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Greetings from the Institute for Medicine and Public Health!
As we reflect on the past months, I am filled with immense pride in the accomplishments of our faculty, students, and staff. Together, we have continued to uphold our shared commitment to excellence in research, education, and public health practice.
I am delighted to highlight the remarkable achievements of our faculty members. From groundbreaking research findings to influential publications, our faculty have continued to make significant contributions to their respective fields. Their dedication to advancing knowledge and improving health outcomes is commendable.
We also celebrate the accomplishments of our students who have completed their MPH and PhD programs. These graduates have demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience, and passion for public health. As they embark on the next phase of their careers, I am confident that they will continue to make significant and meaningful contributions to the field, furthering our collective mission.
As we continue our collective efforts to promote health and well-being in our communities, let us celebrate these achievements and reaffirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the health of individuals and populations.
Thank you for your dedication, passion, and contributions to our mission.
Russell
Russell Rothman, MD, MPP
Senior Vice President, Population and Public Health
Director, Institute for Medicine and Public Health
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Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, MPH
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Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, MPH, Director of VIGH, on his recent election to the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Board of Directors. This prestigious appointment reflects Dr. Aliyu's outstanding contributions to global health and his commitment to advancing public health education, research, and practice on an international scale.
Bill Wester, MD, MPH, received the esteemed Dr. John Tarpley Award for Commitment to Care of Underserved Communities during the Spring Faculty Assembly. This award recognizes Dr. Wester's unwavering dedication to providing compassionate care to underserved populations and his significant impact on improving health equity.
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Xiao-Ou Shu, MD, PhD, MPH
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Xiao-Ou Shu, MD, PhD, MPH, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research and Professor of Medicine, and Wei Zheng, MD, PhD, MPH, Anne Potter Wilson Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Epidemiology, and Director of the Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This prestigious recognition highlights their outstanding contributions to the field of scientific research and their dedication to advancing medical knowledge. Congratulations to Dr. Shu and Dr. Zheng on this well-deserved honor!
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We extend our congratulations to Dr. Stephen Patrick who has been appointed Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, effective June 1. Dr. Patrick's outstanding leadership at Vanderbilt has left a lasting impact, and while he will be greatly missed, we celebrate this exciting new chapter in his career. His visionary approach and commitment to public health will inspire and lead the Rollins community to new heights. As we bid farewell to Dr. Patrick from Vanderbilt, we look forward with great anticipation to the innovative contributions he will bring to Rollins and the continued advancements in health policy and management under his guidance.
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Initially approved for Type 2 diabetes management, dapagliflozin has been found to lower the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and death among patients with heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and increased cardiovascular risk. The study was orchestrated by VUMC's Dr. JoAnn Lindenfeld and Dr. Sean Collins, who heads the Center for Emergency Care Research and Innovation (CERI), shares leadership of the Vanderbilt Coordinating Center, and serves as the associate director for clinical trials research at the Vanderbilt Institute for Medicine and Public Health.
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The latest Vanderbilt Child Health Poll indicates that more than 40% of Tennessee families with children are experiencing food insecurity, consistent with the previous year's results. Furthermore, 71% of these families have modified their food purchasing behaviors due to increased prices, underscoring the persistent difficulties in obtaining sufficient nutrition
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The study compared four major FDA-approved diabetes medications in combination with metformin, the standard first-line treatment. Key results, focusing on blood glucose levels and cardiovascular outcomes like heart attacks and strokes, were published in two papers in The New England Journal of Medicine.
At Vanderbilt, the study was led by Tom Elasy, MD, MPH, Ann and Roscoe R. Robinson Professor of Medicine and director of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, and coordinated by Stephanie M. Martin, RDN, LDN.
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We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Realizing Accelerated Progress, Investigation, Implementation, and Dissemination in Learning Health Systems (RAPID-LHS) Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). This groundbreaking initiative will be led by principal investigators Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH, Peter Embí, MD, MS, and Russell Rothman, MD, MPP, with additional support provided by the Vanderbilt Institute for Medicine and Public Health, under the direction of Russell Rothman. This collaborative effort aims to advance the field of Learning Health Systems and accelerate progress in healthcare research, implementation, and dissemination.
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Training grant builds research ethics capacity for genetic and genomic research in Nigeria
Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, MPH, director of VIGH and professor of Health Policy and Medicine at VUMC, Elisa J. Gordon, PhD, MPH, professor of Surgery and director of Surgical Outcomes Research and Transplant Outcomes Research at VUMC, and Zubairu Iliyasu, MBBS, PhD, professor of Public Health at Bayero University, received a new grant to build research capacity for ethical design, conduct, and oversight of genetic and genomic research in Nigeria.
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Traditional healer-initiated HIV testing and care expands in South Africa
Building on the success of a pilot program training traditional healers to initiate HIV counseling and testing, the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) and its partner, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), received a new grant to expand healer-initiated HIV testing and linkage to care in South Africa. The study team is led by Carolyn Audet, PhD, associate professor of Health Policy, and co-PI Ryan Wagner, MBBCh, PhD, research fellow at MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Unit (Agincourt).
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VIGH Annual Team Retreat:
A Day of Learning, Connection, and Celebration
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At its annual team retreat, the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) faculty and staff came together for a day of learning, team building, and appreciation amidst the serene backdrop of the Dyer Observatory on a beautiful April day. Highlights of the retreat included Project Insights, Team Bonding, Global Health Bingo and Staff Awards. Recognizing outstanding contributions, Dana Walker, MBA, was honored with the Driving Success Award for her exceptional leadership, while Angela Paolucci, MPH, MA, received the Standout Performer Award for her dedication and exemplary performance.
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We are thrilled to share the news of the Vanderbilt MPH Class of 2024 Graduation! On Friday, May 10, 2024, at 2 p.m., the first-floor lobby of 2525 West End Avenue buzzed with celebration and pride as 28 exceptional graduates received their Master of Public Health degrees.
The event was a heartfelt celebration of the dedication, hard work, and achievements of these emerging public health leaders. Families, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to honor the graduates and their remarkable journey through the rigorous and impactful MPH program at Vanderbilt.
The reception following the ceremony was filled with laughter, tears of joy, and a shared sense of accomplishment. It was a perfect opportunity for graduates to reflect on their experiences, share their future aspirations, and express gratitude to those who supported them along the way.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We are immensely proud of you and cannot wait to see the incredible contributions you will make to the field of public health. Here's to a future of making a difference, one step at a time!
2024 Graduates of the Master of Public Health Program Anjola-Oluwa Abisola Ajayi, M.B.B.S., Global Health Track
Bashir Al Hussein Al Awamlh, M.D., Epidemiology Track
Nicole Reinholdt Andersen, Epidemiology Track
Nicholas Brent Baker, Health Policy Track
Camden Amy Castagna-McLeod, Epidemiology Track
Cara Elizabeth Charnogursky, M.D., Epidemiology Track
Paul Vinay Raj Chekuri, Health Policy Track
Genevieve Elisabeth Delano, Epidemiology Track
Gianna Ferrara, Epidemiology Track
Katherine Evelyn Griffin, Epidemiology Track
Brittany Nicole Gutierrez-Kitto, Health Policy Track
Olla Riad Hamdan, Epidemiology Track
Corianne Renae Johnson, Epidemiology Track
Erica Christine Koch, M.D., Health Policy Track
Brittany Jean Lehrer, M.D., Epidemiology Track
Alexandra Standish Lipham, Health Policy Track
Gabrielle Colleen Lyons, Epidemiology Track
Tevin Sabu Mathew, Global Health Track
Grace Evelyn Ratcliff, Health Policy Track
Stacey Lynne Riddick, Health Policy Track
Mariam Ali Saad, M.D., Health Policy Track
Megan Marie Shroder, M.D., Epidemiology Track
Jacen Theodore Wilder, Health Policy Track
Elizabeth Harter Williams, Global Health Track
Kaleb Hurst Wolfe, M.D., Epidemiology Track
Joshua Shane Woods, Health Policy Track
David Xiao, M.D., Health Policy Track
Lauren Elizabeth Zaylskie, Health Policy Track
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Congratulations to this year's global health graduates!
Eight students graduated with a Master of Public Health in the Global Health Track or a Graduate Certificate in Global Health from Vanderbilt University on May 10. Andria Li received the Sten H. Vermund Award for Excellence in Global Health, and Julia Landivar Donato received the Vermund Global Health Travel Award. Please join us in congratulating these students on their achievements and commitment to global health. View commencement day photos.
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We are thrilled to announce Nathaniel Tran as the first graduate of our program. Guided by the mentorship of Carlos Grijalva, PhD, Nathaniel has successfully completed his dissertation titled "Multi-level Determinants of LGBTQ+ Health Across the Life Course."
Nathaniel's next chapter begins with his acceptance of an Assistant Professor position at the University of Illinois - Chicago. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Nathaniel on this monumental accomplishment and the promising new chapter ahead!
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|  | From left: Stacie Dusetzina, PhD, Nathaniel Tran, PhD and Gilbert Gonzales, PhD.
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Kudos to Simone Herzberg for the succefull defense of her dissertation, "Investigating Causal Relationships of Diabetes and Obesity with Degenerative Rotator Cuff Tear." Guided by Ayush Giri, MS, PHD, Simone's research has shed light on the connections between these health issues.
Simone is set to resume her medical studies within the MSTP program, advancing on her path to become a physician-scientist.
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We are delighted to honor Cong Wang's accomplishments as she has successfully defended her dissertation titled "Accelerated Aging Among Breast Cancer Survivors," guided by mentor Dr. Xiao-Ou Shu.
As Cong moves forward to the next stage of her academic career, she is poised to begin a post-doctoral role at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (Harvard University). We extend our best wishes for her ongoing success and satisfaction in her forthcoming pursuits.
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We are thrilled to share the accomplishment of Chao Li, a third-year epidemiology doctoral student, who presented at the American Association of Cancer Research’s annual meeting on April 9th. Chao's talk, titled "Integrating Single Cell RNA seq Analysis with Large Genome-wide Association Study to Identify Cell-of-Origin Populations in Colorectal Cancer Development," showcased his innovative research at the forefront of cancer epidemiology.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Xingyi Guo, Chao's work represents a significant contribution to our understanding of colorectal cancer development and highlights the excellence of Vanderbilt's research community.
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Congratulations to Our Distinguished Faculty Teaching Awardees!
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Ayush Giri and Dr. Dan Escudero have been honored with the Faculty Teaching Award for their outstanding contributions to education. This prestigious award recognizes their dedication, innovation, and excellence in teaching, inspiring students and colleagues alike.
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We are proud to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of two outstanding students. Congratulations to Amanda and Charlie for their remarkable dedication, leadership, and contributions to our community!
Outstanding Student Research: Amanda Howa
Mentors: Carlos Grijalva and Keipp Talbot
Student Leadership Award: Charlie Rhea
Mentor: Yuri van der Heijden
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| Vanderbilt Institute for Medicine and Public Health
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2525 West End Ave | Suite 1200 | Nashville, TN 37203
imph@vumc.org
www.vumc.org/medicine-public-health
@VUMC_IMPH
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