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Looking back: O’Donnell School of Public Health commencement

Published on: By: Staff Reports

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OSPH commencement 2026 banner
The second class to graduate from the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health celebrates commencement with a group photo. The 36 graduates represent the next generation of leaders and changemakers dedicated to improving population health and well-being at local, national, and global levels.

The Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health (OSPH) celebrated its second commencement ceremony on May 13 in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium, marking an exciting milestone for the school and its newest graduates from the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science in Health Informatics (M.S.H.I.), and Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (M.S.C.I.) programs. Surrounded by proud family, friends, faculty, and mentors, graduates crossed the stage ready to take on the future of public health. Internationally recognized public health leader Ellen J. MacKenzie, Ph.D., Sc.M., former Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, delivered an inspiring keynote address. The ceremony was led by OSPH founding Dean Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., and recognized outstanding students and faculty for excellence in impact, teaching, scholarship, and community engagement.

Select an image to begin the slideshow.

Baihui “Eva” Zhao, M.P.H., is all smiles after the ceremony.
Nilam Kandel, M.P.H., eagerly awaits her turn to receive her diploma.
The 2026 platform party stands for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Emily Levy Kamugisha, M.D., M.S.C.I., Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, is hooded by Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., Dean of OSPH.
Dean Omer congratulates the graduates and officially opens the commencement ceremony.
Eyad Alrabbat, M.P.H., receives the Hoffman Endowment Scholarship.
Victor Basil, M.P.H., smiles proudly upon receiving the Alumni Memorial Scholar Award.
Ada Abaragu, M.P.H., is honored with this year’s Community Engagement Award.
The Excellence for Impact Award is presented to Carol Xu, M.P.H.
Alondra Olmos, M.P.H., is hooded by Dean Omer.
Josepha Komeka, M.S.H.I., Neha Hussain, M.S.H.I., and Lakshmi ChandraBhanu, M.S.H.I., recite the School of Public Health oath.
Tammy Leonard, Ph.D., Professor of Health Economics, Systems and Policy, was honored as this year’s Stembridge Mace bearer during the commencement ceremony.
The OSPH Excellence in Teaching Award is presented to Dr. Leonard for her impactful teaching and dedication to students.
Ellen J. MacKenzie, Ph.D., Sc.M., former Dean of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, delivers an inspiring commencement address.
Laiba Husain, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, watches as the graduates cross the stage.
At center, Amy Hughes, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Epidemiology, looks on with pride as this year’s graduates receive their diplomas.
Joyane Eriom, M.P.H., eagerly awaits her moment to cross the stage.
Commencement would not be possible without the support of family and friends.
Romaine F. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, OSPH, and Professor of Otolarynology – Head & Neck Surgery, announces the graduates’ names.
Jonathan Reeder, M.D., Program Director, Master of Science in Health Informatics, OSPH (left), and Joseph Su, Ph.D., M.P.H, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, OSPH, wait for the festivities to begin as they prepare to watch their graduates cross the stage.
Alondra Olmos, M.P.H., receives her diploma from UT Southwestern President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.
Graduates recite the School of Public Health Oath after receiving their diplomas.
From left: Kahmryn Williams, M.P.H., Carol Xu, M.P.H., and Prisha Goyal, M.P.H., celebrate graduation with a group photo.
From left: Nilam Kandel, M.P.H., Eyad Alrabbat, M.P.H., and Brice Brannon, M.P.H., are proud to display their newly earned diplomas.
From left: Asmita Ghimire, M.P.H., Baihui “Eva” Zhao, M.P.H., Yueshuang Xu, M.P.H, Victor Basil, M.P.H., and Yusif Conn, M.P.H., form a picture-perfect line as new graduates.
From left: David Lopez, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., M.S., Associate Professor of Epidemiology and in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center; Dr. Su; and Changwei Li, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Epidemiology, take time for a photo during commencement.
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