EKU professor secured funding that allows his team to assist local health departments with community assessments, while offering students real-world training and career pathways.
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) received a two-year, more than $190,000 funding award to support Kentucky health departments while providing EKU students with hands-on experience in public health.
The funding is provided through a contract with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), which received a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Jonathan Vorbeck, EKU associate professor and director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, leads the initiative at EKU in collaboration with Dr. Laurel Schwartz, professor. Through the grant, Vorbeck and his colleagues assist local health departments with community health assessments, accreditation and other public health needs.
“Public health plays a critical role in the health and well-being of our state’s communities,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “Ranked among the nation’s best graduate schools in public health, our MPH program prepares students for high-impact careers that better the health of Kentucky.”
Seeing the opportunity for EKU to serve Kentucky communities, Vorbeck said the project strengthens the Kentucky public health infrastructure while helping students build experience and learn more about public health pathways through internships. Since working on the project, he said eight students have been hired or completed an internship.
“One of the most exciting aspects is that it exposes students to what public health actually is,” said Vorbeck. “Students gain exposure to data and prepare for the workforce.”
Madeline Bowen, an MPH student from La Grange, Kentucky, has worked with Dr. Vorbeck since early 2025, attending meetings and forums, learning data analysis and encountering the different areas of public health.
“This experience has benefited me immensely,” said Bowen. “It has opened so many doors for me, and I get so much joy from working on it. You can listen and hear all day in class, but experience is everything as a student.”
Public Health Infrastructure Assistant Judy Flavell travels with Dr. Vorbeck to community meetings to see how they can be of service. She said they find out what is most important for the community, and strive to find solutions to improve health.
“Kentucky has significant health challenges,” said Flavell. “The importance of grant work and assistance is very critical to solving these challenges, and EKU students get to have a hand in that work.”
EKU’s Master of Public Health degree is offered fully online with concentrations in health promotion and environmental and occupational health and sustainability. This fall, the MPH program reduced its tuition rate by 20% as the demand for public health professionals continues to grow. Enrollment in EKU’s MPH program has increased by 22% since 2024. EKU is ranked among the Best Public Health programs by U.S. News & World Report.
By: Olivia Evans
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