Updates from the Department of Health & Wellness Design

The Weir Banquet is a longstanding tradition planned and executed entirely by undergraduate students. The event honored outstanding students and faculty, with community partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs and Riley Children’s Hospital in attendance. The school extends its appreciation to the students whose hard work made the milestone event a success. 

Check out the LinkedIn post here

Dr. Miriam Rodriguez was recently highlighted by the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center for her work transforming support for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal experience, she is committed to improving systems of care—especially for underserved communities disproportionately affected by ADRD. 

She shares that collaborating with colleagues at the IU School of Public Health‑Bloomington and the IU School of Medicine has been deeply rewarding. Central to her research is the belief that caregiver support must be culturally tailored, as universal approaches often fall short. Dr. Rodriguez remains dedicated to developing meaningful, community‑centered interventions that honor the diverse needs of families. 

Read the article here

The SPH‑B Center for Health by Design (CHxD) has entered an exciting new chapter with Associate Professor Edmond Ramly and Professor Matthew Lee Smith stepping in as co‑directors. Founded in 2024, CHxD brings together researchers committed to designing human‑centered solutions to complex health challenges. Ramly and Smith share a strong focus on chronic disease management and healthy aging, and they aim to expand interdisciplinary collaboration, hands‑on training opportunities, and community‑engaged research. Under their leadership, CHxD will continue strengthening connections across faculty, students, and partners to support impactful, person‑centered public health innovations.

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The IU School of Public Health‑Bloomington is kicking off National Water Safety Month with a special screening of When Everyone Swims at IU Cinema on April 28 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.). This free, public event includes a post‑film Q&A with director Jerald Harkness, Olympic medalist Lilly King, and water‑safety scholar Dr. Tiffany Monique Quash. Tickets are required and available online (with a $1.00 processing fee) at https://go.iu.edu/8wN3. Join us as we explore the power of water literacy and the importance of expanding access to swimming and water safety for all.

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Assistant Professor Edlin Garcia is co‑leading a new NSF‑funded project to develop accountable mental health AI tools. Working with collaborators from Kelley’s DSAIL and the Irsay Institute, Garcia is helping design text‑based LLM software that supports mental health professionals by identifying patient needs, prioritizing high‑risk cases, and ensuring AI recommendations follow established ethical standards.

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