Southern Miss Celebrates National Public Health Week

Each year, during the first week of April, the American Public Health Association recognizes the benefits of public health and highlights issues important to improving the nation during National Public Health Week (NPHW). This year, students in the Department of Public Health, brought the national event to The University of Southern Mississippi's Hattiesburg campus.

“USMNPHW gave students the opportunity to highlight issues that are important to our campus,” said Dr. Charkarra Anderson-Lewis, associate professor of public health. “They recognize the issues and are learning important skills to help address these issues.”

Students enrolled in Anderson-Lewis' Introduction to Public Health course developed activities and promoted the event. Activities included preparing healthy snacks, education about sexually transmitted diseases, guided walks and lawn games. The students also hosted a social media picture scavenger hunt.

“I think it is important to host an event like this on campus because students are either unaware or choose to ignore the health disparities that our country face, especially in the South,” said Jeffery Abram, a nutrition and dietetics major and public health and military science minor from Franklinton, La.

Van Duong, a sophomore health policy and administration student from D'Iberville, Miss., said her favorite part of the week was interacting with other students and watching them have fun while they participated.

Breanna Evans, a Laurel, Miss., native majoring in health policy and administration, said a challenge of the event was encouraging students to visit their tables. Abram agreed, stating college students tend to avoid displays so they had to draw them in.

“Addressing public health issues do not end with the end to USMNPHW,” said Anderson-Lewis. “Public health students and my research team, Community Engagement, Digital Health and Health Equity, will continue to address public health issues on campus and in the Hattiesburg community.” 

For more about the Department of Public Health in The University of Southern Mississippi's College of Health, visit www.usm.edu/ph.