Adolescent Health

Wadad Itani

Beirut tragedy inspires graduate's public health mission

Wadad Itani, MPH ’24

After surviving Beirut's 2020 explosion, Wadad Itani decided to dedicate her life to helping others and prioritizing human health. Itani’s journey culminates in earning a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Micheal Mastrosimone

Unlocking potential: A journey from doubt to distinction in public health

Michael Mastrosimone

Michael Mastrosimone struggled to succeed in college, and he began believing that higher education was not meant for him. Now, he is on track to graduate from the online MPH program in Population and Health Sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He shares the motivations, challenges and moments of revelation that have shaped his path in the field of public health.

Enrique Neblett

Infusing Public Health with Psychology to Dismantle Racism

Enrique W. Neblett Jr., PhD

As a trained psychologist working in public health, Enrique Neblett understands the interdisciplinary power of public health. Neblett’s research focuses on the mental health of Black young people, in particular how racism-related stress affects health outcomes.

Kennedy Dubose

Turning Experience, Knowledge, and Education into Better Public Health

Kennedy Dubose

Kennedy Dubose studies public health not only for personal and intellectual reasons but also for what she sees as moral, ethical imperatives. Growing up, she saw public health systems failing Black communities. With a combination of local and global training, she is looking to promote more equitable community health in Detroit and around the globe.

Briana Nelson

Total Transformation: Focus, Execution, and What We Want to Do with Our Lives

Briana Nelson

In eighth grade, Briana Nelson decided to improve her fitness. With personal initiative and family support, a lifetime passion for nutrition was born. “It was a total transformation,” Nelson says, and her ability to focus and move herself forward toward big goals is helping her achieve great things as a student-athlete and as an ambassador for health equity.