2024–25 Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching Award

Ramzi Nahhas, professor of population and public health sciences.

When Ramzi Nahhas, Ph.D., professor of population and public health sciences, tells his students he welcomes a challenge, he means it. At the end of one of his graduate courses, he invited students to “stump the professor” with a real-world problem from their work as epidemiologists.

With minimal preparation, Nahhas worked through the challenges in real time, using concepts from the course to guide his thinking. The activity wasn’t just a hit — it showcased his confidence in his students and commitment to applied learning.

That inventive spirit is just one reason Nahhas received the 2024–25 Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching Award.

Known for meticulous preparation and continuous improvement, Nahhas consistently revises and enhances his courses year after year. His efforts have elevated the academic rigor of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences and the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

“Dr. Nahhas is very bright, hardworking and passionate about teaching,” said Marietta Orlowski, Ph.D., professor and chair of the department.” His work is often done quietly, without fanfare or recognition, but it is always done to the best of his ability.

Since 2022 alone, Nahhas has mentored 48 students, residents and fellows, resulting in six published manuscripts and 25 presentations delivered at local, regional and national conferences. He shares his expertise widely, collaborating with 18 Wright State faculty members on projects that have led to 10 peer-reviewed publications in areas ranging from substance use and public health to the psychological impact of COVID-19.

As a biostatistician, Nahhas brings advanced analytical tools to a range of disciplines, applying methods such as survival analysis, growth curve modeling, latent class analysis and handling of missing data to explore issues in public health, psychiatry, childhood development and obesity.

Nahhas is also a trusted advisor who supports learners from undergraduate and graduate public health students to first-year psychiatry residents, helping them navigate research projects and build confidence in interpreting data.

“Recruitment begets retention, and one cannot count the number of undergraduate and master’s students Dr. Nahhas has helped to nurture their interest in public health and guided them through to degree culmination,” said Gregory Toussaint, M.D., senior associate dean of academic affairs in the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Student evaluations regularly praise his effectiveness and approachability. One captured it succinctly: “Dr. Nahhas is the OG. Great teacher, and his book was amazing.”

Nahhas earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics, master’s degree in statistics and Ph.D. in biostatistics from The Ohio State University.

Today, Nahhas is not only a leader in statistical science but a valued educator helping to shape the next generation of public health professionals.