The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s online Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program has received the 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award for EPH 601: Introduction to Biostatistics, an international, peer-reviewed recognition that honors excellence in online teaching and course design.
The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program recognizes outstanding online courses from colleges and universities around the world. Courses are evaluated by experienced peer reviewers using a comprehensive rubric that assesses four key areas: Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment and Learner Support. Award recipients represent best practices in online education and demonstrate innovative, evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning.
The award-winning course was developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration led by myself, together with Ramesh Muthukumarana, instructional design manager; Zeyu Liu, instructional designer; Arsham Alamian, Ph.D., associate dean for health studies and associate professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies; and Merand McLaughlin, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
By combining expertise in public health, biostatistics, instructional design and online pedagogy, the team created a dynamic learning experience that emphasizes both academic rigor and student success.
EPH 601 was recognized for its thoughtful course organization, engaging learning activities, authentic assessments and comprehensive learner support. The course incorporates interactive instructional content, real-world public health datasets, applied statistical problem-solving exercises and opportunities for students to connect biostatistical methods with contemporary public health practice. This approach enables students to develop the analytical skills needed to make evidence-based decisions in health care and public health settings.
Galileo observed that "You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them discover it within themselves." That idea inspired our vision for this course.
We wanted to create more than a biostatistics course. We wanted to foster curiosity, confidence and the ability to apply data to real-world public health challenges. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the collaborative efforts of colleagues across disciplines, including the essential contributions of our instructional designers, whose expertise in online pedagogy helped translate our vision into an engaging and effective learning experience.
For the online M.P.H. program, the recognition represents more than the success of a single course. It highlights what can be accomplished through strategic collaboration and a shared commitment to educational excellence. Developed with a small, highly dedicated team and limited resources, the online M.P.H. program has continued to achieve significant milestones while maintaining high academic standards. This spring, the program celebrated the graduation of its first cohort, with several students completing the program ahead of schedule.
The award also demonstrates an important principle of modern education: Thoughtfully designed online learning can not only maintain academic quality but also deepen student engagement, expand access to education and create meaningful learning experiences for diverse student populations.
Most importantly, this award celebrates our students. Their curiosity, engagement and determination continually inspire us to innovate and improve as educators.
As the University of Miami continues to expand its investment in online education, this recognition showcases the innovation already taking place within the Miller School. It reflects the online M.P.H. program’s ongoing commitment to advancing high-quality, evidence-based public health education and preparing the next generation of public health leaders to address complex global health challenges through data-driven practice, innovation and lifelong learning.
Written by Elahe Nezami, Ph.D., published July 10, 2026.
