We're excited to continue our Q&A series highlighting the 2024–2025 Wellness PHirst Ambassadors!

Each ambassador is making a meaningful impact by promoting wellness and supporting their peers. In our last feature, we introduced Neha and her personal experiences in public health and beyond, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health and stigma.

In our next spotlight, we sat down with Maya Governa, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student with a concentration in Epidemiology, to discuss her public health journey and the significance of promoting and leading with wellness PHirst.

Erica L. Eliason, Ph.D., M.P.H. has joined the Rutgers School of Public Health Department of Urban-Global Public Health as an assistant professor. She is also a member of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy within the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research.

As we honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Americans’ histories, cultures, and contributions. Dr. Zorimar Rivera-Núñez is an assistant professor in the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and a proud Latina. Her journey - from navigating language barriers to leading groundbreaking research on environmental exposures and maternal health - is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the power of heritage.

Rutgers School of Public Health’s Office for Student Experiences and Alumni Affairs (OSEAA) is thrilled to introduce the inaugural cohort of Wellness PHirst Ambassadors. This initiative reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a culture of health and well-being.

In our first spotlight, we sat down with FNU Neha, a second-year Master of Public Health (MPH) student with a concentration in Population Mental Health, to discuss her public health journey and the significance of promoting and leading with wellness PHirst.

Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, has received the 2024 Helen Rodriguez-Trías Social Justice Award from the American Public Health Association for his advocacy work and research aimed at improving the health of LGBTQ+ people and populations.

Iris Udasin, a professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, will be presented the “Service Above Self” award at 9/11 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day.

We sat down with Philip McCabe, a health education specialist at the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Workforce Development, who is a Nationally Certified Addiction Specialist and consultant on several national initiatives sponsored by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  

Mara Getz Sheftel, Ph.D. has joined the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy as an instructor. She is also a member of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research.

Melanie Shefchik, a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at Rutgers School of Public Health, shares her journey and dedication to maternal and child health (MCH) and highlights the vital role breastfeeding plays in promoting health and well-being.

Rutgers researchers examined particulate matter from a June 2023 fire that triggered advisories for more than 100 million Americans in the Northeast.