UVA Department of Public Health Sciences

06/05/2026

Congratulations to Moira Smith, MD, MPH, for winning the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award!

The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes an alum of the MPH or MS-CR program who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to public health in their careers.

Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at University of Virginia. She is the Medical Information Officer for Emergency Medicine and Director of Digital Clinical Workflows. Her work includes the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based clinical pathways integrated within the EHR. Her research is supported by institutional and foundation funding and focuses on digital health innovation and the application of artificial intelligence to improve patient care and clinical efficiency in emergency medicine.

From one of the nomination letters: "Since graduating in 2012, Dr. Smith has demonstrated outstanding contributions to public health in her career as a leader in the Emergency Department. Dr. Smith has been a core member of the informatics team both for the Department of Emergency Medicine and for the health system as a whole. ... Clinicians such as Dr. Smith are educating future medical providers in public health, sharing her well rounded knowledge and skills from her MPH. She is particularly contributing to the future practice of public health and medical care, through data and data analysis skills.”

University of Virginia

06/04/2026

Congratulations to Kaitlin Truslow, MPH, for winning the 2026 Exemplary Student Award!

The Exemplary Student Award recognizes a Master of Public Health (MPH) or MS student for their excellent academic performance, service to others, and dedication to the field of public health sciences. This individual is an inspiration to their peers and motivates them to meet new challenges as well.

From one of the nomination letters: “In the two years since Kaitlin joined the MPH Program, she has gone above and beyond in her student role. Quickly in her first fall semester, Kaitlin joined the Student Activities Committee (SAC), eager to take on a leadership role as Professionalism Co-Chair. Kaitlin spearheaded a professionalism speaker series, inviting various public health actors as guest speakers for students to network and grow professionally. During her time in the Program, Kaitlin has lent herself to various other activities outside of SAC: attending reaccreditation meetings with CEPH, joining the PHS Social Committee, and encouraging connections with the Health Sciences Library. With no questions asked, Kaitlin extends a helping hand for activities; she is responsive to communications as both a student and SAC leader; and she does it all with a smile on her face. Her contributions to the Program in the last two years cannot go understated!”

University of Virginia

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Becca Krukowski, PhD, Professor in PHS, for winning the 2026 Excellence in Research Award!

The Excellence in Research Award recognizes excellence in discovering and disseminating public health knowledge through scientific research; translating research discoveries into improvements in public health in our local communities. Evidence of outstanding contribution to PHS mission: scholarly work (publications), contributions through team science, and advancement of public health science through research (citations, translation to community, etc.).

From one of the nomination letters: “Her work strongly reflects the mission of UVA Public Health Sciences to advance evidence and knowledge for the health and well-being of all communities, through impactful research and its translation into real-world population health improvements…She has demonstrated exceptional scholarly productivity and sustained excellence in research…Equally noteworthy is her dedication to translating research into real-world impact. Her work extends beyond academia to reach broader audiences and inform public health practice. She received the Leading the Narrative Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine for producing the most accessed public-facing “Healthy Living” article, which provided evidence-based guidance on selecting a weight management program. This achievement reflects her ability to communicate complex scientific findings in ways that are accessible and actionable for the public.”

Dr. Krukowski is also this year's winner of the newly resurrected PHS Frost Award. This “Traveling Trophy” is given to the PI with the best scoring NIH R01 grant (or equivalent) that year. This award is named after Wade Hampton Frost, often considered the father of modern epidemiology. Dr. Frost was born in Marshall, Virginia, and graduated from UVA with a BA (1901) and MD (1903). Much of his career was spent at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health (now the Bloomberg School of Public Health) as Chair of the Department of Epidemiology (1919-1938) and Dean (1931-1934).

University of Virginia

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Melissa Dean-McKinney, Program Manager for Research Administration in PHS, for winning the 2026 Staff Excellence Award!

The Staff Excellence Award recognizes an exceptional PHS staff member whose work has been critical to the success of the Department in its mission of excellence in research, teaching, and outreach. This individual has exceptional initiative to create significant positive impact in the Department and School.

From one of the nomination letters: “Melissa is amazing to work with on grant submissions. She is extremely organized, keeping all of the principal investigators and co-investigators on track with their deadlines and making sure that she has time to devote to everyone's application. Further, Melissa seems eager to continue learning when she jumps in to read application instructions to make sure that all of the required components are included. Melissa has even squeezed in a last-minute application in a cycle, when it was possible. She seems to really care whether principal investigators and co-investigators are successful in obtaining extramural funding…Melissa Dean-McKinney demonstrates excellence in all that she does, and our department is so lucky to work with her!”

University of Virginia

06/01/2026

Congratulations to Wendy Cohn, PhD, Professor in PHS, for winning the 2026 Excellence in Mentoring Award!

The Excellence in Mentoring Award recognizes excellence in mentoring junior faculty, trainees, fellows and other professional colleagues in public health models, practice, foundations and concepts, and/or in research and implementation and dissemination that has significance to public health. This individual has demonstrated excellence in supporting, encouraging, and promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and/or teaching environment, and has positively contributed to the professional and personal development of their mentees.

From one of the nomination letters: “In the past year, Dr. Cohn took on the significant responsibility of organizing the department’s junior faculty mentoring program, including navigating the delicate interpersonal work to establish the initial mentor-mentee matches. Her willingness to invest time and energy into building this program reflects both her deep commitment to the success of her colleagues and her dedication to strengthening our departmental community. Dr. Cohn fosters an environment of openness and mutual respect within the program. She encourages honest conversations about challenges and opportunities, creating space for junior faculty to seek guidance and share concerns without hesitation.”

University of Virginia

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Raj Balkrishnan, PhD, Professor in PHS, for winning the 2026 Jeanita Richardson Award For Excellence in Teaching!

The Jeanita Richardson Award For Excellence in Teaching recognizes excellence in education at any level. The winner exhibits evidence of fostering innovative teaching and training models in public health that respond to evolving public health needs as well as evidence of outstanding contribution to the PHS mission: student evaluations, record of mentoring and teaching, innovations or creativity, and contributing to the advancement of public health practice.

From one of the nomination letters: “Dr. Balkrishnan is truly a light in the PHS department that never hesitates to cast positivity. Despite some of the more troubling developments in recent years in the field of public health (specifically funding), Dr. B has always had an encouraging attitude and challenged his students to make a difference in medicine, research, and policy. I am honored to give my highest nomination for the teaching award.”

05/28/2026

The Department of Public Health Sciences (PHS) hosted “Public Health Sciences Day” at the end of the semester for the department and leaders across the School of Medicine and UVA. The day embodied our department’s newly formed tagline “Advancing Health. From Every Discipline. For Every Life.” by celebrating the multidisciplinary approach we take to public health research and education.

Research Spotlights

The morning kicked off with a “lightning round” of presentations from leaders of each of the PHS-affiliated research centers and programs, demonstrating the wide range of impactful research being led by PHS faculty and staff, including development of behavioral interventions targeting cancer control priorities for rural communities, development of innovative statistical methodologies for early-phase clinical trials to facilitate translation, promotion of the health and well-being of the University community (through collaborations with Hoos Well and the Boys and Girls Club), study of mental health policy and related public health topics, and design of interventions and support for healthcare providers to deliver higher-quality care.

Awards Day

Department annual awards were presented, including faculty awards for teaching (Raj Balkrishnan), research (Becca Krukowski), and mentoring (Wendy Cohn). The department staff award was presented to Melissa Dean-McKinney, and the exemplary student award was presented to Kaitlin Truslow. Moira Smith, assistant professor in emergency medicine and 2012 MPH graduate, was presented with the department’s first alumni award. Several faculty, students, and alumni were then inducted into the Gamma Pi Chapter of Delta Omega, the honorary society of public health. We will have individual spotlights this week and next to celebrate our award winners.

MPH Poster Session

The day culminated with the Master of Public Health (MPH) Spring Semester Poster Day. All MPH students complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE), a final project that demonstrates synthesis of MPH knowledge and skills developed over a 42-credit hour curriculum. 31 graduating MPH students presented their ILE work to improve health outcomes and community health.

Graduating Student Joshua McCray noted, “My ILE was an original thematic analysis of rural health finance professionals in Virginia (UVA IRB-SBS #8198). The process was deeply rewarding. I gained a great appreciation for the rigor qualitative research demands, and it reinforced my belief in the importance of listening to and elevating the voices of those closest to an issue.” After graduation, Josh is joining the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association as their Manager of Medicaid Financial Policy. There, he will help administer programs such as the Virginia Hospital Mutual Assistance Program, which helps offset low Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals across the Commonwealth.

“My ILE is a descriptive ecological study evaluating vulnerable populations for poor oral health outcomes, access barriers to dental care, and the effects of drinking water on oral health throughout Virginia,” said graduating student (and awardee) Kaitlin Truslow.

“The process has driven home my love for epidemiology and environmental health. It has taught me how to interact professionally with professors and public health professionals in local and state governments. It has helped me apply all of the skills I have learned in the program and wrap up these last two years in a project I can be proud of!”

UVA MPH graduates are employed in consulting firms; health departments and other local, state, and federal agencies; health care delivery systems; and nonprofit community agencies. Some students pursue further education in medicine, law, business, or doctoral training in public health.

05/27/2026

Congratulations to our Global Public Health (GPH) graduates! We are so proud of you!! 🎓 👨‍🎓 👩‍🎓 🎉

University of Virginia

05/22/2026

Congratulations to our Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Science in Clinical Research (MS-CR) graduates! We had a great time celebrating with you and your families earlier this week.

Thank you to David Vaamonde, Vice President of Data Analytics at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, for an inspiring commencement address.

We look forward to seeing all the good you do in your careers!

PS - be on the look out for more graduation photos later in the summer 🌞

📷️: Josh Crane

University of Virginia Eyes Ears Nose and Paws University of Virginia Medical Alumni Association

05/21/2026

Melissa Little, PhD, MPH, PHS Associate Professor and Director of the Center for To***co Prevention and Control Research, recently joined host Jenn White on NPR's 1A to discuss proposals for generational bans on to***co. Other guests on the program were Sarah Todd (STAT News) and Katharine Silbaugh (Boston University). Take a listen to the nuanced discussion here: https://buff.ly/s6jFOXp

University of Virginia 1A

Since the 1960s, public health officials have campaigned against young people using of to***co.