This event series provides valuable opportunities for learning, connection, and professional development.

Important Information:

• Attendance is mandatory for all MPH students.

• Faculty members are invited to participate in the virtual webinars on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

• Students must register for the Wednesday night in-person event using the registration form, that is sent via email.

The 12th week will be held on November 10th, 11th, and 12th. 

Overall Theme: Building Your Own Path in Public Health

Public health careers don’t always follow a straight line. This year’s 12th Week series explores how to build a career on your own terms, whether that means navigating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), developing the financial and legal foundations for independent work, or learning from someone who has built a successful consulting practice. Across three sessions, we’ll explore ideas, practical skills, and personal experiences that can help you shape your own path in public health.

Tuesday Webinar Registration Link

6:00pm - 7:30 pm
Session 1: AI, Ethics, and the Future of Health Care (11/10/26)
Dr. Odia Kane, Johns Hopkins University

How is AI changing health care, and what ethical questions should public health professionals be asking?

Dr. Odia Kane, a UConn Master of Public Health graduate and postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University’s Berman Institute of Bioethics and Institute for Assured Autonomy, brings a unique perspective to these questions as the first AI ethicist featured in the 12th Week series. She’ll share findings from her research on how health care providers serve as gatekeepers and facilitators of digital health treatments, including whether patients’ race and age influence provider recommendations. She’ll also discuss her career journey, her work advising on AI policy, and her experience building a consulting practice. Bring your questions and curiosity. This session will include plenty of time for open discussion.

In person - Academic Rotunda

5:30-6:00pm Advisory Session
6:00-8:00 pm
Session 2: Financial Foundations for Public Health Professionals (11/11/26)
M&T Bank

Building a career also means understanding the financial and legal decisions that support it. In this interactive workshop, bankers from M&T Bank will cover practical financial skills for public health professionals, including personal financial literacy, establishing a limited liability company (LLC), and key considerations before launching independent or consulting work. Whether you’re planning to start your own business, explore consulting, or simply strengthen your financial knowledge, this session will offer practical guidance you can put to use.

Thursday Webinar Registration Link

Session 3: My Public Health Consulting Journey (11/12/26)
Dr. Samia Hussein, Heyya Consulting, LLC

What does it really take to turn public health expertise into an independent consulting practice?

Dr. Samia Hussein will share her journey of building Heyya Consulting, LLC, from getting started to navigating challenges and learning along the way. She’ll offer an honest look at the opportunities and realities of consulting, including lessons she wishes she had learned earlier. Whether you’re considering consulting as a full-time career, exploring it as a side practice, or simply curious about working beyond traditional public health roles, this session will offer insights, practical advice, and inspiration for charting your own course.