Public Health Discovery Seminar Series

Interested in public health? Join the Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine faculty to learn more about ongoing research and hot topics in a wide variety of public health disciplines in our ongoing virtual seminar series.

All seminars will be uploaded and added to a YouTube Playlist.

Seminar Schedule

Level Up Learning with Games and Groups 
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM  
Dr. Rustin Reed, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Program Director, Industrial Hygiene  
Research has long shown that lecture-based methods are less-than-ideal for learning. Both children and adults learn more effectively through play and in groups. Tune into this seminar to learn how to: 1) Identify 2 ways to use playing cards to increase engagement, 2) Discuss 3 ways to use groups to improve learning, and 3) Describe 3 methods of gamification. 
Register here!  

Political and social determinants of Tuberculosis 
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM 
Dr. Eva Silvestre, Associate Professor, Department of International Health and Sustainable Development and Associate Dean of Institutional Excellence & Opportunity, WSPH 
Tuberculosis is one of the oldest recorded human diseases, yet it remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Treatment options are available, but these are not fairly distributed across the globe. This presentation will explore the political and social determinants of health that impact our ability control this disease in low and middle income countries. 
Register here!

Check it - a community based approach to reducing STIs 
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM 
Dr. Patricia Kissinger, Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development, WSPH
Dr. Kissinger will discuss an NIH-funded implementation science community outreach program to test and treat for sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) with the hypothesis that it will reduce rates in the community.   The program is conducted in Orleans Parish for sexually active African American youth aged 15-26. We focus in on this population because they are more than 5 times more likely to have these infections.  Dr. Kissinger will discuss the rationale for the program, the components of the program and the evaluation of the program.   
Register here!

Public Health Discovery Seminar Series - Stronger Systems, Smarter Responses: Translating Research to Readiness 
Monday, November 10, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM  
Summyr Burton, Doctor of Philosophy Student, Department of Environmental Health Sciences 
This seminar introduces several key initiatives the Region 6 Center for Health Security and Response Readiness is undertaking to advance public health preparedness within health departments. We will discuss the Center's establishment and foundational principles that guide our work and highlight pertinent challenges impacting optimal response to public health threats. With Summyr Burton, attendees will learn how the Center is leveraging theoretical tools to strengthen crisis decision-making, enhance cross-sector partnerships, and improve data governance within HHS Region 6 health departments (and beyond). 
Register here! 

When Zero Isn’t Just Zero: The Hidden Stories in Health Data 
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM 
Dr. Wan Tang, Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science 
In public health, zeros like "no alcohol drinks," "no doctor visits," or "no risky behaviors" seem straightforward—but they’re not. A zero could mean someone never engages in a behavior… or just not this time. This gap isn’t just technical—it changes how we interpret data, design policies, and target interventions. 
This talk explores how hidden patterns in these zeros reveal deeper truths about health behaviors. By asking what kind of zero we’re seeing, we can uncover biases, predict needs, and avoid costly missteps. Discover why a zero is rarely just a zero—and how paying attention transforms public health. 
Register here!

Practicing Humility and Decolonialism in Global Public Health 
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM  
Dr. Kristefer Stojanovski, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Behavioral and Population Sciences and Research Director, Partners for Advancing Health Equity 
Dr. Stojanovski is a global health population scientist. In this seminar, he will discuss his global research portfolio, which includes projects in Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Dr. Stojanovski will discuss issues of the continued colonization in global health. He will also discuss what it means to practice and work in global health as a white-presenting scholar from the Global North, guide the conversation on the practice of humility, and share his approach to combating colonization in the world of global health and development.   
Register here!

Understanding Suicide: What the Science Tells Us and Why That Matters in Public Health 
Monday, December 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM  
Dr. Breanna Banks, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Behavioral and Population Sciences 
Despite rising suicide rates and growing public concern, suicide prevention efforts often remain siloed in clinical care. This seminar explores how public health can play a transformative role in suicide prevention by integrating foundational theories of suicide—such as the Interpersonal Theory, the Existential Constructivist Theory of Suicide, and Cultural Theory of Suicide—with a critical understanding of the social and structural determinants that shape risk and recovery. Drawing from both empirical research and implementation practice, this presentation highlights how social inequities—such as housing instability, discrimination, and poverty—interact with psychological drivers of suicide. Participants will be invited to consider how public health training, program design, and policy advocacy can more effectively address suicide as a complex, multilevel public health issue. Join Dr. Breanna Banks to discuss implications for interdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, and community-based approaches.   
Register here! 

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