Shaping the Future of Health Science: Dartmouth Celebrates Student ILE Poster Session

At the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, the culmination of the Independent Integrated Learning Experience elective brought together the Dartmouth community for a dynamic poster session on Tuesday, May 19, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. in the Rubin Atrium at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The event showcased three terms of rigorous coursework and research, as residential MPH students presented original projects spanning a range of public health and health science topics. Faculty, peers, and guests engaged students in thoughtful discussions about their findings, methodologies, and the broader implications of their work.

The session highlighted the interdisciplinary thinking fostered throughout the program, with projects exploring topics from climate-related disease trends to policy implementation and community resilience. Among the presentations were “Connections Between Community Resilience and Clinical Outcomes: An Ecological Analysis Using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Community Resilience Challenges Index (CRCI)” by Trisha Badjatia, MPH ’26; “Socioecological Drivers of Effective and Equitable Sport-Related Concussion Policy Implementation in New Jersey High Schools: A Policy Paper” by Quinn Moore, MPH ’26; and “Little Bugs, Big Issue: Divergent Climate Associations of Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis in Vermont and New Hampshire” by Alesanda Pardini, MPH ’26.

Throughout the evening, attendees moved between posters, asking questions and discussing how research can inform policy, strengthen health systems, and improve outcomes for communities. The atmosphere reflected the collaborative and applied nature of the MPH experience, with students demonstrating an ongoing commitment to addressing public health challenges. The energy in the room was a testament to how far the students had come over the course of the term, moving from foundational concepts to nuanced, evidence-based inquiry on questions that matter to communities and health systems.

“The teaching team was proud of our students’ accomplishments,” said Al Mulley, program co-director. “Each reflected the depth of analytical thinking and real-world relevance that defines the program.”

The poster session served as a celebration of student achievement and a reflection of the program’s mission: preparing future public health leaders to engage critically with today’s most pressing issues to create a healthier tomorrow.