New study links low-level lead exposure in early childhood to long-term academic declines

A new study from George Wehby has found that low levels of lead exposure in early childhood—below the current CDC recommended intervention threshold—are associated with reduced academic achievement during childhood and adolescence. Published August 29, 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

College names 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients

The recipients of the College of Public Health's 2025 Outstanding Alumni Awards are Robsan Halkeno Tura and James Skogsbergh. Published August 22, 2025

EMHA Q&A with Chad Husman

Name and Job Title: Chad W. Husman, Lead Facilities Management Planner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Favorite class or moment in the EMHA program: So far, my favorite experience in the EMHA program has been the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students from a variety of healthcare backgrounds. The group projects and in-person sessions […] Published August 19, 2025

Register for the 46th Annual Samuel Levey Healthcare Leadership Symposium

The Department of Health Management and Policy will host the 46th Annual Samuel Levey Healthcare Leadership Symposium on Thursday, Sep. 25, and Friday, Sep. 26. The event includes a lineup of speakers representing unique experiences in leadership. Registration is free, but required. Published August 4, 2025

Q&A with Karen Hammar

Karen Hammar, MHA, MOT, OTR/L, FACHE, is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She started her new role this summer. Q: What are you most looking forward it in your […] Published July 28, 2025

Q&A with Jenny McDonnell

Jenny McDonnell, PhD, MPH, is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy. She joined the program this summer. Q: How do you hope to use your research interests to inform health policy and improve patient care? A: In a perfect world, patients would have universal access to the treatment modalities […] Published July 28, 2025

Plugged in to Public Health: The impacts of relaxed staff training and licensing requirements on nursing homes

Lauren welcomes Gulrukh Mehboob for a discussion about the impacts of relaxed staff training and licensing requirements on nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gul is a Fulbright PhD scholar at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, studying health workforce policy, particularly in long-term care settings. Published July 10, 2025

Whitney Zahnd comments on potential impacts of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals

Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor of health management and policy, recently talked about the potential impacts of new federal legislation on rural hospitals. (WOI-TV) Published July 10, 2025

Zahnd to lead collaboratory focused on rural cancer survivorship research

Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor of health management and policy, has been selected to establish a new collaboratory dedicated to advancing rural cancer survivorship research. Published July 10, 2025