Geisel Welcomes Hybrid MPH Students Back to Campus for the 2026 March Intensive Learning Week
Students in Dartmouth’s Hybrid Master of Public Health program gathered in Hanover, New Hampshire last week for the program’s spring Intensive Learning Week, an integral component of the 22-month hybrid format that brings students together for in-person learning and connection.
The week began in the Kellogg Mezzanine with a welcome breakfast and check-in, followed by opening remarks from Alicia L. Battle, PhD, MCHES, MS, Assistant Dean for Public Health Programs, and Megan E. Read, MPH, director of the online and hybrid MPH programs. Their remarks emphasized the importance of collaboration, applied learning, and community as students transitioned into a week of shared academic and professional experiences.
Kicking off the academic programming, members of the Classes of 2026 and 2027 came together for a joint session, From Crisis to Care: Improving Care for Children with Mental Health Concerns in Rural Communities. The session highlighted the program’s focus on addressing complex public health challenges through interdisciplinary perspectives while fostering connections across cohorts.
Throughout the week, students engaged in a range of learning sessions designed to deepen both foundational knowledge and practical skills. Topics included Publish Your Research! The Basics and Beyond, Strengthening Emergency Care Readiness: Innovative Approaches to Building System Capacity for Crises, and Skills for Public Health Leaders.
In Professor Manish K. Mishra, MD, MPH’s course, Psychology of Public Health Impact, Dartmouth’s own Elizabeth Carpenter Song joined the class as a guest speaker on Wednesday morning to discuss her book, a required reading in the course. Later that afternoon, Dr. Mishra led students on a guided tour of the Hood Museum of Art. Additional opportunities, such as alumni panels, career services office hours, and time to further explore Dartmouth’s campus, provided students with avenues to expand their professional networks and reflect on their academic journeys.
A highlight of the week was the series of Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) oral presentations. These sessions offered students the opportunity to showcase the culmination of their work with peers, faculty, and program leadership. The presentations underscored the program’s emphasis on translating academic training into real-world impact.
Beyond the classroom, the week fostered meaningful opportunities for connection and community-building. Students gathered for a Welcome Back Social, bringing together the full Hybrid MPH cohort. Second year students later attended a Class of 2026 Celebratory dinner to recognize their achievements in the program as they came together on campus for the last time before graduation. These moments of connection complemented the academic programming, strengthening relationships across cohorts and reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the program.
Together, the March Intensive Learning Week reflects the unique value of Dartmouth’s Hybrid MPH experience, blending the flexibility of online learning with in-person engagement that supports both academic growth and a strong sense of community.
Written by: Mia Soucy
POSTED 4/2/2026 AT 03:17 PM IN #hybridmph #mph #2026 #marchintensiveweek
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