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EPH Doctoral Students Receive Dissertation Grants

The following doctoral students in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH), recently received grants to fund their dissertation research:

Alicia Beeghly, a student in the Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE) was awarded the Anna Fuller Award for her dissertation research entitled “Epidemiology of Ovarian Cancer.” The award is a private University fellowship awarded to students conducting cancer related research. Beeghly is working in the laboratory of Herbert Yu, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor in CDE.

Lee Cohnstaedt has been awarded a Downs International Health Student Travel Fellowship. Cohnstaedt, a student in the Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases Division (EMD), will be in Peru this summer conducting research for his study, entitled “Assessment of Human Risk to Sand Fly Vectored Diseases.” His research is being conducted under the direction of Leonard Munstermann, Research Scientist in EMD.

Laura Cramer, a student in the Division of Health Policy and Administration (HPA), received a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Her dissertation research is entitled “Provider Influence on Quality of Colorectal Cancer Care.” Elizabeth Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Health in HPA and Director of the Health Management Program (HMP), is Cramer's adviser.

Amy Dailey's award, also from AHRQ, will fund her dissertation research entitled “Neighborhood Discrimination and Screening Mammography.” Dailey, a student in CDE, is advised by Beth Jones, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor in CDE.  

Lisa Gary was awarded a grant from the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund of the Aspen Institute to support her dissertation research. A student in HPA, Gary's dissertation topic is “Trust, Consumerism and Racial Disparities in Health Care: The Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Promoting a More Equitable Health Care System.” Gary's advisor is Mark Schlesinger, Ph.D., Professor in HPA.

Julie Karp, a CDE student, is another recipient of the Anna Fuller Award. Karp is conducting her research with Melinda Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor in CDE and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Program (SBS). Karp's research will focus on the effect of exercise on biological markers related to breast cancer, specifically looking at associations between breast density and prognostic variables, associations between breast density and hormonal changes, and body fat changes.

Shan Liao, a student in EMD, received the Anna Fuller Award for her research project entitled “Regulation of Optimal Function of High Endothelial Venules during Lymphoid Organogenesis.” She is studying the normal development and maintenance of lymph nodes, which are crucial for tumor immunity. This research is being conducted under the direction of Nancy Ruddle, Ph.D., Interim Deputy Dean of Public Health, Interim Vice Chair, Epidemiology and Public Health, Director of Graduate Studies, John Rodman Paul Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Kyeen Mesesan, an M.D./Ph.D. student in EMD, was awarded the Lee Lusted Prize for best student presentation at the 26 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making in Atlanta, GA. Mesesan's abstract, entitled “Predicting the Impact of a Partially Effective HIV Vaccine and Subsequent Risk Behavior on the HIV Epidemic in Developing Countries: A South African Example,” was one of 6 submissions delivered at the opening plenary session. Mesesan was previously awarded a pre-dissertation fellowship from the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization and the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, and curMay 6, 2005 Union's AIDS Vaccine Integrated Project Consortium. Mesesan is advised by A. David Paltiel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Health and division head of HPA.

Nicole Quon, a student in HPA, received awards from the National Science Foundation and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy will fund her dissertation, entitled “Decisions at Scientific Agencies: How do the NIH and the FDA Balance Expert Opinions, Changing Agendas, and Political Pressure?” Nicole's advisor is Karl Kronebusch, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor in HPA.

Angela Bauer Snyder, a student in HPA, has been awarded a dissertation grant from the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Snyder's research is entitled “The Effect of Substance Abuse Treatment on Wages,” and is under the supervision of Jody Sindelar, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health in HPA.