UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health

UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health Est. in 2003, the UC Irvine Wen School of Population and Public Health is dedicated to health equity for all.

✨ Big news in cancer research at With a $1.8M grant, David Richardson is leading a global study on how low-dose radiat...
06/22/2026

✨ Big news in cancer research at

With a $1.8M grant, David Richardson is leading a global study on how low-dose radiation exposure impacts long-term cancer risk.

Tracking 300,000+ workers across the U.S., U.K., and France, this research will help answer critical questions about leukemia, solid cancers, and how age at exposure matters — while shaping future public health and safety standards.

As everyday exposure increases — from medical imaging to workplace settings — this work couldn’t be more important.

👉 Read more about the grant and research: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/06/15/uc-irvine-researcher-receives-1-8-million-nih-grant-to-study-cancer-risks-from-low-dose-radiation-exposure/

06/20/2026

before day one.

UC Irvine Wen Public Health research finds that a father’s health, diet, stress, and mental well-being can shape a child’s long-term risk of obesity — even before conception.

“Fathers have historically been overlooked in maternal and child health research and intervention efforts,” said Matthew Landry, PhD, RD, assistant professor of global health and biobehavioral sciences and a registered dietitian nutritionist.

💡 The good news: healthy changes may help reverse some risks — and support the next generation.

❤️ Supporting dads’ health = healthier families.

➡️ Read the full study: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/06/04/dad-bods-may-influence-childhood-obesity-risks/

Video description: Images of fathers with children and family, with text overlay about UC Irvine research on paternal health and child obesity risk, highlighting Father's Day.

06/17/2026

“What surprised you most?”

As commencement season comes to a close, we asked our students and recent graduates to reflect on their experience, and one theme came up again and again.

Community. 💙💛

While they expected to gain knowledge and professional skills, many were surprised by the friendships, support systems, and connections they built along the way.

Sometimes the most meaningful part of graduate school is not just the knowledge you gain. It’s the people who help you grow.

Their reflections are just one part of the story.

Join us for a 30-minute casual, virtual conversation with current students and alumni as they share their experiences, insights, and what life in our graduate program is like. Free to attend.
https://na2.hubs.ly/H069lK20



Students and recent graduates share what surprised them the most about their graduate school experience, including community, friendships, research opportunities, and professional growth.

A public health high point 👏🎓Just one day after being hooded by their mentors, our largest-ever cohort of doctoral gradu...
06/17/2026

A public health high point 👏🎓

Just one day after being hooded by their mentors, our largest-ever cohort of doctoral graduates’ steps boldly into what’s next.

These 28 scholars — shaped by a defining era in public health — leave UC Irvine ready to lead, innovate and drive change where it matters most.

From advancing disease prevention to addressing global health challenges, their work is already making an impact. And this is just the beginning.

🔗 Read more about this record-setting achievement.
https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/04/09/a-public-health-high-point/

Image descriptions
1: Bold text reads "A Public Health High Point" with a yellow graduation cap outline.
2: Bold text reads 'A Record-Setting Year' in blue.
3: Text talks about future leaders in public health.
4: Yellow timeline from 2021 to 2026.
5: Smiling person in front of a research poster, with a quote about proactive disease prevention.
6: A woman with long wavy hair wearing a dark buttoned top stand outdoors.
7: A woman in sunglasses and a blue scarf smile in front of a stone wall.
8. Text talks about urgent need for public health leadership.
9. Bold text reads “The future of public health starts here”

As our Master of Public Health (MPH) students prepare to cross the stage, we're celebrating how far they have come and a...
06/12/2026

As our Master of Public Health (MPH) students prepare to cross the stage, we're celebrating how far they have come and all they have accomplished along the way. From childhood photos to graduation portraits, these images reflect the years of growth, perseverance, and purpose.

We are proud to recognize the Class of 2026 and the impact they are preparing to make in public health. Swipe through to meet a few of our graduating MPH students and read about their journeys. 💙💛

06/12/2026

The Public Good: Insights & Impacts — June Highlights

This month’s issue features milestones, research, and stories driving public health forward:

🎓 A public health high point: Wen Public Health celebrates a record setting year with its largest cohort of doctoral graduates — highlighting growing demand for public health leadership and the next generation tackling global and local health challenges.

🌎 From community exposure to advocacy: Doctoral student Karen Valladares turns her early exposure to environmental injustice into research focused on reducing harmful exposures and advancing health equity in impacted communities.

🔬 A new name, expanded vision: The Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention is now the Department of Global Health & Biobehavioral Sciences — reflecting a stronger focus on the interplay between biological, behavioral, and global factors shaping health.

Plus:
➕ Faculty Focus
➕ Findings That Matter
➕ In the Media
And more!

👉 Read the full June issue of The Public Good at https://publichealth.uci.edu/news-and-media/newsletters-publications/.

From community exposure in her undergraduate years to advocacy in her doctoral degree 🌱Karen Valladares turned her early...
06/10/2026

From community exposure in her undergraduate years to advocacy in her doctoral degree 🌱

Karen Valladares turned her early exposure to environmental injustice into a PhD focused on protecting communities from harmful exposures, such as PFAS.

In late July, Karen will defend her dissertation “Persistent Pollutants, Unequal Burdens: Epidemiological Investigations of PFAS and Heavy Metal Exposures Across Three Populations.” It will be a full circle moment.

Karen is one of 28 doctoral students graduating in June and credits a lot of her success to her mentors and faculty colleagues.

🔗 Read more: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/06/01/from-community-exposure-to-advocacy-a-doctoral-students-journey-into-environmental-justice/

06/08/2026

Last Friday, our graduating MPH students presenting their capstone work during the 2026 MPH Poster Symposium.

The event showcased the impactful practicum (internship) projects our students have been leading across communities — addressing real-world public health challenges with innovation, purpose, and care. For our MPH students, a practicum program takes place over two quarters (or 160 hours) and allows them to gain first-hand experience in organizations, NGOs, non-profits, and more across the region.

Topics discussed included women’s health, environmental justice, public health communication, Spanish-speaking health programs, climate change and anxiety, affordable housing across California, preventative health education, and more.

A key partner in this program is our Practicum sites that host our students and help make these experiences possible.

📸 Take a look at highlights from the day.

Video description: Students from Wen Public Health present their research posters to faculty, students, and community members.

Pride Month (June) is a celebration — but also a call to action. 🌈At Wen Public Health, our faculty are advancing resear...
06/06/2026

Pride Month (June) is a celebration — but also a call to action. 🌈

At Wen Public Health, our faculty are advancing research that centers LGBTQIA+ health, equity, and lived experiences — because inclusive public health is essential to healthier communities for all.

• Sean Arayasirikul, PhD — advancing community-engaged research with LGBTQIA+ populations
• Leigh Turner, PhD — examining ethics, health equity, and protections for marginalized communities
• Theodore K. Gideonse, MFA, PhD — exploring global LGBTQIA+ health, stigma, and structural inequities

This Pride Month, we celebrate the research, advocacy, and impact driving a more equitable future.

🔗 Learn more about our faculty and their work at publichealth.uci.edu

We’re excited to share an important evolution at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health.The Depar...
06/05/2026

We’re excited to share an important evolution at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health.

The Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention has officially been renamed the Department of Global Health & Biobehavioral Sciences — a change that reflects the department’s growing focus on how biological, behavioral, and global factors intersect to shape health outcomes.

As Michael A. Hoyt, PhD, chair and professor of the reimagined department, shared:
“The questions look different on the surface, but the underlying logic is the same: the conditions of people’s lives get inside their bodies. Understanding how that happens — and what we can do about it — is what this department is all about.”

This new identity captures the department’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research and addressing complex health challenges at both the individual and global levels.

🔗 Read more: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/05/29/where-the-world-meets-the-body/

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