“We talked about policies, hardships and political instability within a country, but I was struck by how we didn’t discuss the well-being of the people who were living there,” said Limbong. “How were communities doing during these times of war, natural disasters and other atrocities?,” she wondered.

It was this desire to understand the people and root causes of issues that led the Louisville native and to study public health.��

Limbong, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in public health in May 2026, explored the global interconnectivity of cultures when she embarked on a month-long project in the African country of Malawi this past summer. This opportunity was led by Rochelle Holm of the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute.

According to the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), Malawi’s economy is largely agricultural with more than 80 percent of the population dependent on farming. While this supports livelihoods for millions, Malawi is vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Unsafe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene are concerns for much of the population.

In Malawi, Limbong assisted with nutrition research by surveying hundreds of Malawian university students and staff. The aim was to see if dietary indicators can be detected in wastewater and environmental surveillance, and how that compared to what people reported. She explored her interest in food insecurity by visiting a coffee planters’ co-op and participating in a grassroots feeding program for vulnerable community members.

The ‘warm heart of Africa’: Beyond the stereotypes

Malawi is often described through a narrow lens defined primarily by economic hardship. While poverty is a reality for many, Limbong said that is not the full story. Approaching Malawi with the intention of learning from local communities, Limbong focused on listening to resident voices. Through conversations with Malawians, she began to see how limiting the dominant narrative can be.

“Malawians are resilient, brilliant, and capable,” she reflected. “They are doing their best to provide for their families and are innovative in the ways that they can be.” For Limbong, it was essential not to reduce people to their struggles alone. “I want to make sure we don’t forget people’s humanity,” she said.

In the country known as “the warm heart of Africa,” Limbong was particularly struck by the communal nature of Malawian culture. Almost every evening, she heard large groups of people gathered together singing. These moments reflected more than music. “It speaks to the community-centric nature of the people,” she explained. “I think it’s important to be fully immersed, take time to hear people’s life experiences, and to share those stories from their perspective.”

Global citizenry

Upon graduation in May, Limbong plans to continue public health at UofL and pursue a master’s degree to better understand where her gifts align with the needs of the community.

Limbong said her Malawi experience deepened her understanding of global humanitarian work as both meaningful and demanding, “This is important work and hard work,” she said. “The experience helped me examine how my own contributions can fit into the broader picture of global health.”

For Limbong, what resonated from her experience was a sense of collective humanity. “While our realities might be different, they impact one another,” she said. “We are all connected on this shared earth, and that is something I will take with me wherever I go next and whatever I end up doing.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree in Tennessee and medical school in India, Abraham arrived in Louisville seven years ago. She was shadowing doctors and getting ready for a medical residency when she became intrigued by the idea of helping not just individuals but populations.

“I am a numbers person so I was comparing clinical versus population health data and seeing how research could impact a lot more people,” Abraham said.

Once she decided to embark on her master’s degree in public health at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS), Abraham met Stephanie Boone, a two-time UofL alumna (MPH ’08, PhD ’13) and associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and faculty member at the Brown Cancer Center, Boone encouraged her to apply for the PhD program and got her involved in epidemiological research.

Now a graduate of SPHIS, Abraham has been working as the coordinator of the Kentucky Core (Boone, PI) of the RURAL (Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal) Study. This is a large National Institutes of Health-funded study to conduct community engagement and evaluate heart and lung diseases among rural populations in four states: Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Abraham has connected with local communities in Perry, Breathitt, Boyle and Garrard counties in Kentucky, to help recruit more than 1,000 residents and provide education and resources for unmet needs for hundreds at community meetings and events.

Since 2021, Abraham has been building a network, spreading the message and promoting the study, becoming a constant presence and trusted local contact in these counties. A mobile exam unit is traveling county by county and offering free health screenings to participants to determine lung, heart and overall wellness indicators.

Abraham, Boone and epidemiology graduate assistant Scotland Stewart, along with Community Advisory Boards established from each of the counties, meet with residents virtually or in person at city councils, church events, health fairs and festivals.

“You don’t want them to think you’re just there to use them for their data and leave,” Abraham said. “We want to share the results with the community and help them find funding or grants and design programs for what the data shows is lacking in their community.”

Establishing the participant cohort for the study has been a game changer for each community’s health now and in the future. “The CT scan on the mobile unit can measure Coronary Artery Calcium, which could show an individual if they are at risk for future heart disease, but also the scans have found incidental findings in the lung or other health concerns that people did not know existed, which is life-changing,” Abraham said. “It’s gratifying to know that your work does mean something and it is actually making a difference.”

Abraham plans to continue in her role until study participant recruitment is completed in Kentucky. After that, Abraham said she hopes to seek post-doc opportunities to take her population level research one step further into dissemination and implementation.

“Research shouldn’t just be about publishing papers, it should be about translating your findings to make a positive impact in people’s lives – that’s where my heart is.”

The $85,200 grant was awarded by the Jewish Heritage Fund to Whitney/Strong, a non-profit focused on responsible gun ownership and finding common ground solutions to end gun violence. Working alongside UofL SPHIS on the research is the Louisville Metro Office of Safe and Health Neighborhoods.��

“Gun violence is a tragic product of structural violence ingrained in our community’s historical and current context. We are hopeful that a clear, data-driven illustration of the far-reaching economic costs of gun violence will help build political will to address the structures underlying the violence in Louisville,” said Monique Williams, faculty member in the UofL SPHIS Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and director of the Louisville Metro Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods.

While other studies have been conducted to quantify the cost of gun violence to taxpayers and governments, Whitney/Strong’s study aims to provide a more in-depth view of the economic impacts of specific incidents of gun violence, the resulting impact on youth, and how investment in gun violence prevention can increase tax revenue and family wealth in high-violence areas, while also increasing protective factors for healthy youth development. Whitney/Strong hopes to share the completed results of the study by the end of 2022.��

“Gun violence does more than harm individuals and families; each and every act of gun violence has an effect on entire communities in ways we’re only now beginning to understand. Our hope is to better recognize those effects and help spur action that, ultimately, can save lives,”��said Whitney Austin, .��“With record gun violence in Louisville, year after year, we need to have a better understanding of just what our city is giving up by not tackling this issue. I’m eager to get this study underway so we can better see that preventing gun violence is not a problem for one neighborhood or just an issue for our city government. Gun violence is devastating to every facet of our community’s health – physical, mental and economic – and understanding the extent of that harm will bring us one step closer to preventing more suffering.”

This story .��

The graduate programs that saw the largest growth are business administration, human resource and organization development, educational administration, law and nursing. More than 6,450 graduate students are enrolled for fall 2021.

Conversely, following , the preliminary number of first-time undergraduate degree-seeking students enrolled for fall dropped 6% to 2,693.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been life-altering for so many, and we are encouraged that more students are seeking post-graduate-level degrees,” said Neeli Bendapudi, UofL’s president. “It is such a thrill to see a vibrant campus once again, and we are confident of a bright future for all our students.”

For the incoming undergraduate class, the five most popular majors are engineering, business, education, biology and psychology. Enrollment in public health programs for both undergraduate and graduate students also continues to be strong with a 19% increase since 2019.

The incoming undergraduate class remains diverse, with almost 20% of students identifying as African American or multiracial, and 7% as Latino.

Here is a snapshot of the 2021 first-time freshman class:

• 47.6% have some college credits
• 20.24% are African American or identify as multiracial
• 7.06% are Hispanic/Latino
• 64.05% live on campus
• 33.05% are first-generation college students
• 25.64 is the average ACT score
• 3.63 is the average high school grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale
• 23.72% are from outside Kentucky
• 38 states are represented
• 246 are part-time

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.

“Being 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 events”

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.

“As 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,” he said. “As we look toward the future, we need to be sure we’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.”

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

“It’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,” he said.

Yarmuth added, “It 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.”

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Paige Wills contributed to this story.

Dr. Sarah Moyer is the director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the chief health strategist for the city of Louisville. She’s also an assistant professor of Health Management and Systems Sciences in UofL’s School of Public Health & Information Sciences.

Though the novel coronavirus pandemic is certainly on a different level than what she — or anyone in her field — is used to, Moyer is no stranger to leading the charge to affect better health outcomes for the city of Louisville. who works with all sectors of the community to affect policy, systems and environmental changes. She spearheaded the creation of Louisville’s successful syringe exchange program in 2015, for example, to slow the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C cases in the state.

During the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak earlier this month, about Moyer and her work as it pertains to this specific crisis. In that story, SPHIS Dean Craig Blakely praised her ability to “adapt to public health situations.”

“In these settings, like what’s happening now, quick movement is essential to being successful,” he said. “It’s the same as Ebola – some lost the war, others did really well. It has to do with quick responses.”

Moyer told the publication that she is learning what is working in other places and applying it to the COVID-19 response in Louisville.

“I have faults, but adaptability and solving complex problems are on my strength list,” she told the CJ. “When you’re a mom of four kids, you’ve got to be able to adapt, no matter what comes your way.”

Prior to joining UofL in 2015, Moyer earned degrees from Temple, Wake Forest, Dartmouth and Colorado College.

The celebration was in advance of National Farmers Market Week Aug. 4-10. Farmers markets act as vital resources for families to get locally sourced produce which increases healthy eating habits and boosts the local economy.

The Gray Street Farmers Market was co-founded in 2009 between UofL’s School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) and the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health Wellness. Together, they work toward relieving the food desert that exists in downtown Louisville.

“We’re in the middle of an increased need to provide fresh produce within downtown Louisville, specifically to those on food assistance programs,” said Sara Frazier, Gray Street Farmers Market manager.

Locally-grown produce can often be viewed as a commodity for only those who can afford it, according to Frazier. The Gray Street Farmers Market addresses the issue with its Dollar for Dollar program, which matches SNAP recipients’ benefits up to $20. The service is provided through donations and numerous fundraising opportunities, including a available on the market’s website during August.�� There is also an for those wishing to donate directly to the Dollar for Dollar program.��

The market runs every Thursday from mid-May to Oct. 31, 2019 – rain or shine. It operates from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch options available through vendors and weekly food truck rotations. The market’s governance committee reviews all vendor applications to ensure the products are local and will be a good fit. They want there to be a variety of high quality options for our customers.��

Visitors can expect homegrown or homemade products including fruits and vegetables, canned goods, hand-crafted products, artisan coffee and more. Most vendors accept cash, card or tokens. Tokens are available at the information booth in order to help those who need currency exchanged onsite.

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The awards ceremony recognizes high achieving graduates based on their merit and contributions to the community. Each year, one alumna or alumnus of the year is selected along with 13 Alumni Fellows from each of the schools, colleges, libraries, and student affairs.��

Alumna of the Year

• Jenny L. Sawyer ’78,��executive director of��admissions��at the University of Louisville.

Alumni Fellows

• Brandeis School of Law
  Edwin S. Hopson, Sr. ’67, ’69, partner at��Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs.
• College of Arts and Sciences
  George Nichols, III ’85,��president and chief executive officer of the American College of Financial Services.
• College of Business
  Raymond E. Loyd ’68, founder of Derby Industries and Derby Fabricating.
• College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development
  Linda F. Hargan ’71, ’73, ’93,��founder, president, and chief executive officer emeritus of CTL.
• J. B. Speed School of Engineering
  Gerald G. Hubbs ’64, ’76, retired vice president and director of engineering at the Brown-Forman Corporation.��
• Kent School of Social Work
  Ruby Gordon ’66, ’72, former social worker with JCPS and Hillebrand House.
• School of Dentistry
  Karen L. Pierce-West ’77, ’82,��dean and professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.
• School of Medicine
  Shawn C. Jones ’82, ’86, ’93,��founder of Purchase ENT, an ENT-otolaryngologist specialty group in Paducah, Kentucky.��
• School of Music
  John M. Hoover ’63, ’69, former director of bands at the University of Louisville.
• School of Nursing
  Flora Ponder ’87, former head nurse at the Louisville and Jefferson County Health Department and director of nurses at the Park-Duvalle Community Health Center.��
• School of Public Health and Information Sciences
  Lewatis D. McNeal ’16,��assistant dean of administration of inclusive excellence and special projects at Northern Kentucky University.
• Student Affairs
  Todd A. Schmiedeler ’97,��Trilogy Health Service’s senior vice president of Foundation & Workforce Development and founder and president of Thumbprint Consulting.
• University Libraries
  Morris M. Weiss Jr. ’58, cardiologist with Medical Center Cardiologists and clinical professor of medicine in cardiology at the University of Louisville.

This year’s awardees will be honored at the 2019 Alumni Awards ceremony October 24.

As the winner, Mitchell received free registration for the AcademyHealth 2019 Annual Research Meeting, a certificate of recognition, and her op-ed has been published on the��Health Affairs��Blog��and shared with interest group meeting attendees.

“Carmen is the epitome of a model PhD student and this is quite an honor within our health services research profession. We’re proud of her accomplishment and believe she is a great representation of the school and our department,” said Chris Johnson, PhD, chair, Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences.

Mitchell discovered the contest while browsing through social media. A few weeks prior to discovering the contest, she had her first-ever op-ed submission published on Insider Higher Ed, so she decided to go for this one as well.��

Health disparities is a focus of Mitchell’s and something she feels very passionate about. She explained that through her own experience with disparities, whether through research, the classroom, or just talking to people, she finds that sometimes the conversation can stay surface-level.

“If people don’t have a deeper understanding of the root causes of health that go beyond some of the high-level factors (like income), and it can especially be tricky to talk about ways where our own societal systems are actually contributing to those problems (whether intentionally designed to or not). I think if we can have more of those discussions, it can help us move forward in research, policy and intervention designs.”

Mitchell said she was shocked to learn she won and feels honored to have her op-ed published in��Health Affairs��while representing SPHIS and HMSS.

“While I am very honored, I know these are not new ideas and I’m very grateful to all the scholars—both inside and outside of public health—who have been uplifting these ideas for a long time. Most importantly though, I just hope it can help push the conversation forward a little more,” she said.��

Read her editorial on the��.