September 26, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“My path into public health began with a simple realization,” says Joshua Sellner, who joined the Department of Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) as a clinical assistant professor this spring. “While individual choices matter, the biggest opportunities to improve health come from addressing the systems and policies that shape them.”
This epiphany hit Sellner as he was wrapping up his exercise science degree at USC Aiken. He decided to pursue a Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology at the Arnold School and quickly landed a position at the SC Department of Public Health (then known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control) after his 2016 graduation.
As the state agency’s lead chronic disease and injury epidemiologist, Sellner led a team of epidemiologists to monitor and advise on the chronic disease and injury health trends across South Carolina as well as disseminate health data to local communities. In parallel to pursuing a Ph.D. in Epidemiology back at USC, Sellner rose to senior epidemiologist during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and then division director for Data Analytics and Population Health Surveillance.
“While working at the Department of Public Health, my work broadened from chronic disease to population health,” he says. “There, I saw firsthand the power of data to shape programs and outcomes at the state level.”
At the Arnold School, Sellner is focused on advancing public health from the ground up. His research spans maternal and child health, the public health impacts of cannabis and alcohol use, and the application of population-level data to improve outcomes. While varied, these areas share a unifying goal: strengthening health through evidence-driven policy and practice. In addition to his research, Sellner is committed to preparing the next generation of public health leaders, equipping them with the tools to apply innovation and data to improve population health. These opportunities played a big role in Sellner’s decision to return to USC.
“Joining the faculty here feels like coming full circle,” he says. “The Arnold School played a pivotal role in shaping my professional journey, and I am excited to give back to the institution and state that invested in me.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Josh on the HSPM faculty,” says chair Brad Wright. “His rigorous training in epidemiology and his extensive and highly applied experience with DPH advising policymakers and providing actionable data to other stakeholders position him perfectly to train our public health students to step into a variety of similar roles.”
Already rooted in the local community, Sellner loves spending time outdoors in the Columbia area. His family, which includes his wife, a nine-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son, enjoy hiking and kayaking.