July 23, 2025

This year’s Public Health Summer Institute for High School Students, hosted by Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, welcomed highly motivated rising junior and senior high schoolers interested in expanding their knowledge of public health careers and college life. The first week was from July 14 - 18 and the second week was from July 28 - August 1 with a total of 46 students participating.

Both weeks featured a dynamic mix of speaker sessions, guided site visits to Dornsife’s partner organizations across Philadelphia, and meaningful opportunities for students to engage with professionals in the public health field.

Speakers included Drexel faculty, staff, and researchers, alongside Philadelphia community leaders dedicated to advancing public health issues such as environmental health, public transit, violence prevention, workplace safety, and more.

Tariem Burroughs, PhD, MSEd, MSODL, executive director of external partnerships at Dornsife, planned and coordinated the Summer Institute and Cindy Ngo, student engagement and events coordinator at Dornsife, helped to ensure all went smoothly including logistics.

On day one of the Summer Institute, participants were welcomed by Burroughs and Gina Lovasi, PhD, MPH, Dana and David Dornsife dean and professor of epidemiology. Each set the scene for the week by presenting on the scope, impact, and depth of public health. Students learned about Dornsife’s mission of health as a human right with a particular emphasis on urban health. Before wrapping up the first day, participants were presented with a timely public health case study on micromobility, which involved brainstorming potential solutions in groups throughout the week.

The next day focused on community health. Diana Robins, PhD, professor and director of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute (AJDAI), presented about the mission of AJDAI to better understand autism and drive impactful change in local communities and worldwide. The group then headed to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) headquarters in Old City. Amy Verbofsky, MCP, manager of health and resilient communities, and Mel Musie, MCP, environmental planner, both from DVRPC, each discussed their roles and the organization’s vision for a prosperous, innovative, equitable, resilient, and sustainable region.

On day three—the halfway point of week one—participants learned about epidemiology and biostatistics as well as health management and policy (HMP). Stephanie Hernandez, PhD, MS, assistant professor of epidemiology and director of undergraduate education at Dornsife, presented about career paths in epidemiology and biostatistics, her journey in the field, and answered questions. Next, Sandra Bloom, MD, associate professor of health management and policy and co-founder of the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice (CNSJ) at Dornsife, provided a historical overview of public health and, like Hernandez, shared her career trajectory.

Among the highlights of this day were venturing into the city’s Chinatown neighborhood. Participants had lunch at Dim Sum Garden, a staple in the city’s noteworthy food scene. Next, they explored the neighborhood through an urban design, micromobility, and public health lens while sharing observations. The Chinatown neighborhood has a unique built environment that reflects an ongoing history of adaptation, cultural expression, and resistance against urban development pressures.

Thursday, day four of the Summer Institute, participants worked on their micromobility case studies and went on a campus tour led by David Wood, MBA, executive director of marketing and enrollment management at Dornsife. Later, they visited the Philadelphia Vision Zero Network which aims to eliminate traffic deaths on Philadelphia streets. Virginia Lynn, senior coordinator at Vision Zero, and her team, discussed the network’s goal to empower communities, design and build safe streets.

On the final day, participants heard from Erin Durkin, MS, executive director of student events and engagement at Dornsife, who discussed preparing for college. Students asked questions to get a better sense of what is ahead post-high school.

Lastly, they presented with fellow group members their micro transit solutions, implementing the public health lessons they gained throughout the week. 

Students also offered reflections from the institute in a closing ceremony:

“I really enjoyed my week learning about public health and all of the different careers and topics that fall under it. This week gave me the opportunity to research public health and potentially consider it as a major.”

“The program exceeded my expectations and ignited a deeper passion for public health. Learning with others who share dedication was really inspiring, and I absorbed a wealth of information that has already begun shaping my future trajectory in this vital field.”

“I was already interested in epidemiology, and this helped me understand how it was interconnected.”

“Seeing all the progress that still needs to be being made, I can see that I can be the change.”

Before final dismissals, participants were each presented with Public Health Summer Institute completion certificates. Congratulations to these potential future Dragons!

“Working with these passionate high schoolers reminds me why I love what I do. They are the future of public health—curious, driven, and ready to lead,” shared Burroughs. “Programs like this help ignite their potential and keep the public health workforce thriving.”

Drexel Dornsife was able to successfully expand the Summer Institute to two weeks this year (group two above). Both weeks follow the same program.

The application for next year's Public Health Summer Institute for High School Students at Drexel University will open in March 2026.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUMMER INSTITUTE