Embedded Files
Save the Date! Monday 9/28 symposium in honor of Betsy Foxman's retirement
You are cordially invited to register for an upcoming symposium celebrating the career of Dr. Betsy Foxman.
This event will be free and open to all. Please register here: https://forms.gle/whSuzpfda4MzQn6T8
Monday, September 28, 2026 | 9:00-3:30 PM
Vandenberg Room, 2nd floor of Michigan League (map)
Hybrid: Stream via Zoom (password will be sent to registrants prior to the event)
Registration closes September 16 at 11:59 PM
Please contact the coordinator, Theresa Kowalski-Dobson (tkowals@umich.edu), with questions regarding this event.
Schedule of Events
Schedule of Events
All times are in Eastern Time
8:30 AM - Sign-in and light refreshments
9:00 AM - Opening Remarks
Dean, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology
9:30 AM - Ecology, Evolution, and Omics Measurements in Precision Public Health
Freida Blostein, PhD
Assistant Professor, AI and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Introduced by Renisha Karki
10:30 AM - Coffee break
11:00 AM - Lessons in Epidemiology, Mentorship, and Life: A Tribute to Dr. Betsy Foxman
Shannon Manning, PhD, MPH
Professor of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Michigan State University
Introduced by Jessica Li
Shannon Manning's research focuses on the genomic epidemiology, evolution, and pathogenesis of bacterial pathogens in human and animal populations and understanding the impact of antibiotics and disease on the gut microbiome.
https://mgi.natsci.msu.edu/labs/manning-lab/
12:00 PM - Luncheon
Michigan Room & Concourse
Vegetarian lunch buffet provided by Michigan Catering
1:00 PM - Leveraging a Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigate Causes of Under-Five Deaths and Stillbirths
Kyu Han Lee, PhD, MPH
Director of Data Science and Analytics, Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS)
Introduced by
Kyu Han Lee is the Director of Data Science and Analytics for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network, a nine-country initiative tracking the causes of under-five deaths and stillbirths across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Historically, our understanding of child mortality has relied on vital registration systems and verbal autopsies, which often lack diagnostic specificity. To address these gaps, CHAMPS utilizes minimally invasive tissue sampling, extensive laboratory testing, and expert panel review to determine more accurate causes of death. These findings are shared directly with affected families and data are provided to local, national, and global health leaders to improve policies and drive life-saving investments.
https://champshealth.org/person/kyu-han-lee/
2:00 PM - Coffee break
2:30 PM - The Long Arc of Mentorship: Reflections on the Microbiome, Clinical Trials, and Public Health Leadership
Melinda Pettigrew, PhD
Dean and Mayo Chair, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Introduced by Kayla Hanson
Melinda Pettigrew is dean and professor of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) and holds the Mayo Chair in Public Health. Dean Pettigrew’s research focuses on respiratory tract infections, the microbiome, and the One Health threat of antibiotic resistance. She is known nationally for her research and leadership roles in the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG), an NIH-sponsored initiative whose aim is to combat antimicrobial resistance. Prior to joining SPH, Dean Pettigrew was the Anna M. R. Lauder Professor of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, where she held several leadership positions including interim dean.
https://directory.sph.umn.edu/bio/sph-a-z/melinda-pettigrew
3:30 - 4:00 PM Coffee break and event close
Page updated
Report abuse