51ÁÔĆć

Building Safer, Healthier Streets: How MPH Alum Rachel Goochey Turned Her Passion Into a Career in Pedestrian Safety

A casual photo of Rachel Goochey with fall leaves on the trees and a waterway behind her. She has long brown hair, glasses, and is smiling.

For Rachel Goochey, pursuing an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health was a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to sustainability, active transportation, and climate action. She has always been passionate about reducing waste, supporting non-driving transportation options, and addressing the impacts of climate change. Through 51ÁÔĆć’s program, she found a pathway to connect those interests not only to environmental sustainability, but to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

What Rachel valued most during her MPH experience was the strong, personal support she received from faculty. She describes them as both knowledgeable and genuinely invested in her success—encouraging her to explore her unique interests while helping her navigate the added challenges of completing graduate school while working and parenting. That mentorship, paired with the program’s flexibility and relevance, helped her thrive academically and professionally.

Rachel’s academic journey also led directly to her career. During her MPH program, she completed her summer field experience with the Wisconsin Bike Fed—an opportunity that grew into a part-time paid position and, eventually, into her current full-time role as the organization’s Pedestrian Safety Program Manager. “It’s my dream job,” she says. Today, she spends her time engaging with community members across Milwaukee County to understand their experiences walking in their neighborhoods, while advocating for infrastructure and policies that support safer streets for everyone.

Looking ahead, Rachel is excited to continue growing in her role and helping to shape the future of pedestrian safety and active transportation in the region. Her long-term goal is to normalize non-driving options in Milwaukee County and to help the community meet physical activity goals through walking, rolling, and biking. Central to her vision is the belief that dignity should exist in every mode of transportation—and that the built environment should reflect that value.

For students or professionals considering a similar path, Rachel offers practical and empowering advice: don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. If you’re interested in an organization or program, reach out and start a conversation. Being proactive, while staying open to unexpected pathways, can unlock a wide range of meaningful career possibilities.

Rachel’s journey demonstrates how passion, perseverance, and purpose-driven training can come together to create real change—one safer, healthier street at a time.

Zilber Professor Seeks Legal Decision Ensuring Public Rights to Great Lakes Beaches

An aerial view of the Lake Michigan shoreline.

A municipal court case in Shorewood, Wisconsin is drawing attention because it could define whether residents can walk along the shoreline of Lake Michigan — including stretches adjacent to private homes. Paul Florsheim, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Zilber College of Public Health, received a $313 trespassing ticket after walking north of the publicly accessible Atwater Beach. Florsheim contends that Wisconsin’s public-trust laws guarantee the public’s right to traverse the shoreline between the water’s edge and the ordinary high-water mark.”

Florsheim’s argument draws on long-standing legal precedents and the public-trust doctrine. On the other side, the Village of Shorewood and a nearby property owner argue that private shoreline property owners hold exclusive access rights between the high-water mark and the water’s edge, citing a 1923 ruling on a different lake that has traditionally been used to limit shoreline access.

If the court sides with Florsheim, the decision could establish a new precedent in Wisconsin, potentially opening more of Lake Michigan’s shoreline for public use. Supporters note that similar cases in other Great Lakes states have confirmed the public’s right to walk coastal shorelines. The case — and the impending ruling — may fundamentally alter how property rights and public access along the lake are balanced in Wisconsin.

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From Global Perspective to Global Impact: The Career Path of Environmental Health Sciences PhD Alum Victor Florez-Garcia

Alumni Spotlight - circular photo of a man in a suit with his arms crossed against a background of gold, blue and teal swooshes.

For Victor Florez-Garcia, MS, PhD, choosing the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health for his doctoral studies was more than an academic decision—it was a commitment to advancing environmental health with purpose, equity, and global awareness.

Victor was drawn to the Environmental Health Sciences PhD program because of its unique position at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice. “The program sits at a powerful crossroads,” he explains. What stood out even more was the faculty’s deep experience not only as scientists, but as mentors who engage meaningfully with international scholars. For Victor, that global perspective made 51ÁÔĆć the ideal place to grow both academically and personally.

Once immersed in the program, he discovered that the experience offered far more than rigorous scientific training. The sense of community and support became one of the most meaningful aspects of his time at 51ÁÔĆć. He describes the breadth of opportunities—from collaborations and networking to peer connections—as instrumental to his development. Beyond the coursework and research, he found what he calls a “hidden curriculum,” one that helped him navigate academia as an international scholar and equipped him with tools that will shape his career for years to come.

Today, Victor is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois Chicago. His work centers on three core pillars that are preparing him to become an independent investigator: developing competitive research grants, advancing scientific publications, and mentoring students. These experiences continue to build on the strong foundation he established at 51ÁÔĆć.

Looking toward the future, Victor envisions a career dedicated to environmental epidemiology, with a commitment to building a robust, independent research portfolio. At the same time, he remains closely connected to his home country of Colombia. He hopes to strengthen research bridges between Colombia and the U.S., fostering collaborations that can generate evidence to inform real-world public health interventions. His long-term mission is clear: to address the environmental exposures that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, particularly in global and underserved communities.

For students considering a similar path, Victor offers thoughtful advice. The relationships you cultivate—with professors, mentors, and peers—are “key to shaping long-term opportunities,” he emphasizes. When those relationships are paired with genuine passion and the lived experiences that drive you, they become the foundation for turning ideas into meaningful action.

Victor’s journey reflects the transformative power of combining rigorous research training with global awareness, community support, and a commitment to equity. His work continues to advance the field of environmental health—and to inspire the next generation of scholars who aim to do the same.

Faculty Insights: Understanding the Rise of AI-Based Emotional Support

Faculty Insights - circular image of woman with short hair wearing round glasses against a background of gold, blue and teal swooshes.

A recent examines emerging trends in the use of AI tools for emotional support and companionship, noting that approximately 6% of Americans report they could see themselves engaging with — or already have engaged with — AI in this way. The piece features insights from Zilber College of Public Health Associate Professor Linnea Laestadius, PhD, MPP, who provides important context on the social and behavioral implications of forming connections with AI systems.

to learn more about how these technologies are shaping human interaction and what this may mean for public health research and practice.

Rose Hennessy Garza Accepted into Prestigious Clinical Research Scholars Program

An image of Rose Hennessy Garza, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Zilber College of Public Health

The UW-Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health is proud to announce that Visiting Assistant Professor Rose Hennessy Garza, PhD, MPH, has been accepted into the Clinical Research Scholars Program, sponsored by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).

The Clinical Research Scholars Program provides junior faculty with intensive training and individualized mentoring to support successful careers in clinical and translational research. Designed to prepare participants for independent, grant-funded research careers, the program ensures scholars receive protected research time, access to key resources, a supportive environment, and advanced training in clinical research methodology.

As a public health researcher, implementation scientist, and prevention scholar, Hennessy Garza is committed to building a world free from sexual violence. Her work focuses on the development, testing, and adoption of evidence-based prevention strategies to end campus sexual violence, with an emphasis on translating research into routine practice across college campuses nationwide.

By joining the Clinical Research Scholars Program, Hennessy Garza will collaborate with a dynamic cohort of researchers, educators, and physicians working to advance clinical and translational science in Wisconsin and beyond. Her acceptance into this highly competitive program not only highlights her outstanding contributions to public health research but also underscores the Zilber College’s commitment to addressing urgent public health challenges through innovative, evidence-based solutions.

51ÁÔĆć professor is a pioneer in tech and health

Priya Nambisan sits at a desk with two laptop computers in front of her.

By Rachel Maidl
51ÁÔĆć Report
September 30, 2025

Priya Nambisan was deep in her career and raising a family when she noticed some changes in her health. She had researched the relationship between health and technology for years but was about to experience their impact firsthand.

“I called my physician, and I was sweating,” said Nambisan, associate professor of health care informatics at UW-Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health. “I described all of my symptoms, and she told me to ‘hang up the phone, call 911, and don’t drive.’”

The strange symptoms that Nambisan had been experiencing all semester were coming to a crescendo. Now her doctor feared a heart attack.

Nambisan raced to the ER. She was lucky — doctors determined it wasn’t a heart attack, but an anxiety attack.

“I had so much stress,” Nambisan said. At the time, she was under pressure to publish articles and procure grants, while caring for 2-year-old twins without much family support. “Like many other women, my health took a backseat,” she said.

Tracking tools for a healthier tomorrow

As a researcher, Nambisan looked toward data to pinpoint the habits that led to her health issues. And she turned to a familiar tool: Excel.

She tracked a number of factors, including work and home-life stress, diet and resting heart rate. She recognized that the act of tracking habits allowed her to manage stress and make positive changes. It inspired Nambisan to create a comprehensive health tracking app called My Healing Ecosystem for Self-care & Therapeutic Integration for the Aging ().

Nambisan says that there are plenty of apps for conditions ranging from diabetes to mental health issues. MyHESTIA is different because users can track multiple chronic conditions in a single application. It’s an important tool for aging populations — many of whom may not be tech savvy — because they only need to learn how to use one app.

She also uses the anonymous data from the myHESTIA app to study how tracking health factors can improve patient outcomes. Nambisan says that tracking and monitoring is an integral part of self-health management, but people need the right tools to do it accurately and effectively.

“Mentally, keeping track doesn’t work. Your brain cheats, and it’s too much information to keep in your head,” Nambisan said, noting that writing it down — whether in an app or an old-fashioned notebook — is the best way.

She has tested the platform in pilot studies and received grants to fund larger studies. Describing one such study, Nambisan noted that many young people in India move for their careers, leaving aging parents behind. They use apps like Facebook to stay in touch and share pictures, but sharing health information is difficult. The Fulbright-funded study, conducted in India, focuses on how adult children can remotely monitor their parents’ medical conditions to better support their care.

Another study that uses the myHESTIA app, funded by the Bader Foundation, tests the platform with early stage dementia patients and their caregivers.

Research on social media and at-risk youth

As the director of the Social Media and Health Research & Training (SMAHRT) and  (ARDT) labs at 51ÁÔĆć, Nambisan works with students to conduct a range of research projects using data from myHESTIA, social media platforms and artificial intelligence.

In 2024, Nambisan and Lance Weinhardt, associate dean for research, were awarded a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how social media use affects suicide rates among at-risk youth.

Nambisan’s recent NIH-funded work focuses on LGBTQ+ youth, who are most likely to consider or attempt suicide — and most likely to seek help on social media. The study lets participants capture what they see online and how it makes them feel.

“It’s a very difficult research topic to study due to the complexities of suicide and a lack of clarity in the causes of suicides,” Nambisan said. And, it’s difficult to study the impact of social media when people see and perceive so many different things.

Nambisan and her fellow researchers use AI to help sort through the data and unravel those complexities. Based on this stream of her research, Nambisan has been invited to speak about the topic at schools and with parents who have lost children to suicide. It’s a topic that’s hard for her to talk about, but she’s hopeful that her research can make a positive difference in this area.