MPH Student Societies

There are two student-run organizations that play a critical role in the MPH Program and the School as a whole. The societies serve as an academic, professional and social vehicle to stimulate discussion, provide tangible experiences, and enhance involvement and interaction among students, faculty and alumni with similar public health interests.

Each year the societies:

•    sponsor speakers and public events
•    organize education and career trips
•     promote student networking with alumni, faculty and various international organizations
•     hold regular lunchtime meetings

MPH students interested in leadership roles for the class are encouraged to run for one of the many offices for these societies. Elections are held early in the summer term. To learn more about the officer positions, events and programming from previous years, service trips, etc., see the websites listed below.

The J. B. Grant International Health Society provides a home for both U.S. and international MPH students with an interest in global health issues. Students come together with faculty and alumni to discuss current health problems in developing countries and to explore solutions to those health problems. This environment helps students select curricula that will enable them to design, implement and evaluate programs and projects in developing countries. It also facilitates student networking with alumni and others in international health careers and helps to prepare MPH students for their careers overseas.

The Anna Baetjer Society for Public Health Practice serves as an academic, professional, and social home for MPH students interested in programs aimed at solving a broad range of problems affecting the health of populations. These programs focus on the areas of population and family health sciences, mental health and substance abuse, infectious and chronic diseases, environmental factors in health, and the organization, utilization and effectiveness of health service delivery systems. The Society also works to enhance the process of effective advocacy and find ways to facilitate constructive change—in short, how to make a difference.