January 2-3, 2026 – As part of an innovative educational initiative, Dr. Ashish Joshi Dean and Distinguished university professor of the university of Memphis school of public health met with Shri Karthikeyan S., CEO, Kolhapur, and Smt. Meena Shendkar, District Education Officer (DEO), to discuss the introduction of a pilot program aimed at bringing the public health model of education to high schools in Kolhapur. This initiative will be implemented through the “Public Health in Action” approach.
During his visit, Dr. Joshi engaged with several schools, including Dadasaheb Magdum High School, Main Rajaram High School, and Parshuram Vidyalaya and Junior College, Gaganbawda. He interacted with hundreds of students across these institutions, introducing them to the concept of public health and highlighting its relevance in everyday life and community well-being.
In addition, Dr. Joshi met with nearly 30–35 teachers from various schools, facilitating discussions on the proposed Public Health Club initiative. These interactions focused on implementation strategies, expected outcomes, and the collective impact that schools and educators can achieve through this model.
Dr. Joshi also visited Mahavir Mahavidyalaya, Kolhapur, where he engaged with faculty members on the importance of research in public health and explored ways to actively involve students in public health research projects. This innovative pilot has the potential to significantly contribute to advancing public health research, policy, and practice.
For the upcoming academic year, 50 schools across diverse geographic settings in Kolhapur have been identified to participate in this pilot program.
We are excited to assist in the roll out this initiative and look forward to empowering students and educators to become active contributors to public health action and leadership.
January 2-3, 2026 – Dr. Ashish Joshi, Dean of the University of Memphis School of Public Health met with Shri Karthikeyan S., CEO, Kolhapur, and Smt. Meena Shendkar, District Education Officer (DEO), 30+ teachers and hundreds of students during his visit to many high schools in Kolhapur, MP.