University of North Texas 
We are proud to announce that Dr. Joseph Oppong, a distinguished faculty member in
the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of North Texas,
has been awarded the Melinda S. Meade Distinguished Scholarship Award in Health and
Medical Geography at the 2025 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting
in Detroit.
The Melinda S. Meade Distinguished Scholarship Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of health and medical geography. This prestigious honor celebrates Dr. Oppong’s significant impact on advancing research in this important area. The award highlights his work across various specializations and perspectives in health and medical geography. Named in honor of a pioneering figure in the field, the award acknowledges scholars who have expanded the boundaries of health geography, offering new insights that shape the discipline. Dr. Oppong’s achievements exemplify these qualities and set a high standard for future researchers.
Dr. Oppong’s research spans both Africa and North America and focuses on the spatial
aspects of public health. His work investigates critical issues such as the geographic
distribution of diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, the application of GIS to
analyze health and disease patterns, and the impact of neighborhood characteristics
on health outcomes. His ongoing research includes studying the relationship between
climate and Buruli Ulcer in Africa, exploring schistosomiasis in Ghana, and examining
health conditions in urban slums. Dr. Oppong also employs computational epidemiology
to model disease spread, providing valuable insights for improving public health interventions.
Dr. Oppong's award adds to the growing list of achievements by faculty in the UNT Geography Department, reflecting the department’s continued leadership in advancing geographic research that addresses pressing global challenges.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Oppong for this well-deserved recognition and his continued contributions to the field of health and medical geography!
