Author Archives: Erica Schipper

Research Assistant, Diet Study

A research assistant (RA) is needed to help with a randomized controlled feeding study to evaluate the effects of diet composition on weight loss and colon cancer prevention. Secondary objectives will compare the effects of two diets on appetite regulation, blood glucose control and on gastrointestinal emptying.  The RA will assist with participant recruitment and follow-up and will be involved in primary data collection activities at a research site located at Emory Hospital.  Hours are flexible. We encourage applicants who have a background in nutrition or other health-related fields and are available to work on the project for one year or longer. For more information please contact Dr. Terry Hartman (tjhartm [at] emory [dot] edu) or Coordinator, Ben Cousineau (benjamin [dot] cousineau [at] emory [dot] edu).


ORISE Fellowship, CDC Physical Activity and Health Branch

Category : Alumni

The Physical Activity and Health Branch is currently seeking applicants for an ORISE Fellow opportunity.  The deadline to apply is August 30.

This fellowship will provide training in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity’s (DNPAO) Priority Strategy in Physical Activity: Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design (https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/community-strategies/activity-friendly-routes-to-everyday-destinations.html). This strategy is focused on equitably increasing physical activity through the implementation of policies and activities to connect pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks (called activity-friendly routes) to everyday destinations, while being a team participant with a diverse group of public health professionals, including epidemiologists, behavioral scientists, and evaluation specialists. The selected participant will gain experience in research, evaluation, evidence synthesis, and translation for policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies (e.g., active transportation plans, Complete Streets policies, comprehensive plans, demonstration projects, project funding criteria) related to equitably increasing physical activity through community design.

For more information and to apply, please click here. 


#InsideAPE: Joel Espinoza and the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Category : #WeAreEmoryEPI

Meet Joel Espinoza! He is a second-year student on track to obtain a Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology. Joel is using his time at Rollins to obtain two certificates, one in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and the other in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). In addition, he shares his experience working in local government in New York City and his second APE with us.


Tell us about your academic history/where you went to school.

I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cell Biology and Public Health. 

 

What are your primary research interests?

I’m primarily interested in infectious disease surveillance, dynamics, and analysis, mainly sexually transmitted infections (STIs), enteric illnesses, and multi-drug resistant organisms.

 

Tell us about your APE project.

I have two! The first is a paid position with the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). I was initially recruited to assess the severity of Hepatitis C Virus-related outcomes (cirrhosis, liver transplantation, cancer, etc.) from 2001 to 2019 in New York City; however, my tasks have expanded to generating reports and handling data requests for clinics throughout the city. I also provide analytical support as it relates to the new Monkeypox outbreak.

My second APE is tied to my thesis, where I work with GOJO Industries, which is the maker of Purell. I am creating a database to assess the efficacy of alcohol-based sanitizers versus traditional handwashing in reducing the microbial load on hands among varying age groups and geographies.

 

How did you find your APE project?

I started with random internet searches around large cities because I knew I wanted local government experience. I had found the Epi Scholars program with the DOHMH on my own, and I started working on the application about a month before I noticed that Rollins had shared it in the newsletter.

 

When did you start looking for an APE? When did you start working for your APE organization?

I started looking for APEs around late October/November, but I didn’t officially start with DOHMH until June! To be fair, there was a very long application process for this program, and I hadn’t confirmed my position until about mid-April.

 

Are you pursuing/interested in any certificates? If so, was it difficult to meet your APE requirements?

Yes! Luckily, the Infectious Disease Epidemiology and WASH certificates complement each other well, despite “double-dipping” being prohibited. I had to do two APEs because the Epi Scholars Program/Project was/is not WASH-related. Since my thesis was, I worked with GOJO Industries and my thesis advisor to create another APE that would benefit both GOJO and my academic career.

 

What has the experience been like so far?

I’d say I really hit the ground running with my current position. Local governments, especially large ones like New York City, are constantly changing and restructuring. This coincidentally left the current bureau I work in with only one data analyst, so they’ve put me to work! I have had some opportunities to network, but many people still operate remotely due to the pandemic. Luckily, I have received an offer to take on a remote contract position as a Research Specialist to continue to assist the department as needed.

 

Any advice for people looking for an APE?

The most sage advice I received was from Dr. Scott Fridkin: He encouraged me not to pick an APE just because it was “available,” alluding to my current work with the Georgia Emerging Infections Program. He made me realize that the APE serves to expand on our skills and experiences that we haven’t yet had the opportunity to gain within our first year. It gave me the courage to stick it out through the waiting period to hear back instead of settling for another option.

 

How have you been spending your free time this summer? Anything interesting you’re doing?

I’ve been exploring New York City! My jobs allow me to work remotely at times, so I also try to turn that into opportunities to explore new coffee shops.

 

What are three fun facts you want people to know about you?
  1. I’ve been a dancer for over eight years.
  2. I can make balloon animals.
  3. My favorite flavor is anything s’more related . . . with maple as a close second.

 

Thanks for talking with us, Joel! Tune in next week to see who we speak to next!


ISSS Pizza & Popsicles Speed Friending Event

Category : News/Events

ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services) invites international students, scholars, and their families to their summer social: ISSS Pizza & Popsicles Speed Friending Event. 

Come enjoy free pizza and popsicles while making new friends on July 31 from 4-6pm at Glenn Memorial Church – Emory University. 


Qual Works: Qualitative Research Workshops

Category : News/Events

QUAL-WORKS offers a series of training workshops on qualitative research. We offer three types of workshops: scheduled workshops, individual mentored sessions, and customized workshops. Scheduled workshops are held twice a year during summer. Mentored sessions provide individual mentoring with a QUAL-WORKS expert on your own research project. Customized workshops can be developed to meet the training needs of your organization. To learn more and register, please click here. 


6 Barbies for the Kid in Every Epidemiologist

Category : PROspective

The world has been buzzing this weekend with news about the new Barbie movie. You may have made plans to see the movie with your friends or family, weighed in on the Barbie/Oppenheimer debate (or participated in “Barbenheimer”?), or decided that it just isn’t for you. As epidemiologists, we understand the importance of raising awareness about public health work being done in the world, and in an exciting twist, Mattel has honored several women in public health with the creation of their own Barbie dolls. These women were all selected in 2021 as role models in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, and have been honored as real-life Barbies. While the original Barbie may not be the healthiest or most inclusive role model, these women’s work and impact is definitely something to celebrate.

1. Sarah Gilbert – Vaccinologist

As the Said Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Sarah Gilbert has been at the forefront of vaccine development for various emerging pathogens, including influenza, Nipah, MERS, Lassa, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. However, her most groundbreaking work came in 2020 when she initiated the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine project. Collaborating with Oxford colleagues, she led the development of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against COVID-19, which has since been used worldwide.

2. Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz – Physician, Professor, and Healthcare Advocate

Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz is not only an Internal Medicine physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine but also a dedicated wellness advocate and health/lifestyle blogger. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a crucial role as a frontline worker in both hospital and clinic settings. Dr. Cruz is known for her use of telehealth to expand access to essential health services, especially among the Asian American community, for which she has been an ardent voice and advocate.

3. Amy O’Sullivan, ER Nurse

Amy O’Sullivan is a proud ER nurse with nearly three decades of experience, 19 of which were spent at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Her dedication to patient care and the community was particularly evident during the early months of the pandemic when New York City was severely affected. In recognition of her essential work on the frontlines, Amy was featured on the cover of Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

4. Dr. Chika Oriuwa – Psychiatry Resident and Mental Health Advocate

Dr. Chika Oriuwa, a Resident in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, is passionate about advocating for children’s mental health and addressing racial disparities in healthcare. As the only black person in her medical school class and the first black woman chosen as sole valedictorian, she actively promotes diversity in medicine and medical education reform. Dr. Oriuwa is not only a dedicated medical professional but also a spoken word poet, writer, and public speaker, using her platforms to raise awareness about mental health and combat misinformation.

5. Dr. Jaqueline Goes – Pathologist and COVID-19 Researcher

Dr. Jaqueline Goes is a Brazilian scientist, professor, and researcher with expertise in biotechnology and pathology. She gained widespread recognition for leading the genetic sequencing of the coronavirus in Brazil during the early stages of the pandemic. Being a young black woman from humble origins, Dr. Goes has remained dedicated to promoting trust in science, combating misinformation related to COVID-19, and encouraging vaccine uptake.

6. Dr. Kirby White, General Practitioner and PPE Advocate

Dr. Kirby White is a Specialist General Practitioner based in rural Australia. She co-founded “Gowns for Doctors,” an initiative that provided protective gowns to front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dedication to ensuring proper PPE supplies for healthcare professionals garnered her the title of 2021 Victorian Australian of the Year – Local Hero. Dr. White’s commitment to rural healthcare and her efforts in medical research have made her a vital figure in her local community.


As epidemiologists, we can draw inspiration from these real-life Barbies who have exemplified dedication, resilience, and innovation in their fields. Their work in vaccine development, healthcare advocacy, mental health, and public health education during the pandemic has had a profound impact on communities worldwide. You can learn more about each of these important women here.


TA Position Available, EPI/GH 515

Course meeting time: Thursday 10 – 11:20 am & Friday 1 – 2:20 pm

Dr. Scott McNabb is seeking two teaching assistants for his EPI/GH 515: Transforming Public Health Surveillance course this fall semester. For more information and to apply, please contact the instructor at scottjnmcnabb [at] emory [dot] edu . See course description below.

Public health surveillance (PHS) is critical to efficient and effective disease prevention and control. Public health professionals must have information about the parameters of disease occurrence to develop and maintain prevention and control programs. Transforming Public Health Surveillance (TPHS) provides a thorough review of PHS history, purposes, uses, elements, data sources, models, analyses, actions, preparation of reports, evaluation, and ethical and legal issues. Discussions embrace both infectious and non-communicable diseases. And it helps students recognize the importance of a direct association between PHS and public health action and to become familiar with the use of information, communication, and technologies (ICT). TPHS teaches concepts from both developed and developing countries and introduces lessons learned in international health crises to construct a framework to provide an efficient, effective, and equitable global prevention, detection, and response.


TA Positions Available, GH 500

Course sections: 3 in-person sections for Fall 2023 Wed 1–2:50 PM (2 sections) & Thu 1–2:50 PM (1 section)

Overview of TA roles and responsibilities:

  • Attend class session (mandatory), facilitate in-class discussions, grade assignments, respond to student queries, review and offer feedback on course materials, attend weekly team meetings, and provide Canvas support.

Qualifications:

  • Experience working in or studying global health issues (mandatory), strong writing and critical thinking capability, excellent
  • organization skills, and strong performance in GH500 or GH501. Expected time commitment: 10-15 hours weekly

Compensation: $15/hr

Please fill out this Google Form by July 31, 2023 at 5PM.

Send Questions to Drs. Ghada Farhat (ghada [dot] n [dot] farhat [at] emory [dot] edu) and/or Felipe Lobelo (rlobelo [at] emory [dot] edu)


Research Assistant, Environmental & Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Dr. Christine Ekenga is looking to hire a Research Assistant for projects at the intersection of environmental justice and chronic disease prevention and control. These projects capitalize on the resources of large public-use and private datasets that include risk-factor data on nearly 1,000,000 individuals. Other studies include community-engaged environmental epidemiology projects.

Tasks: Tasks will include analyzing a variety of research data using statistical methods, advising on study design, statistical interpretation, data management and analysis using Microsoft Excel, SAS, SPSS, or R. Students may also participate in patient enrollment and recruiting for clinical studies and assist with the development of presentations, abstracts, and peer-reviewed manuscripts and grants. 

Start date: September 2023

Hours per week: 10-15 hours/week

How to apply: Please send resume and cover letter by email to cekenga [at] emory [dot] edu. Position is open until filled.


Emory Summer Farmer’s Market

Category : News/Events

All are welcome to attend Emory’s Summer Farmer’s Market at McDonough Plaza on campus. There will be hot food vendors, fresh produce, artisanal breads and baked goods, coffee & juice. For more information, please click here.


Upcoming Events

  • Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Seminar December 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Seminar Series Event Type: Seminar SeriesSpeaker: Sanjib Basu, PhDContact Name: Mary AbosiContact Email: mabosi@emory.eduRoom Location: CNR PLAZA - Rollins AuditoriumTitle: High-Dimensional Joint Model for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Risk and Social Determinants of Health
  • Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Seminar December 6, 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Seminar Series Event Type: Seminar SeriesSpeaker: Kylie Ainslie, PhDContact Name: Mary AbosiContact Email: mabosi@emory.eduRoom Location: CNR_1000 Richard M. Levinson PhD ClassroomTitle: Scabies, who cares?

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