Faculty and students in the Department of Public Health presented research and connected with national leaders in the field at the 2025 American Public Health Association Conference in Washington, D.C., where public health major Emily Ecker ‘26 earned a prestigious award.
Faculty and students in the Department of Public Health shared their research and experiences at the 2025 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for public health professionals. Stephanie Baker, associate professor of public health; Yanica Faustin, assistant professor of public health; and Sandra Darfour-Oduro, assistant professor of public health, presented their work at the conference.
Baker presented on a documentary-dance film titled “Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Health Crisis.” She collaborated with Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Gee and collected data from viewers before and after watching the documentary, which showed that the documentary promoted a hopeful view of Black birth in the United States.
“At a time when public health is being challenged in numerous ways, coming together with people in our field from around the world was exactly what I needed to affirm that the work I am doing matters and needs to continue,” Baker said.
Two public health majors, Emily Ecker ‘26 and Niagara Legette ‘26, also presented their work at the conference. Ecker received the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Student Award for her poster presentation.
“It meant a lot to be the only undergraduate recognized among master’s and doctoral students,” Ecker said. “For me, the award highlights how important community-engaged research is and the impact it can have when local voices are centered in public health work.”
This year, the department supported four additional public health majors in attending the conference, increasing their exposure to the significant research and practices shared. This was made possible through the generous contributions of alumni and parent donors to the department’s gift fund and Fair’s coordination. Jamari Heredia ‘27, Jenna Toms ‘26, Madalein Amoaka ‘26, and Tajallah Amirkhil ‘28 were selected through a competitive application process and received funding for travel, lodging and conference registration.
Elon’s participation in the APHA Conference demonstrates the Department of Public Health’s commitment to experiential learning opportunities for students, enabling them to engage in high-quality public health experiences in communities and settings beyond the college campus.
By continuing to participate in the APHA Conference, Elon underscores the department’s commitment to developing future leaders who address critical health challenges through research, collaboration, and community engagement. This also provides a crucial opportunity for growth and learning for the public health students who were able to attend the conference.
“I think attending the APHA conference gave students the opportunity to experience the numerous public health research that is being done in the USA and around the world,” Darfour-Oduro said. “It also gave students the opportunity to listen and engage with leading experts in Public Health.”
