Texas A&M celebrates National Public Health Week

The Texas A&M University School of Public Health is hosting a variety of events in the Brazos Valley to celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW) April 3–6, with numerous activities open to the public.

During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the nation’s health. For more than 25 years, APHA has served as the organizer of NPHW.

The week will begin with multiple events on Monday, April 3 at 9 a.m. when College Station Mayor John Nichols and Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez will read and present a signed proclamation to School of Public Health Dean Shawn G. Gibbs, PhD, MBA, at the White Creek Community Center declaring National Public Health Week in the Brazos Valley.

“The Texas A&M University School of Public Health has a national and international impact. We are an applied, practical school of public health with a lot of collaboration within our local community and we greatly appreciate the support of the mayors from Bryan and College Station, as well as the Brazos County Health Department,” Gibbs said. “The educational and research experiences our students receive are greatly enhanced by these community partnerships, and these collaborations allow our staff and faculty research efforts to support their programs that work to improve healthy aging, workplace safety and health, maternal child health, infectious disease response, and so many more areas of public health.”

The winners of the “This is Public Health” photo contest will be announced following the proclamation, and at 9:45 a.m., Marcia Ory, PhD, MPH, Regents & Distinguished Professor, will present “Keys to Healthy Aging,” followed by a presentation from Lara Meece, MHA, executive director at the Grimes and Madison Health Resource Centers. A reception will follow from 10:30 to 11.

The first day, which has a theme of Community, will conclude with yoga in the lobby of the School of Public Health Administration (SPHA) building from 4 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 4, which has a theme of Violence Prevention, will include a presentation from Sara Fehr, PhD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Health Behavior, at 2:30 p.m. in SPHA 235. Kellye Arnold, task force coordinator for Unbound Now BCS, will present on human trafficking at 2:50 p.m. with a reception to follow. The day will conclude with yoga from 4 to 5 p.m. in room 235.

The theme for Wednesday, April 5 is Reproduction and Sexual Health, and the day will begin with a nature walk to The Gardens at Texas A&M University at noon. There will be presentations from Christopher Owens, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in Health Behavior (1:15 p.m.), and the Texas A&M LGBTQ+ Pride Center (1:45 p.m.).

The final day, Thursday, April 6, which has a theme of Mental Health, will feature a mental health talk by Counseling & Psychological Services at 9 a.m. Tyler Prochnow, PhD, assistant professor in Health Behavior, will be the keynote speaker from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at the White Creek Community Center. A selection of light, healthy snacks will be served. Shane Brune from MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley will present at 1:45.

There will be two student poster sessions on the final day, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with an awards ceremony to follow at 4 p.m.

The Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) will also celebrate NPHW with Sleeves on Teas for Mental Health at the HECM coffeehouse. Students in McAllen are encouraged to visit the coffeehouse to learn more about the mental health resources that are available to them.

The coffeehouse will have special menu items and cup sleeves April 3–5. Recycling of the cup sleeves will be encouraged as they will be collected to create an art display that will be in the main lobby of the HECM on April 6 from noon to 6 p.m.