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Rod’Kendrick Harrison’s path to Commencement has been driven by purpose, passion and a clear vision.

The Batesville native will graduate in May from the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ of Mississippi’s with a degree in public health. A pre-med student with plans to become a physician, Harrison’s interest in the intersection of medicine and public health began early.

“Starting the summer before freshman year, I began shadowing physicians,” Harrison said. “When I reflected on those experiences after my (first) public health course, I started to understand that public health was such a huge part of medicine.”

Harrison connected with Hannah Allen, assistant professor of public health and executive director of the William Magee Institute for Student Well-being.

“(Allen’s) now serving as my thesis adviser,” Harrison said. “Through her I was able to do this entire research project where I train minority college students on mental health well-being through mental health first aid.”

Allen said Harrison was one of the first declared majors in the Ole Miss public health program.

“He’s been with our program since pretty much the beginning,” she said. “This is exactly who we want: people who are passionate about health research, wanting to get involved outside the classroom and already actively engaging with the faculty.”

Harrison thinks beyond clinical treatment to broader causes.

“If I have a patient, after treating them, how can I understand why they’re seeing me in the first place?” he said. “Social determinants of health such as transportation, access to healthy food options and income all affect how and when I see my patients.”

He has left his mark through research that examines the effectiveness of mental health training among college students from minority backgrounds.

His project, “Empowering Minority College Students for Mental Health Well-being: A Mental Health First Aid Initiative,” has been one of the cornerstone achievements in his time at the university.

Harrison also expanded his public health perspective during the at Columbia ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s Mailman School of Public Health. There, he developed “Bridging the Gap,” a model to enhance health equity in New York City’s underserved communities.

“He’s not just succeeding academically,” Allen said. “He really cares about this field and seeks opportunities both on campus and beyond to get involved.”

His academic journey included attending the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting through the university’s .

“That program really further solidified his love for public health,” Allen said. “He got to see what’s happening at the national level and attend different research presentations. He has a great knowledge and skill set.”

Considering either dermatology or anesthesiology for medical school, Harrison is guided by more than ambition; he wants to serve his community.

“Your college experience is going to be exactly what you make it,” he said. “So put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to do anything. Don’t do something because you think it’s right or it’s what people would like.

“Do something that you truly enjoy because, in the end, that’s what matters.”

Top: Rod’Kendrick Harrison graduates with a degree in public health and a passion for advancing health equity. From campus research to national programs, the Batesville native is preparing for medical school with a focus on community-centered care and mental health advocacy. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

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