USC MPH students transforming public health leadership through innovation, justice, and methodology

During this year’s U.S. election season, Master of Public Health students explored voting as a structural determinant of health to tackle health and social inequities. Learners enrolled in Public Health Leadership and Management course received training to envision, strategize, and implement actionable solutions to today’s most pressing social and health challenges. This semester students explored a range of topics including civic engagement and voting disparities, equitable access to health care, distribution of aid during natural disasters, and food security.

“In a time of unprecedented social and public health challenges, from seismic shifts in political landscape to the climate crisis, traditional approaches are no longer sufficient,” says Ans Irfan, MD, EdD, DrPH, ScD, MPH, MRPL, associate professor and the director of digital learning and innovation. His course is designed to equip students with practical, innovative, and justice-driven skills needed to tackle complex health inequities. “This class is not just an academic exercise; it’s a rigorous training ground for current and future leaders poised to drive transformative, equity-centered change.”

Social Innovation Project

At the heart of this course is a social innovation project, where students develop think tanks that envision sustainable, equity-focused public health solutions. “The projects challenge students to move from ideation to implementation through a methodical approach that emphasizes strategic foresight, collaboration, and community engagement,” says Irfan.

Each project involves three critical components. First, students identify core issues and root causes, going beyond surface-level symptoms to understand structural and systemic barriers. Second, they create evidence-based solutions by employing evaluation frameworks, stakeholder analysis, and strategic planning to build scalable, effective interventions. Finally, they emphasize justice and equity in every step, ensuring that their interventions prioritize marginalized communities and contribute to systemic fairness. The projects are conceived and iteratively developed through rounds of ‘feed-forward’ from faculty and pre-mortem from student colleagues, encouraging students not only to understand these issues, but to develop and refine their solutions through the formation of forward-thinking think tanks.

“The brilliance of our students shines through each social innovation project. They are not just creating ideas— they are building transformative solutions that challenge systemic barriers and reimagine a more just and equitable public health landscape,” states Irfan.

Social Innovation Symposium

A Social Innovation Symposium is the culmination of these efforts, serving as a platform for students to demonstrate their capacity for leading with insight, integrity, and innovation. It’s an opportunity to showcase the depth of their commitment to tackling complex issues through a blend of strategic foresight and justice-oriented solutions. “The symposium is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose. These projects showcase the depth of our students’ commitment to public health, blending rigorous methodology with a vision for social equity that is nothing short of inspiring — I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from them and could not be prouder of my students,” notes Irfan.

Irfan is redefining what it means to be a public health professional in the 21st century. “The students of today are being prepared to tackle tomorrow’s challenges with creativity, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of a just and equitable world. This is the essence of the social innovation project and is what makes the symposium a powerful testament to the future of public health leadership. We are pushing students beyond conventional thinking. Here, they don’t just learn to lead, they learn to lead with purpose, justice, and a commitment to tangible, community-centered impact,” states Irfan.

Click here to review the social innovation projects: Fall 2024 Social Innovation Symposium

About this PM 564 Public Health Leadership and Management course
Taking a uniquely student-centered, unorthodox, and practice-based learning approach, PM 564 combines strategic thinking, ethical leadership, and practical application to address the structural causes of health inequities. This semester students engaged deeply with critical topics, including civic engagement as a determinant of health, Black maternal mortality, rural health access, equity in disaster relief, the health effects of ultra-processed foods, and linguistic barriers in healthcare.