IN THIS ISSUE 35 YEARS Dr. David Axelrod................................. 2 Axelrod Prize in Public Health............ 3 35 Years of Excellence.......................... 4 Health Disparities................................ 6 Public Health Heroes.......................... 8 Global Health...................................... 10 Maternal & Child Health.................... 12 CORONAVIRUS Treatment............................................ 15 Infection & Transmission................... 16 Emerging Issues.................................. 19 STUDENT SUCCESS Coronavirus Response........................ 20 Student Experiences........................... 22 Invest in Our Students....................... 26 Meet MPH Student Naw EhKu........ 27 RESEARCH EXPERTISE Highlights Through the Years........... 29 Contaminated Water......................... 32 Cancer................................................ 34 Diabetes............................................. 36 Health Communication.................... 38 Food................................................... 40 Antibiotic Resistance......................... 42 Preventing Violence.......................... 43 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Selection of School Alumni............... 45
NOTE FROM THE DEAN
This year has been filled with unprecedented challenges in the field of public health. As a nation, we have faced significant loss of life, elimination of critical programming, national underinvestment in our discipline and severe consequences from long standing public health issues such as systematic racism, poverty and homelessness— and these represent only a fraction of the challenges in front of us as we work towards a healthier future. I will admit that it can be both overwhelming and exhausting. But as Nelson Mandela once said, “part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.” Here at the University at Albany School of Public Health, we choose to continue forward towards the light, conducting groundbreaking research, training the next generation of public health leaders and developing thought leadership in areas ranging from emerging infectious diseases to maternal and child health. Each day, our faculty, staff and students dive deep into their work to address pressing public health problems— and have done so for the past 35 years. It is this passion and grit that defines us and propels us to improve the health of populations locally and around the world, despite the obstacles we may face. This year, we are proud to celebrate our 35th anniversary as a partnership between the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This strategic relationship between a research-focused academic institution and a government agency has created a strong foundation to make a profound impact in
public health research and response, which I invite you to read about over the following pages. In particular, we see the true benefit of this partnership here and now in the present with pandemic response, as our School community banded together to fill emerging roles and help to reduce further devastation from SARS-CoV-2. As we look back over the past 35 years and celebrate our success, and reflect on the impact we are having as today’s events unfold, we must also look towards our future. Our School is dedicated to continuing to improve public health and public health education, and with the visionary partnership developed upon our founding, I am confident that we will continue to make an impact in the field— and more importantly, in the lives of people here in New York’s capital region and worldwide. And lastly, we wouldn’t be where we are today without you! I am so pleased that you are a part of our School of Public Health family and thank you sincerely for your support of our School. I look forward to our continued work together and hope you enjoy reading our 35th anniversary magazine! All the best, DAVID HOLTGRAVE Dean SUNY Distinguished Professor SUNY Empire Innovation Professor
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35 YEARS
DR. DAVID AXELROD: A DRIVING FORCE FOR INNOVATION IN HEALTH CARE & POLICY Former New York State Commissioner David Axelrod played a critical role in the development of the School of Public Health, collaborating in the 1980s with the University at Albany to establish the School as a partnership between the state health department and the University. Axelrod worked as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) prior to joining the staff of NYSDOH in the late 1960s. A decade later, he was appointed as health commissioner and held that post until ill health forced his retirement in 1991. He passed away three years later at age 59. Under Axelrod’s leadership, New York became the first state in the nation to restrict the number of hours that hospitals can require interns and residents to work. He increased the disciplining of doctors and the imposition of fines on hospitals that violated regulations, and his innovative policies often became models for the rest of the country. 35 years later, the world-class partnership Axelrod envisioned for UAlbany and NYSDOH continues to flourish, with roughly two-thirds of faculty holding full-time appointments at NYSDOH and countless students interning within the department.
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The UAlbany School of Public Health honors Dr. Axelrod for his important work and stands as an example of the importance and success of approaching public health at the intersection of academia and government.
“Dr. Axelrod was an innovator. He showed this by co-founding the School of Public Health; forming Virogenetics to commercialize scientific advances in the Wadsworth Laboratory; and many other actions. His initiatives more than 30 years ago reverberate in the State to this day.” - Peter Millock, General Counsel, New York State Department of Health, 1981-1995
AXELROD PRIZE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
The Axelrod Prize in Public Health honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of public health at the intersection of academia and government service. Candidates were nominated in 2019 by individuals in public health and related fields from across the U.S. They were considered for the alignment of their public health contributions with David Axelrod’s vision for the intersection of academia and government health departments, the impact of these contributions and the role these contributions have played in reducing health disparities. Our School is pleased to announce that the Axelrod Prize Committee has selected Thomas A. Burke of Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health as the 2020 Axelrod Prize in Public Health recipient. Thomas A. Burke is Professor and Chair of Health Risk and Society at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health and the director of the Johns Hopkins Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute. He was the principal investigator of the Pew Environmental Health Commission that developed the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Serving as the Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research and Development of the Enivronmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the last two years of the Obama Administration, Burke strategically directed research and led offices supplying the scientific support for decisionmaking. He also led a major national investigation of the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources and the EPA scientific investigation and response
to the contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan. Before joining Johns Hopkins, Burke was Deputy Commissioner of Health for New Jersey and Director of Science and Research for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. There, he directed initiatives that influenced the development of state legislation and national environmental health programs, such as Superfund, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Toxics Release Inventory. “Perhaps one of Tom’s greatest contributions to public health comes from his tireless service on numerous committees that bridge from the findings of scientific research to policies and regulations to control risk,” says Jonathan Samet, Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. “He has served on and chaired multiple committees for the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, CDC, and the EPA.” Burke has taught thousands of students and has mentored doctoral students who are now leaders at major universities worldwide. They play key roles in academia and throughout the nation’s local, state and federal agencies. “I have learned so much from all of them,” says Burke. “They have been my best teachers.”
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35 YEARS
35 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
1985
2006
School of Public Health founded as a joint venture between UAlbany and NYSDOH.
Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow was created to strengthen and support the development of the local and state public health workforce.
1990
2005
Research Experience for Undergraduates program established with National Science Foundation (NSF) funding, with the focus on directing underrepresented students into science. Over 200 students were trained under this initiative.
The Cancer Research Center opened to conduct research and provide training related to understanding the genetic and environmental causes of cancer.
1993
2002
The School received its first formal accreditation, becoming the 26th fully accredited school of public health in the U.S.
From 2002 to 2017, the School received funding from CDC to develop and deliver emergency preparedness training to public health professionals and emergency responders.
1995
1996
The Center for Health Workforce Studies was established to provide timely, accurate information and conduct policy-relevant research about the health workforce.
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The nationally-recognized and awardwinning Center for Public Health Continuing Education was established to provide exemplary education for the public health and health care workforce.
THE SCHOOL TODAY BY THE NUMBERS
2007 The School became a Peace Corps Master's International Program partner, enabling students to serve in the Peace Corps to count towards their degree.
2009 The Center for Global Health was established to create opportunities for faculty and students to engage in academic programs, innovative research, capacity building and experiential learning to address critical global health issues.
2015 The Maternal and Child Health Program was established through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau as well as additional local funders.
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ACA D E M I C D E PA R T M E N T S
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DEGREE PROGRAMS
720 HOURS OF HANDS-ON LE ARNING COMPLETED BY E AC H M P H S T U D E N T
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20+
CENTERS & INSTITUTES
G LO BA L PA R T N E R S
36 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED B Y T H E S C H O O L’ S ST U D E N T B O DY
TODAY:
As a leader in practice-based education and groundbreaking research, UAlbany’s School of Public Health tied for 9th place of the U.S. public institutions ranked for public health by the 2020 global Shanghai Rankings.
RANKED ONE OF THE BEST G R A D UAT E SCHOOLS FOR P U B L I C H E A LT H (2020)
( U . S . N e w s & Wo r l d R e p o r t )
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35 YEARS
Learn more about work to address health disparities on pages 16, 27, 36 and 47.
IT’S A MUST: TACKLING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN ALL WE DO. Health disparities are literally a matter of life and death.
“This has been seen throughout the history of the U.S., from the treatment of indigenous peoples to slavery to civil rights violations to the death of Mr. Floyd in Minnesota to a variety of health conditions impacting communities of color in different and detrimental ways,” says Dean David Holtgrave. “Health disparities and social injustice are evident in the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our School is committed to identifying and addressing these disparities and their root causes—not just for this disease, but in all areas of public health.”
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It starts with research at the School, where many projects examine health disparities. Of note, the School recently launched the Center for Collaborative HIV Research in Policy and Practice, which focuses on the social determinants of health and reducing health disparities throughout all its work in HIV and related epidemics. “Finding ways to better understand and more effectively address and eliminate health disparities in our society is at the heart of our School’s research mission,” says Benjamin Shaw, Associate Dean for Research. “Using the most state-of-the art and rigorous methods, our researchers seek to identify the key determinants of disparities in today’s most pressing health problems, and then work to develop and test innovative approaches to counteract these disparities. In this way, our research contributes significantly to growing the evidence base of interventions that can be deployed to eliminate health disparities whenever and wherever they arise.” Research projects looking at health disparities focus on a wide range of topics, from maternal mortality to healthy aging. “There’s a real health disparity component at play in maternal and child health. It is in this area that we see some of the most concerning health disparities. For example, Black women in New York are three to four times more likely to die from causes related to pregnancy compared to white women,” said Christine Bozlak, associate professor of Health Policy, Management and Behavior. The School’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program aims to reduce health disparities not only by supporting research and public health practice in this area, but by training a diverse MCH workforce equipped to help address disparities.
Study of how our physical environment impacts health disparities is also prevalent at the School. Access to healthy food can have a profound impact on diet-rated diseases. Akiko Hosler, associate professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has studied access to supermarkets and fresh produce in the local area. Her research found that disparities in access to supermarket and food stores with desirable amounts and variety of fresh produce increased over time between minority and mixed neighborhoods. In the classroom, students examine disparities in relation to poverty, various populations, health communication, global health and more, gaining a better understanding of how health disparities are constructed according to gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, age, sexual orientation and disability. Janine Jurkowski, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, holds expertise in engaging low-income and other communities who experience disparities so that the perspectives of those impacted by research and public health interventions are legitimately incorporated. She emphasizes the importance of students learning specific methods to address health disparities, particularly in research. “Research can easily be conducted in a way that re-colonizes or reinforces oppressive structures that affect communities of color,” Jurkowski explains. “Community-based participatory research, empowerment approaches and antiracist thinking are the most effective strategies for research and practice in public health. We must stop with the deficit approach and embrace the strengths and assets that are in all communities.”
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35 YEARS
REMEMBERING PUBLIC HEALTH HEROES
ADELL Y. SMITH Adell Y. Smith, an executive assistant at the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), was inspired by the appointment of the first female CEO at HANYS, and wanted to help underrepresented students, particularly Black female students, to reach for executive levels in healthcare management. She established an endowed scholarship at the School, also supported by HANYS, that is transforming the lives of MPH students by making higher education more accessible. Those who have received the Adell Y. Smith HANYS Healthcare Leadership Scholarship note that Smith was an inspiration to them and that in the future, they hope to give back by supporting public health students, too— all thanks to Smith and her dedication to healthcare and empowering others. Pictured above: Adell with two Adell Y. Smith HANYS Healthcare Leadership Scholarship recipients.
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PHIL NASCA Phil Nasca became Dean of the School in 2007 and had a profound impact on the University. He will be especially remembered for his creation and support of the Center for Global Health and for the many worldwide partnerships that were established and have thrived since early in his tenure as Dean. Nasca traveled extensively to partner public health schools and agencies and encouraged students to study and to undertake internships abroad. He is deeply missed by all at the School of Public Health and the larger public health community, but we are reminded daily of his vision as we continue to promote and expand international collaborations and global learning.
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35 YEARS
GLOBAL HEALTH IS PUBLIC HEALTH.
For 35 years, our School has been deeply engaged in global health activities, including research. David Carpenter, the founding Dean, encouraged faculty to seek out partnerships abroad, and faculty swifty responded to this call and formed partnerships with colleagues in research universities and institutes throughout the world.
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We value the perspectives of international public health students and professionals who enhance our understanding of global health. Since our founding, we’ve had students from around the globe right here on our campus. The School’s first cohort of MPH graduates included several international students, some of whom remain actively engaged in our collaborative research today. Over the years, the School’s numerous NIH Fogarty International Center trainees and many Muskie and Fulbright Fellows have joined with other international students and our international faculty to form a culturally diverse, global community on our campus. Together, we’re focused on improving global health.
Each year, School of Public Health students engage in globally focused research, here in the United States and through international placements facilitated by the Center for Global Health.
CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH The Center for Global Health works with partners across the University, in the local community and around the world to create opportunities for faculty and students to engage in academic programs, innovative research, capacity building and experiential learning. The Center prepares current and future leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to address critical global health challenges. Students can complete a Graduate Certificate in Global Health Studies, participate in global health seminars and events, pursue an international internship, and participate in faculty-led global health education abroad programs. They can also apply to the Global Health Field Placement Program, which allows them to gain rigorous hands-on global experience by combining their MPH studies with service in the U.S. Peace Corps (you can read about an alum of this program, Lindsey Jackson, on page 27). With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded that global health is public health. Our international collaborations and partnerships through the Center for Global Health enable us to exchange ideas and share knowledge with public health professionals and students across the globe, and it is this sort of collaboration between many people and cultures that truly strengthens public health initiatives.
“My study abroad experience in China allowed me to meet new people, experience new cultures, and publish two manuscripts on environmental health exposures.” – Tia Marks, PhD student (pictured above on left)
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35 YEARS
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH: A CRITICAL AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
Improving maternal and child health is a focus at the School throughout our research, teaching and more. UAlbany’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program provides academic and professional development opportunities for students, faculty and staff who are committed to advancing the health and well-being of all members and types of families within our population. The program offers MCH coursework, funding for MCH student practica, brown bag seminars, networking events, community service opportunities, and funding for student and faculty participation in MCH conferences. In addition, the program continues to form partnerships with national, state and local MCH-related agencies and organizations for additional opportunities for students and faculty. Students can also earn a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health to gain the necessary tools to analyze and develop policies, programs and initiatives to improve MCH.
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Recent Graduate Recognized for Excellence in MCH Work School of Public Health alumna Kathryn Mishkin recently received the Maternal and Child Health Young Professional Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA). This award is granted to select young professionals who have made significant contributions to MCH. Mishkin has cultivated her passion for women’s rights and maternal, infant, and child health through research, policy, project management and evaluation work in 13 countries. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Evaluation for March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization that improves the health of mothers and babies. Through her position she directs the evaluation of the Better Starts for All project, a three-year pilot study that aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in countries with limited access to maternity care services. She also leads the strategic evaluation efforts for March of Dimes’ programs including Supportive Pregnancy Care, Becoming a Mom, NICU Family Support, and the Mom and Baby Action Network. Mishkin is associated with APHA through several leadership roles, including Chair of the Global Maternal and Child Health Network, Chair of Policy in the Women’s Caucus and Maternal and Child Health Section Councilor.
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CORONAVIRUS
CORONAVIRUS: OUR RESEARCH & RESPONSE 35 years ago, the founders of our School knew the importance of collaboration between academia and government— and with the coronavirus pandemic, the partnership between UAlbany and NYSDOH led to swift research and immediate response to help slow the spread of illness in New York. Eli Rosenberg, Tomoko Udo, Janine Jurkowski, and numerous other faculty, staff and students contributed heavily to the COVID-19 response.
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COVID-19 TREATMENT Hydroxychloroquine, used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, was declared by President Trump in March 2020 as a “game changer” for the coronavirus pandemic. But public health experts warned that there was little evidence to support using the drug to treat COVID-19. In May 2020, the School and NYSDOH released results of a rapid, rigorous observational study of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin— less than two months after the FDA approved emergency use of hydroxychloroquine. It looked at medical records of hospitalized patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 25 hospitals in the greater New York City region, admitted between March 15-28, 2020.
These findings, among the first in the nation and cited on notable COVID-19 timelines as an early and key observational study in the U.S., came a month before the FDA revoked its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine. Understanding which treatments appear promising and which do not is critical for enabling researchers to gain further insight into the novel coronavirus and to examine an array of treatment methods.
“While we had hoped for a large and immediate beneficial impact of these therapies to help reduce the unnecessary loss of life from COVID-19, for this group of seriously ill patients, we did not observe a significant benefit of the administered drugs,” said lead researcher David Holtgrave. Hydroxychloroquine taken in conjunction with azithromycin (compared to neither drug) was associated with significantly elevated levels of cardiac arrest even after statistical adjustment for sex, age, underlying health conditions, and more severe illness
Pictured above: Dean David Holtgrave featured on CNN to provide his expertise, including to share the results of this hydroxychloroquine study.
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE STUDY RESEARCH STATISTICS (NOV. 2020)
585,000+
#10
300+
ONLINE VIEWS OF THE RESEARCH PAPER IN JAMA
HIGHEST-SCORING OUTPUT FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
NEWS STORIES IN MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE U.S. & GLOBALLY
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CORONAVIRUS
INFECTION & TRANSMISSION In June 2020, the School and NYSDOH published results from the largest U.S. serosurvey (testing of blood serum) to date, providing critical information on infection and the first information in the country on statewide cumulative incidence, along with details on disparities by race and ethnicity, sex and age. The results showed that over two million adults in New York were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, through late March 2020. Moreover, the number of people infected since the beginning of the pandemic was higher among Latinx, Black and Asian adults than White adults. Participants were recruited by NYSDOH as they entered grocery stores in 26 New York counties between April 19-28, 2020, where data were recorded and finger prick tests were used to collect small blood samples for testing. UAlbany researchers in partnership with scientists at NYSDOH then led the analysis on cumulative incidence using the collected data. The sample of 15,101 adult participants was adjusted to reflect New York’s demographics so that an estimate could be projected for statewide cumulative incidence. “Our 35-year partnership with NYSDOH enabled our UAlbany team — already experienced in these kinds of studies and in collaboration with our colleagues at NYSDOH — to analyze the data to produce timely statistics of relevance to addressing the pandemic,” said Eli Rosenberg, lead author and associate professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
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Faculty and staff on the Health Sciences Campus quickly adjusted research projects to include coronavirus aspects— including a project led by associate professor Beth Feingold and assistant professor Xiaobo X. Romeiko looking at food access and redistribution in New York’s Capital Region.
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CORONAVIRUS
Funding was quickly approved for School researchers to examine various aspects of coronavirus, ranging from the impact on college students to faith and the Black church. Community outreach was also prioritized by the School, as faculty took on roles in workshops, trainings, lectures and podcasts to educate the public about the most up-to-date coronavirus information.
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EMERGING ISSUES While children were initially thought to be less susceptible for severe illness from COVID-19, in May 2020, concerns arose over the growing number of cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with coronavirus. The complication can be severe and dangerous, potentially leading to life threatening heart issues and problems with other organs. In June 2020, NYSDOH announced its study in the New England Journal of Medicine on MIS-C in collaboration with the School and CDC in a true model of state, federal and academic collaboration envisioned by Axelrod 35 years ago with the development of the School of Public Health. The study described 99 cases of MIS-C and concluded that the emergence of the condition in New York followed widespread COVID-19 transmission and often is associated with cardiac dysfunction. Students, faculty and staff from the School provided technical assistance to the investigation by developing the study data systems, helping to lead the data analysis and shaping the resultant manuscript. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE In May 2020, the School and NYSDOH published the first comprehensive epidemiological report on the emergence of COVID-19 from a U.S. state in a peerreviewed publication (Clinical Infectious Diseases). Pictured: The Corning Tower in Albany, where faculty, students and staff helped to assist the New York State Department of Health.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
STUDENTS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PANDEMIC RESPONSE. RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS MPH students, required to complete 720 hours of hands-on learning for their degree program, were transitioned to coronavirus-related tasks at their internship sites, gaining significant experience on emergency response. Other students, such as those in NYSDOH’s Wadsworth Center, also contributed to research and response activities. Students volunteered on top of their academic programs and work obligations, assisting as contact tracers, data analysts and public health educators for vulnerable populations. They aided health departments with important activites such as wellness calls to COVID-19 positive
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individuals and tracked new case intakes, as well. Of note, students assisted locally at the Albany County Department of Health and the Rensselaer County Department of Health, gaining important insight into hands-on public health work in our local Capital Region communities. Volunteer opportunities were organized by the School’s Division for Public Health Practice and directed by Janine Jurkowski, professor and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice. Many students noted that the pandemic reaffirmed their strong desire to help others through public health work, where they can help to create lasting change in populations and communities.
ONLINE STUDENTS LEAD COVID-19 RESPONSE Throughout the state and around the globe, our online students hold positions in health departments, healthcare organizations, non-profit agencies and other settings. When the pandemic hit, they played key roles in protecting the health of populations, often working late hours and making significant sacrifices to help with COVID-19 response. REIMAGINING PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES While coronavirus took center stage in 2020, public health practitioners and students could not ignore the numerous other public health issues requiring attention. With rolled up sleeves, our School reimagined how to address public health issues while ensuring new safety protocols were met. Students completing internships were tasked with redesigning and altering public health programming to deliver services through virtual or reduced-capacity options, showcasing the creative and innovative minds of the next public health leaders.
“Their dedication is truly remarkable as they build on their knowledge and experience, applying course concepts to address today’s most pressing public health issues,” says Brenda Kirkwood, Director of Online Education. “We are fortunate to have such a committed cadre of individuals learning and working each and every day to make meaningful contributions in the lives of others.”
Pictured above: MPH student Leanna Komoroske applied her education in creative ways during summer 2020 to help improve maternal and child health in the capital region— including through cooking demonstration videos on YouTube. Pictured right: emergency medicine physician and MPH student Lou Rotkowitz directed and provided care for the sickest COVID-19 patients in New York City. Pictured left: a selection of students who responded to the coronavirus pandemic through their internships, jobs and volunteer work.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
THEY’RE READY FOR THE BIG CHALLENGES. 22
“I interned in rural Uganda at Engeye Health clinic, helping maternity services establish formal standard operating procedures.” - Elizabeth Stephenson (pictured left with fellow student Jenee Russell)
“I conducted research on pediatric injury health information on social media outlets, which resulted in a manuscript.” - Benish Syed
“I worked full-time while taking classes and completed my MPH with a 4.0 GPA.” - Brandon Elgün
“I helped develop an interactive section of the NYSDOH website dedicated to tracking and addressing social determinants of health.” - Kathryn Simpson
“I presented my research at the University at Buffalo McNair Conference.” - Tyler Jetjomlong
Our students aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone and take on big public health challenges. Whether it’s through research, internships or traveling abroad for an international program through the Center for Global Health, they say YES to opportunities and experiences that can enhance their ability to make a difference. It’s because our public health students care deeply about those around them. They fight tirelessly to improve the health of communities and to reduce health disparities. It’s not always easy... but public health isn’t just a career, it’s a calling.
Community engagement is a top priority at the School of Public Health. Faculty and students partner with and volunteer at local organizations to help improve public health. International internships are just one of the many global experiences available to students through the Center for Global Health (Pictured left: Students study abroad in Uganda at the Engeye Health Clinic and explore Uganda.) Each year, students showcase their hands-on learning through Poster Day, where they present to faculty, fellow students, mentors and community members.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Students at the School of Public Health complete meaningful hands-on experiences that enable them to gain valuable experience in their area of interest in the field. They go on to successful careers here in the local community and around the world.
“I represented UAlbany at the inaugural DrPH Coalition workgroup at the 2019 APHA Meeting in Philadelphia.” - Grace Abby Adan “Interning at the Community Health Care Association of New York State gave me the opportunity to support Federally Qualified Health Centers in the great work they do to serve underserved communities.” – Theekshana Fernando “I interned at the Cayuga County Health Department, where I assisted in the creation, surveying, community outreach, and data analysis of the Cayuga County Health Department and Auburn Community Hospital Community Health Assessment for the NYS 2019-2024 Prevention Agenda.” – Maddy Brogan
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“I developed a community health curriculum for the Wellness Advocates Linking Communities program at Trinity Alliance and implemented a lost-tofollow up program intended to reduce emergency room visits among the underserved.” - Millicent Okyere “I interned abroad in Ireland, helping to improve the health and wellbeing of staff and students at The University College Dublin.” - Maeve Brennan “I interned at the New York State Office for the Aging and developed a quality assurance tool from scratch to monitor Chronic Disease Self-Management Education workshop delivery throught central New York in an effort to fight the ever increasing chronic disease challenges facing the country.” - Faryal Shahid
“I am performing investigations by calling newly diagnosed cases and conducting interviews for COVID-19.” - Abimibola Ogunware “I volunteered at the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities where I coordinated and conducted interviews with different UAlbany professors to include in the center’s newsletter.” - Dayna Conyers “I graduated with honors and received the Spellman Academic Achievement Award.” – Kayann Thompson “I was awarded the American Association for Cancer Research Scholarin-Training Award for meritorious abstract and contribution to advancing cancer research” - Wayne Lawrence
Pictured: Poster Day enables our community to come together and celebrate the incredible work our students are performing across all subfields of public health.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
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NAW EHKU: CDPHP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
MPH student Naw EhKu enjoys learning about international health issues and has attended several global health seminars at UAlbany. A strong student and a CDPHP Scholar, she is eager to learn and apply her knowledge to improve the health of communities around her. But in particular, Naw EhKu is passionate about improving refugee health.
know just because I come from a totally different world— my refugee world.”
She was born in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, where she spent the first 14 years of her life until her resettlement to Albany, New York in 2010. Her experience drastically influenced her desire to help others— and at a very young age, she wanted to become a midwife.
Despite the language and academic barriers Naw EhKu has faced and continues to face, she pushes onwards with determination to complete her MPH. Sometimes, it’s hard for her to see the challenges she faces since her end goal is so strong: to work for a non-governmental organization such as the World Health Organization or the United Nations Refugee Agency to help improve health for vulnerable populations.
“My mother’s death while giving birth to me was due to a complex web of public health problems, including the minimal training of healthcare workers, lack of adequate medical equipment and facilities, and the politics of providing healthcare to refugees,” says Naw EhKu. “I thought that if I became a well-educated midwife, I could train others to prevent unnecessary loss of life during childbirth.” Naw EhKu decided to enter the public health field after completing a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She chose to attend UAlbany for graduate school due to its close relationship with NYSDOH and the amount of public health options available for students. It hasn’t been an easy journey for Naw EhKu. “Schooling in my refugee camp was not up to standard, and when I came to New York, I had to learn everything from the beginning even though I was in high school,” she says. “In fact, I’m still learning new things that much younger students probably already
And already, Naw EhKu is making a difference through volunteer work as an interpreter and translator. She speaks English, Karen and Burmese, enabling her to help many refugees in the Capital Region. In March 2020, through the Refugee Community Health Partnership of Trinity Alliance, she presented on social distancing to members of the refugee community who work in positions that may expose them to health and safety hazards, combining her public health knowledge with her understanding of the refugee experience. “It’s important for me to participate in activities to support and uplift my refugee community as much as possible,” says Naw EhKu. “And with my degree in public health, I will be able to do so even more. Public health practitioners help communities— many people—to live a healthy life by promoting health and wellness and preventing disease.”
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
WE WERE THERE. Our researchers have provided timely information for 35 years. Research at the School has followed important trends and events concerning public health, placing faculty and staff at the front lines of novel research and response. Pictured: associate professor Ramune Reliene and graduate researcher Sameera Nallanthighal explore the concept that antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract protects against breast cancer (2017).
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HIGHLIGHTS THROUGH THE YEARS
LOVE CANAL Alongside NYSDOH, School faculty and students conducted numerous studies to address potential health risks from the first Superfund site in the U.S., located in Western New York. PCB CONTAMINATION From 1998 to 2010, faculty and students led research into the health risks from PCB contamination of the Hudson River and Mohawk tribal areas. WEST NILE VIRUS First introduced to New York in 1999, the state responded with pioneering “one health” approaches, using animal surveillance to forecast human risk and researching the influence of climate change. School experts played a large part in this work. WORLD TRADE CENTER Wadsworth Center researchers certified the clinical labs that conducted DNA-based identification at Ground Zero. Faculty also researched the risks of occupational and volunteer exposures after the terrorist attack. HEALTH COMMUNICATION In 2013, a School study found that a majority of food advertisements in magazines targeting parents emphasize products of poor nutritional quality that may contribute to unhealthy weight gain. POMEGRANATE & CANCER Researchers from the Cancer Research Center found evidence suggesting that the same antioxidant that gives pomegranate fruit their vibrant red color can alter the characteristics of breast cancer stem cells, showing the superfood’s potential for aiding in much more than diabetes or heart disease as previously thought.
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
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HIGHLIGHTS THROUGH THE YEARS
CARDIAC SURGERY Cardiac surgery research from the School has helped to establish New York as a nationwide leader in outcomes assessment and public reporting, and has successfully integrated rigorous data validation and analyses into broader quality improvement activities. CHILD DEVELOPMENT From 2008 to 2010, 5,000+ mothers and their 6,000+ children born in New York joined the Upstate KIDS Study (pictured left), which tracked the growth, motor and social development of children to examine associations with parental medical conditions and characteristics, including infertility treatments, environmental exposures and more. CLIMATE CHANGE Research from the School of Public Health in early 2019 found that climate change could increase the number of U.S. infants born with congenital heart defects from 2025-2035. EVALUATING HEALTHCARE From 2016-2021, School researchers have been conducting an independent evaluation of the New York State Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program. The research assesses program effectiveness on a statewide level, with respect to improving health care, improving health and reducing costs. HEALTH WORKFORCE For over a decade, Center for Health Workforce Studies researchers have systematically studied dental hygiene scope of practice and discovered substantial state-tostate variation. Researchers also found in 2018 that pay gaps between newly trained male and female physicians not only persist, but they are widening.
2020 UPDATE
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NEW RESEARCH CENTERS C R E AT E D I N 2020 TO A D VA N C E SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
83.2
MILLION DOLLARS I N TOTA L EXTRAMURAL FUNDING AWA R D E D TO F A C U LT Y I N 2019
450+ U N I Q U E F A C U LT Y P U B L I CAT I O N S I N T H E 2 0 1 9 CA L E N DA R Y E A R
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
• Cancer epidemiology and cancer genomics • COVID-19 and emerging diseases • Evidence-based healthcare • Food systems and childhood obesity • Health disparities and health equity • Health effects of climate change and the environment • HIV policy and prevention • Infectious disease epidemiology • Maternal and child health • Social epidemiology and social determinants of health • Violence and addiction
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: CONTAMINATED WATER All communities should have access to clean and safe drinking water, but unfortunately in many places around the world that isn’t always, or hasn’t always been, the case. Researchers at the UAlbany School of Public Health study public health problems related to water to provide further insight into health concerns.
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EXAMINING PFAS AND HEALTH Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have been used in many industries around the world, including in the United States, for many decades. Researchers at the School and NYSDOH received funding from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the CDC to study PFAS and their possible relationship to health among those exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls, New York. PFAS have been measured in the drinking water of many communities across the United States. “We are pleased to partner with NYSDOH and the residents of Hoosick Falls and Newburgh on this national effort so that we may better understand the impact of PFAS on the health of people living in affected communities,” says Erin Bell, professor of Environmental Health Sciences. This important work will help address the concerns of community members and provide data for advancing the understanding of the consequences of PFAS exposure. PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM CHOLERA Cholera is an illness caused by infection of the intestine after drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. While there are multiple approved vaccines against cholera, none are currently licensed for use in children under two years of age— leaving this population particularly vulnerable. However, research from the Mantis Lab at the Wadsworth Center is exploring options to protect this group in cost-effective ways. Nicholas J. Mantis, professor of Biomedical Sciences, and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. graduate Danielle Baranova recently published a study in Pathogens and Immunity looking at cholera antibodies for protection against cholera infection. Their research shows that mice expressing an antibody against cholera protects suckling offspring from cholera infection. The long-term goal of this work is to generate goats or cows that express this antibody so that their milk could be used to protect human populations from infection.
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: CANCER
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH Over the past 30 years, an increased emphasis on breast cancer screening has led to early detection and treatment for countless women. Unfortunately, the number of women diagnosed with more progressed disease has not significantly decreased, suggesting that not all women diagnosed with the early stage disease, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), would have developed a metastatic, life-threatening cancer. Due to a lack of understanding of the biology underlying disease progression, most women with DCIS are treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy or mastectomy. These treatment methods, while effective, may be unnecessary for a majority of women. Jason Herschkowitz, assistant professor of Biomedical Sciences, and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. student and RNA Fellow Ali Ropri aim to improve the understanding of DCIS progression through studying epigenetic mechanisms and noncoding RNAs in models of disease progression. Their research has illustrated that there are clusters of enhancers and associated noncoding RNAs that change in activity during progression. Understanding these mechanisms will help scientists predict which patients can be spared aggressive treatment and identify new potential therapeutic entry points. This study has the potential to improve early-stage patients’ quality of life and decrease breast cancer patient mortality.
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At UAlbany’s Cancer Research Center, dedicated researchers explore ways to tackle cancer and provide training to the future leaders in cancer research. They focus on the underlying biology associated with tumor initiation and progression, and the development and evaluation of chemopreventive regimens and therapeutic approaches for common cancers - with the hope of one day living in a cancer-free world.
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: DIABETES IN THE U.S.
DELIVERING INFORMATION TO PATIENTS Research from Julia F. Hastings, associate professor of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, explores ways to improve self-management of Type II diabetes among African Americans. Her recent findings from a national online survey of African Americans diagnosed with comorbid depression and diabetes show that receiving health information in person is preferred over written form or electronic means. In today’s increasingly digital world, this research provides insight into how person-centered information distribution from medical professionals may increase connection and understanding between providers and patients— ultimately affecting quality of life.
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“African American Type II diabetics may increase adherence to a health regimen that ultimately improves health outcomes if health information is offered in a manner that builds trust in the provision of health care and capitalizes on the belief that the medical professional keeps their best interests in mind,” Hastings explains.
PROPOSING NEW PARADIGMS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT In a new book chapter of New Frontiers in Population Aging and Mental Health: Mexico and the United States, Elizabeth Vรกsquez, associate professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, recently proposed a new paradigm for how diabetes might be defined and managed for high-risk populations and emphasized compelling evidence that suggests certain Latino populations are particularly vulnerable to diabetes-associated cognitive complications. This work is critically important as Type II diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death globally and results in costly, long-term conditions with significant social and economic consequences, as well.
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: HEALTH COMMUNICATION Jennifer Manganello, professor of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, studies health literacy as well as media effects on attitudes, behaviors and policies that puts people at risk for negative health outcomes. With the onset of COVID-19, we spoke with Manganello about the role of health communication during a pandemic—and she shared important information and tips.
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WHAT CHALLENGES DID HEALTH COMMUNICATORS FACE WITH COVID-19? Manganello: “One was that we didn’t know much about it, and we are still learning more every day. That made creating messages at the start more difficult than for other better understood health issues. Another challenge was the changing guidance given the evolving science. At first, masks were not recommended and then they were. The public can get frustrated when guidelines change with little explanation. Finally, information was being rapidly disseminated through the many social media and other channels for message distribution. This meant that public health agencies had to act quickly and may not have had the resources to do so.” HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND GETTING RELIABLE, ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19? Manganello: “We are surrounded by a lot of information coming at us from many different places. And with COVID-19, a lot of that information changes rapidly as studies reveal more information about this particular virus. One suggestion is to verify information you see. Just because your best friend shares a post doesn’t mean it is reliable or accurate. I usually check to confirm information from multiple sources. If I can only find one or two sources talking about a fact and they are not well known or verified sources, I consider that information unreliable. Another suggestion is to follow a range of sources to keep up with information. Local and state health departments, infectious disease experts and universities are some of my favorites sources to follow during COVID-19. Also, don’t forget about your doctor. They are a great resource and you can talk with them about information you may have seen. Finally, keep in mind that some sources may have a particular bias or agenda. This is something to be aware of and again, is a reason to get your information from multiple sources.”
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: FOOD Research on food at the School ranges from looking at how food production and distribution impacts health to how eating disorder diagnoses differ across populations.
ANALYZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS Xiaobo Xue Romeiko, assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences, focuses on sustainable solutions capable of conserving natural resources and minimizing negative environmental health damages. Her team develops innovative models to evaluate resource consumption and climate resiliency of water and waste infrastructure and to analyze environmental health impacts of food and energy supply chains.
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Recently, Romeiko studied preserved plum production to see which production methods led to higher fossil fuel depletion, ozone depletion, eco-toxicity, respiratory impacts and more. Studies like this one, published in Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, can help to showcase methods to reduce environmental and health impacts of our food systems.
EATING DISORDER DIAGNOSES Tomoko Udo, associate professor of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, has studied disparities in eating disorder diagnoses, finding that sexual minorities have higher prevalence rates than heterosexual respondents for all eating disorders. Her work, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, showed that prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder were higher among sexual minorities than heterosexual respondents, and the odds of lifetime diagnosis were significantly greater. “Eating disorder research has overwhelmingly focused on cisgender, heterosexual females,” says Udo. “Our results showcase the importance of diversifying eating disorder research in order to create responses and interventions tailored to individual needs. This approach may help to reduce disparities and promote better health among sexual minorities.” Previous work from Udo in BMC Medicine found that adults with eating disorders have a heightened risk of suicide attempts. This came from studying a nationally representative sample of 36,309 adults alongside their information on eating disorders and medical history such as suicide attempts. Results showed that those with eating disorders had a five-to-six-fold higher risk of suicide attempts compared to those without eating disorders and those who had anorexia nervosa with a binge/purge subtype had an especially high risk of suicide attempt.
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RESEARCH EXPERTISE
CURRENT RESEARCH: ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing species of mycobacteria that causes skin and soft tissue infections post trauma and surgery, as well as broncho-pulmonary infections and acute respiratory failure in patients with tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis and other lung conditions. The major threat posed by Mycobacterium abscessus is its extreme resistance to available antibiotics, making its infections very difficult to treat. In the Ghosh lab at the Wadsworth Center, researchers investigate how antibiotic resistance works in this mycobacteria in an effort to provide insight into how scientists may be able to develop drugs that work against it. Pallavi Ghosh, assistant professor of Biomedical Sciences, recently described an unusual mechanism for Mycobacterium abscessus to hold resistance to macrolide antibiotics, a type of antibiotic from soil bacteria, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The novel mechanism of antibiotic resistance Ghosh and colleagues
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studied highlights the gaps in scientific understanding of antibiotic resistance— emphasizing the need for further study to help in treatment infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Ghosh was recently awarded a $2.4 million grant by NIH to further her study on antibiotic resistance of Mycobacterium abscessus.
CURRENT RESEARCH: PREVENTING VIOLENCE
In 2018, an interdisciplinary team led by Melissa Tracy, associate professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, received almost half a million dollars from NIH to study the processes that contribute to violence within social networks and test strategies that could potentially prevent it. Today, the work is still underway, with a focus on characterizing the pathways between individual characteristics and patterns of violence transmission. Recent findings show that children who are exposed to both physical or emotional abuse by a caregiver, along with domestic violence between adults in their household, have almost double the risk of depressive symptoms and illegal substance use in adolescence compared to children who are not exposed to family violence. Currently, the team is conducting analyses to understand the role of biological factors in the link between childhood family violence exposure and subsequent violent behaviors, as well as how parenting practices and other behaviors lead to the transmission of weapon-involved violence between parents and their adolescent children.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Pictured: Colleen Dundas working in Malawi as part of the Global Health Field Placement Program offered through the School’s Center for Global Health.
DEDICATED ALUMNI. Our alumni are passionate leaders across the public health field. They care deeply about the people around them— and this translates into their work. They choose public health problems they’re passionate about and work to create solutions and new knowledge, making us proud to call them a part of the School of Public Health family.
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SCIENCE WRITING & COMMUNICATION
MPH graduate Colleen Dundas (‘16) is a Public Liaison Officer and Science Writer at NIH, working alongside researchers, clinicians and other leaders in science. This role, heavily focused on strong and clear communication between people, requires a deep understanding of communities— an area where Dundas thrives due to her rigorous coursework and hands-on experience while at UAlbany. “When I think of how my education has supported my career, I think not only about how my MPH in epidemiology has provided me with a solid academic foundation for understanding the complex and meaningful research at NIH, but also about how my hands-on field work experience has provided me skills that will forever be useful, from adaptability and creativity to listening, relationship building, and leadership,” says Dundas. At NIH, Dundas plans and develops webinars, creates plain language resources to share with underserved communities, and conducts outreach initiatives to reach populations disproportionately affected by various conditions. Of note, she co-leads the NIH-wide American Indian and Alaska Native Health Communications group, which shares strategies and effective communication approaches to develop and disseminate health information to Tribal communities. Dundas also serves on the NIH Language Access Plan Committee, which establishes the steps NIH will take to help to ensure that individuals with limited English language proficiency have meaningful access to NIH programs and activities.
CRYOELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Biomedical Sciences PhD graduate Joshua Strauss (‘13) is Assistant Professor and Director of the CryoEM Core facility at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Cryo-electron microscopy, or cryoEM, is a biophysical technique for imaging biological samples like proteins, viruses and cells— and helps researchers to determine atomic models of different proteins. CryoEM and other 3D imaging methods were pioneered by researchers at NYSDOH’s renowned Wadsworth Center, where Strauss studied while completing his academic program, and are used by scientists around the world. “My interest in cryoEM is a direct result from my studies at UAlbany,” says Strauss. “The Wadsworth Center has a long history in the development of cryoEM and being able to continue with this is a great source of pride for me.” Now, Strauss has set up the CryoEM Core facility at UNC, where he operates the facility, trains researchers and works with investigators to determine structure protein complexes using cryoEM. Of note, this fall Strauss and colleagues published their first structure from the UNC CryoEM Core in Science— the first of many to come.
“I am especially grateful to my UAlbany mentors, John Justino and Carol Whittaker, for cultivating my passions and supporting many of my endeavors and valuable experiences over the years, both abroad and here in the U.S.,” says Dundas.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
COVID-19 INFECTION
INFECTIOUS DISEASE NURSING
Nir Menachemi, MPH class of 1999, is the Fairbanks Endowed Chair and Department Head of Health Policy and Management at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health. He also holds appointments at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and the on-campus Regenstrief Institute, an internationally recognized informatics and healthcare research organization dedicated to the improvement of health through research that enhances the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.
MPH graduate Lindsey Jackson (‘14) is an Infectious Disease Nurse at Albany Medical Center, combining her public health education with clinical knowledge from her MS in nursing degree.
Since April 2020, Menachemi has worked closely with the Indiana governor’s office and the state health department to lead a random sample study aimed at repeatedly determining the population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the state. The work has influenced state policy decisions and provided unique scientific data that has helped clinicians and public health responders reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Menachemi has assisted more than a dozen states to replicate the work he has lead in Indiana.
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“My background in public health allows me to better understand and help treat my patient population, who often have several contributing factors within the social determinants of health that impede their full recovery,” says Jackson. As an alum and a returned Peace Corps volunteer, Jackson also participates in the Center for Global Health’s seminar series to provide guidance and advice to students interested in global health. “As a close-knit community, it is important for me to be able to help and encourage those at the School interested in traveling abroad and working in the global health sector,” says Jackson, pictured below, who has inspired many students to pursue global health activities to enhance their careers.
HEALTH DISPARITIES IN CANCER RESEARCH
Wayne Lawrence (DrPH ‘20) is a Cancer Prevention Fellow at NIH, investigating the role obesity and metabolic disorders play in cancer risk and survivorship among minority and underserved populations. At UAlbany, Lawrence’s research centered on cancer disparities, where he sought to examine the influence inequities in health care utilization, environmental exposures and behavioral factors contributed to cancer risk and poor survival among marginalized and
economically disadvantaged populations. He contributes his academic achievement largely to UAlbany’s partnership with NYSDOH, where he received hands-on training in cancer epidemiology. During his doctorate, Lawrence was a Presidential Doctoral Fellow in UAlbany’s Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, which provided him methodological training in health disparities research.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
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EXTREME HEAT RISKS IN NEW YORK
Temilayo Adeyeye graduated in 2017 with a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences and works as a Research Scientist in the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology at NYSDOH. Her research, which has been featured by NASA and Governor Andrew Cuomo, includes the effects of air pollution and traffic exposures on health outcomes in low income populations and the assessment of rural/urban differences in heat exposure and mortality. Adeyeye’s research found that despite a moderate climate, New York residents were at significant health risks from extreme heat at the current advisory levels for the state. Therefore, NYSDOH worked closely with the local weather service offices to develop recommendations to lower the heat advisory thresholds in the State; and as of June 1, 2018, the heat advisory criteria for New York was lowered to 95ºF or more for two consecutive hours.
FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Biostatistics PhD graduate Tugba Akkaya-Hocagil (‘17) is currently affiliated with the University of Waterloo, where she is working on a project to advance scientific understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Prior to this role, she worked on this same project as a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University. “Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most common preventable cause of mental disability in the U.S. and worldwide,” says AkkayaHocagil. “In this project, we are looking at the effect of low-dose prenatal alcohol exposure on the subsequent neuro-psychological development of children.” This work will provide valuable insight, generating more evidence for public health professionals, medical experts and health communicators to use as they encourage individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors for pregnancy.
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