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Save the Date! Monday 9/28 symposium in honor of Betsy Foxman's retirement
Monday, September 28, 2026
Monday, September 28, 2026
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Zoom information will be sent to registrants before the event
Zoom information will be sent to registrants before the event
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
Please pick up your nametag when you arrive and then enjoy light refreshments in the Concourse.
9:00 AM - Opening Remarks
Vandenberg Room
Master of Ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Dean, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology
Hunein F. and Hilda Maassab Professor emerita
9:30 AM - "Ecology, Evolution, and Omics Measurements in Precision Public Health"
Vandenberg Room
Freida Blostein, PhD
Assistant Professor, AI and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Introduced by Justin McClendon
10:30 AM - Coffee break
Concourse
11:00 AM - "Lessons in Epidemiology, Mentorship, and Life: A Tribute to Dr. Betsy Foxman"
Vandenberg Room
Shannon Manning, PhD, MPH
MSU Foundation Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology
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
Vegetarian lunch buffet provided by Michigan Catering
Michigan Room & Concourse
1:00 PM - "Leveraging a Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigate Causes of Under-Five Deaths and Stillbirths"
Vandenberg Room
Kyu Han Lee, PhD, MPH
Director of Data Science and Analytics, Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS)
Introduced by Chethan Prakash
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
Concourse
2:30 PM - "The Long Arc of Mentorship: Reflections on the Microbiome, Clinical Trials, and Public Health Leadership"
Vandenberg Room
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
Concourse
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