UNMC achievements, March 28, 2025

Center for Global Health and Development recognized

The UNMC Center for Global Health and Development at the UNMC College of Public Health was recently recognized by a national public health organization as the 2024 Delta Omega Award winner for Innovative Curriculum. Danielle Thies, project associate in the UNMC Center of Global Health and Development, and Abbie Raikes, PhD, the center’s director, created the course CPH 559: Learning Across Borders – A Global Health Experience.

The course was designed to increase the opportunities for UNMC College of Public Health students to learn about global health by creating a travel course to Rwanda. It addressed public health issues through visits, lectures and onsite collaborations with the University of Rwanda. This year’s cohort of eight Master of Public Health students and one PhD student were immersed in the cultural and public landscape of Rwanda from last June 11-19.

Last October, Thies and Dr. Raikes were recognized at the American Public Health Association Conference in Minneapolis. In conjunction with their recognition, they presented on their course at a Delta Omega webinar in February.

“Bringing students to Rwanda not only helps our students gain important skills and knowledge,” Dr. Raikes said. “It also encourages innovative thinking on how to solve Nebraska’s public health challenges.”

Thies said the course “was designed to immerse our students in real-world public health practice, giving them the tools to think critically, engage globally and bring those insights back to their own communities. This recognition affirms the value of bridging theoretical knowledge with practical experience.”

-Neidy Hess, UNMC College of Public Health