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News
Cairo to Pittsburgh—then back again
Behavioral and community health sciences doctoral candidate Rabab Ahmed, MD, has expanded her work beyond research into workshops for parents and teachers and a YouTube storytelling initiative led by deaf children themselves. Looking ahead to a postdoctoral fellowship, she hopes to strengthen and scale the infrastructure she has built across Egypt and the Arab world.
Deakings honored as Distinguished Research Alumnus, joins Fab 40 Under 40
Jason Deakings, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of behavioral and community health sciences and associate director of the Center for Health Equity, recently received separate honors highlighting his research accomplishments. He was named to the 2026 New Pittsburgh Courier’s “Fab 40 under 40” list and, on behalf of Meharry Medical College, chosen as a Distinguished Research Alumnus.
Drnach-Bonaventura honored with Distinguished Early Career Award
Grace M. Drnach-Bonaventura (EdD ’24), assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, received a Distinguished Early Career Award from her alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, where she earned her doctorate in social and comparative analysis of education. At Pitt Public Health, she teaches undergraduate and graduate students and studies the intersection of public health, health equity and education.