Shaping the Future: Highlights from Public Health Research Day 2026
Published Date
Article Content
Public Health Research Day is more than just a series of presentations; it is a vibrant celebration of innovation, mentorship and the relentless pursuit of a healthier world. Hosted by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego, this annual event serves as the intersection where academic rigor meets real-world application.
Conversations during the poster presentations seeded new ideas and partnerships, strengthened existing relationships and laid the groundwork for future collaborations.
With an estimated 400 attendees and 70 posters, the 2026 annual event showcased the teamwork and growth of emerging public health professionals.
Exploring the frontiers of health
The day is designed to empower the next generation of public health professionals. Through dedicated poster sessions, staff and students stepped into the spotlight, showcasing their hard work and honing the professional communication skills essential for leadership in the field.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health honors practicum students' poster titled "Housed but Hungry: Food Insecurity Among On-Campus Upperclassmen Without Required Dining Plans" focused on expanding affordable and flexible dining options and addressing structural barriers to affordable food in upperclassmen housing.
The research presented during the day reflects the incredible scope of work being done by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health’s students and staff. The topics covered are as diverse as the challenges they aim to solve, spanning critical areas including:
- Climate and Environmental Health: Investigating the complex interplay among environmental and climatic stressors — including climate variability, wildfire smoke, pesticide exposure and soil degradation — and their effects on human health, education and agricultural resilience, while also addressing campus-specific sustainability and occupational health challenges.
- Health Equity and Global Health Justice: Discovering ways to combat health disparities by addressing systemic barriers like socioeconomic status, insurance access, language and cultural literacy — through targeted community engagement, improved clinical workflows and workforce development strategies designed to support marginalized populations both globally and locally.
- Healthy Aging and Human Longevity Science: Examining the intersection of biological, psychosocial and environmental factors, such as the impact of linguistic and social connectivity on cognitive and emotional health, the physiological effects of stress and weight-loss medications and the role of immune-related biological markers in long-term well-being.
- Health Services Research and Health Policy: Exploring the optimization of health care delivery and policy by analyzing implementation fidelity, mitigating socioeconomic and insurance-driven disparities in disease management, and evaluating how systemic barriers — such as financial instability, food insecurity and communication nuances — impact health access and clinical outcomes both globally and within the UC San Diego community.
- Mental Health and Substance Use: Understanding the complexities of mental health and substance use by studying the impact of marketing and surveillance on youth, evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of harm reduction and digital therapeutic interventions and identifying systemic barriers to managing addiction and self-harm behaviors in diverse and vulnerable populations.
- Quantitative Methods in Public Health: Utilizing a diverse range of advanced quantitative methodologies, including functional principal component analysis, artificial intelligence, deep learning, ultra-deep genomic sequencing and complex regression modeling to analyze intricate datasets spanning human behavioral patterns, socioeconomic determinants and microbial genomics.
- Women’s Health and Reproductive Justice: Highlighting how structural inequities, such as food insecurity and gender-based violence, alongside access to essential reproductive health services and information, fundamentally shape the physical health, autonomy and clinical outcomes of women and adolescent girls globally and within the San Diego community.
Taylor Lewis, Bachelor of Science in Public Health student, presents on her poster titled "Pharmacy Availability and Barriers to Ulipristal Acetate Emergency Contraception in San Diego."
Isaac Bouchard, MA, a student in the inaugural cohort of the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health program presents on his poster titled "Evaluating the Implementation of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Systematic Review."
Bachelor of Science in Public Health students Thoai Phan, Nikhil Puvvula and Beiqin Ye with their poster titled "Effects of Smoking on Outcomes of Hypertension" evaluated the association and relationships between smoking status and hypertension.
A catalyst for professional growth
Beyond the data, the event serves as a powerful engine for connection. Two specialized networking sessions provided a unique opportunity for emerging public health leaders to engage directly with seasoned professionals. This mentorship-driven environment bridges the gap between classroom learning and career-defining expertise, fostering the collaborations that will drive future breakthroughs.
In an era of rapidly evolving global health challenges, the work presented during Public Health Research Day is not just academic — it is essential. It is a day where public health comes to life, showing exactly how data and dedication translate into safer, healthier lives for everyone.
By following the progress made here, solutions can be developed to protect our communities, influence policy and improve longevity.
Karim Ghobrial-Sedky, MD, psychiatry residency program director at the Family Health Centers of San Diego, spoke with students during a mentorship session.
Share This:
Stay in the Know
Keep up with all the latest from UC San Diego. Subscribe to the newsletter today.
