Changing Lives— One Student At a Time.

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s teaching portfolio embodies a multidisciplinary approach to public health education, focusing on equipping students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Her courses are designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of public health while encouraging critical thinking about real-world challenges. Through hands-on learning experiences, fieldwork, and interactive classroom discussions, students gain a comprehensive understanding of public health practice, research, and advocacy.

The courses she has taught span diverse topics such as the social determinants of health, health disparities, program planning and evaluation, research methods, and adolescent health. Several courses explore the intersections of race, gender, and class in shaping health outcomes, with a strong emphasis on social justice and equity. By blending academic rigor with practical applications, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha prepares students to become leaders and changemakers in the field of public health.

  • In this course, we will examine what public health is and how it functions through each of its core areas: epidemiology/biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and social/behavioral aspects of health.

  • This course is designed to introduce students to the profession of public health. In addition to spending 40 hours observing in an onsite placement at a public health organization, students meet in the classroom to discover the wide range of employment settings, public health professional agencies and organizations, and to develop the skills necessary to be a successful public health professional. Learning about best practices within public health, students apply their knowledge by assessing strengths and challenges across different public health agency/program/organization sites. Students also compare missions, objectives and functions of a variety of agencies involved in public health education and determine which types of agencies best fit the students’ own personal and professional goals related to public health. A critical part of this course is the in-class meetings where students will have the opportunity to compare experiences, apply general public health understanding to real-life settings, and gain an understanding of how to prepare for a career in public health.

  • This course will explore the health disparities that exist among and between groups of people based on key demographic factors including race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, age, and ability. Situated within the historical record of public health in the United States, this course will review the social, political, cultural, legal, and ethical factors that influence health disparities. Significant attention will be given to the idea that health and access to health care is a basic human right in a just society.

  • By the end of this course, students will be better able to read and understand research in Public Health and will also have the skills to plan for conducting basic research. Specifically, students  gain a better understanding of the methodology and theory behind health research through reading and critical analysis of peer-reviewed literature, classroom based lecture and discussion, and development of a research proposal.

  • In this course, students apply the principles and methods of program planning and evaluation through a variety of hands-on learning activities. Drawing from the program planning and evaluation theories and principles learned in a previous course, students practice and refine skills in: setting program goals and objectives; designing surveys and other measurement instruments (both quantitative and qualitative); collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; and using data to modify and improve health promotion programs. Students explore issues of program implementation and fidelity, working within local contexts and cultures, and program sustainability.

  • This course provides an overview of adolescent health issues and trends. The course focuses on the major public health issues of adolescents in the United States and the programs and policies that improve the health and well being of this population. The course is designed to examine the prevalence and etiology of health and wellness indicators for youth. The course consists of readings, discussions, assignments and projects. The projects are meant to help students further develop existing skills to improve their work in multi-disciplinary teams focused on analyzing adolescent health concerns through conceptual frameworks and effective solutions.

  • Minority Women’s Health is a master’s level public health course that will enable students to strengthen and apply theory and skills gained in public health courses towards the process of critically evaluating minority women’s health research and issues. The content of the course has been designed to address the social determinants of health and well being of minority women. The course contextually addresses minority women’s health in the United States while exploring the contribution of race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status to minority women’s health outcomes.

Publications

A prolific researcher and thought leader, her work spans maternal and child health, health policy, health disparities, and HIV/AIDS, with a focus on advancing equity and shaping public health policy. Published in several peer-reviewed journals, her research translates into actionable insights that drive policy reform, improve healthcare access, and challenge systemic inequities. By centering marginalized communities in public health discourse, her work informs legislative action, strengthens maternal health advocacy, and enhances HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. Below is a selection of her impactful publications, categorized into key focus areas.

Maternal & Reproductive Health

    • Advancing Maternal Health Justice. The Lancet (2021). Link

    • Obstetrical Unit Closures and Racial and Ethnic Differences in Severe Maternal Morbidity in New Jersey. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM (2021). Link

    • Psychosocial Influences on Black Maternal Health During COVID-19. Maternal and Child Health Journal (2021). Link

    • Preconception Health Risks Among U.S. Women: Disparities at the Intersection of Disability and Race. Women’s Health Issues (Accepted/In Press). Link

    • Setting the Agenda for Reproductive and Maternal Health in the Era of COVID-19. Maternal and Child Health Journal (2021). Link

Health Policy & Disparities

    • A Systematic Policy Review of Black Maternal Health-Related Policies (2010-2020). Frontiers in Public Health (2021). Link

    • An Evaluation of the Successes of the NASTAD Minority Leadership Program. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (2023). Link

    • The NASTAD Minority Leadership Program and Its Implications for State Health Department Leadership. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (2023). Link

    • Will Black Women’s Voices Finally Be Heard? Centering Black Women in Public Health Policies. Maternal and Child Health Journal (2021).

HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health

    • Race-Based Sexual Stereotypes, Gendered Racism, and Sexual Decision-Making Among Young Black Women. Health Education & Behavior (2021). Link

    • HIV-Related Mistrust and Willingness to Use PrEP Among Black Women in the U.S.. AIDS & Behavior (2020). Link

    • How Can the Experiences of Black Women Living With HIV Inform Equitable Reproductive Health Care?. AMA Journal of Ethics (2021). Link

    • Utilizing Emergency Departments for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2020). Link