What is an Immersion Experience?

Immersions for MPH@UNC represent an opportunity for students to join other students, Gillings School faculty members and alumni to engage in collaborative learning experiences, spend time at the Gillings School and in Chapel Hill, and further develop the personal and professional relationships that can last a lifetime. When you join the MPH@UNC Immersion Experience, you can expect a weekend packed with learning, deep connections and fun! Here’s some of what you can expect.

Immersion Schedule, Spring 2020

Friday, February 28 – Various Locations

Saturday, February 29 – Gillings School of Global Public Health

  • 8 – 9 a.m.: Breakfast with Rameses!
  • 9 – 9:45 a.m.: Faculty Conversations Session I
  • 10-10:45 a.m.: Faculty Conversations Session II
  • 10:45 – 11 a.m.: BREAK
  • 11 a.m. – noon: Career Pathways Round Table Session: A Free-form “birds of a feather” discussion with Gillings Alumni
  • noon – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch and Keynote
  • 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.: Faculty Conversations Session III
  • 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.: Faculty Conversations Session IV
  • 3:15 – 3: 30 p.m.: MINDFULNESS BREAK
  • 3:30 – 4 p.m.: Wrap-up

Lunch Keynote

Dr. Bahby Banks

Bahby Banks

Bahby Banks

Dr. Bahby Banks is the CEO of Pillar Consulting, a global program evaluation research firm that helps organizations assess the impact of their initiatives. In this role, Dr. Banks partners with nonprofit, academic, corporate and philanthropic organizations to provide consultation on the development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of their efforts. A scholar-activist committed to equity and inclusion, Dr. Banks actively engages leaders in strategic thought and action to create and sustain diverse workplaces. Under Dr. Banks’ leadership, Pillar Consulting has spearheaded efforts funded by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the United States Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, DuPont Foundation and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Banks’ career has spanned the Americas, Africa, Europe and Australia, including contributions to the World Health Organization, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, the Instituto Promundo and prestigious universities across the United States. Her research interests include healthy equity, the social determinants of health, minority health, rural health and public health leadership. She teaches SPHG 721 – Conceptualizing Public Health Solutions.

How can I participate?

Register for the Spring 2020 MPH@UNC Immersion Experience! There is no cost for registration.

Included in the registration are:

  • Registration fee waiver for the Minority Health Conference on Friday, February 28
  • All event costs on Saturday, February 29
  • Breakfast, lunch, and heavy evening hors d’oeuvres, Friday, February 28
  • Breakfast and lunch, Saturday, February 29

Reserve your spot at the 41st Annual Minority Health Conference (separate registration required).

MPH@UNC students are eligible for a waiver of the $50 registration fee by using the discount code provided to you by email. We recommend you register as soon as possible. There are limited seats and registration will close when the conference is full, typically around the end of January.

Reserve your room at Courtyard by Marriott, 100 Marriott Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 by January 28, 2020. We have reserved a block of rooms from Thursday, February 27 until Saturday, February 29 at Courtyard by Marriott for the special rate of $144/night. Please make your reservation by this date to guarantee this special discount room rate. (Note: Room costs, as well as transportation costs to and from Chapel Hill, are not covered by the Immersion Experience.)

Questions? Can’t find the discount code? Contact MPHImmersions@unc.edu.

Directions to the Gillings School

The Gillings School of Global Public Health is located in Rosenau Hall, McGavran-Greenberg Hall and the Michael Hooker Research Center on 135 Dauer Drive on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. Driving directions to the School, along with appropriate contact information, are located below. If you are planning a trip to UNC-Chapel Hill, you may also wish to visit the University visitor information site or view the University campus maps.

If you are looking for a specific room in the School, floor plans are available at the Floor Plans at the Gillings School page.

For information regarding disability parking, please call the Dean’s Office at (919) 966-3215.

Traveling from the east (driving on I-40 West from Raleigh-Durham Airport / Raleigh / Wilmington)

  • Take exit 273A to 54 West toward Chapel Hill. Highway 54 becomes Raleigh Road.
  • Go about 3 miles, then take the ramp under the bridge to NC 54 W/US-15 S and merge onto Fordham Blvd.
  • Go 1 mile and turn right on Manning Drive.
  • As you near the UNC Hospitals complex on your right, look for signs to the visitor parking in the Dogwood Parking Deck (on your left).
  • Take a left on either East Drive or West Drive to get to the parking entrance.

Traveling from the west (driving on I-40 East from Hillsborough / Burlington / Greensboro / Winston-Salem / Asheville)

  • Take exit 266 and turn right at the fork to merge onto Highway NC-86 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).
  • Go about 4 miles, then turn right onto Cameron Avenue.
  • Take the next left onto Pittsboro Street.
  • Follow the left curve in the road and cross straight through the Columbia Street intersection onto Manning Drive.
  • Follow the signs to the Dogwood Parking Deck, two blocks on your right.

Traveling from the north (driving on I-85 South from Richmond / Washington, D.C.)

  • From I-85 South in Durham, stay left to take exit 174B onto 15-501 South toward Chapel Hill. You will cross over I-40 as you enter Chapel Hill, and will be on 15-501 for approximately 15 minutes.
  • Turn right onto Manning Drive and follow it through south campus.
  • As you near the UNC Hospitals complex on your right, look for signs to the visitor parking in the Dogwood Parking Deck (on your left).
  • Take a left on either East Drive or West Drive to get to the parking entrance.

Traveling from the south (driving on I-85 North from Charlotte / Atlanta)

  • Take exit 266 and turn right at the fork to merge onto Highway NC-86 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).
  • Go about 4 miles, then turn right onto Cameron Avenue.
  • Take the next left onto Pittsboro Street.
  • Follow the left curve in the road and cross straight through the Columbia Street intersection onto Manning Drive.
  • Follow the signs to the Dogwood Parking Deck, two blocks on your right.

Parking and Walking Information

Please note that we do not have on-site parking at the School; you should review parking options before you arrive. We are located at 135 Dauer Drive on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. In addition to the options below, the Park on the Hill website provides several parking spaces available within walking distance in downtown Chapel Hill.

For information about weeknight parking around the Gillings School, download the Weeknight Parking Fact Sheet (PDF).

The Dogwood Parking Deck is located on Manning Drive across from UNC Health Care. Walking directions can vary.

  • Exit the Dogwood Deck onto Manning Drive and cross the street.
  • Turn left and walk west on Manning Drive until you reach Columbia Street (about 0.3 mile).
  • Turn right and follow the inclined sidewalk north on Columbia Street until you reach the crosswalk (about 500 feet).
  • The front entrance of the School will be on your left, across the street from the Health Sciences Library.

Wallace Parking Deck is located on Rosemary Street in downtown Chapel Hill. Walking directions can vary.

  • Walk west on Rosemary Steet until you reach Columbia Street (about 0.1 mile).
  • Turn left and walk south on N. Columbia Street (about 0.6 mile).
  • The front entrance of the School will be on your right, across the street from the Health Sciences Library.

Rams Head Deck is located on Ridge Road, behind Kenan Stadium. Walking directions can vary.

  • Walk north on Ridge Road until you reach Stadium Drive.
  • Turn left onto and walk until you reach South Road (about 0.2 mile).
  • Turn left onto South Road and walk until you reach S. Columbia Street (about 0.1 mile).
  • Turn left (south) and walk on S. Columbia Street (about 0.1 mile).
  • The front entrance of the School will be on your right, across the street from the Health Sciences Library.

The Raleigh Road Lot (aka Highway 54 Parking Lot) is located on Raleigh Road, across from the UNC School of Government. Walking directions can vary.

  • Turn right (west) onto Raleigh Road and walk until you reach South Road (about 0.1 mile).
  • Walk west on Raleigh Road until you reach S.Columbia Street (about 0.6 mile).
  • Turn left (south) and walk on S. Columbia Street (about 0.1 mile).
  • The front entrance of the School will be on your right, across the street from the Health Sciences Library.

Public Transportation Hubs


Accommodations

Please visit the map page for a comprehensive view of accommodations.

Chapel Hill – Carrboro

The listed distances are approximate from the School.

Durham

Pittsboro


Visitor Information Websites


Address and Contact Information

Location address:

Gillings School of Global Public Health
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
170 Rosenau Hall
135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599

Mailing Address:

Gillings School of Global Public Health
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB #7400
135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400


Other Map Resources

UNC Health Sciences Medical Campus (PDF)
UNC-Chapel Hill maps page
UNC Health Care maps
Chapel Hill Transit

School Events

April 23
10:00 am
4:00 pm
Advanced Statistical Machine Learning
April 30
10:00 am
2:00 pm
Introduction to Focus Groups
June 17
8:00 am
5:00 pm
2024 Add Health Users Conference