Student leaders in the School of Public Health & Information Sciences were instrumental in organizing the event. Arushi Gupta, president of the UofL chapter of the Kentucky Public Health Association, helped organize the event and served as a moderator. She said opportunities like this allow her to apply the knowledge she has gained at UofL to what is happening in society today.

ā€œBeing able to actively participate in a discussion with Congressman Yarmuth gives me a deeper understanding of the intersection of public health and policy, while also allowing me to understand how public health has an impact on current eventsā€

As the one-year mark of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, many leaders, including Yarmuth, recognize that investments in public health are vital to the health and safety of U.S. residents.

ā€œAs the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, public health impacts nearly every single element of our society, from our own personal safety and wellbeing to jobs and our economy,ā€ he said. ā€œAs we look toward the future, we need to be sure weā€™re making strong investments in preparedness, in public health education and in having the necessary health infrastructure and workforce in place to be able to meet the growing demands.ā€

Craig Blakely, SPHIS dean, expressed his gratitude to Yarmuth for taking time out of his demanding schedule to meet with students and alumni.

ā€œItā€™s heartening to witness our U.S. congressman take 90 minutes out of his day, with everything going on in Washington, to meet digitally and interact with students to discuss politics and the implications for public health following the change in administration,ā€ he said.

Yarmuth added, ā€œIt was wonderful to speak with Dean Blakely and his students and hear their perspectives on policy and practice, where the two meet, and how we can all work together to improve care.ā€

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Paige Wills contributed to this story.