Sara Oswalt, chair of the department. “The week and its events allow students, faculty and staff across the university to understand the breadth and impact of public health. It also highlights the amazing public health research of UTSA faculty and students and provides an opportunity for public health and related majors to understand potential future paths.”
UTSA PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK EVENTS
RamachandranPublic Health Week Keynote Address
Tuesday, April 4 • Noon to 1:30 p.m.
H-E-B Student Union Harris Room (HSU 2.212)
A welcome and remarks will be provided by Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, founding dean of the UT School of Public Health San Antonio. An internationally known and highly respected physician-scientist and clinical epidemiologist, Dr. Ramachandran is the principal investigator for the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL) Study and former principal investigator of the Framingham Heart Study.
2023 Regional San Antonio Public Health Case Competition
Tuesday, April 4 • 3:30 to 6 p.m.
St. Mary’s University, 1 Camino Santa Maria
UTSA will be represented by three teams of undergraduate public health students competing in the first San Antonio regional public health case study competition. Students compete to develop an infographic and presentation on this year’s topic: food insecurity.
Dean’s Community Lecture Series: Honoring the life and work of Dr. Fernando Guerra
Wednesday, April 5 • Noon to 1 p.m.
Buena Vista Theater, Downtown Campus
Moderated by Ramachandran and in partnership with Metro Health, HCAP will host a lecture discussing the life and body of work of Guerra, a longtime director of Metro Health. Panel members are Henry Cisneros, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Theresa De La Haya, former senior vice president of community health/clinical preventive programs, University Health System; and Reverend David Garcia, retired priest, Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Public Health Career Panel
Wednesday, April 5 • 2 to 3 p.m.
H-E-B Student Union Travis Room (HSU 2.202)
Hear from prominent local professionals about their forays into the rewarding field of public health. Panelists are Kimberly Anderson, director of wellbeing at Endeavors Veteran Wellness Center; Jesse Esparza, HIV/STD data analyst, Metro Health; Anita Kurian, assistant director, Metro Health; Abigail Moore, CEO of the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness; and Sylana Tramble, chief human capital officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Light refreshments will be served and the first 50 students at the event will receive a free Public Health Week t-shirt.
Health Fair & Research Showcase
Thursday, April 6 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
H-E-B Student Union Ballroom and Bexar Room (HSU 1.102, 1.104 and 1.106)
Learn more about the public health research underway by UTSA faculty, students and alumni, and visit many of the campus and community partners. Light refreshments will be served and the first 50 students at the event will receive a free Public Health Week t-shirt.
All events are open to the entire UTSA community and public.
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Join the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusCelebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
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