Student Engagement
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
Institute Director Dr. Eric G. Bing's public health courses are designed to help SMU students develop their leadership skills.
In Pandemics! The Science of Disease Spread, Prevention, and Control (APSM/ANTH/MNO 4344), students build their knowledge of the practical tools of disease control, including basic epidemiology and public health policy. In-class debates help students build their advocacy skills.
In Creating Impact in Global & Public Health (ANTH 4345/6345, APSM 4355, MNO 4345), students work in teams to help community organizations develop strategies to address real-world public health challenges. In addition to learning best practices for strategy and effective implementation, students receive team coaching from leaders across the health system.
Visit the Center for Global Health Impact to learn more.
Student Internships
The Institute for Leadership Impact has a student internship program. Email leadershipimpact@smu.edu to learn more.
Student Profile
Kaitlyn Contreras-Castro, Class of 2020
B.S. Health and Society | Minor in Spanish and Human Rights
Kaitlyn, an Engaged Learning and McNair Fellow, has worked as a research assistant under Dr. Eric G. Bing on a VR Surgery Simulator (VRSS). The surgery simulator is designed to reduce surgeon training costs through the combination of virtual reality simulation training with remote real-time supervision of surgical trainees. Kaitlyn helped develop cervical and breast cancer e-learning training courses for medical professionals in resource-limited settings. Kaitlyn says being Dr. Bing’s research assistant has been “impactful and valuable since his guidance taught me the value that my experiences and differences provide as we work to pinpoint, research, and innovate healthcare issues.”