From Iowa to Disneyland: How CPH alumna Emma Smaellie keeps the magic safe

UI College of Public Health alumna Emma Smaellie (23MS, OEH Industrial Hygiene) plays a behind‑the‑scenes role in one of the most iconic destinations in the world: the Disneyland Resort. As a safety professional supporting thousands of cast members across parks, hotels, entertainment spaces, and specialized crafts, Emma uses her industrial hygiene training to ensure the magic happens safely every day. She shares how she found her path, what her work looks like, and why creating a safer workplace is her favorite part of the job. Published March 2, 2026

MHA alumni named as ’40 under 40′ honorees

Three alumni of our MHA program have been recognized as rising young leaders with one honored on Modern Healthcare’s 2026 40 Under 40 list and two named to the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40.  Published March 2, 2026

MHA alumna Paige Moore named as Forty Under 40 honoree

Paige Moore (10MHA) was named a 2026 'Forty Under 40' honoree by the Des Moines Business Record for demonstrating impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. Moore is CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa. Published March 2, 2026

CPH alumna Paige Jaeger named as Forty Under 40 honoree

Paige Jaeger (14MHA) was named a 2026 'Forty Under 40' honoree by the Des Moines Business Record for demonstrating impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. Jaeger is chief operating officer at ChildServe in Des Moines, IA. Published February 23, 2026

HMP alumnus earns ’40 under 40′ honor

John Corbeil (12MHA) has been named a 2026 '40 Under 40' honoree by Modern Healthcare. Corbeil is currently serving as CEO at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood. Published February 17, 2026

Martha Carvour recognized for exemplary engaged scholarship

Martha Carvour (12PhD, 12MD) assistant professor of internal medicine (infectious diseases) and epidemiology in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and College of Public Health, has been awarded Campus Compact’s Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement.  Published February 12, 2026

CPH alumna Tala Al Rousan discusses migration as a public health priority

Dr. Tala Al Rousan (15MPH), Professor of Public Health at UC San Diego and Founding Director of the Displacement and Health Research Center, was a recent guest on the "Across Borders" podcast to talk about what it means to treat migration and displacement as core public health realities, not peripheral crises. Published January 15, 2026

Nominations for 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards due March 2

The UI College of Public Health is pleased to announce that it is accepting nominations for its 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards. This award program recognizes outstanding alumni in two categories: first, recent graduates who have completed College of Public Health programs within the past ten years and, second, other alumni for accomplishments throughout their careers. Published January 14, 2026

Digging into Workplace Safety

Abigail Tompkins graduated from the University of Iowa in 2017 with an MS degree in industrial hygiene. She recently shared some details about her current work as a senior supervisor of industrial hygiene at a mining operation in Colorado. Published October 27, 2025

Alumni Q&A: Andrew Grimm

Check out this new Q&A with Andrew Grimm (12MPH, 12MHA) and learn how Andrew’s dual degrees from the University of Iowa College of Public Health prepared him to lead change—and why he says he has one of the coolest jobs in health care. Published October 20, 2025