51ÁÔĆć

Public health PhD applications now open with Dec 1 fellowship deadline

Graduate students in Zilber College computer lab. Several women working on desktop computers.

The Zilber College of Public Health is now accepting applications for doctoral training in public health, including epidemiology, environmental health sciences, community and behavioral health promotion, and related areas.

Competitive multi-year fellowships are available. Please apply by December 1, 2023. 

The Zilber College specializes in advanced, research-oriented training in close collaboration with a faculty mentor, grounded in social and environmental justice. Our research environments include, but are not limited to:

The Zilber College specializes in advanced, research-oriented training in close collaboration with a faculty mentor, grounded in social and environmental justice. Our research environments include, but are not limited to:

Learn more about research at the Zilber College of Public Health.

Questions? Please email us at zcph-info@uwm.edu.

Strength or Weight? New Research into Healthy Aging Reveals Differences for Men and Women

Spotlight on Research by Chris C. Cho, an associate researcher and statistician at the UW-Milwaukee Zilber College of Public Health.

Kinesiology faculty member Chris Cho recently received a $2,000 award from the 51ÁÔĆć Research Assistant Fund to support the presentation of his ongoing research into healthy aging at the upcoming American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City this May.

The 51ÁÔĆć Research Assistant Fund provides small grants to 51ÁÔĆć faculty and staff to help conduct and share research and creative work. Cho’s award will support travel and presentation costs for his poster, “Sex Differences in the Relation Between Body Habitus and Functional Mobility in Older Adults.”

Cho’s research, as part of a larger study from the Physical Activity and Health Research Laboratory, examines how factors such as body size, weight distribution, age, and muscle strength influence functional mobility in older adults. Functional mobility includes everyday activities such as walking, standing up from a chair, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance—skills that are critical for preserving independence and quality of life as people age.

The study found that men and women appear to have different predictors of mobility and physical function later in life.

Key Research Findings

  • For women, age and lower-body muscle strength were the strongest predictors of mobility outcomes such as walking speed, leg strength, and endurance.
  • After accounting for age, body habitus measures—including body mass and waist circumference—were generally not significant factors for women.
  • For men, body habitus measures such as body mass and waist circumference were more strongly related to mobility than age or lower-body strength alone.
  • The findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight may be especially important for older men, while preserving lower-body strength may be more important for older women.

Why It Matters

The research suggests that healthy aging strategies may be more effective when they are tailored to the different needs of men and women, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

For example:

  • Older women may benefit most from activities that maintain or build lower-body strength, such as resistance training, walking, stair climbing, and balance exercises.
  • Older men may benefit most from strategies focused on healthy weight management and reducing excess abdominal weight.

Cho’s work contributes to a growing body of research showing that sex differences play an important role in aging and mobility. By identifying the factors that most strongly influence physical function in older adults, this research may help inform future exercise programs, health interventions, and public health strategies designed to support healthy aging and independence.

From Navy Corpsman to Community Advocate: 51ÁÔĆć Public Health Student Finds His Purpose

A man with a dark beard, baseball cap and blue t-shirt talks to a man and woman in a commercial kitchen.

By Anna Funk
51ÁÔĆć Report

Inspired by an uncle who served in the Navy, Michael Figueroa Osorio enlisted at 18 as a hospital corpsman. That service led to a lifelong commitment to public health. “It’s a role full of pride,” Figueroa Osorio said, of his time in the Navy. “At first, I was just doing it for fun, to get my feet wet and figure myself out. But then I found myself in a collective where I felt like I belonged.”

From service to purpose

After completing his corpsman training, Figueroa Osorio enrolled in additional schooling and testing to become a preventive medicine technician, a public health-focused role that involved administering vaccinations, running disease prevention programs and conducting sanitation inspections.

In 2021, he deployed to Kabul during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan, providing medical care at Abbey Gate, one of the main airport checkpoints.

“We were working 24 hours on, 24 hours off, providing direct care,” he said. “A lot of these people had been through a lot – broken noses, broken bones, malnourished. I remember seeing pregnant mothers and thinking about my own mom. I was like, man, I cannot wait to give my mom a hug.”

On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bombing killed 13 service members and dozens of Afghan civilians.

“I could have died that day,” Figueroa Osorio said, “and ever since that day, I’ve told myself I always want to do more.”

He decided to apply his Navy experience back home by pursuing a career in public health. His first stop: UW-Milwaukee.

Coming home to serve

At UW-Milwaukee, things started to click as Figueroa Osorio connected his studies to his experiences growing up on Milwaukee’s south side. “We were talking about systemic issues in class — how the poor stay poor, and the rich get richer, and why medical care and food are so expensive,” he said. “I started connecting the dots in my own life. This is why we struggled so much growing up.”

He also found encouragement. One particular moment stands out: During his final field experience presentation, a professor addressed his imposter syndrome. “He looked at me and was like, ‘You belong.’ That hit me hard. It still does now. I was like, ‘I do, yeah, I do.’”

Rooted in community

Figueroa Osorio completed his bachelor’s degree in public health in May 2025 and is continuing into a master’s program in Community & Behavioral Health Promotion. He says one of his long-term goals is to be a leader in his field — not only to shape public health but to inspire others who come from a background like his. Before graduation, Figueroa Osorio began working as the food pantry coordinator at Bay View Community Center, serving many of the same neighborhoods he grew up in.

“I try to run it in a way where we can teach people and help people out,” he said.

In addition to distributing food and other household products, Figueroa Osorio partners with other organizations to offer food demos, mental wellness kits and health literacy classes.

“I’m proud of the purpose I’ve found again after the Navy,” he said. “This doesn’t feel like a job to me. This feels like something I am meant to do.”

From Interviewee to Interviewer: How One Alum Is Paying It Forward in Public Health

Marina Feffer, an alum of the Zilber College of Public Health MPH program.

Since graduating in 2022 from the Zilber College of Public Health with an MPH in Epidemiology, Marina Feffer has been supporting the next generation of public health professionals as a mock interviewer. Over the past several years, she has provided MPH students with valuable practice and confidence as they prepare to enter the workforce.

Facing the Nerves of “What’s Next”

Marina clearly remembers what it felt like to sit on the other side of the table. As a student participating in mock interviews, she—and many of her peers—felt significant nerves. For Marina, those feelings were tied to a larger realization: graduation was near, and real job interviews were just around the corner.

“Training was almost complete, and life was getting real,” she recalled. That awareness made the mock interview experience feel high-stakes, even though it was designed as a safe space to practice.

Fortunately, Marina had some prior exposure to mock interviews during her undergraduate studies. However, those earlier experiences were conducted through recorded sessions rather than live, interactive conversations. The in-person mock interview format at the Zilber College, conducted by a person the student has never met before, added a new layer of realism and value.

The Importance of Interpersonal Skills

Marina emphasized how critical it is for academic programs to teach interpersonal and professional development skills alongside technical knowledge. She believes that these skills—especially interviewing—were once overlooked in higher education but are essential for career success.

She also shared that not all graduate programs offer this type of support. Comparing notes with her sister, who completed a graduate program without mock interview opportunities, reinforced Marina’s appreciation for Zilber’s approach.

Giving Back to the Public Health Community

Now working as a biostatistician at Loyola University Chicago—a position she secured immediately before graduating—Marina sees her role as a mock interviewer as a way to give back.

“The core tenet of public health is community,” she said. “Before we go out into the world as leaders, we need to support each other.”

She enjoys helping students at different stages of readiness, recognizing that each individual brings unique strengths and needs. For Marina, mentoring emerging professionals is not just rewarding—it’s essential to building a strong, collaborative public health workforce.

Advice for Emerging Public Health Professionals

Marina’s advice to current students is both practical and empowering: don’t hold yourself back.

She encourages students to apply for positions even if they don’t meet every listed qualification. “If you meet about 60% of the requirements, go for it,” she said. “Don’t quit on yourself before you even start.”

She speaks from experience. When applying for her current role, the job description required a Master of Science in Biostatistics—something she did not have. Initially removed from consideration, Marina took the initiative to contact the program director directly. She explained how her MPH in Epidemiology provided comparable training and relevant skills.

Her proactive approach paid off. She was reinstated in the applicant pool and ultimately offered the position.

Rethinking “Experience”

Marina also encourages students to broaden their understanding of what counts as experience. Internships, academic projects, and fieldwork all contribute valuable, applicable skills.

“Experience isn’t just formal employment,” she noted. “Your time in school matters.”

Building Confidence Through Practice

Reflecting on her journey, Marina credits the seminar course and mock interview experiences at Zilber with helping her successfully transition into the workforce. Now, as she helps guide current students through that same process, she’s continuing the cycle of support that defines public health.

Her story is a reminder that preparation, persistence, and community can make all the difference—and that sometimes, the most important step is simply believing you’re ready to begin.

MS in Kinesiology Graduates Lead in Elite Sport and Heart Health Research

Two women boxing, with a coach and audience watching in the background.

Charlie Benforado, an alum of the MS in Kinesiology program, has accepted a position at USA Boxing as their assistant strength and conditioning coach! Benforado said he’s excited to be fully immersed in the world of combat sport strength and conditioning and to be working at one of the best facilities in the world.

Benforado isn’t the only MS Kinesiology alum with big news to share. Garrett Steinbrink recently received a predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association! With this award, Garrett will support his dissertation work at University of Iowa Health, Sport, and Human Physiology and implement a new screening tool designed to identify patients at risk for low muscle strength and connect them with supportive programs.

From Milwaukee to the World: Kinesiology Faculty Expertise Shapes Global Health Policy

A woman looks at a lime green health tracker on her wrist with a body of water in the background.
Portrait of Scott Strath
Scott J. Strath, PhD, ACSM Fellow
Professor, Kinesiology

Scott Strath, PhD, Professor of Kinesiology at the Zilber College, is serving on a World Health Organization (WHO) Physical Activity (PA) Working Group focused on the integration of wearables and activity monitors into global physical activity surveillance efforts.

This international initiative is examining how emerging technologies—such as accelerometers and consumer wearable devices—can strengthen the measurement and monitoring of physical activity worldwide!

Strath’s participation reflects both his expertise in objective physical activity assessment and the Zilber College’s continued commitment to advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches that inform global health policy and practice.

Reminding people they’re talking to chatbots could be harmful, researchers say

Close-up of a person's hands holding a smart phone and communicating with an AI chatbot.

By 51ÁÔĆć News
February 18, 2026

Concerns that chatbot use can cause mental and physical harm have prompted policies that require AI chatbots to deliver regular or constant reminders that they are not human.  in the Cell Press journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, a UW-Milwaukee researcher and her colleague argue that these policies may be ineffective or even harmful because they could exacerbate mental distress in already isolated individuals.

The researchers say that reminding chatbot users of their companions’ non-human nature may be useful in some contexts, but these reminders must be carefully crafted and timed to avoid unintended negative consequences.

“It would be a mistake to assume that mandated reminders will significantly reduce risks for users who knowingly seek out a chatbot for conversation,” said first author and public health researcher Linnea Laestadius of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Reminding someone who already feels isolated that the one thing that makes them feel supported and not alone isn’t a human may backfire by making them feel even more alone.”

Laws require reminders

The chatbots ChatGPT and Character.AI have been linked to recent deaths by suicide. These events have prompted policies and legislation, for example in New York and California, that require chatbots to deliver regular reminders that they are not human.

These policies are based on the idea that people will be less likely to develop feelings of emotional dependency or closeness if they are reminded that their chatting partner is unable to feel human emotion. But the researchers say this idea is not supported by research.

A professional head shot of Linnea Laestadius
Linnea Laestadius

“While it may seem intuitive that if users just remembered they were talking to a chatbot rather than a human, they wouldn’t get so attached to the chatbot and become manipulated by the algorithm, the evidence does not currently support this idea,” Laestadius said.

The researchers note that multiple studies have shown that people in relationships with chatbots are aware of the non-human nature of their companions, and this awareness does not prevent them from forming strong attachments. In fact, reminding people that they’re talking to a chatbot could drive people to form stronger attachments to chatbots because confiding in companions (human or otherwise) is known to intensify feelings of emotional closeness.

“Evidence suggests that people are more likely to confide in a chatbot precisely because they know it isn’t human,” said author Celeste Campos-Castillo, a media and technology researcher at Michigan State University.

 â€œThe belief that, unlike humans, non-humans will not judge, tease or turn the entire school or workplace against them encourages self-disclosure to chatbots and, subsequently, attachment.”

Causing emotional distress

These reminders could also cause emotional distress in people, the researchers say. Recent research has highlighted a phenomenon called the “bittersweet paradox of emotional connection with AI,” in which chatbot users who obtain emotional and social support from chatbots are simultaneously saddened by the knowledge that their companion is not human. In the most extreme cases, the researchers caution that these reminders could drive suicidal ideation.

“Reminding users that their companion is not human and therefore not reachable in this reality may pose the risk of thoughts and actions to leave this reality in an effort to join the chatbot,” Campos-Castillo said. “A desire to join the chatbot in its reality appeared in a final message sent by a youth who died by suicide.”

The risk of harm for these reminders likely depends on the subject of conversation, the researchers say. For example, if a user is seeking chatbot support because they feel lonely or socially isolated, reminding them that the chatbot is not human could exacerbate their distress, but such reminders might be less harmful during less emotionally intense conversations.

More research is needed to understand the impact of these reminders, and to determine the most effective way to deliver them, the researchers say.

“Discovering how to best remind people that chatbots are not human is a critical research priority,” Laestadius said. “We need to identify when reminders should be sent and when they should be paused to be most protective of user mental health.”