Continuing our work despite public health challenges

Dear friends,

Even though public health and higher education are facing a wave of challenges, our dedicated faculty, researchers, students, and staff are continuing their vital work to protect the public’s health.

It’s more important than ever to share stories and examples that illustrate the impact of public health. Here at Iowa, we’re continuing to engage with pressing issues, train the next generation of public health researchers and educators, and collaborate with communities and partners to address complex health concerns. These are a few highlights of some of our recent initiatives:

Cancer – Iowa has the second highest rate of new cancers in the U.S. To help increase awareness and education about the disease, the Iowa Cancer Registry and University of Iowa College of Public have launched the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project. The project, led by Mary Charlton, professor of epidemiology, and conducted in collaboration with the Iowa Cancer Consortium, University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Iowa Rural Health Association, aims to hold public meetings in all 99 counties in Iowa to present local data and discuss cancer rates and risk factors.

Maternal and Child Health – Our college recently received a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Public Health Catalyst Program award from HRSA to continue to expand and strengthen our MCH curriculum. The training program, directed by William Story, associate professor of community and behavioral health, will help address the growing and urgent need for a well-trained MCH workforce in Iowa and beyond.

Rural Health – Keith Mueller, Gerhard Hartman Professor of Health Management and Policy and director of the  Rural Policy Research Institute, recently co-authored a new report that summarizes key takeaways from the 2024 Future of Rural Health Summit. The report offers a detailed plan to improve health care in rural communities across the United States.

Air Quality – With wildfire smoke increasingly affecting large portions of the country, Patrick O’Shaughnessy, professor of occupational and environmental health, recently spoke with media about steps residents can take to protect themselves on days when the Air Quality Index is unhealthy.

Vaccine Safety – A new University of Iowa research study examining possible associations between maternal influenza vaccination and a host of major structural birth defects reaffirmed the safety of the vaccination during early pregnancy. The study was led by Paul Romitti, University of Iowa Distinguished Chair, professor of epidemiology, and director of the Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders,

These are just a few examples of the important public health work and education being conducted at Iowa. I encourage you to share your stories of public health impact to strengthen support for preventing injury and illnesses and promoting health for all.

Best wishes,

Edith