University of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences

For Afifa Islam, public health was not the plan.

Afifa entered the ULethbridge After-Degree Public Health program to gain a competitive edge when applying for nursing programs.

Fast forward to becoming one of Calgary campus’ first Student Wellness Ambassadors, volunteering with the Association for the Advancement of Science and Engineering Education (AASEE) and preparing for her practicum at a women’s health research lab, she has a new goal: epidemiology.

Between her coursework, volunteering and community engagement, Afifa has worked hard to get where she is.

Follow Afifa’s journey at https://buff.ly/NeCsxUF

Research plays a key role in public health.

With Dr. Richard Larouche, practicum students analyzed data from interviews, wrote a paper on their findings and were published in the Active Travel Studies journal.

For applications to scholarships, fellowships and graduate programs, having research credits can be a huge advantage for students.

April 6 to 10 is National Public Health Week. See the full story: https://buff.ly/udfAQ5d

Hands-on experience is fundamental to the Public Health program.

From discovering a food-borne illness outbreak in a shelter to triaging a ferry crash, students can gain valuable experience navigating scenarios pulled from real life.

Students can also elect to complete a practicum in the community. Working in local schools, with organizations like Pro-Choice YQL or analyzing data for the provincial government, practicums offer the chance to make connections in the industry.

“We think these placements are so valuable for students because they give them real-world experience,” says instructor Keltie Hamilton.

April 6 to 10 is National Public Health Week. See the full story: https://buff.ly/udfAQ5d

National Public Health Week is April 6 to 10.

Public health is the study of how to prevent illness on a large scale. At ULethbridge, our unique program includes a two-year post-diploma and a four-year undergraduate program – the only one of its kind in Alberta.

With a combination of classroom learning, immersive health simulations and research and community practicums, the ULethbridge program offers an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and real-world connections across both campuses.

See the full story: https://buff.ly/udfAQ5d

On behalf of the WNRCASN 2026 Conference Planning Committee, we invite you to the Western North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (WNRCASN) Conference, which will be held from April 26 to 28, 2026, in Lethbridge, Alberta. It will be co-hosted by Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge through the Nursing Education in Southern Alberta (NESA) program.

This year’s theme, Bridging Practice and Possibility: Advancing Nursing Education for the Future, will bring together nursing educators, scholars, students, and academic leaders from across Western and Northern Canada. The event will focus on innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of nursing education.

Calling all Indigenous Students!

Please join us for our upcoming workshop series- featuring six different workshops to help guide you on your road to success!

Completion of five out of six workshops enters you into a draw to win $250 gift card to Uleth Bookstore!!

See poster for details and please email [email protected] for more detailed information. 😀

Check out the amazing work one of our Health Sciences students has been doing in the community of Calgary!

Emilee Costa, a student in the Addictions & Mental Health Counselling major, has been doing a practicum with the Starlings Community in Calgary. The organization supports youth who are growing up with parental substance use challenges. The program was recently featured in the Calgary Journal, a publication of Mount Royal University’s Journalism & Digital Media program.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/vKBNBEf

Season's greetings from all of us in the Faculty of Health Sciences! We hope you have a wonderful, warm and restorative festive season. 🎄

A reminder that the University will be closed for the holiday season from Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 at 12 p.m. through Sunday, January 4, 2026.

We look forward to seeing you back to campus in the new year!

Congratulations to Dr. Vivien Suttorp on her appointment as Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. University of Lethbridge's Faculty of Health Sciences was proud to recognize Dr. Suttorp as our "Friends of Health Sciences" award winner in 2019, in recognition of her expertise in and dedication to public health and community care and for her long-standing support of our students here. We look forward to the strong leadership and experience she will bring to this important portfolio, and to public health needs in Alberta.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/cjuaqKs

Another group of UofL nursing students organized a Wellness Fair at St. Patrick Fine Arts School to culminate their community health rotation after being at the school since September.

Kathy Jones-Husch, principal at St. Patrick Fine Arts School, said having the nursing students at the school for their rotation was a great learning opportunity for the kids.

“They’ve had this partnership for a number of years, where teams of anywhere from seven to 12 nursing students join our staff and do projects specific to what the school community is looking for, as well as things that they think are important for young people to be exposed to,” said Jones-Husch.

Read more here: https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2025/11/28/student-nurses-wrap-up-stint-at-st-patrick-school-with-health-fair/

During their community health rotation, nursing students, like the ones pictured above, work with various organizations including schools, seniors centres, service groups and charitable organizations.

For the past 14 years, nursing students have organized a health fair at the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre — an event that has become increasingly popular.
“Our members always look forward to this event every year,” says Ashley Kern, program coordinator at Nord-Bridge.

In September, the dozen students in nursing instructor Penni Wilson’s class began with an assessment to determine the kinds of information and knowledge older adults want about health, as well as services that are relevant to their interests and needs.

The students then reached out to agencies and businesses within the community and invited them to be vendors. The event has grown to such an extent that some vendors are now approaching Nord-Bridge and the students, indicating they want to participate.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/OLwDG21