CPH students travel to Washington, D.C., for second annual policy trip

Twenty-four CPH students traveled to Washington, D.C., over spring break to explore public health policy issues.

CPH students and staff with Rep. Joyce Beatty in Washington, D.C.

CPH students and staff with Rep. Joyce Beatty in Washington, D.C. 

Twenty-four CPH students traveled to Washington, D.C. over spring break for a crash course in public health policy and advocacy. This second annual trip, led by Dean William Martin, MD, and accompanying staff, allowed students to explore important public health issues like infant mortality, addiction, gun safety, prescription drugs, human trafficking and One Health.

“This trip was a terrific opportunity that will help my public health practice into the future,” says Robert Hood, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology. “I learned the importance of advocating for important public health issues first-hand and how to effectively frame them with policymakers. I am confident I will put to work what I learned during the trip in my public health career.”

Ohio State’s D.C., office helped CPH students connect with lawmakers and officials such as Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty; California Congressman Alan Lowenthal; Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown’s senior policy adviser, Abigail Duggan; and American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD.

A reception was also held with local alumni, forging connections and networking opportunities while celebrating public health.

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About The Ohio State University College of Public Health

The Ohio State University College of Public Health is a leader in educating students, creating new knowledge through research, and improving the livelihoods and well-being of people in Ohio and beyond. The College's divisions include biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health behavior and health promotion, and health services management and policy. It is ranked 29th among all colleges and programs of public health in the nation, and first in Ohio, by U.S. News and World Report. Its specialty programs are also considered among the best in the country. The MHA program is ranked 8th, the biostatistics specialty is ranked 22nd, the epidemiology specialty is ranked 25th and the health policy and management specialty is ranked 17th.