Inspiring Future Public Health Leaders: Transition Year Students Explore Public Health in Practice at UCC

9 Jun 2026

Inaugural Public Health in Action Transition Year Student Day

The School of Public Health Civic and Community Engagement Committee were delighted to welcome 34 transition year students from 13 schools in Cork and Tipperary for the Inaugural Public Health in Practice Day held on 30 April 2026 in the Dr Dora Allman Room on the main UCC campus.

The day consisted of a rapid-fire introduction to the main disciplines in Public Health and an overview of the career pathways of the staff presenting. The topics covered included an introduction to public health (Prof Ella Arensman), health protection (Dr Maura Smiddy, health promotion (Dr Monica O' Mullane), epidemiology and statistics (Dr Linda O' Keeffe). All the presenters for the day then also provided a one-minute introduction to themselves and how they came to work in public health. The aim of this was to highlight the breadth of public health and also the diversity of those working in the area.

This was followed by an interactive practical with four 20-minute rotating stations focussing on:

• Interaction with the Global Burden of Disease Data (Epidemiology - Dr Kate O' Neill & Alannah Moore - MPH Student)
• Hand Hygiene (Health Protection - Dr Maura Smiddy & Aisling Creedon, BSc PH Student)
• Implementation of the Place Standard Tool (Health Promotion - Dr Monica O' Mullane, Maria O’Reilly, HSE, Angel Ross & Stephanie Joshy - MPH Students)
• Vaping (Health Promotion, Dr Zubair Kabir & Aimee O’ Donnell, BSc in PH Student)

The attendees were then escorted on a tour of the campus supported by the staff of the Visitor Centre. 

After lunch, five 20-minute sessions were delivered by staff and BSc students. These focussed on, indoor air quality (Dr Asit Kumar Mishra), addiction (Dr Eoin Coughlan), GAA Healthy Clubs (Dr Janas Harrington), the Sustainable Development Goals (Dr David Nyaluke) and a session of the lived experience of the BSc in Public Health was delivered by 3^rd year students, Aimee O' Donnell and Aisling Creedon. 

The day was made possible by the genuine collaboration of all the facilitators, members of the Civic and Community Engagement Committee, staff from within UCC, community colleagues from outside of UCC and SPH undergraduate and postgraduate students. The breadth of volunteers who supported the facilitation of the event truly illustrates public health in practice! Of course, we were delighted to have the 34 transition year students who travelled to UCC campus to attend!  Of the 22 participants who evaluated the day 95% stated they had a very good/good experience. A sincere, "thank you" to all of those who supported and attended this event! The attendees were brilliant and engaged fully with their thoughts and questions throughout the day.

The enthusiasm, curiosity, and engagement shown by the Transition Year students made the day especially rewarding. Building on the positive feedback received, the School looks forward to developing an even bigger and more impactful Public Health in Practice Day in 2027, continuing to inspire the next generation of public health professionals.