Health Policy and Management
School of Public Health

Allegheny County Health Director Iulia Vann, MD, MPH, has been appointed as an adjunct associate professor of health policy and management at Pitt Public Health.

The appointment is part of the formal partnership between the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and the school, announced in April, that creates an academic public health department, aligning Pitt’s academic strength with ACHD’s frontline community service.

“A partnership like this brings public health out of the textbook," said Vann. "We can combine all of the academic strengths that Pitt Public Health has and all of the valuable insights from the lived realities and the public health infrastructure that the Allegheny County Health Department has to offer."

Someone who has always wanted to make an impact on people’s health, second-year MPH student Ali Resch says her passion for improving all areas of care, especially for cancer patients, is what drives her.

As an undergrad, you studied biology. What inspired you to pursue a master’s in public health?

I’ve always known I wanted to make an impact in the healthcare world, but I also realized I didn’t want to become a direct care provider. Public health felt like the perfect fit because it allowed me to stay connected to health and science while focusing on improving systems, access, and outcomes on a broader scale.

What public health topics or areas are you most passionate about?

I’m most passionate about cancer care. So many people are affected by cancer, yet countless patients still face major barriers when trying to access the care they need. I’m motivated to help address these gaps and make high-quality cancer care more accessible for everyone.

What do you enjoy most about being a Pitt student?

I love the sense of community at Pitt. From my classmates to my professors and the staff I’ve been fortunate to meet, everyone is incredibly supportive. It truly feels like a place where people want you to succeed and are excited to help you grow.

What are your goals for the future?

My goal is to make a meaningful impact in the oncology world. I hope to contribute to improving the cancer care experience and ultimately enhance the lives of the patients and families who are navigating it.

What advice do you have for students thinking about pursuing their MPH?

My advice is to go for it and stay curious. There are so many areas within public health that I hadn’t been exposed to before starting this degree, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way. Keeping an open mind has helped me discover interests and skills I’ll carry with me throughout my career.

Note: Answers edited for length and clarity

Experiences during her undergraduate practicum led Mehak Khela to see how important administration is to every part of health care. Now, the second-year MHA student says its her passion for equity and sustainability that drive her forward, wherever her career takes her.

As an undergrad, you studied kinesiology. What inspired you to pursue a master’s in health administration?

During my senior year of undergrad, I completed a practicum at a sports medicine clinic where I shadowed a chiropractor and physical therapist to explore those fields as potential careers. Throughout this experience, I was also exposed to various administrative responsibilities that allowed me to interact with physicians, staff, and patients. That perspective made me realize how essential health administration is to every part of care delivery, which was ultimately the path I felt most drawn to pursue.

What topics or areas are you most interested in?

I have always found myself pulled in different directions. Throughout my MHA and experiences, I have been most interested in clinical operations, quality assurance, and strategy. In my career, I hope to progress into a consulting or strategy-focused role.
I have also always had a passion for equity and sustainability, which continues to guide my decisions in my work.

What do you enjoy most about being a Pitt student?

Pitt has so many amazing resources that have been pivotal to setting me up for post-grad success. Through the strong sense of community and the support from faculty, the program creates so many opportunities for hands-on learning, networking, and professional growth, which makes me feel constantly challenged and encouraged.

What are your goals for the future?

My future goals are to continue developing my leadership and operational skills and work in roles that improve access to care and reduce health inequities. Long term, I hope to grow into a healthcare leadership position where I can drive meaningful improvements, support staff, and help create more efficient and patient-centered systems.

What advice do you have for students thinking about pursuing their MHA?

It’s a great avenue for anyone that has an interest in healthcare. It opens up a variety of career opportunities which is great for someone like me, who prioritizes life-long learning. You also develop so many important and transferrable skills that prepare you to lead, adapt, and make meaningful contributions in any setting you choose.

Note: Answers edited for length and clarity

In November, 15 Pitt Public Health students showed off the work they are doing in the community. Posters highlighted projects completed in collaboration with community partners.

Haliyat Oshodi's (MPH '26) poster focused on work she did with Pittsburgh-based Youth Enrichment Services (YES) as part of Pitt Public Health's Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship.

Working with YES, she helped create a trauma-informed plan that promotes mental health wellness through healing-centered care where staff respond to behavior with empathy, not punishment.

HPM PhD candidate Victoria Wyant presented research from her internship with The Equity in Maternal and Birth Outcomes and Reproductive Health through the Community Engagement Center of Excellence (EMBRACE) looked at the impacts of equity and stability programs like guaranteed income and universal basic employment. 

In her opening remarks, Pitt Public Health Dean Maureen Lichtveld spoke of the importance of “making sure our science works for communities. Otherwise, our science doesn’t work.”

Posters were judged by faculty and staff from the school, who awarded Oshodi’s presentation first place.

A year after a double podium finish, an HPM team was back on the podium at the Seton Hall case competition.

The team of first-year MHA student Michaela Frey and first-year MHA/MBA student Ella Valencia came back from New Jersey with a third-place finish.

Two HPM PhD candidates had their research recognized by the American Public Health Association (APHA) Genomics Forum at the organization’s annual meeting in November.

Victoria Wyant received the Student Award for the highest-scoring abstract. Haley Director received the Outstanding Research Award for her work in public health genetics research. Director received the Distinguished Service Award from the Genomics Forum for her research last year.

Long before the meetings, community events and the shifting demands of city leadership begin, Mayor Alyia Gaskins (HPM ‘11) starts her day with the same awareness that has guided her since childhood: health shapes every moment. For Gaskins, now the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Alexandria, Va., health has never been confined to the doctor’s office. It is rooted in the places we live, the food we eat, the stress we carry and the systems that shape our daily lives.

It’s nearly impossible to live life without interacting with artificial intelligence (AI). As with any novel technology, it has its supporters and detractors as its use expands further, especially as it gains popularity in fields like health care, where accuracy and privacy are top priorities.

The 2025 Dawn Gideon and Kevin Altomari Symposium brought together experts in AI to discuss using AI responsibly, the risks health care systems face when implementing and using new technology, and the efforts of policymakers to regulate something as it evolves.

“You may be surprised at who all is involved in trying to regulate AI,” said Jolene Calla, Esq., vice president of finance and legal affairs for the Hospital and Healthcare System Association of Pennsylvania. “The World Health Organization is emphasizing a need for a framework that is responsible and consistent. They’ve set out some high-level principles but haven’t gone into the specifics.” In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration is doing much of the AI regulation because of the tools and devices using the technology - specifically, the safety and efficacy – fall under its jurisdiction. Calla says there are also laws governing data use and mining that apply to AI.

Dr. Robert Bart is the chief medical information officer for UPMC and says a major project the system is currently undertaking is moving patient records to electronic health records, and says leaders in the system believe that AI can help not only improve patient care but also be used to spot trends or inefficiencies that can reduce inequities in care.

“Everything AI does is an algorithm based on programming and a data set it's learned from, so if the data is good, it can be equitable and fair,” he said, stressing that all AI has to be “taught” and, like any person, can develop biases or “bad habits” if not accounted for.

Like people that need to learn, AI needs the right people influencing it to make the best decisions and learn from its mistakes, said Tony Lukasavage, vice president of engineering at Innovu, LLC, a health care analytics company based in Pittsburgh.

“Right now, AI is really good at summarizing and research, but it's not good at problem-solving,” he said. “At this stage, anyone who is using it for a new purpose beyond summaries or basic research needs to treat AI like an intern. Generally, it knows what it's doing, but it will need some help with more complex tasks.”

All three panelists agree that for expanded use in health care, systems and providers need to take caution to protect confidential information, but say it holds tremendous potential to help clinicians.

“I hope that AI can take patient-generated data and provide context to the caregivers,” said Bart. “That context and how a condition or comorbidity applies to a specific patient can help create a better model of care.” AI may cost a user on the front end, but it can save money in the long run, Bart adds, but warns administrators that it is a tool, not a trained clinician. “The biggest competition for hospitals isn’t other systems,” said Bart, “It’s Dr. Google. Someone feels ill, and they look up the symptoms, and if AI isn’t trained right, you could have people not seeking care or deciding to treat themselves with unintended consequences.”

Another issue posed by a technology that learns and could develop biases is what to do if the AI begins spreading misinformation. “It’s not an end-all, be-all,” said Lukasavage. “It’s like any other tool; it can do grunt work like cleaning data, but it needs context to learn, too.”

To watch a replay of the 2025 Dawn Gideon and Kevin Altomari Symposium, click here.

One of eight children, the 1982 Pitt alumna said watching her mother struggle with Type II diabetes inspired her to get into health care.

She was also a long-time member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health’s Board of Visitors.

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