\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2024\/08\/Alohan-STUDENT-HEADSHOT-2022-8-237x300.jpg\")
<\/strong>Daniel Alohan, PhD Candidate in BSHES (2022-present)<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Sophia A. Hussen, MD, MPH (Substance Use) & Natalie Crawford, PhD (Administrative Databases)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>A person-centered examination of intersectional discrimination and social cultural protective factors with polydrug use among Black Sexual Minority Men (BSMM)<\/em><\/p>\nDescription of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Mr. Alohan is conducting mixed-methods research \u2013 including geospatial methods \u2013 to examine multi-level factors influencing methamphetamine use among BSMM. TADA has supported Mr. Alohan\u2019s work by offering structure for constructive feedback, fostering accountability via regular project status updates, and providing training in substance use epidemiology and geospatial techniques, as well as funding his dissertation work.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2023\/09\/Snigdha-Peddireddy-picture-4.jpg\")
Snigdha Peddireddy, PhD Candidate in BSHES (2021-present)<\/strong><\/p>\nMentors: <\/strong>Melvin Livingston, III, PhD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Investigating racialized implementation of overdose prevention Good Samaritan laws<\/em><\/p>\nDescription of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Peddireddy\u2019s dissertation research uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate the street-level implementation of overdose prevention Good Samaritan Law protections. One of her aims applies zero-shot NLP learning to law enforcement incident reports to analyze the extent of criminalization of overdose victims and bystanders at the scene. Prior to TADA, she had no contact with NLP, and is now crafting her dissertation, multiple mentored research experiences, and related papers using those methods. TADA seminars and mentored research experiences have provided invaluable methodological training and reinforced rigorous research study design skills, and TADA is funding all dissertation work.<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/apps.sph.emory.edu\/RSPHPeople\/files\/pictures\/headshot1647217248829.jpg\")
<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/strong>Martha Wetzel, PhD Candidate in Health Services Research and Health Policy (2021-present)<\/h4>\nMentors<\/strong>: Courtney Yarbrough, PhD (Substance Use) & David Howard, PhD (Administrative Databases)<\/p>\nProject Title<\/strong>: The effects of controlled substance policy on patients with chronic conditions<\/em><\/p>\nDescription of Research Project and Progress:<\/strong> Currently, she is focused on finishing her third dissertation paper, which examines opioid policy and pain in older adults. The TADA program is providing her with critical feedback, structured mentorship, and career networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2023\/09\/Simone-Wien-picture-1.jpg\")
Simone Wien, PhD Candidate in Social Epidemiology (2021-present)<\/h4>\n
Mentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Michael Kramer, PhD (Administrative Databases)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Evaluating national punitive policy implementation on treatment access and overdose risk among pregnant and postpartum individuals in the United States<\/em><\/p>\nDescription of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Wien\u2019s research focuses on utilizing large administrative data sets to measure: 1) The impact of prenatal substance use laws on ethnoracial inequities in treatment facility admissions among pregnant individuals and 2) methodological challenges estimating the impact of prenatal substance use policies. The TADA fellowship has supported her dissertation, advanced her methodological skills, and connected her with substance use policy experts to refine her analysis and set herself up for a TADA-aligned career.<\/p>\n
\nPast Fellows<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n![\"carla_jones_harrell\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2020\/08\/carla_jones_harrell.png\")
Carla Jones-Harrell, PhD, BSHES, 2017-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Lance Waller, PhD (Geospatial Information Systems Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Understanding risk environments for drug-related harms using a socio-spatial approach<\/em><\/p>\nCurrent Position: <\/strong>Dr. Jones-Harrell is the Managing Director for Proximate Learning, where she leads research projects (geospatial and otherwise); data modernization initiatives (including in data science); develops programs; and crafts training curricula for clients in data science methods, substance use, and other topics. Clients include NACCHO, CDC, and other public health agencies. In addition to funding her dissertation and MREs, TADA coursework and mentored research experiences provided the skills needed for her to excel in her current work on data modernization initiatives, training development, and proposal writing.<\/p>\n
\n![\"lauren_bertin\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2020\/09\/12191018-10205194921897809-5014075485383353912-n.jpg\")
Lauren Bertin Loeffel, PhD, Clinical Psychology, 2017-2023<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Janet Cummings, PhD (Substance Use) & Rohan Palmer, PhD (Gene-Environment Interaction Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Understanding executive dysfunction influences on the development of alcohol and cannabis involvement using longitudinal twin and molecular genetic techniques<\/em><\/p>\nCurrent Position: <\/strong>Dr. (Bertin) Loeffel is currently a postdoctoral Interprofessional Advanced Addiction Fellow at the VA Boston Healthcare system. In the past year, she received an award from the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within Veteran Affairs, Educational Enhancement Award for Substance Use-Related Training ($3457) for training in addiction at Cold Spring Harbor. Dr. Loeffel credits her exposure to multiple data science methods via TADA for successfully preparing her for current work on these projects.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2021\/03\/Webster-e1740519339289.jpg\")
Joni Webster, PhD, Sociology-Health, 2016-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Speaking truth to power: how Black Twitter users discuss mental and emotional wellbeing in relation to non-medical drug use, death, and everyday life<\/em><\/p>\nCurrent Position: <\/strong>Dr. Webster currently serves as a postdoctoral ORISE health scientist research fellow with the CDC. Prior to engaging with TADA, she had no experience with NLP or ML and crafted her dissertation \u2013 and now her career \u2013 using those methods.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2022\/08\/Caroline-Berry-Spark.png\")
Caroline Barry, PhD, BSHES, 2020-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Kelli Komro, PhD (Substance Use) & Ashley Naimi, PhD (Machine Learning\/Causal Inference Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention among adolescents living in or near the Cherokee Nation Reservation: Investigation of protective factors<\/em><\/p>\nCurrent Position: <\/strong>Dr. Barry is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. She works on the Cherokee Nation Prevention Trial, a cluster-randomized trial of 20 reservation-based high schools, to test multilevel strategies for preventing and reducing substance misuse among rural adolescents. TADA expanded Dr. Barry’s skills through coursework\/workshops on machine learning for causal inference. She is applying to faculty positions that apply NLP and technology to adolescent substance use prevention interventions, as a result of TADA training.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2022\/05\/tada-fellow-1.jpg\")
Drew Walker, PhD, BSHES, 2020-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Melvin Livingston III, PhD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Using natural language processing techniques to detect stigmatizing and biased language in clinical charts of patients with chronic illnesses<\/em><\/p>\nCurrent Position: <\/strong>Dr. Walker is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University\u2019s School of Medicine, focused on applying state-of-the-art natural language processing methods to detect and mitigate harms of stigmatizing provider language in EHR notes for patients with substance use disorders across multiple academic health centers, building from dissertation work completed under the fellowship on the MIMIC-III dataset. Dr. Walker credits TADA for training in robust data science methods capable of extracting key insights from big data text and administrative datasets. Prior to engaging with TADA, he had no experience with NLP or ML and is now crafting a career using those methods.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/rollinssudprogram\/files\/2022\/05\/tada-fellow-2.jpg\")
Erin Rogers, PhD Candidate in Social Epidemiology (2020-present)<\/strong><\/h4>\nMentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Ashley Naimi, PhD (Machine Learning\/Causal Inference)<\/p>\nProject Title: <\/strong>Evaluating medication for opioid use disorder on overdose risk among pregnant and postpartum people<\/em><\/p>\nDescription of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Rogers is finalizing her dissertation work centered on buprenorphine retention and opioid-related hospitalizations. Her dissertation centers on applying longitudinal, time-varying effect estimators and ML to administrative insurance claims data to study buprenorphine and overdose during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Prior to embarking on TADA, Ms. Rogers had no exposure to NLP or ML and integrated these methods into her dissertation and supported a CDC expansion of its own analytic toolkit to include them. In addition to funding her dissertation, TADA has provided her with the skills to secure a Data Scientist position at the University of Virginia Medical School, to begin upon completion of her doctoral degree, expected Spring 2025.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Current Trainees Daniel Alohan, PhD Candidate in BSHES (2022-present) Mentors: Sophia A. Hussen, MD, MPH (Substance Use) & Natalie Crawford, PhD (Administrative Databases) Project Title: A person-centered examination of intersectional discrimination and social cultural protective factors with polydrug use among Black Sexual Minority Men (BSMM) Description of Research Project and Progress: Mr. Alohan is conducting<\/p>\n
Project Title: <\/strong>A person-centered examination of intersectional discrimination and social cultural protective factors with polydrug use among Black Sexual Minority Men (BSMM)<\/em><\/p>\n Description of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Mr. Alohan is conducting mixed-methods research \u2013 including geospatial methods \u2013 to examine multi-level factors influencing methamphetamine use among BSMM. TADA has supported Mr. Alohan\u2019s work by offering structure for constructive feedback, fostering accountability via regular project status updates, and providing training in substance use epidemiology and geospatial techniques, as well as funding his dissertation work.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Melvin Livingston, III, PhD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Investigating racialized implementation of overdose prevention Good Samaritan laws<\/em><\/p>\n Description of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Peddireddy\u2019s dissertation research uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate the street-level implementation of overdose prevention Good Samaritan Law protections. One of her aims applies zero-shot NLP learning to law enforcement incident reports to analyze the extent of criminalization of overdose victims and bystanders at the scene. Prior to TADA, she had no contact with NLP, and is now crafting her dissertation, multiple mentored research experiences, and related papers using those methods. TADA seminars and mentored research experiences have provided invaluable methodological training and reinforced rigorous research study design skills, and TADA is funding all dissertation work.<\/p>\n Mentors<\/strong>: Courtney Yarbrough, PhD (Substance Use) & David Howard, PhD (Administrative Databases)<\/p>\n Project Title<\/strong>: The effects of controlled substance policy on patients with chronic conditions<\/em><\/p>\n Description of Research Project and Progress:<\/strong> Currently, she is focused on finishing her third dissertation paper, which examines opioid policy and pain in older adults. The TADA program is providing her with critical feedback, structured mentorship, and career networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Michael Kramer, PhD (Administrative Databases)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Evaluating national punitive policy implementation on treatment access and overdose risk among pregnant and postpartum individuals in the United States<\/em><\/p>\n Description of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Wien\u2019s research focuses on utilizing large administrative data sets to measure: 1) The impact of prenatal substance use laws on ethnoracial inequities in treatment facility admissions among pregnant individuals and 2) methodological challenges estimating the impact of prenatal substance use policies. The TADA fellowship has supported her dissertation, advanced her methodological skills, and connected her with substance use policy experts to refine her analysis and set herself up for a TADA-aligned career.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Lance Waller, PhD (Geospatial Information Systems Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Understanding risk environments for drug-related harms using a socio-spatial approach<\/em><\/p>\n Current Position: <\/strong>Dr. Jones-Harrell is the Managing Director for Proximate Learning, where she leads research projects (geospatial and otherwise); data modernization initiatives (including in data science); develops programs; and crafts training curricula for clients in data science methods, substance use, and other topics. Clients include NACCHO, CDC, and other public health agencies. In addition to funding her dissertation and MREs, TADA coursework and mentored research experiences provided the skills needed for her to excel in her current work on data modernization initiatives, training development, and proposal writing.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Janet Cummings, PhD (Substance Use) & Rohan Palmer, PhD (Gene-Environment Interaction Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Understanding executive dysfunction influences on the development of alcohol and cannabis involvement using longitudinal twin and molecular genetic techniques<\/em><\/p>\n Current Position: <\/strong>Dr. (Bertin) Loeffel is currently a postdoctoral Interprofessional Advanced Addiction Fellow at the VA Boston Healthcare system. In the past year, she received an award from the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within Veteran Affairs, Educational Enhancement Award for Substance Use-Related Training ($3457) for training in addiction at Cold Spring Harbor. Dr. Loeffel credits her exposure to multiple data science methods via TADA for successfully preparing her for current work on these projects.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Speaking truth to power: how Black Twitter users discuss mental and emotional wellbeing in relation to non-medical drug use, death, and everyday life<\/em><\/p>\n Current Position: <\/strong>Dr. Webster currently serves as a postdoctoral ORISE health scientist research fellow with the CDC. Prior to engaging with TADA, she had no experience with NLP or ML and crafted her dissertation \u2013 and now her career \u2013 using those methods.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Kelli Komro, PhD (Substance Use) & Ashley Naimi, PhD (Machine Learning\/Causal Inference Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention among adolescents living in or near the Cherokee Nation Reservation: Investigation of protective factors<\/em><\/p>\n Current Position: <\/strong>Dr. Barry is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. She works on the Cherokee Nation Prevention Trial, a cluster-randomized trial of 20 reservation-based high schools, to test multilevel strategies for preventing and reducing substance misuse among rural adolescents. TADA expanded Dr. Barry’s skills through coursework\/workshops on machine learning for causal inference. She is applying to faculty positions that apply NLP and technology to adolescent substance use prevention interventions, as a result of TADA training.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Melvin Livingston III, PhD (Substance Use) & Abeed Sarker, PhD (Machine Learning\/NLP Data)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Using natural language processing techniques to detect stigmatizing and biased language in clinical charts of patients with chronic illnesses<\/em><\/p>\n Current Position: <\/strong>Dr. Walker is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University\u2019s School of Medicine, focused on applying state-of-the-art natural language processing methods to detect and mitigate harms of stigmatizing provider language in EHR notes for patients with substance use disorders across multiple academic health centers, building from dissertation work completed under the fellowship on the MIMIC-III dataset. Dr. Walker credits TADA for training in robust data science methods capable of extracting key insights from big data text and administrative datasets. Prior to engaging with TADA, he had no experience with NLP or ML and is now crafting a career using those methods.<\/p>\n Mentors: <\/strong>Hannah Cooper, ScD (Substance Use) & Ashley Naimi, PhD (Machine Learning\/Causal Inference)<\/p>\n Project Title: <\/strong>Evaluating medication for opioid use disorder on overdose risk among pregnant and postpartum people<\/em><\/p>\n Description of Research Project and Progress: <\/strong>Ms. Rogers is finalizing her dissertation work centered on buprenorphine retention and opioid-related hospitalizations. Her dissertation centers on applying longitudinal, time-varying effect estimators and ML to administrative insurance claims data to study buprenorphine and overdose during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Prior to embarking on TADA, Ms. Rogers had no exposure to NLP or ML and integrated these methods into her dissertation and supported a CDC expansion of its own analytic toolkit to include them. In addition to funding her dissertation, TADA has provided her with the skills to secure a Data Scientist position at the University of Virginia Medical School, to begin upon completion of her doctoral degree, expected Spring 2025.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Current Trainees Daniel Alohan, PhD Candidate in BSHES (2022-present) Mentors: Sophia A. Hussen, MD, MPH (Substance Use) & Natalie Crawford, PhD (Administrative Databases) Project Title: A person-centered examination of intersectional discrimination and social cultural protective factors with polydrug use among Black Sexual Minority Men (BSMM) Description of Research Project and Progress: Mr. Alohan is conducting<\/p>\n
\nSnigdha Peddireddy, PhD Candidate in BSHES (2021-present)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/strong>Martha Wetzel, PhD Candidate in Health Services Research and Health Policy (2021-present)<\/h4>\n
\nSimone Wien, PhD Candidate in Social Epidemiology (2021-present)<\/h4>\n
\nPast Fellows<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nCarla Jones-Harrell, PhD, BSHES, 2017-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nLauren Bertin Loeffel, PhD, Clinical Psychology, 2017-2023<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nJoni Webster, PhD, Sociology-Health, 2016-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nCaroline Barry, PhD, BSHES, 2020-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nDrew Walker, PhD, BSHES, 2020-2024<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nErin Rogers, PhD Candidate in Social Epidemiology (2020-present)<\/strong><\/h4>\n