Humanizing Public Health: A Thought-Provoking Presentation by Prof. Perry N. Halkitis

Humanizing Public Health: A Thought-Provoking Presentation by Prof. Perry N. Halkitis
On Friday 27th March, 2026 we had the honour to attend a thought-provoking presentation of Humanizing Public Health book by Prof. Perry N. Halkitis, an internationally recognized epidemiologist and public health psychologist, who invited us to rethink how we approach infectious diseases and global health crises.

In this compelling talk, Prof. Halkitis explored how human behavior, societal structures, and systemic barriers shape the spread of pandemics and critiques the overreliance on the biomedical paradigm in public health responses. He presented a transformative, person-centered vision that emphasizes empathy, community engagement, trust-building, and political awareness as essential tools for prevention and care.

We would like to warmly thank Prof. Halkitis for his inspiring visit and invaluable insights. During his stay, we also had the opportunity to discuss future perspectives and further strengthen the collaboration established through the MoU between the School of Health Sciences and Education of  Harokopio University of Athens and the School of Public Health of Rutgers University.