Several students and professors from UR’s Department of Health Studies attended the Richmond Forum presentation by Dr. Anthony Fauci in March 2024. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), spoke about his desire from a young age to serve the greater good; his infectious disease research; and his decades-long career in government service.
The students were thrilled to be able to spend an evening with one of the most recognizable figures in public health. Matthew Karen ’24 was pleased that Fauci’s speech “affirmed the knowledge and values [he’d] gained from Health Studies courses.” Ella Karcewski ’26 appreciated Fauci’s emphasis on inequalities in health care both within the U.S. and internationally, explaining that “people are suffering disproportionately, and that is a dominant public health issue we need to address as future leaders in public health.” Ariana Sosa ’24 was encouraged by the audience’s expressions of support for public health action.
In addition to meeting Fauci, the students enjoyed sharing this experience with their professors. Evan Wolff ’24 thought this was a wonderful opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom and engage in powerful discussion after listening to a leader in the field noting that his favorite part of the evening was “debriefing after the talk with my professors and gaining new context for Dr. Fauci’s talking points.”
Rick Mayes, professor of health policy, presented “Social and Environmental Drivers of Health” for Shenandoah University’s Physician Assistant Program.
Rick Mayes, professor of health policy, presented “Medicare Advantage’s Role in Accelerating the Expansion of ‘Big Med’” at the Interdisciplinary Association of Population Health Sciences (IAPHS) 2024 Annual Meeting.
Rick Mayes, professor of health policy, presented “5 Key Facts about U.S. Healthcare and Their Ethical Implications” for the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Kathryn Jacobsen, William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair and professor of health studies published “The burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors by state in the USA, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021,” as part of the Global Burden of Disease Collaborators in The Lancet.
Six University of Richmond students have been offered Gilman scholarships to support their study abroad experiences.
Students will live and learn in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, France, India, South Africa, and Taiwan.
Health studies professor Kathryn H. Jacobsen, an epidemiologist, is quoted.
Mailing address:
Department of Health Studies
Richmond Hall, Suite G21
114 UR Drive
Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: (804) 662-3034
Department Chair: Dr. Rick Mayes
Academic Administrative Coordinator: Stephanie Fillman