As we step into 2026, we pause with gratitude and pride to reflect on a meaningful and impactful year at Public Health U (PHU). 2025 was a year defined by academic achievement milestones, global engagement, and continued innovation in public health education, reinforcing our commitment to expanding access to high-quality, equitable learning opportunities for health professionals worldwide. From welcoming new students across three different programs and launching new courses to celebrating the achievements of our graduates and advocating for PHU’s work on international academic platforms, this year marked important milestones in our ongoing mission to strengthen the global public health workforce.
Honoring Achievement: PHU Graduation Ceremony 2025
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, PHU proudly hosted its Graduation Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of 12 graduates from Semesters 24A, 24B, and 25A.
These graduates represent more than academic success; they embody resilience, dedication, and a shared commitment to improving health outcomes in their communities. Many balanced rigorous coursework alongside professional responsibilities, family commitments, and service to vulnerable populations. Their accomplishments reflect PHU’s mission to make public health education accessible, flexible, and globally relevant. You can review our graduation blog for more details.
Advancing Innovation: Exploring AI-Enhanced and AI-Assisted Approaches to Public Health
Throughout the year, PHU continued to engage in emerging conversations shaping the future of public health and health professions education, particularly around the responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence. As part of this commitment, members of the PHU team participated in a Faculty Development Webinar hosted by Ponce Health Sciences University and the British Virgin Islands School of Medicine, which focused on the evolving role of AI in medical and health professions education.
Learn more about this engagement here.
PHU demonstrated its commitment to innovation through participation in the Training & Learning Forum hosted by the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australia (CAPHIA) at the University of Technology Sydney. Gareth Durrant, PHU’s business consultant, presented on Boosting Public Health Critical Thinking: AI-Assisted Course Design and GPT Tutoring. The forum, held on November 6th, 2025, provided an international platform to showcase practical, scalable approaches to integrating AI into public health education.
Together, these engagements reflected growing international recognition of PHU’s work in designing accessible, competency-based, and ethically informed learning experiences for diverse global audiences.
Enhancing Course Quality and Learning Experience
A major focus of 2025 was strengthening the quality of courses across PHU’s programs through targeted course improvements. Nearly all MPH, MEHP, and Ph.D. courses were updated to incorporate PHU’s AI-enhanced learning features, including the addition of microlearning modules, enhanced instructional design, and AI-assisted tutorbots to support personalized learning and improve student engagement. These components were meticulously reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with best practices in public health education. Importantly, this work remains ongoing as additional course updates and enhancements are planned throughout 2026.
None of PHU’s achievements in 2025 would have been possible without the dedication and insight of our students, faculty, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Your shared commitment continues to drive PHU forward, enabling us to deliver high-quality, accessible, and innovative public health education to learners around the world. As we look ahead to 2026, we are committed not only to expanding our own programs but also to collaborating with public health schools, ministries of health, and organizations globally.
Our key goals for 2026 include:
- Reaching more learners across regions and disciplines
- Offering PHU content and expertise to support local public health training needs
- Expanding volunteer engagement with institutions seeking curriculum support, faculty development, or educational collaboration
PHU is particularly interested in partnering with:
- Schools of Public Health
- Ministries of Health
- Public health organizations and networks
- Institutions seeking open-access, competency-based educational resources
If your institution or organization is interested in collaborating, volunteering, or exploring how PHU’s content can support your training goals, we ask that you contact us at support.mph@nextgenu.org.
Together, we can continue to advance public health education, empower learners, and strengthen communities worldwide. Here’s to a successful and impactful 2026!