Texas A&M School of Public Health

Texas A&M School of Public Health Students Earn National Recognition at Health Education Case Study Competition!

Two undergraduate student teams from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health earned national recognition at the National Health Education Case Study Competition, held in conjunction with the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) 2026 Annual Conference in April. This marks the first time students from our school have participated in the competition. Their involvement was supported by the Dept. Head of Health Behavior Dr. Adam Barry.

The teams analyzed real-world public health challenges and delivered evidence-based, 15-minute presentations to a panel of judges demonstrating key health education competencies.

🥈 Silver Award Team:
Hadley Gardner, Ashylyn Schrock, Preslie Wallace, Turkoyce Thomas-Nelson
🥉 Bronze Award Team:
Jake Seal, Claudia Shen, Adnan Kahn

“This accomplishment reflects the dedication, preparation, and professionalism of our students,” said Dr. Elisa Beth McNeill.

This milestone highlights the strength of experiential learning at Texas A&M SPH and the impact of preparing future public health leaders through hands-on, applied education.

Think public health only happens in hospitals? Think again.

Kassandra Sandoval '25 is a graduate of the Texas A&M School of Public Health and currently serves as a Safety Coordinator for McCarthy Building Companies, supporting the Marine Business Unit in the Southern Region. She is currently working alongside Texas A&M University at Galveston on a waterfront infrastructure project that will support the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV). Her work consists of overseeing safety operations for complex marine and heavy civil construction activities and she says that every day presents new challenges that require strong leadership, hazard recognition, planning, and collaboration to keep crews safe while maintaining productivity.

"I’m passionate about bringing awareness to careers in construction safety and encouraging others to explore this rewarding profession. The construction industry offers endless opportunities to develop your skills, expand your knowledge, build meaningful relationships, and make a lasting impact."

We are proud of you, Kassandra! Gig 'em!

The future of public health is bright!

More than 300 high school students from rural communities joined us through the Health Science Center's School to Scrubs program to learn how a career in public health can create lasting impact. During our "Say Howdy to Public Health!" sessions, students worked alongside School of Public Health undergraduate and doctoral students to investigate a public health challenge and discover the many career paths available in this growing field.

Ready to make a difference? Public health starts with curiosity, compassion and a commitment to improving lives.

After 25 years with the Texas A&M School of Public Health, Dr. James (Jim) Burdine is retiring.

SPH Founding Dean, Dr. Ciro Sumaya, recruited him to help implement his vision of a "practice oriented" school of public health. This included establishing the Office of Public Health Practice, the Center for Community Health Development (later the Center for Community Health and Aging), the Office of Research and the National Community Health Worker Training Center.

What will he miss most? "That is easy, telling stories to the kids," says Dr. Burdine.

What is next for Dr. Burdine? He will be starting over again. His first "career" was as a professional musician. He just completed his music studio at Red Boot Ranch, his home south of College Station. He has lots of learning and new toys to play with!

Congratulations on this major milestone, Dr. Burdine! We are so thankful for all of your contributions to the Texas A&M School of Public Health and wish you the best! 👍

Curiosity. Critical thinking. Innovation.

Those are the foundations of ThinkLab, a new initiative at the Texas A&M School of Public Health that is helping students develop the skills needed to address today’s most complex public health challenges.

Through mentorship, reflective learning and discussions with leaders from across the public health field, ThinkLab Fellows and Scholars are learning how to challenge assumptions, evaluate evidence and approach problems from new perspectives.

As ThinkLab enters its second year, its impact is already being felt by students who are gaining confidence, leadership skills and new ways of thinking about their future careers.

Read the full story and see how ThinkLab is shaping the future of public health: https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/innovative-learning-model-fosters-solution-oriented-inquiry-into-public-health/

From MHA Student to International Healthcare Innovator!

What began as an idea during his time in the Master of Health Administration program at Texas A&M has grown into an international healthcare initiative.

As an MHA student, Oscar Loredo became interested in finding solutions to reduce healthcare costs and improve access to care. Today, he is helping hospitals in Mexico pursue CMS accreditation and Centers of Excellence designation, contributing to a significant expansion of accreditation efforts across the country.

His work also includes building partnerships with third-party administrators and self-funded employers in the United States to connect patients with scheduled, medically necessary procedures in Mexico through a coordinated, patient-centered model designed to improve access while reducing costs.
"[The] MHA program helped shape the way I think about healthcare access, cost containment, and scalable systems-level solutions," he shared.

His journey demonstrates how the skills developed in the Texas A&M MHA program can be applied far beyond traditional healthcare settings—creating innovative partnerships, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and improving care across borders.

We're proud to celebrate Oscar and the impact he's making in healthcare on an international scale! Whoop!

Starting off summer down under to learn about public health!

15 students in the Texas A&M School of Public Health completed a study abroad trip to Australia and New Zealand with Dr. Megan Williams and Dr. Beth McNeill.

While visiting Sydney, the students heard from faculty of the University of Technology Sydney School of Public Health about built environment, mental health and the Australian health system. In Gold Coast, they focused on aboriginal health. They visited the hellrugal walkabout where they got a glimpse into health challenges and cultural practices of the Yugambeh people. Their last stop in Australia was a deep dive into what health promotion looks like, with an insightful presentation by Kat Cacavas from Queensland Health.

In New Zealand, the focus was on indigenous health, specifically the health outcomes of the Maori population. Students had a lecture at Massey University and participated in a Whakatau. The reminder of the trip was an immersion in Maori health and culture through experiences at the Mitai Maori Village, Te Arawa Whanau Ora (health Families) and the Kohutapu Lodge.

Thank you to everyone who helped show these Aggies abroad! Gig 'em!

Congratulations to two outstanding students in our Master of Health Administration (MHA) program for being awarded the HFMA scholarships, Tiffany Ferrel, MHA '27 and Jacob Schindler, MHA '27! 🎉

This recognition highlights their hard work, leadership and dedication to the future of health care administration. We are proud to see our students recognized for their commitment to improving health systems and patient care.

This week, Dean Shawn Gibbs was inducted as an American Industrial Hygiene Association's fellow. The AIHA Fellow is among the Association's highest honors, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence, leadership and service in the occupational and environmental health and safety professionals.

Congratulations on this well deserved honor, Dr. Gibbs! Read more at https://bit.ly/4vvcbqQ

Join us in saying, “Howdy,” to the newest Texas A&M School of Public Health students! Class of 2030, we are ready for you! 👍