On the Front Lines of APHA

The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine arrived to the American Public Health Association in fresh style with a new exhibit booth. Designed to complement the school’s new branding, the 20-ft panels called on visitors to “Find Us on the Front Lines.” Images of students represented the diversity of the student body in an array of hands-on activities, from testing community water to giving a presentation to participating in a post-graduation New Orleans second line. 

The school was also visible in the meeting rooms. Dean Thomas LaVeist participated in a lively, full-house morning panel on “Reparations: The Public Health Perspective 400 Years Since Jamestown.” Other presenters from the school covered topics ranging from the resilience of the post-Katrina Vietnamese-American population, barriers to male involvement in maternal health care in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and evaluation practices of collegiate sexual violence prevention intervention, just to name a few.

Dean LaVeist was also on the slate of presenters for the final keynote session of the conference, discussing the role of slavery in creating today’s continued health inequities. 

On Monday evening, the school also hosted a reception for alumni and friends at the Philly Field House, located within the convention center. Thanks to a quick change in event areas, we were able to handle our guest list which almost doubled our anticipated attendance. The food was great, the games were fun, but the best part was the networking among all in attendance. Alumnus and former department chair, Dr. Tom Farley, who is now the health commissioner for the City of Philadelphia, made it a point to stop by to meet the dean and connect with old friends.