The 2025 Public Health Practice Showcase featured 15 graduate students representing each of Pitt Public Health’s seven departments, who presented work done in collaboration with community partners. Awards were also presented to faculty, staff and community partners who exemplify public health practice excellence.
In her opening remarks, Dean Lichtveld spoke of the importance of “making sure our science works for communities. Otherwise, our science doesn’t work.”
Vice Dean Jeanine Buchanich presented the Emerging Faculty/Staff Partner award to Sarah Papperman (MPH, BCHS ’15), research coordinator in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, for her work with Bridging the Gaps Pittsburgh and the Established Faculty/Staff Partner award to Dara Méndez for her work in maternal and child health and with EMBRACE: Equity in Maternal and Birthing Outcomes and Reproductive Health through Community Engagement. Méndez lauded previous leaders, saying that her decades-long career is done on the backs of those that came before her.
Keith Caldwell, Executive Director of Place Based Initiatives, gave an overview of the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs. Caldwell also presented the Emerging Community Partner award to Gabriel Gray, community organizer for Pittsburgh United, and the Established Community Partner Award to Prevention Point Pittsburgh.
Prevention Point Pittsburgh’s Executive Director Aaron Arnold (MPH BCHS ’13), urged the audience, “If you see something necessary, just start it,” explaining that he didn’t have experience running a treatment program, but used his lived experience and training from his degree program to fill a need he saw in the Pittsburgh community.
“There are so many people in this room that just saw something that needed to be done,” said Tina Ndoh, associate dean for public health practice and director of the Center for Public Health Practice, in closing. “There is a lot of power in that.”
Judges from the school scored each poster presentation and awarded the following:
1st place; poster showcase (3-way tie)
McKenna Brunick
(MPH Hugen '26)
MC4: Community Emergency Response Training. A Curriculum for Building Community Leaders
Haliyat Oshodi
(MPH HPM '26)
Mental Health Matters: Implementing a Trauma-Informed Training for Staff at Youth Enrichment Services
Alyssa Sharma
(MPH EOH '26)
Data and Outreach-Driven Methods to Improving Septic Maintenance Compliance In Rural Virginia
2025 Director’s Award
Arabella Johnson
(MPH BCHS '26)
Centering Community Voice: Addressing Menstrual Health Needs Among Women Experiencing Homelessness in Pittsburgh, PA
-Caitlin McCullough