This June marked the 11th edition of the Urban Health Collaborative (UHC)’s annual Urban Health Summer Institute.
Since 2016, the Summer Institute has grown by nearly 10 times, from an initial offering of 2 courses training 30 attendees to 2026’s 13 courses attended by over 200 students, practitioners, and researchers in Urban Health. Once a local, in-person urban health program, the institute has expanded its impact in Philadelphia and beyond through nationally accessible online courses and by delving into more specific topics in the field.
One course has each year in all 11 editions of the Institute: “Introduction to Multilevel Analysis for Urban Health Research.” As Usama Bilal, one of the instructors of the course and Co-Director of the UHC put it,
Exhibiting the growth seen since the Institute housed just 2 courses, students in 2026 could also learn from experts in a number of particular niches in Urban Health with wide applicability. Some courses provided attendees with tools for evidence-based interventions for climate change’s impact on cities, as well as two courses investigating uses for artificial intelligence in urban health research and communication.
New courses introduced this year also provided local Philadelphians with tools to improve health outcomes in their communities. New to this year was “Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Children & Families Who Experience Violence,” taught by Arturo Zinny, Assistant Clinical Professor at the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health (Dornsife) and Executive Director of the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice. "Introduction to Grant Budgeting for Community-Based Organizations” was new this year as well, supplementing a popular course introduced in 2025, “Introduction to Grant Writing for Community-Based Organizations.” Students from a variety of backgrounds were able to hear from Community Engagement Core Co-Lead at the UHC, Mariana Lazo, and Grants Manager at Dornsife, Storey Clayton.
The Summer Institute provides students and working professionals the opportunity to access hands-on training from experts at the Dornsife School of Public Health and the UHC. Over just a few days, attendees can broaden their knowledge, skills, and research abilities.
We’re thrilled to see the growth it has seen over these ten years and look forward to what the future holds for urban health! Stay updated on future events with the UHC by subscribing to our newsletter.