Advocacy

shayla-zimmerman

Social work leader integrates public health knowledge in the pursuit of social change

Shayla Zimmerman, MPH ‘23

Even with a wealth of experience, Shayla Zimmerman, a dedicated community organizer and social worker, encountered challenges growing her career without a graduate degree. She turned to Michigan Public Health to expand her skillset and earned her MPH online while she continued the work she’s passionate about. Since graduating, she’s been able to pair her dedication to social justice with new public health knowledge to take her career in social work to new heights.

Scott Holcomb

Policymaker earns MPH seeking better health outcomes for his state

Scott Holcomb

Seeing a pattern of poor health outcomes, Georgia State Representative Scott Holcomb wanted to do more to improve health policy in his state. Holcomb describes how he’s since become a better legislator, and a better leader, through his training in public health.

Dr. Rob Davidson

Beyond the ER: Using public health and advocacy to be a better doctor

Rob Davidson

Dr. Rob Davidson has served patients in his community for nearly two decades in a rural west Michigan ER. Using that experience he's become a vocal advocate for state and national policies to expand affordable healthcare to all patients. He discusses how he's earning his MPH as an online master’s student, while battling COVID-19 on the frontlines and fighting for health care policy in the media.

Brandon Bond, Master’s Student in Health Behavior and Health Education and Global Social Work Practice, University of Michigan School of Public Health

First Generation College Graduate's Ambitions Are Sky High

Brandon Bond

First-generation college grad Brandon Bond leaves few opportunities on the table. He’s pursuing dual master’s degrees, his very first flight was to a foreign country, and he’s gearing up for doctoral studies. Bond’s adventurous spirit is helping him build bridges between communities and the policies that affect them.

Katherine Li, Phd Student in Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Passionate Biostatistician Brings Empathy to the Science World

Katherine Li

For PhD student Katherine Li, statistics are not just numbers on a screen but resources to better understand how to improve health. At Michigan, she is combining her health interests and math skills to ensure underrepresented members of the community are included in health and policy decisions.