2022 News Archive

December graduate continues health data research as postdoctoral fellow at Mayo Clinic

Yuqi Wu's interests focus on health care and translational research using statistical regression and big data analytics methods to improve cancer prevention, chronic disease management, health disparities and clinical/surgical outcomes.

Epidemiology graduate researches ways to use nutrition to prevent cancer

During her program, Bezawit Kase explored her interest in child nutrition and built expertise in how diet can be used to reduce the risk of cancer. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which nutrition is connected to cancer risk.

Former dental hygienist completes doctoral degree to improve oral public health

Asma Alzahrani plans to apply the knowledge and experiences she gained in the Ph.D. in HSPM program to improve care and encourage others in Saudi Arabia to accurately track, monitor and address the most pressing public health issues.

Office of Research and Arnold School wish Susan Cate a happy retirement

Susan Cate retires this month after nearly two decades of service at the Arnold School. The Office of Research and the many faculty, staff, and students she has helped over the years extend their congratulations and best wishes for her retirement.

Doctoral graduate continues literacy, speech, and language development, disorders work with tenure-track position

Five-and-a-half years and two children after joining the Ph.D. in COMD program, Anna Ehrhorn is graduating with expertise in speech, language and literacy development and disorders and assistant professorship.

Staff Spotlight: April Osteen

Osteen has served as the business operations coordinator for CERortho and Arnold School Greenville for five years. It's the perfect fit for the lifelong Greenville County resident and faculty who partner closely with Prisma Health.

Coverage for opioid addiction treatment varies dramatically across the nation's Medicaid programs

New research published in JAMA Health Forum has found that opioid use disorder treatment coverage and prior authorization varies widely from state to state for individuals insured by Medicaid.

I Am Public Health: Jennifer Mandelbaum

Ph.D. in HPEB candidate Jennifer Mandelbaum graduates this month, and she's leaving a mark on the university and the state. For the past six years, she has advanced public health as a student/researcher and through her work at SC DHEC.

Researchers develop algorithm to determine when COVID-19 infection happens during pregnancy using nationwide electronic health records

Published in PLOS ONE, the method leverages large amounts of data from electronic health records and enables researchers and clinicians to better understand the potential risks to both fetus and mother.

Rural areas come out on top for quality of inpatient psychiatric care

Amidst numerous headlines and reports that rural health care is unequal to urban in nearly every way, recent research revealed that the quality of inpatient psychiatric care is better in most rural settings.

Alumnus' donation of blood gives new life to USC Board of Trustees member

USC's Megan Sexton tells the story of how Arnold School alumnus Alex Medina (M.S. in Advanced Athletic Training, 2015) saved the life of fellow Gamecock and Board of Trustees Member J. Egerton Burroughs through a blood cell transplant.

Toni Torres-McGehee named president-elect for Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

The director of athletic training programs and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion has been chosen to lead the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education's Board of Commissioners as president-elect and then president.

Chen Liang named Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association

The most elite of AMIA members are designated as fellows in recognition of their expertise in evidence-based informatic practice and their engagement as life-long learners who continuously apply informatics to improve health and health care.

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring for individual buildings offers insights beyond community-level sampling

Over the past two years, the team discovered that building-level surveillance provides additional useful information, including the emergence of variants and the presence of viral transmission hotspots.

Study reveals quality of life declines due to COVID--related social isolation among older adults

Researchers from the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) Study have published findings from a study examining the effects of social isolation among older adults during SC's month-long stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders in 2020.

Bestselling author Beth Macy to discuss overdose crisis on National Rural Health Day

An award-winning journalist and Harvard Nieman Fellow, Macy will discuss the overdose crisis as chronicled in her most recent book, RAISING LAZARUS - a follow-up to her 2018 bestseller and Hulu series DOPESICK.

Staff Spotlight: Charlotte Stalvey

A key member of the Office of Research since 2013, her role grew even bigger when she was named Director last month. Over the past nine years, she has made her mark not only on the Arnold School but on the broader university as well.

Women researchers at USC embody goals of Title IX in their educational journeys and research careers

The Office for the Vice President of Research features epidemiology assistant professor Melissa Nolan, chronicling the journey of the first-generation college graduate, what she loves about the environment at the Arnold School and how she's paying it forward.

Health behaviors of children negatively impacted when learning virtually during pandemic

Researchers have completed a study comparing the health behaviors of children learning virtually vs in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding worsening trends in physical activity, screen time and sleep among children learning from home.

I Am Public Health: Lesley Leake

Master of public health alumna and CARE research associate Lesley Leake is pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences degree to marry her interests in the environment and public health.

Cancer experts issue urgent calls for action against e-cigarettes

Anthony Alberg has led a group of experts in the publication of a statement on electronic nicotine delivery systems for both the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

Million-dollar grant to improve, expand SNAP-Ed programming across South Carolina

Carrie Draper, a senior research associate in the HPEB department and principal investigator for SNAP-Ed at USC, will lead six continued projects to improve nutrition education and obesity prevention programs throughout the state.

Montgomery Clinic wins Best Speech Therapy, Best Audiology/Hearing Center in round up from The State

The Clinic has been honored with two "best of" awards in the 2022 edition of The State's Best. This magazine showcases the businesses, people and places voted as the best in SC by community residents.

New center takes a multifaceted research approach to neurodevelopmental disorders

UofSC spotlights the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Center of Excellence, a multi-disciplinary, collaborative center for basic, clinical and intervention research and education with investigators from COMD.

Structural racism worsens maternal health disparities for some minority women during pandemic

Arnold School researchers and a collaborator from the School of Medicine Columbia have completed a study examining the effects of residential segregation on maternal outcomes for minority women before and during the pandemic.

Big data continues to help scientists assess impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Next up: mental health for people living with HIV

Shan Qiao, an associate professor with the HPEB department and Center for Healthcare Quality, has been awarded more than $107K to investigate mental health issues faced by people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EACH Collaborative: Filling a Gap in Perinatal Care & Support for Families

The Center for Community Health Alignment is working in partnership with the EACH Collaborative, a group of organizations based in South Carolina to expand the availability of perinatal community health workers for families who need them.

NIH funding will support diversity initiative

UofSC highlights the $13.2 million NIH grant led by Angela Liese, a professor of epidemiology at the Arnold School, and Coretta Jenerette, a professor and associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusivity at the College of Nursing.

Staff Spotlight: Roger Newman-Norlund

Newman-Norlund focuses on the aspects of his work that fulfill him the most - the chance to work with an all-star team, a consistent opportunity to make progress in a stable environment, and the guarantee that he will learn something new every day.

Health services researcher Brad Wright joins Arnold School to lead Department of Health Services Policy and Management as chair

After an extensive search, the HSPM department welcomed Brad Wright as their new chair. The health services researcher brings expertise in addressing inequities in health care delivery and a passion for helping others succeed.

New vice president for research aims to mentor junior faculty

UofSC features Julius Fridriksson, who built out a team of more than 40 faculty, post docs and graduate students at the Arnold School. Now he's taking his vision campuswide as UofSC's vice president for research.

Q&A with Myriam Torres

For Hispanic Heritage Month, UofSC Today spoke with several faculty members about why they came to the university, the focus of their work and how their background informs their outlook.

Does telehealth fail minority, rural pregnant women during the pandemic?

The latest Arnold School project to learn from and address impacts of COVID-19 comes in the form of a $3 million U01 grant to investigate the effects of telehealth on disparities in maternal care during the pandemic.

I Am Public Health: Chung Li Wu

Doctoral student pursues Ph.D. in Biostatistics to lend his mathematical talent to advancing public health. His passion for correlated data led him to UofSC, and his future plans include working to improve drug development/discovery.

UofSC researchers team up to prevent cancer for vulnerable families

The five-year study is supported by a $5.8 million U01 grant from the National Cancer Institute and focuses on preventing colorectal cancer in obese parent-child dyads, particularly those in the African American community.

Doctoral Candidate Nkechi Okpara awarded scholarship to support professional development and nutrition research

Nkechi Okpara, a fourth-year doctoral Candidate in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, has been selected to receive the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation's Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship.

Arnold School researchers enlisted in nationwide effort to tackle long COVID

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded more than $400K to health services policy and management assistant professor Chen Liang as part of the Long COVID Computational Challenge.

Epidemiology student wins award for international public health entomology work

Lídia Gual Gonzalez, a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D. in Epidemiology program, has been selected to receive the John Henry Comstock Award from the Entomological Society of America's International Branch.

Public Health and Nursing unite to fast-track faculty diversity using $13 million grant

Thanks to a $13.2 million grant from the NIH Common Fund, epidemiology professor Angela Liese and nursing professor Coretta Jenerette will collaborate to launch the FIRST program at UofSC.

New online Master of Public Health in Epidemiology program accepts applications for inaugural cohort

The new MPH program is not only online, it is 100 percent asynchronous to fit into the busy lives of participants. Students can enroll full-time or part-time, completing the program in as little as two years.

COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted health behaviors, anxiety in university settings

The study, which was published in the Journal of American College Health, found that negative impacts on physical activity, sedentary time and anxiety persisted for this population for at least a year into the pandemic.

Behavioral intervention helps women reduce weight retention when offered during pregnancy and postpartum

Researchers have shown that their theory-based lifestyle intervention is effective in helping women with elevated weight reduce the amount of gestational weight gain they retain after birth.

Staff Spotlight: Destine Rivers

As the business manager for the Department of Environmental Health Sciences (ENHS), Destine Rivers puts her accounting degree to good use. In 2020, she joined ENHS as the business manager not only for the department but also for two major centers.

Study finds reduction in emergency room visits for non-urgent conditions after Medicaid eligibility expansion

Researchers from the Department of Health Services Policy and Management have examined whether Medicaid eligibility expansion is associated with changes in emergency department visits based on medical urgency.

I Am Public Health: Courtney Meyer

Athletic trainer joins No. 1 program in the nation (Ph.D. in Exercise Science) to improve assessment and treatment of medical emergencies involving the head, neck and spine of youth and adolescent athletes, which are often underserved.

Professional and personal experiences inspire behavioral therapist to become speech-language pathologist

Erin Langhorne is interested in continuing to work with people on the autism spectrum, but her master's program also sparked an interest in the medical side of speech-language pathology - particularly aphasia.

Researchers overcome lack of data, develop method for estimating childhood stunting, overweight trends

Edward Frongillo and Alexander McLain have partnered with scientists from UNICEF and the World Health Organization to develop a method for estimating childhood stunting and oversight trends in the European region.

Children living in poverty miss out on caregiving activities critical to development

Researchers from the Rural and Minority Health Research Center and the SC SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality have completed a nationwide study examining the relationship between income levels and interactive caregiving for young children.

Speech-language pathology graduate plans career helping individuals with traumatic brain injuries

Caroline Wood pursued a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at UofSC because the program offered a wide range of experiences for students to explore. Through her clinical rotations, she gained experience in a variety of settings.

Researchers use big data approach to estimate healthcare effectiveness, which can aid in developing personalized treatment plans

Members of the CERortho have completed a study where they assessed the ability of machine learning approaches to find patient-specific evidence of the effectiveness of early surgery as a treatment for shoulder fracture injuries.

Chen Liang awarded new grant to better understand COVID-19 - HIV coinfection through data mining and artificial intelligence

The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases has awarded more than $400K to Chen Liang to curate a knowledge base for individuals with coinfection of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 by data mining a nationwide electronic health records repository.

Environmental health sciences selects students to receive 2022 awards

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences is proud to announce the recipients of their 2022 Student Awards. These four students were selected for their outstanding performance both academically and outside the classroom.

Doctoral student wins international award for AIDS research into racial disparities in South Carolina

Fanghui Shi, a student in the Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior program, is the recipient of the Track D IAS/ANRS Lange/van Tongeren Prize for Young Investigators from the International AIDS Society.

U.S. News ranks speech-language pathology as third best health profession

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders' has two paths (residential and distance education) to become a speech-language pathologist through their Master of Science program.

Southeast Community Health Worker Network Awards $100,000 in Grants to Build Workforce in Five States

The Center for Community Health Alignment (CCHA), at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, has identified the recipients of the 2022 Southeast Community Health Worker Network Collaborative Grant.

Doctoral graduate advances maternal and child health field as epidemiologist

Amanda Elmore graduates with her Ph.D. in Epidemiology this month and researches how social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences and trauma influence health outcomes in each stage of the mother-infant dyad.

Speech-language pathology graduate wins outstanding student award, plans career helping individuals with stroke, brain injury

Through her program and graduate assistantship, Jane Stratton developed interests in working with adolescents and adults who have experienced stroke and traumatic brain injury. Her clinical placements gave her experience in public and private settings.

Staff Spotlight: Pamela Gillam

Pamela Gillam has relied on leadership and laughter to get her to where she is today. The director of the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) has worked with CARE for more than two decades, with 12 of those years as its leader.

August graduate to continue maternal and child health research with postdoctoral fellowship

Sabrina Karim's August graduation is more than a celebration of the physician notching a 4.0 in two programs, but another step towards overcoming the personal challenges she has faced and pursuing her passion for improving maternal and child health.

Speech-language pathology assistant completes master's from Canada through distance education program

The COMD department's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology - Distance Education program made it possible for Chan to continue working as a speech-language pathology assistant while pursuing a graduate degree.

Biostatistician applies big data to cancer survival, HIV treatment, COVID management

UofSC features biostatistics professor Jiajia Zhang, who won a 2022 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award for her contributions to advancing cancer, HIV and COVID treatment/outcomes by harnessing the power of big data.

I Am Public Health: Nyrobi Tyson

Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology graduate pursues career combining her experiences as a doula and public health researcher to close the racial maternal morbidity and mortality gap.

From patient to practitioner: physical therapy graduate completes degree to serve others

Jacob Turner's path to becoming a physical therapist has been a personal one. Diagnosed at an early age with mild spastic diplegia, the Starr, South Carolina spent more than a decade of his life in the care of physical therapists.

Recent graduate preps for medical career with public health degree and global health experiences

Admitted students day turned out to be a milestone event for Helen Holderread. She learned about the B.S. in Public Health program, which would provide a solid foundation for her eventual medical studies while offering a broader view of health.

Speech-language pathology graduate hopes to work with pediatric and older adult populations

Daniela Caruso's path to becoming a speech-language pathologist began at her part-time job during college. She was working as a teacher at a music gym when a parent complimented her connections with children and suggested the career.

Special education teacher completes master's degree to help children with early language, literacy challenges

During her master's program, Lisa Miller gained clinical experience in multiple settings. She plans to work for her long-time employer, helping children in the Charleston County School District with literacy and language difficulties.

Student completes second Arnold School degree to support children who are deaf or hard of hearing

After completing her final clinical placement at the Potomac River Clinic Tegan Osborne will graduate in August and begin her clinical fellowship year. She plans to earn a certification in Auditory-Verbal Therapy as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist.

Two Arnold School faculty members awarded Two Thumbs Up Awards from Student Disability Resource Center

Jim Mensch and Ciaran Fairman, both faculty members in the Department of Exercise Science, have been recognized by the Student Disability Resource Center for going above and beyond to support students with disabilities.

August graduate focuses on neurogenic disorders throughout master's program in speech-language pathology

After wrapping up her M.S in Speech-Language Pathology degree with a final clinical placement at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospital, Jillian Gierman will look for a position in an acute care, inpatient rehabilitation or outpatient clinic setting.

August graduate completes distance education program to pursue career helping children as a speech-language pathologist

After graduation, Mikayla Briggs hopes to work in a home health setting while teaching undergraduate courses at her local community college. Long term, she's considering a return to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in the field.

James R. Hébert publishes Diet, Inflammation, and Health book with Elsevier

Chronicling the evolution of inflammatory and immune response systems across history, this book discusses the causes and mechanisms that link a pro-inflammatory diet to a wide variety of human health problems.

Staff Spotlight: Emily Writer

In her role as program coordinator for the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Emily Writer supports the graduate directors with admissions and degree progression and is a key contributor to the success of its six graduate degree programs.

Christina Andrews serves as subject matter expert for new report on opioid settlement funds

The SC Institute for Medicine and Public Health and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services enlisted input from HSPM associate professor and addiction expert Christina Andrews regarding approved uses for investing the funds.

Doctor of Physical Therapy program hosts first white coat ceremony

Students pursuing their DPT degrees participated in the program's first white coat ceremony this summer. Members of the 2023 and 2024 cohorts listened to speakers, received their white coats and swore an oath to do their best as physical therapists.

Melissa Nolan awarded $585K grant from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue, expand South Carolina tick surveillance program

Two years after Nolan and her team partnered with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and Clemson University to launch the state's first tick surveillance program, the assistant professor has been awarded $585K to expand their efforts.

Exercise physiologist researches new ways to create healthy habits

UofSC features exercise science assistant professor and Breakthrough Star Christine Pellegrini, who uses technology to inform behavioral interventions that target diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior and weight loss in target populations.

I Am Public Health: Miti Patel

Susie B. Yates Award winner graduates from HSPM department's Master of Health Administration program with a passion for creating a healthcare system that is equitable and beneficial for all populations by addressing health disparities.

Research finds military sexual trauma impacts men and women

The Research Society on Alcoholism has reported on a study presented by HPEB's Jennifer Fillo at the Society's annual meeting this month. Fillo found that differences in how men and women are affected by military sexual trauma.

Xueying Yang awarded grant to examine COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among people living with HIV

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded nearly $400K to Xueying Yang, a research assistant professor with the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior and SC SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality.

Exercise science researcher helps improve health of SC residents

UofSC features exercise science professor and 2022 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award winner Sara Wilcox and her work with faith-based and community groups to create and implement healthy lifestyle interventions for their members.

Public health student named Gillman Scholar

Asia Fulton, a rising senior majoring in public health, is one of five UofSC students to win a $5,000 Gillman Scholarship, which she is using to support her Spanish studies in Costa Rica.

American Society for Nutrition Foundation honors Edward Frongillo with lifetime achievement award

Two years after the American Society for Nutrition Foundation selected him to receive the 2020 E.V. McCollum International Lectureships in Nutrition Award, Edward Frongillo has been honored with another senior investigator award.

UofSC, Prisma researchers win Duke Endowment grant to assess Exercise is Medicine Greenville

Scientists from the School of Medicine Greenville and the Center for Effectiveness Research in Orthopaedics (led by HSPM professor John Brooks) will partner with Prisma and Temple University to analyze the impacts of the program.

Arnold School alum wins award from Gerontological Society of America

Health promotion, education, and behavior alumnus (MPH/MSW, 2015) Aaron Guest has won the Rising Star Early Career Faculty Award, which recognizes new faculty for their impactful and innovative teaching and/or leadership.

Students, alumni work to transform health care in rural communities

UofSC highlights this year's Capstone Scholars' medical mission trip to Guatemala, which was co-led by recent public health graduate Amanda Dearborn, to help underserved communities.

COMD honors 2022 Student Award winners

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is proud to announce the recipients of their 2022 Student Awards. These students were selected for their outstanding performance both academically and in their clinical placements outside the classroom.

Study finds varying health outcomes among states with different medical malpractice liability laws

Brian Chen, associate professor of health services policy and management, has completed a ground-breaking study on a novel approach for assessing the health impacts of varying medical malpractice liability laws across different states.

Chatterjee Lab examines why Veterans with Gulf War Illness are more likely to experience antibiotic resistance

In a recent study directed by environmental health sciences professor Saurabh Chatterjee and led by doctoral student Dipro Bose, researchers investigated the underlying elements that impact antibiotic resistance among veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Doctoral candidate awarded two scholarships to support professional, educational development of HIV, health services policy research

Tianyue Mi, a candidate in the Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB) program, has been awarded two national scholarships to support her development as an HIV health services policy researcher

Doctoral student awarded nearly $800K to address high rates of musculoskeletal-related medical discharges in the Army

The Defense Health Agency's Military Health System Research Program has awarded $797K to Kristen Zosel (Wilburn), a doctoral candidate in the HPEB department, in conjunction with her research fellowship with USARIEM.

Staff Spotlight: Wendy Clemmer

Clemmer supports HPEB and the Center for Healthcare Quality with their pre- and post-award actions. Her daily activities include tracking spending, paying bills and hiring new employees, but her favorite part of the job is pre-award planning.

Xiaoming Li ranks most cited author overall for AIDS Care

According to an analysis published by Exaly, health promotion, education, and behavior professor and Center for Healthcare Quality director Xiaoming Li is the most highly cited lifetime AIDS Care author.

HSPM honors 2022 Student Award Winners

The Department of Health Services Policy and Management has announced the 2022 student award winners. Congratulations to the recipients of the Susie B. Yates Award, AUPHA Foster G. McGaw Scholarship Awards, and Michael D. Jarrett Scholarship Award.

I Am Public Health: Lynsey Keator

Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders candidate employs comprehensive approach to helping stroke survivors overcome challenges related to aphasia.

FLEX Lab publishes lessons learned from 30-year study on effects of exercise on cardiometabolic health

Mark Sarzynski, associate professor of exercise science and director of the FLEX Laboratory, has led the publication of a review of the lessons learned from the HERITAGE Family Study over the past three decades.

Glenn Weaver awarded $3.2 million grant to assess activity/sleep trackers for children

Weaver will use the five-year R01 grant to assess the validity and utility of consumer-based wearable fitness trackers in monitoring free-living physical activity energy expenditure and sleep in children ages 5-12 years old.

Rachel Davis, Mark Sarzynski and James Hardin receive 2022 Faculty Awards

The Arnold School is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 Faculty Awards: Rachel Davis (James A. Keith Excellence in Teaching Award), Mark Sarzynski (Faculty Research Award), and James Hardin (Faculty Service Award).

Burn recovery inspires medical career for public health graduate

Gabriela Carrara was 13 when a cooking accident caused burns that would lead to one surgery, nine days in the hospital and years of recovery. She credits the healthcare she experienced and observed as the inspiration for pursuing a career in medicine.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics honors 2022 student award winners

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is proud to announce the recipients of their 2022 Student Awards. These four students were selected for their outstanding performance both academically and outside the classroom.

Isabella Alonso and Kyndall Dye-Braumuller selected to receive 2022 Arnold School Student Awards

Congratulations to Isabella Alonso (B.A. in Public Health, MPH in HPEB) on winning the Jeffrey Keith Mattison Outstanding Student Achievement Award and Kyndall Dye-Braumuller (Ph.D. in Epidemiology) for winning the Doctoral Student Achievement Award.

May graduate to advance health equity for underserved communities by addressing social determinants of health

As a public health major, Cedrick Belton began to see the bigger picture of health and instantly felt a connection. He spent his time at UofSC learning about the challenges facing underserved communities as well as possible impacts and solutions.

Arnold School honors alumni at 2022 Hooding Ceremony

Kara Whitaker (MPH-PAPH, Ph.D. in Exercise Science) has been awarded the Gerry Sue Arnold Alumni Award, and Susan Bolick (MSPH in Epidemiology) is the recipient of the Norman J. Arnold Alumni Medal.

Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announces inaugural DEI awardees

These awards are designed to recognize alumni, faculty, staff and students who have made exceptional contributions to advancing DEI through research, practice, community engagement, teaching and/or advocacy.

May graduate earns public health degree as foundation for career in medicine

During her program, Madison Petersen gained research experience with the Arnold Childhood Obesity Initiative, Connect Lab and the NCI-funded Cancer Education Program, ultimately earning Graduation with Leadership Distinction in Research.

Health promotion, education, and behavior announces department's 2022 student award winners

Isabella Alonso and Megan Austin are the recipients of the Outstanding Master's Student Award, and Tianyue Mi has been honored with the Christopher Peter Aluah Outstanding Doctoral Student Award.

Staff Spotlight: Gaye Christmus

The Arnold School has been a home to Gaye Christmus for three decades and counting. The Master of Public Health alumna has served as the pre-award grants manager and technical editor for the Department of Exercise Science for 22 years.

International student earns master's degree to increase athletic training services in Caribbean

Reann Young gained experience with UofSC's beach volleyball and football teams as well as the SC Summer Dance Conservatory and Columbia International University. She also developed research interests in the mental health of student-athletes.

Public health scientist sets high bar in research, mentoring productivity

UofSC Today features Breakthrough Leader and exercise science professor, Michael Beets. An expert in children's physical activity and health, Beets is the director for the Arnold School Obesity Initiative and the director of Propel.

Doctoral graduate develops new use for biostatistics methods: assessing human exposure to radiation

Thomas LaBone has spent 40 years assessing occupational exposure to radioactive materials. With his Ph.D. in Biostatistics, he is on the forefront of researchers applying Bayesian statistics to internal dosimetry - a goal 25 years in the making.

Graduate School selects three Arnold School doctoral students to receive university-level awards

Maggie Carson (Environmental Health Sciences) won the Dean's Excellence in Leadership, Valeri Yelverton (Health Services Policy and Management) won the Outstanding Research Award, and Rajat Das Guptas (Epidemiology) won the George M. Reeves Fellowship.

Two students honored with inaugural public health programs awards

The Office of Undergraduate Affairs has selected two students to receive the inaugural Outstanding Public Health Awards. Stephen ("Andrew") Zahran (B.A. in Public Health) and Zola Jane Alpin (B.S. in Public Health) are the 2022 recipients.

Department of Exercise Science recognizes students with annual awards

Seven exercise science students have been recognized with recognized with departmental awards. This year’s winners were chosen for their academic achievements, community service and leadership roles.

I Am Public Health: Keren Herrán

Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior student brings wealth of experiences to doctoral program as she prepares for a global health career focused on health disparities, nutrition, and maternal and child health.

May graduate lands project manager role with healthcare-focused technology organization

Chantal LaFlamme is particularly interested in helping the company use its software to improve workflow, patient safety and quality of care as well as identify health issues and address health disparities.

May graduate focuses on emerging technologies to advance public health

Annalee Brody's first campus visit to UofSC was instrumental to helping her select a major. She says that Arnold School students clearly had a stronger passion and enthusiasm for their education and experiences.

Athletic training graduate committed to improving transgender healthcare and education

During their program, Erica Schulman explored their interests in transgender healthcare and its integration into academic curricula and educational opportunities for athletic training students and practicing athletic trainers.

UofSC recognizes undergraduate students on Awards Day

Seventeen undergraduate students from the Arnold School's public health and exercise science bachelor's programs have been recognized with 20 honors on UofSC's 2022 Awards Day.

May graduate to begin 3rd Arnold School program in pursuit of career in maternal and child health

After taking her first health promotion, education, and behavior course junior year, Megan Austin knew she had found her future career. She considered various master's programs but was drawn back to the Arnold School's HPEB department.

PASOs combats COVID-19 racial and ethnic health disparities in South Carolina

Epidemiology student Samantha Rieche and Center for Community Health Alignment communications coordinator Richard Strater explain how PASOs has helped mitigate health disparities in SC through increased vaccination rates in Latino communities.

Pandemic presents opportunity for optometrist to pursue career in public health

Jim Matthews' graduation with a Master of Public Health degree this May is 46 years in the making. In fact, his new venture into health policy is not only a second career for the optometrist, it is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Communication sciences and disorders professor Julius Fridriksson named Vice President for Research

After nine months as interim Vice President for Research, Julius Fridriksson has been officially appointed as VPR by the UofSC Board of Trustees. University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health Dean Donna K. Arnett has been named provost.

May graduate combines love of animals, passion for public health for career in veterinary medicine

Alex Karp found an intersectional topic he was passionate about for his senior honors thesis. Looking to incorporate animals into a public health project, he researched the impacts of pets on their owners' overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UofSC alumna guides employer’s gift to Center for Civil Rights History and Research

Exercise science alumna Kelly Adams, managing director of state government and regulatory affairs for the energy infrastructure company Williams, was instrumental in her employer’s gift of $1.5 million to the Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

May graduate studies exercise science to prepare for career in medicine

An aspiring physician, Ana Jukic wanted a major that allowed her to learn about the human body, especially while engaged in physical activity. She chose exercise science as the best fit for her career goals while also including extremely interesting classes.

Athletic training graduate plans to be role model to students with new position at SC high school

After her graduation next month, Katrina Linenko will be kicking off her career with her dream job as an assistant athletic trainer at Chapin High School, where she will also teach sports medicine.

Master's student to serve bilingual children with language/literacy challenges as speech-language pathologist

Emily Fisher plans to work in local schools as a speech-language pathologist specializing with bilingual children who experience literacy/language difficulties. It's a role not many can fill, but one that she's been preparing for over the past seven years.

Staff Spotlight: Megan Byers

Since Byers joined the team, she has helped OSA expand the Dementia Dialogues® program from two states and 50 instructors to six states and more than 120 certified instructors. They've also expanded access by offering the program online.

Jennifer Fillo applies relationship perspective to challenges faced by military populations and groups affected by substance use disorders

Between her K01 project on the influence processes among heavy drinking couples and working with military populations on service-related stress, Fillo aims to inform intervention leveraging the influence of close others to support health behavior change.

I Am Public Health: Ronald Willis

Master's student pursues second career in environmental health sciences to address the impacts of human behaviors on the environment.

Assistant professor Minji Kim studies health communication...and practices it

Kim studies the impact of marketing and counter-marketing messages so she can advance tobacco control and cessation. She also has interests in the promotion of healthy eating and physical activities as well as COVID-19 testing.

Children's physical activity drops sharply during transition from elementary to high school

Researchers from the Department of Exercise Science and the Children's Physical Activity Research Group have completed research examining the age-related changes in physical activity that occur as children transition from elementary to high school.

Alumna leads state, nation in efforts to combat substance use disorders

As director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, alumna Sara Goldsby (MPH in HSPM & MSW, 2015) and her team team fight the opioid epidemic in three main ways: prevention, treatment and recovery.

Center for Community Health Alignment to provide training, technical assistance to community health worker programs addressing COVID-19

Already known for their training, capacity-building and technical assistance services, the Center has recently been awarded a $2.3 million grant to offer technical assistance (e.g., database development/training) to community health worker programs nationwide.

Two Arnold School faculty members win research services awards

Communication sciences and disorders (COMD) associate professor Roozbeh Behroozmand and epidemiology professor Susan Steck have been selected to receive service awards from the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Research suggests poor oral health may predict lower cognition among older adults

Funded by an NIH grant, the findings are some of the first to be reported from the study. The researchers found that older adults (ages 60+) with poor oral health were more likely to have lower cognition than their counterparts.

Sam Noblet wins Technical Support Staff Award from Office of the Vice President for Research's inaugural staff recognition program

The Office of the Vice President for Research has selected project coordinator and two-time Arnold School alumnus Sam Noblet as one of the inaugural recipients of the Exceptional Research Service Awards.

New study helps participants lose weight through free, remote 12-month program

Just months after receiving $3.4 million from the National Institutes of Health to add cultural relevance to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, nutrition and mHealth researcher Brie Turner-McGrievy has been awarded an additional $3.2 million from the same agency.

Staff Spotlight: Lumi Bakos

In addition to supporting faculty with pre-award (including the 350 proposals they submit each year) and post-award activities at the Arnold School, Bakos is currently serving as the senior advisor to the interim Vice President for Research.

New COMD assistant professor Abigail Hogan focuses on anxiety, autism and how they impact communication

More than five years into her tenure at Carolina, Hogan is a key member of a growing group of UofSC researchers committed to understanding neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder).

I Am Public Health: Anja Zgodic

Doctoral candidate studies biostatistics with a focus on high-dimensional data and longitudinal data analysis so she can join a biotech startup as a scientist creating products that improve people's lives.

Study sheds light on age-related vulnerabilities faced by women who carry FMR1 premutation

Communication sciences and disorders associate professor Jessica Klusek has led a study that offers new insights into the array of age-related symptoms and disorders that may affect women who carry the premutation allele of the FMR1 gene.

Exercise science faculty awarded grant to improve Parkinson's care through physical therapy

Exercise science/physical therapy faculty Alicia Flach and Elizabeth Regan will use the Parkinson's Foundation grant to build on the education and exercise support provided to improve exercise access for the SC Parkinson's disease community.

Melissa Nolan awarded $5.4 million, health policy fellowship to continue fighting COVID-19, vector-borne diseases and the disparities they create

The team will assess community buy-in for at-home COVID-19 testing, intended use and self-reporting of results, perceptions of at-home testing for minority, rural and hard-to-reach populations, and testing performance of at-home diagnostics.

Public health student Gurujjal Roopra runs for student body president

The Daily Gamecock introduces the four student body president candidates, including third-year public health student Gurujjal Roopra, who hopes to join the ranks of two other recent Arnold School presidents: Taylor Wright and Ross Lordo.

Eric Vejerano receives NSF CAREER Award to investigate atmospheric sources of persistent free radicals

CAREER is a highly competitive program that the National Science Foundation awards to junior faculty and includes more than $600K in funding over a five-year period from the Division of Chemistry's Environmental Chemical Sciences Program.

Study assesses geographic healthcare access among minoritized groups

Research conducted by investigators at the Rural and Minority Health Research Center and led by its director, epidemiology associate professor Jan Eberth, has been featured in a special Health Affairs issue on Racism & Health.

Exercise science students win scholarship awards from National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation

Alexa Chandler (Ph.D. in Exercise Science) won the Women's Scholarship, Blaine Lints (Ph.D. in Exercise Science) won the Minority Scholarship and Caroline Vincenty (M.S. in Exercise Science) won the Challenge Scholarship.

UofSC bolsters relationship with National Academies by fostering faculty connections

Donald Mattison has joined the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, but his primary role has a university-wide focus. He was recruited to lend his expertise in working with leading authorities in health/medicine, sciences and engineering.

Alan Decho named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science is a lifetime honor that dates back to 1874 and includes fellows such as W.E.B. Dubois, Ellen Ochoa, Maria Mitchell and Thomas Edison.

Staff Spotlight: Melissa Bair

In 2010, her position began with managing sponsored awards for three highly funded faculty members in the Department of Exercise Science. Over the past 12 years, Bair's responsibilities have grown to include all research funds as well as department funds.

2021-2022 SPARC Graduate Research Grants awarded to 9 Arnold School graduate students

Graduate students from across the Arnold School have earned 2021-2022 SPARC Graduate Research Grants from the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research to fund individual scholarship initiatives.

Researchers study effectiveness of new nutrition labeling practices

Jim Thrasher, professor of health promotion, education, and behavior (HPEB), and Rachel Davis, associate professor of HPEB, have won a four-year $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

I Am Public Health: Blaine Lints

Endurance/strength athlete and former Navy SEAL pursues Ph.D. from No. 1 program in the nation to improve human performance for tactical populations.

UofSC sport science programs continually rank No. 1

The ranking recognizes the combined excellence of the Arnold School of Public Health's exercise science and athletic training programs and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s sport and entertainment management program.

4 UofSC researchers chosen as AAAS fellows

UofSC highlights the microbiology contributions of environmental health sciences professor and associate dean of research Alan Decho, who is one of four UofSC researchers to be elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Four Arnold School doctoral students win 2022 Breakthrough Graduate Scholar awards

Dipro Bose, Kyndall Dye-Braumuller, Allison Lewis and Tianyue Mi claimed four of these prestigious honors, which are given to students based on their classroom excellence, research/scholarship contributions and potential for future success.

Arnold School alumnus Graham Adams awarded Order of the Palmetto

Graham Adams, a 2000 graduate of the MPH and Ph.D. in Health Services Policy and Management programs and CEO for the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, has been recognized with the state's highest civilian honor.

Christine Pellegrini named Breakthrough Star by Office of the Vice President for Research

Exercise science assistant professor Christine Pellegrini is one of just 13 early-career faculty members across the university to receive the 2022 Breakthrough Star Award from the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research.

Three Arnold School researchers win 2022 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Awards

Arnold School professors Michael Beets (Exercise Science), Sara Wilcox (Exercise Science) and Jiajia Zhang (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) have claimed three of just five spots awarded by the Office of the Vice President for Research to the most elite researchers across the university.

NIH funds new study on using resilience approaches to combat HIV stigma

Researchers at the South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality will use a $3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to determine whether a resilience-based approach can mitigate the negative effects of HIV-related stigma.

Staff Spotlight: Sandy Besley

Besley has been a helper throughout her entire 26-year career - all of which has taken place within the UofSC system. She began her tenure at the Aiken campus, where she had earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies, as a fiscal technician.

2022 Breakthrough Award honorees represent the best in UofSC research

Arnold School faculty and students have been honored with eight of the 2022 Breakthrough Research Awards! Bestowed by the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research, these awards are designed to celebrate excellent researchers at every career level.

Recent alumnus kicks off five-year plan as Rotary Global Scholar followed by return to UofSC to study medicine

Dawson graduated in May of 2021 with the UofSC Outstanding Senior Award in hand and a $50,000 Rotary Ambassadorial Global Grant to earn a Master of Public Health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Arnold School paper included in top 10 list of 2021 COVID-19 research

NEJM Journal Watch has included a paper led by Xueying Yang and Xiaoming Li in their top 10 list of 2021 COVID-19 research stories. The researchers found that certain groups of people living with HIV have worse COVID-19 outcomes.

Arnold School further bolsters childhood obesity prevention efforts by welcoming Elizabeth Adams

Elizabeth Adams has joined the Arnold School as an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise Science and a faculty affiliate with the Research Center for Child Well-Being.

I Am Public Health: Katie Lynn

Epidemiology doctoral student gains expertise in neglected tropical illnesses, particularly Chagas disease and arbovirus, and pitches in on COVID-19 response/prevention efforts as an infectious disease researcher.

Arnold School of Public Health