Riegelman TIPH Global projects promote awareness of public health issues, education, and career opportunities worldwide, with a specific emphasis on local communities. The third cohort of the Riegelman TIPH Global Program has awarded grants to 11 academic public health institutions from 9 countries, representing 6 regional academic public health associations. This cohort includes both novel projects and, for the first time, a select number of prior grantees who have been approved to expand and evolve their previous TIPH Global campaigns. The projects seek to address numerous modern and critical public health issues including HPV, antibiotic resistance, climate change, decolonizing public health, and improving international collaboration. Using creative approaches, community engagement, and constructive partnerships, the grantees intend to educate, train, and empower their communities. We look forward to following their progress over the course of the grant and supporting these vital initiatives.
Babeș-Bolyai University
Romania
Creative engagement for increased HPV awareness in Romania
Lead: Marius Ionuț Ungureanu, MD, PhD, MHA – Department Chair
Student ambassador: Ștefan-Augustin Lazăr
This project aims to enhance HPV vaccine awareness among young adults (18–35) in Romania, centered in Cluj County. Led by Babeș-Bolyai University’s Public Health Department. It integrates creative outreach—coffee shop campaigns, digital storytelling, and film festival activations—with global collaborations via ASPHER, EHMA, and EUPHA. Anchored in major public health anniversaries, the initiative trains students as advocates and content creators, combining local engagement with international visibility. By targeting informal spaces and fostering peer-led conversations, it aims to engage over 500 participants and create a scalable, arts-based public health advocacy model for communities across Europe.
Midterm Update
The CEHAR project has moved into a phase of active, student-led HPV communication and community engagement. The BBU Global Student Ambassador and student volunteers have developed peer-focused videos, messaging frameworks, and European Public Health Week content that together generated more than 14,000 views and reached over 7,000 accounts. The project’s youth communication approach was also presented at a prominent conference and was recognized as promising in practice. The team has been conducting local outreach in addition to collaboration with the established HPV Free City initiative, strengthening the project’s community partnerships while preserving its focus on creative, accessible HPV advocacy.
Deakin University School of Health and Social Development
Australia
Public Health Unplugged
Lead: Carah Alyssa Figueroa, PhD, MPH – Lecturer
Student ambassador: Sara Vargovic
Misinformation about public health, fueled by social media and political debates, threatens community well-being. The project, ‘Public Health Unplugged,’ aims to counter this by simplifying expert knowledge into accessible content by creating a student-led journal and podcast from Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development. Students will get to showcase outstanding coursework and their diverse interests, experiences and insights in public health. By bridging the gap between experts and the public, students will present the latest research on critical health topics – building their communication skills while enhancing health literacy and strengthening public health messaging.
Midterm Update
Public Health Unplugged has established its core student-led communications platform, launched its website, LinkedIn presence, and inaugural collection of published articles. More than students expressed interest, contributing to writing, editing, website development, design, recruitment, and project coordination. Approximately ten students have been actively involved in building the initiative, supported by weekly meetings with the student ambassadors and faculty team. Publication and podcast production have overcome challenges related to student workload, visa restrictions, and the need for additional editorial and technical support, allowing the project to remain on track. The next phase will focus on recording and releasing the first podcast season, expanding social media outreach, and recruiting additional students to distribute responsibilities.
Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública (EASP)
Spain
Advancing Action on Antibiotic Resistance: “Empowering Healthcare Professionals and Patients through Digital Innovation”
Lead: Ariane Bauernfeind, MPH – Professor
Student ambassador: María Fernanda Bautista Garín
This second part of “Proyecto Multirresistencias” expands a prior initiative that created an educational website on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In its new phase, it introduces a mobile application to enhance accessibility and engagement for both healthcare professionals and the public. By incorporating Digital Health Promotion (DHP) strategies, it aims to promote equitable access to AMR information, extend outreach to six Andalusian hospitals, and empower users through training and simplified content. Activities include app development, tailored educational workshops, and social media campaigns. The project emphasizes institutional collaboration and continuous evaluation, using digital analytics and participant feedback to ensure lasting impact in the fight against AMR.
Midterm Update
The AMRedxtion project has expanded its antimicrobial resistance programming into Cádiz while continuing activities in Granada. Three practical workshops reached 109 first-year medical residents, and the project’s website and social media activities have reached approximately 1,400 people. A major milestone was completing a technical audit and securing an approved plan to transform the existing website into an installable Progressive Web App. This approach will provide faster mobile performance and offline access to Andalusian clinical guidelines while avoiding ongoing app-store costs. The next phase will complete the platform migration, strengthen analytics and web promotion, and extend workshops to additional hospitals in Málaga. The project continues to connect digital innovation, professional education, and institutional collaboration in support of sustainable action on antimicrobial resistance.
Karaganda Medical University
Kazakhstan
Formation of hygiene skills to maintain and strengthen reproductive health in teenage girls
Lead: Alua Omarova, PhD – Associate Professor
Student ambassador: Ayazhan Bolatbek
The goal of this project is to form a conscious attitude towards intimate hygiene in teenage girls in order to maintain and strengthen their reproductive health. A series of trainings will be conducted to teach girls proper intimate hygiene as well as social talks on promoting a culture of caring for reproductive health and preventing gynecological diseases. Virtual resources, including a TikTok account aimed at countering taboo perspectives about girls and menstruation as well as a chatbot in Telegram to directly answer questions with reliable information, will be run by volunteers. The target audience will involve 11-18 year old girls from Karaganda city, Kazakhstan.
Midterm Update
Karaganda Medical University has made substantial progress in strengthening reproductive health knowledge among adolescent girls. In this first year, the team was able to secure ethical and education department approvals, develop age-specific questionnaires and a multilingual training program, and implement interactive sessions in five schools. To date, 712 girls aged 11–18 have participated in trainings on intimate hygiene, menstrual health, healthy lifestyles, and reproductive health. An additional 140 girls attended Karaganda’s first Social Talks for Menstrual Hygiene Day. The student ambassador-managed Instagram account has reached 23,400 accounts, while TikTok videos are generating early engagement and providing a direct channel for questions and reliable information. The team will be extending trainings to the remaining schools and continuing its digital education and support activities.
Macquarie University – Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Health Sciences
Australia
Elevating Indigenous Knowledge in Public Health: Macquarie University
Lead: Rimante Ronto, PhD, MPH – Senior Lecturer
Student ambassador: Kristy Burns
This project seeks to address the need for a decolonised approach to improve equity and culturally safe and effective public health practice in Australia. It aims to address systemic underrepresentation of Indigenous perspectives in public health education by embedding Indigenous knowledge and approaches into the Master of Public Health (MPH) course. Through partnership and collaboration with Indigenous scholars and relationship building with local communities, the project will re-design core MPH units founded on Indigenous knowledge systems, pedagogical practices, and strengths-based approaches. Each unit will incorporate co-created learning materials that highlight traditional and contemporary Indigenous knowledge, including artwork and storytelling as central tools.
Midterm Update
Macquarie University has begun embedding Indigenous knowledges, pedagogies, and strengths-based approaches across core Master of Public Health content. Newly developed activities include Songlines mapping, the Kin and Country framework, relational reflection, culturally safe program-planning materials, and guest teaching grounded in experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The content was piloted during Semester 1, with high attendance, full engagement in related assessment tasks, and positive preliminary student feedback. Ethics approval has also been secured for a formal evaluation of students’ cultural awareness, safety, and responsiveness. The project team continues to strengthen relationships with Indigenous academics and community representatives and will be refining and evaluating the curriculum during upcoming academic sessions.
Makerere University – School of Public Health, Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health
Uganda
From Classrooms to communities: Educating for resilience against floods and landslides in the Elgon Region, Uganda (C2C-Resilence)
Lead: Rawlance Ndejjo, PhD, MSc – Assistant Lecturer
Student ambassador: Divine Katiiti
This project aims to empower teachers as a sustainable intervention to engage students in building resilience towards floods and landslides in the Elgon region, Uganda by conducting a cross-sectional study to assess relevant knowledge, perceptions and practices among primary and secondary school teachers. Additionally, educational materials, including a students’ comic strip and a teacher’s guide, will be developed and distributed to various schools to enhance continued learning. Through providing teachers and students with correct information, the project seeks to empower them to be effective change agents for community transformation.
Midterm Update
The C2C-Resilience team has completed the foundational work needed to begin school-based implementation in the Elgon region. A comprehensive research protocol has been finalized, ethical approval was obtained from Makerere University, and district education and health stakeholders have authorized and supported the work. The team has also consulted teachers, environmental health educators, and medical illustrators to shape the planned teacher’s guide and student comic strip. While national regulatory review initially delayed the start of fieldwork, the project team has used this period to strengthen partnerships and refine its educational approach. Once final approval is received, the team will begin assessing teachers’ knowledge and practices, analyzing the findings, and using the evidence gathered to develop locally responsive materials on resilience to floods and landslides.
Taipei Medical University – College of Public Health
Taiwan
From Public Health to Global Impact: The TMU Mission
Lead: Yi-Hua Chen, PhD, MHS – Professor
Student ambassador: Yu-A Yang
Taipei Medical University’s College of Public Health leads innovative education, research, and services to advance global health. Since 2015, it has championed Taiwan’s Certified Public Health Specialists Act, passed in 2020 as Asia’s first. This project focuses on three pillars: health training, health initiatives, and health services. Programs include certification preparation, digital learning, public health summits, and community outreach in underserved areas of Taiwan and Cambodia. Through capacity-building, student practicums, and international volunteer service, it seeks to foster public health expertise, cultural competency, and leadership while addressing critical health challenges and promoting global collaboration for a healthier, more equitable world.
Midterm Update
Taipei Medical University has advanced a broad portfolio of global engagement, professional training, and community-based public health practice. Two international public health summits engaged more than 460 participants, while scientific writing, certification, and examination-preparation activities have strengthened students’ research and professional competencies. Students also completed practicums in Taiwan and Thailand, participated in international programs in Japan and the United Kingdom, and supported community outreach in Indigenous communities in Hualien through health education, screenings, environmental monitoring, and local engagement. Visiting students and faculty from across Asia were hosted by TMU, which organized cross-cultural activities for both local and international students. Upcoming priorities include summer practicums, national certification support, and continued development of international partnerships and bilingual learning opportunities.
Temple University
USA
Public Health Beyond Borders
Lead: Graciela Jaschek, PhD, MPH – Associate Professor
Student ambassador: Elena Giannoumis
Public Health Beyond Borders is committed to making a positive impact in global communities. This project aims to reduce health disparities and promote healthy behaviors through close partnership and collaborations with communities and universities worldwide. Both undergraduate and graduate students will experience opportunities for responsible global development work through a range of faculty-mentored international trips.
Midterm Update
Public Health Beyond Borders has translated student preparation into extensive field-based engagement with partner institutions and communities. Students have led activities on nutrition, handwashing, oral health, cancer awareness, safe food practices, and effective communication, completed water testing at 35 sites, visited households to demonstrate water treatment, and discussed findings with community leaders. This work has reached children, adolescents, community health workers, food vendors, and households across numerous communities and the project has also strengthened student preparation through targeted training in ethics, cultural and linguistic responsiveness, leadership, quality improvement, and educational design. Lessons from India are informing the Peru program, including stronger systems for collecting structured field notes and evaluating activities.
The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH)
USA
Expanding Public Health Horizons: Engaging Students, Inspiring Global Action
Lead: Iman A. Hakim, MBBCh, PhD, MPH – Dean
Student ambassador: Mon Lacea
“Expanding Public Health Horizons: Engaging Students, Inspiring Global Action” empowers the next generation of public health leaders through global collaboration, skill-building, and awareness. This initiative centers around a podcast series and engaging events that bring visibility to global public health challenges and solutions. With support from the Global Health Alliance and Global Health Institute, students will organize health awareness events and workshops while showcasing diverse global career pathways. Strategic outreach and partnerships with international institutions will expand visibility and impact across Arizona and beyond.
Midterm Update
Over this past year, the MEZCOPH team has helped launch a diverse series of events and workshops designed to strengthen global health awareness, leadership, and practical skills. Programming to date has included activities on heat and health, border health, global health research, advocacy and communication, resource mobilization, and international collaboration. The initiative has reached approximately 500 participants through these activities and another 2,000 people through social media. This work has expanded the visibility of global public health across the university and created new opportunities for students, faculty, and community members to engage with international perspectives. The next major step is the development, production, and release of the Global Health Voices podcast.
University of Jaffna – Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Sri Lanka
Echoing the public health success stories of Sri Lanka through PODCASTING SERIES to enhance the attitudes and skills of public health personnel
Lead: Pethirupillai Amal Dinesh Coonghe, MD, MSc – Head & Senior Lecturer
Student ambassador: Sivaganesh Suganja
The Department of Community and Family Medicine (DCFM), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Public Health Education Institution Network (LANKAPHEIN) and the South East Asian Public Health Education Institution Network (SEAPHEIN), is launching a project to enhance its visibility in regional and global public health. The initiative focuses on institutional capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange across Asia. Key activities include recruiting a full-time graduate fluent in Tamil, Sinhala, and English; conducting stakeholder consultations; identifying Sri Lankan public health champions; and developing, producing, and disseminating a podcast series to highlight public health insights and innovations.
Midterm Update
The University of Jaffna has made tangible progress toward documenting and sharing Sri Lanka’s public health experience through multilingual storytelling. The team has completed seven podcast recordings and published the first two episodes with subtitles in Tamil, Sinhala, and English, increasing the accessibility of the content across both national and regional audiences. The project has also established dedicated web, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X channels to support dissemination. These early outputs provide a foundation for elevating public health champions, sharing locally grounded lessons, and strengthening knowledge exchange through regional associations, including LANKAPHEIN and SEAPHEIN. Continued production and publication of the remaining episodes will expand the project’s contribution to public health visibility and professional learning.
University Malaysia Sabah
Malaysia
Igniting Climate Awareness and Innovation: This Is Public Health Solutions Among Primary Schools Children in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and The Philippines
Lead: Zulkhairul Naim Bin Sidek Ahmad, Md, PhD – Senior Medical Lecturer
Student ambassador: Nabilah Ayob
“Igniting Climate Awareness and Innovation: This is Public Health Solutions” aims to inspire 500 primary school students across Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines to become future climate and public health changemakers. Through interactive webinars, quizzes, competitions, storytelling, and innovation challenges, the program educates children on the link between climate change and public health. It empowers them as Junior Eco-Leaders and promotes cross-country collaboration via a regional platform. The initiative culminates in a School-Community Climate Carnival to foster environmental stewardship. Key partners include universities and student clubs from each country, working together to build sustainable, youth-driven public health solutions.
Midterm Update
This past year the UMS project team was able to successfully recruit participating schools across Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines, including representation from both urban and rural settings. The team has also made strong progress developing the climate education toolkit and activity-based materials for students in upper primary grades. Additional consultation, adaptation, and translation have been required to ensure the content reflects the linguistic, cultural, curricular, and scheduling contexts of all four countries, and these adjustments have strengthened regional collaboration and the relevance of materials. The next phase will finalize and validate the modules through expert and teacher review, train educators, implement activities in participating schools, and measure changes in students’ climate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Reviewer Acknowledgement
We extend our sincere gratitude to our reviewers for generously contributing their time and expertise to the application review process for the third cohort of Riegelman TIPH Global Grants. Their thoughtful evaluations were instrumental in selecting a diverse, impactful group of projects that seek to advance public health education, practice, and innovation around the world. Some of our reviewers are prior recipients of the TIPH Global grant themselves† and/or have contributed to this review process across multiple cohorts‡. Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to academic public health and for playing this vital role in supporting the mission of the Global Network for Academic Public Health.
Cohort 3 Reviewers:
- †‡Marcelo Villalón Calderon, MD, MPH, PhD (Universidad de Chile)
- †‡Emerito Jose Faraon, MD, MBA (College of Public Health UP Manila)
- Jorge Andrés Ramírez Flores, MD, MPH (Universidad de Chile)
- †Robyn Gillespie, PhD (University of Wollongong)
- Christine L. Girard, ND, MPH (The University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health)
- Jennifer Ibrahim, PhD, MA, MPH (Temple University)
- Gintarė Kalinienė, DSc (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences)
- Suzanne Selig, PhD, MPH, MSW (University of Michigan)
- †‡Lolita Šileikienė, DSc (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences)
- Temiwunmi Shobanke, MS (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
- Rūta Ustinavičienė, DSc (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences)
- Shujuan Yang, PhD (Sichuan University)