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Congratulations to our stellar graduate students who are being recognized for their achievements, awards, and work in the community.
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Pictured left to right Celina Phillapson, Natalie Binczewski, Karen Valladares, and Yerin Jung
Several members of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health participated in the 36th Annual International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Conference, held in Santiago, Chile, from August 25-28. Focused on the theme "Addressing Challenges in Environmental Health, Justice, and Development," the conference explored pressing issues related to health, environmental justice, and epidemiological advancements.
UC Irvine was well-represented by doctoral students Celina Phillipson, Natalie Binczewski, Karen Valladares, Yerin Jung, and faculty members Veronica Vieira, Scott Bartell, and David Richardson. Assistant researcher Carolina Villanueva and alumni Ian Tang, Vida Ribeiro, and Bryan Vu were also in attendance, while doctoral student Mengyi Li presented virtually.
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HONORS & AWARDS: Doctoral Candidates
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Celina Morales
PhD Candidate (Global Health)
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Mihoka Fukurai
PhD Candidate (Disease Prevention)
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Two of our very own doctoral candidates were chosen to be part of the next cohort for the Yale Ciencia Academy for Professional Development program funded by NIH. Only 24 students were selected in the United States.
The year-long summer fellowship opportunity brings together promising young leaders from biomedical or health sciences from underrepresented backgrounds to enrich their career at this highly competitive professional development program.
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Katherine Colcord
PhD Candidate (Epidemiology)
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Michael Huynh
PhD Candidate (Disease Prevention)
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Two of our doctoral candidates were selected to be a part of the Fall 2024 cohort of the Cal State University PRE-Professor Program, which allows participants to experience what it would mean to be a faculty member at the CSU system.
This prestigious professional development opportunity, which comes with funding, allows Katherine Colcord, who is assigned to CSU East Bay, and Michael Huynh, who is assigned to CSU Dominguez Hills, to understand activities such as teaching, curriculum, mentoring students, and service activities associated with faculty positions.
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Corresponding author and PhD in Public Health (global health) candidate, Maia Tarnas, published a study in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Her study measured the association between conflict, environmental factors, and annual global infectious diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes.
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She and her colleagues found that there was in fact an association between conflict and increased skin infections across the studied nations. Given this, intense conflict (a score of ten) was associated with over double the risk of infectious diseases of the skin compared to the lowest conflict levels (score of one). FULL STUDY HERE
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A recent study published in the addressed a malaria problem impacting an oft-neglected atypical community. Corresponding author and PhD in Public Health (global health) student, Natasha Glendening, highlights the significant malaria burden faced by settlers in gold mining settlements in Ethiopia's Gambella Region.
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The study surveyed 590 individuals, analyzing malaria prevalence, demographic factors, and protective measures like bed net usage. Findings showed a high malaria prevalence rate of 37.5%, with young children most at risk. Households without bed nets and densely populated settlements showed higher infection rates. The research underscores the need for targeted interventions, including bed net distribution and improved access to diagnosis and treatment, to address this under-researched health crisis in migrant communities.
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LEADERSHIP: Occupational Medicine Resident
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Michael Angerbauer, MD, an occupational and environmental medicine resident, was appointed to the role of the VP of the housestaff safety officer for the UC Irvine School of Medicine. In this year-long role, he will assist in leading and engaging UCI residents to improve and optimize patient safety. This includes participating in various initiatives such as committees, training, and process improvement.
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HONORS & AWARDS: Postdoctoral Scholars
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Carolina Villanueva, PhD, a researcher and postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, received a National Institutes of Health – Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program Award, a competitive funding mechanism that helps repay student loans. The award is intended to recruit and retain highly qualified researchers in biomedical and biobehavioral fields.
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Do you want to share your perspective and have your voice heard?
Consider submitting a column to our Voices of Public Health section. These are short articles (300-500 words) reflecting on current events, experiences, or research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in public health. Your article will be showcased in our newsletter, on the website, and across social media platforms.
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If you are a current student and would like to submit an award that you received for inclusion in the next Student Spotlight Newsletter, please reply to this email.
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