BSPH News
School of Public Health staff honored at annual award and recognition celebration
Members of Pitt Public Health’s staff were honored at the 2026 Staff Awards & Recognition Ceremony on Aug. 11. Staff milestones recognizing five to 40 years of service were also celebrated.
McCarthy receives grant to support bioethics study abroad program
Associate Professor Cindy McCarthy, DHCE, director of the Bioethics Certificate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, has received a $10,000 Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) Faculty-Led Program Global Pillars Grant to help support students participating in a new study abroad program.
BSPH undergraduate helps launch beauty clinic for women with gynecologic cancer
Bachelor of Science in Public Health sophomore May Coffman helped bring the Magee Beauty Clinic at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital to life by building on a concept she developed as part of her coursework. Held in June, the clinic brought together volunteers and beauty professionals to provide free beauty services, support and a welcoming community for more than 30 women receiving treatment for gynecologic cancers.
Pitt Public Health students harness the power of history to produce podcasts
In a unique collaboration between the Heinz History Center and Pitt Public Health, students in the Introduction to Community-Based Approaches to Public Health course are bridging the gap between past and present.
Student uses Reddit to explore views on organ donation
When the hit TV series “The Pitt” tackled organ donation, viewers turned to Reddit to share their own stories. Arushi Bansal worked with a team to turn those conversations into an award-winning research project. An undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Bansal earned the Best Poster in Social Sciences Award at the David C. Frederick Honors College Spring 2026 Research Symposium.
Scholars present their culminating work
BSPH capstone symposiumIn an exciting culminating event on April 13, 46 Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) students presented academic posters to the Pitt Public Health community during the annual BSPH Capstone Symposium.
From research to action - National Public Health Week at Pitt Public Health
The School of Public Health joined APHA and public health champions around the country for the 2026 theme Ready. Set. Action!
Pitt takes second in 2026 National Bioethics Bowl
The University of Pittsburgh took second place at the 2026 National Bioethics Bowl on Saturday, April 11 at the School of Public Health, coming in one point behind Stanford University after initially splitting the judges’ opinions in the final round.
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.
Provost’s awards recognize those who impact student success
Emily Snyder, undergraduate advisor for Pitt Public Health’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health program, received the 2026 Provost Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Student Success in the Professional Staff Academic Advisor category. The award recognizes staff, faculty and administrators who positively impact the student experience through collaborative, holistic advising and student success practices. Each award consists of a cash prize of $1,000 and a grant of $1,500 to support professional development activities. All awardees will be honored publicly at a reception event on March 26.
Public health, close to home
What starts as a month-long summer program is quickly becoming a powerful pipeline: the Public Health Science Academy is helping Pittsburgh students discover public health and continue that interest into Pitt’s BSPH program.
Pitt Public Health student pays it forward
Emily Thomas, an MPH student at Pitt Public Health, draws on her family’s experiences with transplants and health challenges to advocate for organ donation and public health, turning personal lessons into community impact.
Empowering communities to save lives: UPMC and Pitt’s commitment to cardiac arrest survival
When someone experiences cardiac arrest, every second counts. Survival often depends on more than advanced clinical care—it begins in the community. Recognizing this, UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have partnered with community groups to break down barriers and empower everyday people to become lifesavers. The initiative also invests in future public health leaders. Undergraduate students from Pitt’s School of Public Health serve as trainers, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship.
Students launch resource locker to support Pitt Public Health community
When Grace Osborne, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, noticed peers struggling to access basic necessities, she decided to act. Through her involvement with Pitt’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Osborne was initially interested in supplying Narcan to the school. As she explored that idea further, the conversation expanded to include other ways to support students’ day-to-day needs.
