Temple University College of Public Health: Social & Behavioral Sciences

Temple University College of Public Health: Social & Behavioral Sciences Temple University's Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences offers BSPH, MPH, dual MS-MPH degrees, PhD, and graduate certificates in Public Health.

Alice Ganopolskiy won honorable mention for having the top project in her program planning section. Her project, UV Awar...
05/08/2026

Alice Ganopolskiy won honorable mention for having the top project in her program planning section. Her project, UV Aware: A Community-Based Skin Cancer Prevention program, is a community-focused intervention designed for Latino men in the 19140 zip code of North Philadelphia, a group that faces higher risks of delayed diagnosis and limited access to preventive care. Drawing on both quantitative data and community-based insights, the program was tailored to reflect cultural beliefs, socioeconomic barriers, and gaps in skin cancer awareness.

The intervention includes 12 weekly sessions held at the Hunting Park Recreation Center, covering topics such as skin cancer risk factors, proper sunscreen use, self-screening techniques, and appearance-based procedures like UV imaging to highlight skin damage. Program outcomes would be evaluated using validated pre- and post-intervention surveys, along with follow-up assessments to track changes in knowledge, behaviors, and screening habits. By integrating evidence-based strategies and active community involvement, UV Aware provides a focused and sustainable strategy for lowering the risk of skin cancer among this population.

We have two Honorable Mentions for the Outstanding BSPH Undergraduate Capstone Award! These two students were nominated ...
05/07/2026

We have two Honorable Mentions for the Outstanding BSPH Undergraduate Capstone Award! These two students were nominated for having the top project in their section of the program planning course. Congratulations to Amelia Everett!

Based on a community needs assessment, Amelia designed an intervention focusing on improving oral health among children in the 19143 zip code of West Philadelphia. With individuals under the age of 18 making up 23% of the population, this area stands to benefit from targeted support. The Pediatric Dental Health Initiative (PDHI) is designed to expand access to affordable dental services for students at S. Weir Elementary School. The program will run throughout the academic year, from September through June, and will be implemented directly on school grounds.

This proposal combines education with hands-on clinical support, with an aim to strengthen at-home oral care habits so children can maintain long-term dental health. At the start of the program, 30 children along with their parents would be enrolled. These families would participate in 10 sessions given throughout the school year, allowing time to adopt these routines and observe the positive effects of the changes. Supported by a program director, program assistant, oral health educators, and volunteers, the PDHI aims to guide families through lasting improvements in oral health.

Congratulations to the 2026 Outstanding BSPH Capstone Award winner, Jasmine Wilk. This award is given to the top project...
05/06/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Outstanding BSPH Capstone Award winner, Jasmine Wilk. This award is given to the top project across all sections of the course Community-Based Health Program Planning, to the student who develops the most innovative program and who is able to present that program in the most persuasive way.

Jasmine’s capstone paper examined maternal mortality, highlighting the disproportionately high rates among women in Philadelphia compared to the rest of the state, many of which are preventable. The Prepared for Care Maternal Health Initiative aims to close gaps in care and access to information for women living in underserved zip codes with limited obstetric services and lower median incomes. The goals of the initiative are to reduce maternal mortality among Black women in the 19139 zip code, increase access to and utilization of pre- and postnatal care, and improve awareness of prenatal warning signs within this community.

Jasmine’s proposal would create a health education program wherein participants would engage in a structured set of educational workshops during pregnancy and the early weeks after childbirth. These sessions will focus on identifying urgent maternal health symptoms, building confidence in accessing and using healthcare services, and reinforcing the value of regular care before and after delivery. Hosted at William Sayre High School and the Sayre Health Center, the program will incorporate interactive exercises, peer conversations, and a group prenatal visit facilitated by trained healthcare professionals.

We will announce our two honorable mentions for this award as we close out this week of celebrating SBS accomplishments!

Photos from our 10th annual SBS Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2026 in Paley 120AB
05/06/2026

Photos from our 10th annual SBS Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2026 in Paley 120AB

Congrats to all our students who presented at the CPH Research & Evidence-Based Practice Day! 🎉👏Pictured above are just ...
05/05/2026

Congrats to all our students who presented at the CPH Research & Evidence-Based Practice Day! 🎉👏

Pictured above are just a few of our amazing students:

✨ Nicole Sweeney, MPH-MSW student
SPARK Quality Improvement Project for CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative

✨ Hayley Jewett, MPH student
Implementation of an Email-based Sexual Health Intervention in a Large Public College Setting

✨ Samantha Najmola, MPH student
Exploring Healthcare Experiences of LGBTQ+ People with IDD

The 2026 recipient of the Distinguished MPH in SBS Fieldwork Award is Madeline Elwell. Their project, “Evaluating Philad...
05/04/2026

The 2026 recipient of the Distinguished MPH in SBS Fieldwork Award is Madeline Elwell. Their project, “Evaluating Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps Community Outreach Training Programs” was a mixed-methods survey questionnaire administered to the volunteer workforce of The Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps. This volunteer organization assists with public health emergencies and community engagement. A total of 133 respondents rated the quality and usefulness of the trainings, their level of confidence in skills related to outreach, and their comfort in canvassing neighborhoods. The results of the survey indicated a perception of a high-quality training program, and volunteers provided valuable feedback that can be used to inform future trainings.

“I appreciated the opportunity to work closely with Medical Reserve Corps volunteers and gain valuable hands-on, independent evaluation research experience during Fieldwork,” says Madeline. “I also learned so much about the complexities of management and logistics of public health emergency responses, which I hope will serve me in whatever comes next!”

Congratulations, Madeline! We cannot wait to see what you do next!

Attention Undergraduates: New class starting in Fall 2026! Register with CRN 60118. SBS 3002 Health in Philadelphia exp...
05/01/2026

Attention Undergraduates: New class starting in Fall 2026! Register with CRN 60118.

SBS 3002 Health in Philadelphia explores how public health systems, environments, and policies shape the health of residents across the city. In this hands-on course, you will combine classroom learning with site visits to community organizations to see public health in action!

🌍 Gain real world experience
📈 Learn how to analyze health data and apply it to real community challenges
🏥 Explore local health disparities
🌟 Build practical skills and strengthen your resume with project based work

What You'll Do:
You will use data tools to analyze neighborhood health trends, explore health disparities, and understand how place and policy influence health & well-being. Through community-based projects, you will collaborate with local partners and develop deliverables that support organizations working to improve health in Philadelphia.

The 2026 recipient of the Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award is Elizabeth Fischer for her project, “Epidemiolo...
05/01/2026

The 2026 recipient of the Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award is Elizabeth Fischer for her project, “Epidemiologic Profile for the Philadelphia Eligible Metropolitan Area’s HIV Integrated Planning Council.”

"I'm grateful for such an impactful internship experience that gave me the opportunity to apply the skills I've learned throughout the BSPH program in a real-world setting,” said Elizabeth. “I'm especially thankful for my supervisors, whose guidance helped me build confidence and grow personally and professionally into a more passionate and skilled public health professional!"

Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth Fischer for a job well done!

The last finalist in the Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award contest is Zaida Vu Huang. Zaida’s project, “Handb...
04/30/2026

The last finalist in the Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award contest is Zaida Vu Huang. Zaida’s project, “Handbook to Impact: Turning Data into Action” focused on developing a standardized Monitoring & Evaluation Handbook for The Welcoming Center, a nonprofit organization supporting immigrants in Philadelphia to foster economic mobility and community connection.

Zaida developed tools and systems to improve how the organization tracks and evaluates the impact of its programming. The handbook Zaida developed helped to standardize processes and improve how data is collected and organized. The Welcoming Center can now integrate this new handbook into future evaluations, as a reference guide for training, and to inform future program development.

Stay tuned for our announcement of the winner of the Internship Award contest tomorrow!

The second finalist in the contest for Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award is Elizabeth Fischer. Elizabeth was ...
04/29/2026

The second finalist in the contest for Public Health Undergraduate Internship Award is Elizabeth Fischer. Elizabeth was an intern at the Office of HIV Planning in Philadelphia. Her project, “Epidemiologic Profile for the Philadelphia Eligible Metropolitan Area’s HIV Integrated Planning Council” involved creating infographics that provide an overview of demographics, socioeconomic status, and health-related factors that may impact the Philadelphia Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA). The purpose of these infographics is to assist those who have or are at risk for HIV to ensure they have access to services.

Elizabeth created a 30-page profile full of engaging infographics that displayed large amounts of complex data in an easy-to-read format. She highlighted topics such as housing, food insecurity, transportation, insurance coverage, and other behavioral health areas. The HIV Integrated Planning Council will utilize this profile to guide decision making and during allocation voting as a reference. She successfully presented her work to the committee and received positive feedback that the infographics would be used in future social media campaigns, on their website, and through printouts circulated to members and other stakeholders.

Stay tuned as we continue to honor our amazing BSPH interns, culminating in the announcement of our winner on Friday!

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