Joshua Atura, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track in the class of 2025. He received a bachelor’s degree in Development Education from the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana in November 2018. Joshua then went on to receive his Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Ghana in 2022. Through his time studying development programs and policies, he recognized a passion to better understand the health disparities women in Ghana face specifically on maternal health. Driven by his desire to influence policy, Joshua centered his graduate dissertation on the accessibility of postnatal care services for mothers in Eastern Ghana. Concurrently, he collaborated with Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG), a non-profit organization, where he held a role overseeing the monitoring, evaluation, and learning unit. At YAG, he facilitated capacity strengthening sessions and advocacy efforts on sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people. As a young African leader, he has served as the Chief Rapporteur for the 4th African Youth SDGs Summit in Addis Ababa and was part of African Regional Expert Consultation for the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 in Lilongwe. Joshua is eager to learn ways to leverage his training in the MPH program to formulate policies and initiatives to address existing gaps in Ghana’s public health system.

Jade Bowers, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track in the class of 2025. She received a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Spelman College in spring 2023, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Jade possesses a profound dedication to ensuring equitable access to healthcare, particularly for marginalized groups that have historically been overlooked. With a background in liberal arts and health sciences, she envisions her time at Vanderbilt in the Public Health program to be an opportunity that will equip her with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the field of public health. Jade’s passions lie in the realms of epidemiology, environmental health policy, and health equity. Through her academic journey at Vanderbilt, she aims to deepen her understanding of these areas and explore innovative approaches to address the existing disparities in healthcare. Jade intends to contribute to the field of public health by advocating for improved access, conducting impactful research, and implementing policies that promote health equity for all individuals.

Benmun Damul, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track in the class of 2025. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Xavier University in 2019. Drawing from her knowledge of behavioral processes and her volunteer experience with at-risk populations, she secured a position with Family Health International (FHI360) to support the Federal Ministry of Health in strengthening the delivery of high-quality case management and critical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Having gained valuable experience in advocating for mental and physical health and well-being during her work, Benmun was motivated to extend her efforts to benefit the broader Nigerian population in the aftermath of the pandemic. This drive led her to establish Kaafya, her own company dedicated to educating people about mental health, fighting mental health stigma, and developing educational materials on mental health specifically designed for primary school children in Nigeria. In her pursuit of further knowledge and skills, Benmun joined the Vanderbilt MPH Program with the aim of deepening her understanding of the intricate relationship between human behavior and the environment, and how these dynamics influence health outcomes. She is eager to explore strategies for modifying these outcomes to improve the overall well-being of individuals and communities.

Gwendolyn Wilks, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track in the class of 2025. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2023. Gwendolyn has been inspired by her studies and lived experiences and plans to use her M.P.H. degree to develop programs, laws, and policies that will directly impact positive change for underserved communities. Presently, she is employed at Walgreens Pharmacy, where she conducts analyses of vaccine reports and devises initiatives aimed at promoting vaccine uptake in the communities that are most in need. Also, during this time at Walgreens, Gwendolyn has gained a valuable understanding of the healthcare system, enabling her to identify existing gaps that affect underserved populations. Motivated by these observations, she has actively sought out short-term solutions to address the immediate needs of these communities. By pursuing her M.P.H. degree, Gwendolyn intends to tackle the systemic issues that contribute to healthcare disparities creating lasting change. 

Tevin Mathew, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track in the class of 2024. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Religious Studies Minor from Rhodes College in the spring of 2019, graduating magna cum laude. After graduation, Tevin went on to become a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia. He taught English to university students and organized workshops for community members to explore U.S. culture through a social justice lens. After returning to Tennessee, he pursued a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Equity at Rhodes College while working as a medical scribe at Methodist University Hospital. Mathew later worked as the Bilingual Mpowerment and PrEP Outreach Specialist with The Haven (Friends for Life), promoting HIV prevention and LGBTQ+ wellness in the Memphis community. Currently, he enjoys working as a research assistant on the COACH lab team with VUMC’s Division of General Pediatrics to reduce childhood obesity among Latinx preschool-aged children. He hopes to use his MPH degree alongside his Certificate in Latin American Studies to empower Latinx communities through health education, specifically maternal and child nutrition and HIV prevention, within an immigrant health nonprofit or global NGO.

Stacey Riddick, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track in the class of 2024. She received a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Public Health from Spelman College in 2019, graduating magna cum laude. Using her background in social justice, while serving as fellow with the National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP), Riddick explored pre-existing health disparities and care coordination strategies among members of the justice involved population in California, specifically care upon re-entry into the general community. Additionally, she served as an ORISE Fellow with the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch CDC. Currently, she enjoys working as a research assistant on the community health improvement team with the VUMC Office of Health Equity and as a fellows coordinator with the Nashville Health Care Council. She hopes to use her M.P.H. degree as a tool to lead national public health culture strategies to move the needle on health equity and holistic wellness in marginalized communities.

Joshua Woods, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track in the class of 2024. He received a bachelor’s degree in Medical Anthropology from Vanderbilt University in 2022, graduating summa cum laude. Using his background as a seventh generation Tennessean while conducting undergraduate research, Woods explored heart health disparities among fellow rural Tennesseans, specifically working through the lens of ethnography to understand cultural conceptions about cardiovascular risk. Currently, he enjoys working as a research assistant on qualitative metastatic breast cancer research and as an administrative intern with the Tennessee Department of Health. He hopes to use his M.P.H. degree as a tool for forging partnerships between state- and local-level agencies and organizations to serve the public health of rural or frontier populations, especially as concerns heart diseases and cancers.

Megan Davis, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track in the class of 2023. She received a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Therapeutic Studies from Tennessee State University in 2020, graduating summa cum laude. As a health ambassador in her college, Davis explored health disparities in minority populations, specifically working with non-resident aliens to understand cultural obstacles. She hopes to use her M.P.H. degree to understand the disparities that disadvantaged populations face on a more complex level and to eventually pursue a position in government or an immigrant health agency to promote public health awareness.

Layan Ibrahim, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH program in the class of 2023. She received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in 2020. She has experience in research and humanitarian work, including working on the frontline in Kenya and Ethiopia to assist the U.S Embassy Health Unit with medical documentation. After graduation, Ibrahim worked as a research fellow with the Mayo Clinic investigating the neuroscience of addiction, and as a research assistant with the University of Pennsylvania, conducting a systematic review on the management of pediatric refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). She hopes to enroll in an MD-PhD program after acquiring her M.P.H. degree, using her expertise to address the needs of disadvantaged populations with neuronal disorders and understand the biological and social mechanisms that cause disparities.

Elsa Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH program in the class of 2023. She received a Medical Degree from the Universidad del Rosario in Columbia, while also pursuing research on Columbian health disparities and orthopedic conditions. Rodriguez hopes to use her M.P.H. degree to enhance her skills as a physician-scientist and improve medical services in Colombia, where there are several limitations on public health accessibility.

Rashad Taylor, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy Track of the MPH program in the class of 2023. He received a B.S. in Environmental Sustainability and Technology from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 before working as a Plant Operator and Lab Technician for Tradebe Treatment and Recycling in Nashville, Tennessee. He currently works for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as an Environmental Scientist, evaluating hazards in residential sites and engaging with firms to ensure compliance with health regulations. Rashad hopes to use his M.P.H. degree to develop a career in public service, improving the health of both the natural environment and the people who populate it.

Kristyne Mansilla Dubon, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health Track of the MPH program in the class of 2022. She completed a postgraduate program in Management and Maintenance of Health Facilities, as well as received a M.D. from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala in 2017, and complete a Monitoring and Evaluation postgraduate program from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala in 2019. Mansilla Dubon worked as a primary care physician in Guatemala in OTRANS and NGO funded by the World Fund, providing LGBTQI populations with health care as well as STDs and HIV care. She also worked in an NIH funded implementation science clinical trial as a research assistant and field activities coordinator for the Nutrition Institute of Central America and Panama. Her roles included developing protocols on procedures, monitoring data collection, data analysis, planning clinic activities, amongst others.

Miaya Seawright Blasingame, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH program in the class of 2022. She received a B.A. in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University in 2018. After graduation, Seawright served as Lead Health Educator for HealthMPowers, Inc. where she directed the organization’s Youth Engagement Strategic Plan and collaborated with community stakeholders to find novel solutions to community health issues. Seawright’s volunteer experiences include working for the American Cancer Society and Georgia Department Board of Corrections. Seawright currently works on research related to racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in physical and mental health in Vanderbilt University’s Sociology Department. She is also working on a randomized controlled trial to reduce childhood obesity among Latino preschool-aged children as a member of VUMC’s Division of General Pediatrics COACH lab team.

Mina Faye Nordness, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH program in the class of 2021. She graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2012, as well as a M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2016. Nordness has had extensive research experience investigating brain trauma and medical conditions, as well as volunteering for numerous health organizations. Nordness currently works at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a General Surgery Resident.

Victoria Umutoni, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH program in the class of 2021. She graduated from Emory University as a Woodruff Scholar with a degree in Human Health and Anthropology in 2018. In addition to being a Global Health Corps Fellow, Umutoni has performed extensive research on HIV, engaged in several community volunteer initiatives, and created programs and materials for health organizations.  She is currently working with the Emerging Infectious Program on Influenza and COVID-19 surveillance. As part of her public health training at Vanderbilt, her thesis work is on the association between smoking and anal HPV in men. Victoria aspires to have a career as a researcher working in infectious diseases and plans to use her research to influence policies.

Vicky C. Waithe, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track of the MPH program in the class of 2021.  She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Business Marketing and an International Business Certificate from Arizona State University in 2011. Waithe has been working as an Analyst and Specialist for Zelis, a healthcare data technology company, since 2011. She is particularly interested in the intersection of business, public health, and leadership.  Her work focuses on analyzing demographic data sets, reviewing healthcare spend anomalies, and developing strategies to meet the needs of stakeholders across organizations.

Jasmine Walker, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH program in the class of 2021. She received a B.A. in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from Yale University in 2009, as well as an M.A. in Teaching from Marian University in 2011, and an M.D. from Columbia University in 2016. Before medical school, Walker had a previous career as a high school teacher, and she has continued to participate in several education and mentor-based initiatives since that time. She has also conducted research projects related to organ transplantation and education. Walker currently works as a General Surgery Resident Physician at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Ni Ketut Wilmayani, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track and Fulbright Scholar of the MPH program in the class of 2021. She received a Bachelor in Medical Science and the Rector’s Award for Outstanding Student Achievement from the University of Mataram, Indonesia in 2009, as well as a M.D. in 2012. Wilmayani currently serves as a Medical Doctor, Lecturer, and Researcher at University of Mataram, as well as a volunteer for the Female Cancer Foundation at the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Some of Wilmayani’s primary roles include performing physical examinations, teaching undergraduate students, and developing preventative interventions for medical conditions, including cervical and breast cancer, neglected tropical diseases, and maternal and child nutritional status. She is also involved in other various projects for public health promotion and disease prevention among communities collaborating with Primary Health Care in rural areas in Indonesia. She wishes to pursue a doctoral program after graduating from Vanderbilt University’s MPH program.

Carleigh Frazier, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH program. She received a bachelor of arts in Biology from Fisk University in 2018. As an undergraduate, Carleigh was selected as a student researcher for the NIH-funded Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) program, which allowed her to gain research experience and training at the University of Illinois and Urbana-Champaign. After receiving her M.P.H., Carleigh hopes to attend medical school and focus her career on addressing ethnic and racial disparities in the U.S.

Tamee Livermont, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track of the MPH program. As a student in the University of South Dakota’s Honors Program, she earned her undergraduate degree in Medical Biology and Native American Studies. In 2017, Tamee was selected as a Tribal Youth Health Policy Fellow by the National Indian Health Board. She has completed internships with the Sioux Falls Community Health Clinic and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dedicated to quality health care policy and equity for Native American Populations across the U.S., Tamee aspires to be a chief advocate in American Indian health care.

Emmanuel Sackey, M.B.Ch.B., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Accra, Ghana, he holds a medical degree from the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry. After receiving his M.P.H. degree, he hopes to have a career combining clinical care in obstetrics and gynecology with public health leadership, advocacy, and research. He is passionate about promoting family planning, access to reproductive health services, and formal education for girls in Africa and hopes to work on formulating policies and interventions along these interests.

Morgan Batey, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track of the MPH Program. She received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 2016 with a major in Medicine, Health, and Society. Morgan is currently a Vanderbilt Athletics Graduate fellow, combining her passion for sports with her interest in health policy and how health systems affect the patients they serve. The Vanderbilt Athletics Fellows Program provides former student-athletes with a year-long appointment in the athletics department where they can gain practical experience while pursuing a graduate degree. Morgan’s research interests include sports injuries, health disparities/social determinants of health, and health and wellness. Morgan hopes to pursue a career in fields that contribute to public health through impacting policy made to directly affect people’s health.

Muna Muday, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Somalia, she received her undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University in 2017 with a major in Health Sciences. During the 2017-2018 academic year, Muna worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the department of pediatric infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As part of the assistantship, she gained experience working in surveillance of a vaccine-preventable disease for a CDC-directed project. Muna’s personal experience as a refugee has affirmed her interests in immigrant and refugee health, maternal and child health, and communicable diseases. She intends to use her MPH degree to develop sustainable public health programing at local and national public health organizations in the developing world, specifically in African countries.

Sylvie Muhimpundu, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the Vanderbilt MPH Program. A native of Kigali, Rwanda, Sylvie earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Oklahoma Christian University. As part of her public health training at Vanderbilt, she has gained research experience working on an HPV/cervical cancer surveillance project and she completed her practicum with the Tennessee Department of Health’s Tennessee Cancer Registry. In her career, Sylvie would like to use research to reduce non-communicable diseases, particularly cancer, in developing countries.

Nicole Quinones, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Health Policy track of the MPH Program. She earned her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College as a Bonner Scholar. While at Rhodes, Nicole focused her studies on urban and community health and worked with CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health on various projects, including her undergraduate thesis researching HIV prevention and PrEP uptake among African American women in Memphis. At Vanderbilt, Nicole’s role as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Health Policy has allowed her to explore LGBTQ health disparities with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales. After completing her MPH, Nicole hopes to work in issues of reproductive health and justice, and she is considering pursuing a PhD in health policy.

Folasade “Sade” Arinze, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. She earned her undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University and her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She joined Vanderbilt as a resident in Internal Medicine and she is completing a clinical fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Sade’s research interests include HIV, global health, and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. After earning her M.P.H., Sade hopes to combine her clinical expertise in HIV and infectious diseases with her public health skills.

José “Beto” Arriola Vigo, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the Vanderbilt MPH Program. He received his medical degree in his home country of Peru at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and joined Vanderbilt as a resident in Psychiatry in 2013. His research interests include global mental health, integrative care, and improving mental health awareness. He would like to focus his career on working with people with underrepresented backgrounds with a special emphasis in Hispanic populations.

Adoma Manful, M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Epidemiology track of the Vanderbilt MPH Program. Originally from Ghana, Adoma received her bachelor of arts in biology from Amherst College. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, she worked in research and data management at the Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center. Her research interests include data for decision making, monitoring and evaluation of socio-contextual determinants of health. She hopes to work in Ghana and other African countries after earning her M.P.H.

Juanita Prieto Garcia, M.D., M.P.H. candidate, is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Colombia, Juanita received her M.D. in Bogota at Universidad de Los Andres. Juanita is a bilingual physician with laboratory and public health experience in Colombia and the United States. Her research interests focus on the development of health strategies to unrepresented communities in the United States, with a particular focus in women and children. After completing her master of public health, she hopes to contribute to the implementation of health communication and promotion programs in international settings.

Aamer Imdad, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH Program. Born in Pakistan, he came to Vanderbilt as a fellow in Pediatric Gastroenterology following his Pediatric Residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Aamer’s research experience includes a Research Fellowship in Global Health in the Division of Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. His research interests include nutrition and gastrointestinal infections in children especially those living in low-middle income countries. He aims to enhance his skills in epidemiology with an MPH degree and continue to work for children in developing countries.

Rany Octaria, M.D., M.P.H., is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. She came to Nashville from her native Indonesia after earning her medical degree at the University of Indonesia and working as a physician in a public hospital in Sumatra Island. Her research interest is in infectious disease epidemiology, focusing on HIV/AIDS.  She is taking the program to further her knowledge about the necessary research skills and public health strategies in dealing with the challenges of conducting medical research in developing countries with strong ethnic and religious traditions.

Kidane Sarko, M.P.H., is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Ethiopia, he came to Nashville after earning his B.S. in Biology and Pre-Medicine from Taylor University. Kidane’s MPH degree will help him achieve his goal of reviving unserved and underserved communities through education by using local assets and creating awareness. It will give him skills and experiences to empower and develop communities; by working with local and global organizations, he will have the ability to bring about much-needed change and alleviation to poverty by using effective and better policies  and to promote Global Health.

Mariu Carlo, M.D., M.P.H., is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH Program, an Instructor in Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine & Public Health, and an advanced research fellow in the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville.  Mariu was raised in Birmingham, AL and completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University. She completed both medical school and Internal Medicine residency at Vanderbilt. Influenced by her experiences with family members with dementia and with volunteering at nursing homes for the poor in Boston, Mariu completed a geriatric clinical fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Mariu plans to use the training she has gained from the MPH to improve the lives of vulnerable older adults, in particular the critically ill, those in nursing homes, and those with dementia.

Bhinnata Piya, M.P.H., is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Nepal, she worked at Possible (previously called Nyaya Health), before joining Vanderbilt, as an advanced care consultant helping the Nepali Ministry of Health and Population establish systems to strengthen surgical and specialty care capacities in Far-Western Nepal. Bhinnata completed her B.A. at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY with a double major in finance and sociology. She hopes to use her academic training at Vanderbilt and practicum experience with Unite for Sight and Partners in Health/Liberia as a stepping stone towards building a successful career in health systems strengthening in low-resource settings.

Najibah Galadanci, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., is a student in the Epidemiology track of the MPH Program. Originally from Nigeria, she received her bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery at Bayero University, Kano and completed her fellowship training in pathology at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. As the attending hematologist at the hospital, she specializes in patients with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder in the world. She plans to combine her clinical experience with public health training in epidemiology in a research-oriented career aimed at improving the prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

Scott Revey, M.A., M.P.H., is a student in the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Alameda, California, he recently received a master’s degree in comparative politics from Vanderbilt University. He seeks to focus his global health studies on health care policy, program analysis, and research design with the aim of making a lasting impact on health equity in his career. Before coming to Vanderbilt he completed a bachelor of arts in Spanish literature at the University of Arizona.

Imani Brown, M.P.H., graduated from the Global Health track of the MPH Program. A native of Jamaica, she joined Vanderbilt most recently from Montreal, Canada, where she worked for the African Canadian Development and Prevention Network and assisted with research at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. Imani completed her B.A. in Romance Languages as well as pre-medical studies at Dartmouth College. After completing the MPH Program, Imani plans to attend medical school and build upon her global health skills.

Lanla Conteh, M.D., M.P.H., completed the Epidemiology track of the MPH Program as a fellow in the Vanderbilt Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Born in Sierra Leone, her family moved around the West African coast and she spent time in Guinea before attending high school in The Gambia. She then moved to Atlanta, where she studied Chemistry and French at Emory University before attending medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She completed her residency in the Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residency Program.

Yaa Kumah-Crystal, M.D., M.P.H., completed the Epidemiology track of the MPH Program as a Pediatric Endocrinology fellow. She was raised in Baltimore, Maryland and attended college at Johns Hopkins University. She came to Nashville to pursue a medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, then stayed on for her pediatric residency at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Yaa acquired an interest in Type 1 diabetes when her childhood friend, and now her husband, developed diabetes in high school. She hopes to combine an interest in disease management of diabetes mellitus type 1 with her interest in biomedical informatics to develop tools and techniques to improve patient compliance and outcomes in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Candice Williams, M.D., M.P.H., graduated from the MPH Program as a fellow in General Pediatrics. Candice excelled in academics as the recipient of the Wayne State University School of Medicine Board of Governors’ Merit Scholarship while continuing to be active in community outreach, advocacy projects and research. During medical school, she completed over 100 volunteer and outreach hours, conducted Quality Improvement projects and authored four new patient education handouts as well as a case report published October 2010 in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. As part of the MPH Program, Candice worked with Dr. William Cooper, exploring racial differences in use of follow-up care for adolescents with suicide attempts.

Dwayne Dove, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., graduated from the MPH Program as a fellow in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. Dwayne’s Ph.D. thesis on the role of macrophage cholesterol homeostasis in the development of atherosclerosis yielded three first-author publications and a competitive pre-doctoral research grant from the American Heart Association. His participation in Vanderbilt’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) and Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) have contributed to his career focus of clinical investigation and public health. As part of the MPH Program, Dwayne worked with Dr. Laurie Cutting to study issues related to reading skills and developmental disabilities.

Rachel Idowu, M.D., M.P.H., completed the MPH Program while a resident in the Division of General Surgery. She was awarded a position in the NIH’s prestigious Fogarty Clinical International Research Fellows Program. From 2011-2012, Rachel lived and worked in Kenya, partnering with officials in the Kenyan Ministry of Health who oversee and facilitate the delivery of surgical and anesthesia care. Following her time at Vanderbilt, she joined the CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer based in Atlanta, GA.

Jeremy Slone, M.D., M.P.H., completed the MPH Program as a fellow in Pediatric Hematology Oncology. Jeremy’s two month international medical experience as a fourth year medical student at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea offered first-hand opportunity to experience the disparate outcomes between developed and developing countries. A trip to Zambia in August 2010 established a foundation for future collaborative work where his research will focus on global health care disparities in cancer treatment and abandonment of care in developing countries. Jeremy traveled to the Satcher Institute for his public health practicum. Following graduation, he joined the International Program at the Texas Children’s Cancer Center as an Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is based at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana, where he provides clinical care to hematology and oncology patients and continues to research the disparities in outcomes seen in children residing in developing countries.

Tera Howard, M.D., M.P.H., is the Vanderbilt MPH Program’s first David Satcher Public Health Scholar. A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Tera completed her undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University before earning her M.D. and M.P.H. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Her MPH Master’s Thesis was entitled “Doctor Talk–physician communication with low literacy patients” and after graduating in 2011, she began her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern McGaw in Chicago, Illinois. In 2013, she authored Mommy, What’s That? a book to help teach children the basic parts of the human body while inspiring them to use each part in positive way.