Yale School of Public Health Dean Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, has been named co-chair of the Planning Committee for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health's (ASPPH) 2025 Annual Meeting, taking place March 19-21 in Arlington, Virginia.
ASPPH serves over 150 accredited schools and programs of public health, representing a robust community of more than 103,000 deans, faculty, staff, and students. As the “voice of academic public health,” ASPPH is dedicated to training the next generation of public health professionals and advocating for policies that improve the health and well-being of everyone, everywhere.
Dr. Ranney’s appointment extends the Yale School of Public Health’s decades-long legacy of leadership and support within the ASPPH, which began in 1946.
“I am honored to co-chair this important conference,” Dr. Ranney said. “It presents a unique opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation in our field, ensuring that all schools and programs can continue to meet the evolving challenges in public health.”
The ASPPH 2025 Annual Meeting will bring members of the public health community from around the world together to engage in discussions and share new tools, strategies, and research in public health education and practice. Those attending the meeting reflect a wide range of backgrounds from undergraduate students to leaders in the field, who join together to promote networking, professional development, and new ideas.
Some of the topics covered at last year’s meeting included framing the future of public health education, bringing AI into the classroom, teaching impactful advocacy, public health community partnerships, and supporting the public health workforce. More than 800 people attended.
Dr. Ranney is an internationally recognized public health investigator, communicator, advocate, and clinician-scientist. An emergency physician, she is considered a leader in creating and implementing community-driven approaches to solve longstanding and emerging public health problems and has worked with diverse groups to address firearm injury, COVID-19, and the use of digital technology to promote population-level health.
The ASPPH appointment is a natural fit for Dr. Ranney. As Dean of the newly independent Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Ranney considers the education of future generations of public health leaders one of the school’s top priorities. As part of her Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, Ranney has announced plans to develop a comprehensive new leadership curriculum for YSPH students, expand career services support, reduce educational loan debt, and foster a robust alumni network to connect with and support current students and graduates. Dr. Ranney also intends to expand training in the science and practice of public health and create more educational partnerships within the New Haven community to support public health leadership.
Many Yale School of Public Health faculty and staff have been involved with ASPPH over the years. Last year for instance, YSPH Assistant Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health) Dr. Daniel Carrión, PhD, MPH, represented YSPH and the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health during the annual meeting’s climate change and health competencies town hall. Carrión is also currently a member of the ASPPH Climate Change and Health Task Force and participates in their Delphi Review on Climate Change and Health competencies.
Susan Nappi, MPH ’01, Executive Director of the YSPH Office of Public Health Practice and YSPH’s practice section representative for ASPPH, has served as an expert on the ASPPH’s panel for the Framing the Future of Public Health education for the past three years. Dr. Mike Honsberger, PhD, Director of YSPH Academic Affairs, has been the school’s representative for the Academic Affairs section. Many other faculty and staff have contributed as advisors to the ASPPH’s mission as well.
YSPH has also collaborated with ASPPH in other ways, including participating in the organization’s annual “Capitol Hill Days,” where members advocate for legislation that supports and advances public health. Michael Skonieczny, Deputy Director of the Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH), serves on the advocacy committee for ASPPH. As ASPPH defines its advocacy priorities each year for Capitol Hill Day, Skonieczny represents YIGH and YSPH in providing feedback. In this role, Skonieczny has helped preserve and expand funding for such things as the Fogarty International Center and CDC Prevention Research Centers.