Christopher Otieno, MPH, G1
Research Mentor: Dr. Melinda Aldrich, Ph.D., M.P.H. and Dr. Todd Edwards, Ph.D., MS
Thesis Topic: Genetic cancer epidemiology
Research Interests: Genetic epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, and health disparities.
Biography
Christopher Otieno is originally from Richmond, Kentucky. He earned both his Bachelor of Public Health with a Minor in Communications and his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Kentucky. Christopher’s interest in epidemiology was significantly shaped by multiple internships, including the 2021 NIDA Summer Research Internship at Case Western Reserve University and the African American Research Training Scholars Program at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center at the University of Kentucky.
Why Vanderbilt?
Christopher chose Vanderbilt University for its vision of achieving optimal health for all, which closely aligns with his personal goals. The school’s strong reputation for excellence in epidemiology, emphasis on cultivating innovative leaders, and opportunities for collaboration with esteemed faculty were significant factors in his decision. Furthermore, resources like BioVU, Vanderbilt’s biobank, are essential for conducting interdisciplinary research and developing skills that are highly applicable in the field of epidemiology.