Greene County Health Department Welcomes UAlbany Students

Students stand at the Greene County Health Department for a class photo.

Students gather at the Greene County Health Department for a class trip. (Photo by Sophie Coker)

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 18, 2025) — University at Albany public health master's students, doctoral students and fellows recently visited the Greene County Health Department through a class offered by the College of Integrated Health Sciences.

A two-course sequence taught by clinical professor Dr. Rachel de Long, the class introduces students to population health issues, perspectives and core skills for public health leadership and practice.

At the Greene County Health Department, students learned about the importance of local health departments, including how small, rural departments provide a full range of public health services to their communities.

The nearest major acute care hospital is nearly 55 miles away from the westernmost point of the county, making the health department an essential provider in delivering services that residents cannot readily obtain locally. The department’s “Your Health on Wheels” initiative brings a mobile public health van to deliver health education and screenings to the county’s underserved populations and beyond.

Greene County Deputy Director of Public Health Kerry Miller speaks with UAlbany students. — Greene County Deputy Director of Public Health Kerry Miller meets with UAlbany students.

“Coming from Ghana, where mobilizing people for community health advocacy can be a major challenge, I was deeply impressed with how Greene County’s small population can inspire so many more from across the region to participate in local public health efforts,” said Emmanuel Nana Arko, a doctor of public health (DrPH) student in the course.

Students also spoke with public health professionals at the department in offices ranging from the Pre-K and early intervention programs to the nursing and family planning offices.

“I may read about an incident somewhere in a book. But when I can speak with officials and ask them about their experiences, they can provide me with more enriching answers,” said doctoral student Samriddhi Ranjan. “What we learn about on these trips can’t be learned through our books.”

In Fall 2024, UAlbany announced the new College of Integrated Health Sciences, aligning existing programs in public health, social welfare and nursing. Since then, Health Sciences has opened new doors to refurbished teaching and office spaces on the Uptown Campus and launched a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in partnership with Albany Med Health System.

The college continues to work with many community partners, including local health departments and the New York State Department of Health (DOH), to provide students with unique internships, assistantships and fellowships.

“Many of the graduate and DrPH students here are already health professionals,” said Carrie Gordon-Stacey, class member and one of the fellows in the Fellowship in Applied Public Health program studying maternal health. “Experiencing the career possibilities and public health challenges in small, rural communities is essential for a well-rounded education.”

For Greene County Deputy Director of Public Health Kerry Miller, students and young professionals play a role in maintaining the department’s momentum.

“We just hired two recent graduates who were epidemiologists,” Miller said. “They are so well-versed with technology in ways that I’m not. Bright, young people are such a helping hand in public health.

“The College of Integrated Health Sciences is remarkable. I can’t describe how impressed I’ve been with every single student to come from the program.”