Native Center for Behavioral Health partners on new suicide prevention resource

Produced in partnership with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this pocket guide is designed to support Native military-connected youth and families with information on identifying risk factors and protective factors, tips for talking with youth about suicide, and resources to seek further support or connect to the strengths of Native and military culture.  Published September 29, 2025

In memoriam: Professor Paul Pomrehn

Professor Paul R. Pomrehn passed away peacefully at his home on Sept. 6, 2025. He received an MD degree from the University of Iowa in 1975 and an MS degree from the UI Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health (now part of the College of Public Health) in 1979. He held numerous academic leadership roles at the UI and made significant contributions to training clinicians and practitioners in preventive medicine and community health. Published September 18, 2025

Alumni Q&A: Allison Naleway

Alumna Allison Naleway (97MS, 00PhD) is a Distinguished Investigator and Associate Director for Science Programs at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon. Her research focuses on the evaluation of vaccine safety and effectiveness, and infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology. We recently asked Allison about her field and hopes for the future of vaccine research. Published September 16, 2025

Alumni Q&A: Wensday Worth

From late-night study sessions to launching podcasts and organizing service days, Wensday Worth (18MPH) made the most of her time at Iowa — and she’s still making an impact today. Catch up with Wensday in this new alumni profile. Published September 16, 2025

Video: 2025 Student Day of Service

Community engagement is a core principle of public health work, and our incoming graduate students get to experience it first-hand before they ever spend a minute in the classroom. Published August 27, 2025

Askelson comments on religious exemptions for childhood vaccines

This fall marks the second school year where religious exemptions to vaccines are much easier to receive for students in Iowa, and Professor Natoshia Askelson says approximately 19,000 of Iowa school children aren’t vaccinated due to these exemptions. (KCRG-TV) Published August 25, 2025

College names 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients

On Sept. 25 James Skogsbergh (82MA) will be presented with the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award Hancher Auditorium during the 46th Annual Samuel Levey Healthcare Leadership Symposium. Published August 22, 2025

Save the date: Native youth and healing symposium Sept. 16 and 17

The Native Center for Behavioral Health is hosting an upcoming symposium focused on inter-generational healing, culturally grounded interventions, and trauma-informed leadership. Published August 21, 2025

Natoshia Askelson comments on the importance of back-to-school vaccinations

Natoshia Askelson, professor of community and behavioral health, recently talked about vaccinations and their role in keeping kids healthy as they return to school. (Radio Iowa) Published August 14, 2025

Afifi part of research collective supporting rehabilitation services

Rima Afifi, professor of community and behavioral health, is a member of Limb & Life, an international collective of researchers dedicated to describing pressing challenges in rehabilitation services, especially in prosthetic and orthotic care, in Gaza. Published August 5, 2025