At the Dean鈥檚 Grand Rounds Speaker Series, SPH Hosts Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health
March 28, 2025 鈥� The School of Public Health was honored to host Dr. Ralph Alvarado today as part of the Dean鈥檚 Grand Rounds Speaker Series, where he discussed 鈥楲everaging Tennessee's Public Health Infrastructure: 2025 and Beyond.鈥� In his presentation, Dr. Alvarado addressed a range of critical issues impacting Tennessee communities, including vaccine hesitancy, the challenges of tobacco and vaping use鈥攅specially among youth, community water fluoridation, and the growing epidemic of isolation.
We are grateful to Dr. Alvarado for his invaluable insights and perspectives, which highlighted the importance of science and data in the field of public health. The event was well-attended by UofM SPH faculty, staff, and students. We would also like to extend our thanks to Dr. Michelle Taylor and her team at the SCHD, as well as the Tennessee Department of Health, for joining us at the grand rounds. Our sincere thanks also go to Provost David Russomanno, who welcomed Dr. Alvarado on behalf of the University of Memphis. 鈥淚 am grateful to Dr. Ralph Alvarado for sharing his time with us and for providing his perspective on the public health priorities in the state of Tennessee,鈥� said Dean Ashish Joshi.
The event was attended by the Tennessee Dementia Echo Program including Dr. Katherine Grifford, co-lead of Tennessee Dementia ECHO Program, Dr. Raymond Romano, co-lead of Tennessee Dementia ECHO Program at Vanderbilt University, Dominic Roby, Program manager the Tennessee Dementia ECHO Program- Vanderbilt University, and Sara Skinner, Dementia Navigator for the West Region.
Dr. Ralph Alvarado Tennessee Health Commissioner (right) receives honorary plaque from Dean Ashish Joshi (left).
Dr. David Russomanno, University of Memphis Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (left), Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Tennessee Health Commissioner (right), and Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (center)
Honored guests stand after the March Dean鈥檚 Grand Rounds event inside the UC Ballroom at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The presentation, delivered by Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner (pictured third from right), took place on March 28, 2025. Also pictured from left to right are Dave Harrell, Director of Special Projects; Misty Hernandez-Perry, Executive Assistant to Dr. Alvarado; Amanda Ables, Director for Healthcare Partnerships; Dr. Michelle Taylor, Director of the Shelby County Health Department; Dr. Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor for the UofM School of Public Health; and Chelsei Granderson, Public Health Administrator. (Photo by Sarah Johnson, Communications and Events Associate for the School of Public Health).