UC Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health is celebrating its largest cohort of doctoral graduates, an achievement that signals both the school’s rapid growth and the rising demand for public health leadership.

A total of 28 doctoral students will participate in commencement ceremonies this year. Of those, 26 are officially completing their Ph.D. degrees within the academic year, still marking a significant increase over last year’s 21.

“This is the most Ph.D. graduates we’ve ever had in a calendar year,” says Scott Bartell, Wen Public Health vice dean of academic affairs. “It reflects years of strategic investment in faculty, research and student recruitment.”

A cohort shaped by crisis

This year’s graduates could be defined as a “COVID cohort,” notes Gabriella Pham, assistant director of graduate affairs for the school. Many began their doctoral studies in 2021 or 2022, when public health was at the forefront of global attention.

“They experienced public health as it was unfolding in real time,” Bartell says. “That urgency and relevance shaped their training and their ambitions.”

Their graduation is also the culmination of a period of expansion that began after founding Dean Bernadette Boden-Albala joined what was then the Program in Public Health in 2019, alongside the transition of key graduate programs such as epidemiology and environmental health sciences from the School of Medicine to public health. Given that doctoral programs typically take four to five years to complete, this year’s cohort reflects the results of those early investments.

Looking ahead, the school expects to graduate about 20 doctoral students annually, maintaining a strong and steady pipeline of public health scholars.

Growth amid funding challenges

The milestone comes at a time when research funding is becoming increasingly constrained nationwide. The school’s ability to graduate a record number of Ph.D. students highlights its resilience.

“It’s a testament to the success of our faculty in securing extramural research funding,” Bartell says, “and to the continued interest among students who want to make an impact through public health.”

Students are drawn to UC Irvine for its world-class faculty, community-engaged research opportunities and supportive learning environment. That culture has not gone unnoticed, as recent accreditation reviewers have noted high levels of student satisfaction across programs.

Still, challenges remain. “We’re working hard to protect our students from the uncertainty in funding,” Bartell says, “but there’s no question it’s influencing how they think about their future careers.”

Training the next generation of leaders

At Wen Public Health, doctoral training extends beyond technical expertise. Students are encouraged to connect their research to real-world impact, whether through policy, community engagement or global collaboration.

“We constantly ask our students to think about how their work can improve public health,” Bartell says. “And we make sure they’re exposed to leaders in the field who are doing exactly that.”

The recruitment of experienced practitioners, such as Dr. Nichole Quick, former public health leader in Orange County and Los Angeles County, as faculty further strengthens that bridge between academia and practice.

Meet the graduates driving change

This year’s cohort reflects the breadth and urgency of modern public health challenges, from infectious diseases to chronic illness to global conflict.

A UC Irvine Ph.D. candidate in public health with a concentration in global health, Gaëlle Sehi presents her research on mosquito-borne disease surveillance at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s annual meeting in 2024. Courtesy of Gaëlle Sehi

Gaëlle Sehi, a Ph.D. candidate in public health with a concentration in global health, was inspired by her upbringing in Ivory Coast, West Africa, where she witnessed the impact of mosquito-borne diseases firsthand. Her research focuses on Aedes aegypti, a mosquito capable of transmitting dengue, Zika and chikungunya.

Working with the West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District in southwestern San Bernardino County, Sehi is currently developing forecasting tools to help public health agencies anticipate outbreaks and target interventions more effectively. “I hope this work supports a more proactive approach to disease prevention,” she says, “both in California and globally.”

Sepideh Ferdos, a UC Irvine doctoral candidate in epidemiology, studies the genetic drivers of diabetes to advance early detection and prevention. Courtesy of Sepideh Ferdos

Sepideh Ferdos, a Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology, is tackling another widespread challenge: diabetes. Her research examines the genetic architecture of the disease, with a focus on prediabetes – a condition affecting millions, many of whom remain undiagnosed.

“By understanding risk earlier, we can intervene sooner,” Ferdos says. “That has the potential to reduce complications and the long-term healthcare burden.” She plans to pursue a career in industry, where she hopes to translate research into real-world health solutions.

For Maia Tarnas, a Ph.D. candidate in public health with a global health concentration, public health is inseparable from global events. Her work explores how armed conflict and forced displacement shape health outcomes, particularly through the spread of infectious diseases.

“We’re seeing environments where disease can devastate civilian populations,” she says. “There’s an urgent need for evidence and accountability.” Tarnas remains optimistic, pointing to the passion of students entering the field and the growing commitment to equity and global collaboration.

Why it matters

As California and the nation face evolving health threats from climate change to emerging diseases, the need for highly trained public health researchers has never been greater.

“Ph.D.-level public health scholars are essential,” Bartell says. “They generate the evidence that informs policy, develop interventions and lead initiatives that improve health outcomes at every level.”

Five to ten years from now, he expects this record-setting cohort to be making meaningful contributions across sectors – academia, healthcare systems, public agencies and nonprofit organizations.

“I’m excited to see what’s next for them,” Bartell says. “They’ve already shown resilience, creativity and a deep commitment to improving public health. That’s exactly what the world needs right now.”