UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health

✨ Big news in cancer research at

With a $1.8M grant, David Richardson is leading a global study on how low-dose radiation exposure impacts long-term cancer risk.

Tracking 300,000+ workers across the U.S., U.K., and France, this research will help answer critical questions about leukemia, solid cancers, and how age at exposure matters — while shaping future public health and safety standards.

As everyday exposure increases — from medical imaging to workplace settings — this work couldn’t be more important.

👉 Read more about the grant and research: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/06/15/uc-irvine-researcher-receives-1-8-million-nih-grant-to-study-cancer-risks-from-low-dose-radiation-exposure/

A public health high point 👏🎓

Just one day after being hooded by their mentors, our largest-ever cohort of doctoral graduates’ steps boldly into what’s next.

These 28 scholars — shaped by a defining era in public health — leave UC Irvine ready to lead, innovate and drive change where it matters most.

From advancing disease prevention to addressing global health challenges, their work is already making an impact. And this is just the beginning.

🔗 Read more about this record-setting achievement.
https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/04/09/a-public-health-high-point/

Image descriptions
1: Bold text reads "A Public Health High Point" with a yellow graduation cap outline.
2: Bold text reads 'A Record-Setting Year' in blue.
3: Text talks about future leaders in public health.
4: Yellow timeline from 2021 to 2026.
5: Smiling person in front of a research poster, with a quote about proactive disease prevention.
6: A woman with long wavy hair wearing a dark buttoned top stand outdoors.
7: A woman in sunglasses and a blue scarf smile in front of a stone wall.
8. Text talks about urgent need for public health leadership.
9. Bold text reads “The future of public health starts here”

As our Master of Public Health (MPH) students prepare to cross the stage, we're celebrating how far they have come and all they have accomplished along the way. From childhood photos to graduation portraits, these images reflect the years of growth, perseverance, and purpose.

We are proud to recognize the Class of 2026 and the impact they are preparing to make in public health. Swipe through to meet a few of our graduating MPH students and read about their journeys. 💙💛

From community exposure in her undergraduate years to advocacy in her doctoral degree 🌱

Karen Valladares turned her early exposure to environmental injustice into a PhD focused on protecting communities from harmful exposures, such as PFAS.

In late July, Karen will defend her dissertation “Persistent Pollutants, Unequal Burdens: Epidemiological Investigations of PFAS and Heavy Metal Exposures Across Three Populations.” It will be a full circle moment.

Karen is one of 28 doctoral students graduating in June and credits a lot of her success to her mentors and faculty colleagues.

🔗 Read more: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/06/01/from-community-exposure-to-advocacy-a-doctoral-students-journey-into-environmental-justice/

Pride Month (June) is a celebration — but also a call to action. 🌈

At Wen Public Health, our faculty are advancing research that centers LGBTQIA+ health, equity, and lived experiences — because inclusive public health is essential to healthier communities for all.

• Sean Arayasirikul, PhD — advancing community-engaged research with LGBTQIA+ populations
• Leigh Turner, PhD — examining ethics, health equity, and protections for marginalized communities
• Theodore K. Gideonse, MFA, PhD — exploring global LGBTQIA+ health, stigma, and structural inequities

This Pride Month, we celebrate the research, advocacy, and impact driving a more equitable future.

🔗 Learn more about our faculty and their work at publichealth.uci.edu

We’re excited to share an important evolution at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health.

The Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention has officially been renamed the Department of Global Health & Biobehavioral Sciences — a change that reflects the department’s growing focus on how biological, behavioral, and global factors intersect to shape health outcomes.

As Michael A. Hoyt, PhD, chair and professor of the reimagined department, shared:
“The questions look different on the surface, but the underlying logic is the same: the conditions of people’s lives get inside their bodies. Understanding how that happens — and what we can do about it — is what this department is all about.”

This new identity captures the department’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research and addressing complex health challenges at both the individual and global levels.

🔗 Read more: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2026/05/29/where-the-world-meets-the-body/