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Dornsife's Community Health and Prevention Doctoral Students

Learn more about the focus of our students' research in Drexel Dornsife's PhD in Community Health and Prevention program.

Table of Contents:

Ifeoluwa (Ife) Albert, MPH

Ife Albert

Degrees: MPH, Washington University in St Louis; BA in Biology, Fisk University

Ife's Focus: Ife is interested in using community-based participatory research approaches to develop, implement and evaluate interventions that target structural determinants of health for slum residents and marginalized populations in the global south.

She is an Urban Health Collaborative (UHC) doctoral fellow and is advised by Dr. Alex Ezeh. Prior to enrolling at the Dornsife School of Public Health, she was working at the Brown School Evaluation Center where she evaluated numerous public health and social sector programs and initiatives.

Research Interests:

  • Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
  • Urban health, health of slum residents
  • Marginalized populations and health inequities

Contact: ia423@drexel.edu

Narshil Choi, MSc

Narshil Choi

Degrees: MSc in Public Health (Health Economics stream) from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; BSN in Nursing from Calvin College

Narshil's Focus: Narshil's professional goals include forming strong collaborations with local leaders and researchers to improve access to and quality of health services. Her work focuses on decreasing health disparities, particularly in reproductive, sexual, and maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa.

Research Interests:

  • Global Health
  • Reproductive & Sexual Health
  • Adolescent Health
  • Health Services

Olivia Cordingley, LMSW

Olivia Cordingley headshot

Degrees: MSW from Columbia University; BA in Psychology from Emmanuel College

Olivia's Focus: Olivia is a licensed social worker who has worked alongside individuals and communities facing poverty, homelessness, systemic racism, and gender-based violence. Prior to beginning her PhD, Olivia collaborated with the Social Intervention Group at Columbia University to create community-informed interventions to promote HIV testing among women who exchange sex and use substances. These experiences inform her current research exploring the impact of social support and social networks on mental and sexual health in vulnerable populations.

Olivia is working with Dr. Elizabeth Salerno-Valdez on participatory action research projects related to parenting, sexual and reproductive health, substance use, and structural violence.

Research Interests:

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Community-based Participatory Research
  • Housing Instability
  • Sex Work and Substance Use
  • Social Networks

Publications:

  • Cordingley, O., McCrimmon, T., West, B. S., Darisheva, M., Primbetova, S., Terlikbaeva, A., Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., & Frye, V. (2022). Preferences for an HIV Self-Testing Program Among Women who Engage in sex Work and use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Research on Social Work Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221128594
  • Primbetova, S., Darisheva, M., Gatanaga, O., Gilbert, L., Davis, A., Wu, E., Hunt, T., Terlikbayeva, A., McCrimmon, T., Dasgupta, A., Cordingley, O., & El-Bassel, N. (2022). Nurses and Outreach Workers’ Stigmatizing Attitudes in Needle Syringe Programs in Kazakhstan. Research on Social Work Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221137109

Awards and Honors: Recipient of Racial Justice Mini-Grant from Columbia University, 2021. The Future of Reproductive Justice: A Panel Discussion on the Impact of Texas SB8

Research Experience: Research Associate at Social Intervention Group- Columbia University

Professional Experience: Social Worker- Henry Street Settlement Family Shelter- NYC

Contact: oc89@drexel.edu or LinkedIn or @oliviacords

Maddy Finkelstein, MSW

Maddy Finkelstein

Degrees: MA in Social Work from The University of Chicago; BA in Government from Cornell University

Maddy's Focus: My public health interests have been shaped by my social work background. I have years of experience working with adolescents and emerging adults around trauma, community violence, and general mental health in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

I am passionate about exploring how mental health, life experiences, and physical health interact, specifically for those living with chronic pain. Through my research, I aim to take an intersectional and feminist approach to understanding the ways that disparity in medical care for chronic pain may cause women and women of color to seek alternative treatments such as medical cannabis.

Research Interests:

  • Chronic pain and disparities in pain treatment in women
  • Substance use
  • Trauma and mental health

Professional Experience:

Contact: mf3299@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Frances (Francie) Fitzgerald, LCSW

Francie Fitzgerald headshot

Degrees: MSW with specialization in Healthcare from University of Pennsylvania; BA in Neuroscience and Behavior at University of Notre Dame

Francie's Focus: Francie is a licensed clinical social worker specialized in the treatment of chronic suicidality in adolescents and adults. As a first-year doctoral student she is enthusiastic about working with St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children at the intersection of her clinical expertise with the goal of increasing access to evidence based mental health care for the youth of Philadelphia and their families.

She brings experience from over a decade of work in patient advocacy for highly stigmatized and under researched chronic diseases. She is deeply committed to the Philadelphia community and believes in the possibility of ending chronic street homelessness and improving the health of our kids.

Research Interests:

  • Access to Mental Health Care
  • Implementation of EBPs
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Health Equity in Chronic Disease (Patient Advocacy)

Awards and Honors:

  • Rosa Wessel Award Recipient at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice
  • Glynn Family Honors College at University of Notre Dame
  • Student Exemplar Award Recipient at University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns

Professional Experience:

  • 2020-present, Dialectical Behavior Therapist
  • 2021-2023, Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health Circle of DBT Distinction

Contact: faf33@drexel.edu

Elana K. Forman, MLA, CPRS

Elana Forman headshot

Degrees: Master’s in Liberal Arts, University of Pennsylvania; BA in Liberal Arts, CUNY School of Professional Studies

Ellie's Focus: As a master’s student, Ellie’s research looked at substance-use discourse and how different discursive constructions of mental health issues harbor potential to impact affect of, outcomes for, and perception related to populations affected. Ellie has also spent over five years on the frontlines, working in substance use treatment and prevention spaces as a certified peer recovery specialist.

Currently, she is looking to merge her plethora of personal and professional experiences with her training in medical anthropology and public health to better address issues related to substance use, harm reduction, and infectious disease prevention on a communal level. Ellie is studying under Dr. Alexis Roth and working at the Health Equity Advancement Lab (HEAL) on projects related to women who inject drugs (WWID), HIV prevention from within SSPs (syringe service programs), and innovative harm reduction strategies for communities.

Research Interests:

  • Substance Use and Misuse
  • Harm Reduction
  • Overdose Prevention
  • Infectious Disease and HIV Prevention
  • Health Equity

Awards and Honors:

  • Dean’s Scholar representing all Professional Master’s programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2023
  • AGLSP Honors Society Member, 2022-2023

Professional Experience:

  • Substance Use Prevention Educator, Communities Confronting Substance Use & Addiction; 2020-Present
  • Research Assistant, Social Action Lab at the University of Pennsylvania; 2021-2022
  • Community Liaison and Peer Recovery Specialist, FORGE Health; 2020-2021
  • Behavioral Technician, Transformations Treatment Center, 2018-2020

Contact: ekf44@drexel.edu

Cara Frances, MPH

Cara Frances headshot

Degrees: MPH in Community Health from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy; BA in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Skidmore College

Research Interests:

  • Gender, Sexuality, and Health
  • Adolescent Health

Cara's Focus: Cara (she/her) is a passionate LGBTQ+ and reproductive justice advocate whose research focuses on the experiences of sexual and gender minority adolescents in domestic and international settings.

Prior to her time at Drexel, Cara worked as the project coordinator of the Population Council’s Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center where she led two first of their kind scoping reviews of literature on the health and wellbeing of sexual and gender minority adolescents in low- and middle- income countries.

Cara also completed the Public Health Associate Program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she worked on quality improvement project coordination and evaluation for the Chicago Department of Public Health Immunization Program.

Professional Experience:

  • 2019-2022 Project Coordinator, Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center, Population Council
  • 2017-2019 Public Health Associate, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • 2016-2017 National Health Promoter, National Health Corps Chicago

Publications:

Contact: cara.frances@drexel.edu

Tamara Garfield, MA

Tamara Garfield

Degrees: MA in Community Counseling from Texas State University; BA in Psychology from Reed College

Tamara's Focus: Tamara's professional goals include conducting research focusing on how multiple of factors, including systems and policies, impact health, mental health, and quality of life for autistic youth and adults.

Research Interests:

  • Autism
  • Mental Health
  • Health Disparities
  • Vulnerable Populations
  • Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Professional Experience:

  • 2017-Present, Research Assistant, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
  • 2013-2016 Mentor and Counselor Intern, Texas State University
  • 2010-2011 Youth Program Assistant, Aspiring Youth, Inc.

Publications:

  • Garfield, T., & Yudell, M. (2019). Commentary 2: Participatory Justice and Ethics in Autism Research. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics ,14 (5), 455-457.
  • Roux, A. M., Garfield, T., & Shattuck, P. T. (2019). Employment policy and autism: Analysis of state Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) implementation plans.Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 51(3), 285-298.
  • Sosnowy, C., Silverman, C., Shattuck, P., & Garfield, T. (2019). Setbacks and successes: How young adults on the autism spectrum seek friendship. Autism in Adulthood, 1(1), 44-51.
  • Roux, A. M., Rast, J. E., Anderson, K. A., Garfield, T., & Shattuck, P. T. (2020). Vocational Rehabilitation Service Utilization and Employment Outcomes Among Secondary Students on the Autism Spectrum. Journal of autism and developmental disorders.
  • Roux, A. M., Rast, J. E., Garfield, T., Anderson, K. A., & Shattuck, P. T. (2020). Prevalence and Correlates of Work Experiences Among High School Students on the Autism Spectrum. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 58(4), 273-287.
  • Shattuck, P. T., Garfield, T., Roux, A. M., Rast, J. E., Anderson, K., Hassrick, E. M., & Kuo, A. (2020). Services for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systems Perspective. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(3), 13.

Bengucan Gunen, MSPH

Bengucan Gunen

Degrees: MSPH Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University; BA in Public Health, German from Johns Hopkins University;

Bengucan's Focus: As a third-year doctoral student, Bengucan works on a longitudinal study of end stage kidney disease patients with obesity to identify healthy and high-risk weight loss patterns, and continues to conduct community-based nutrition research by collaborating with local community organizations.

Bengucan plans to design studies at the intersection of community-based and clinical research to understand factors in chronic disease prevention and management from a sociobehavioral perspective.

Research Interests:

  • Food Insecurity
  • Chronic Disease and Obesity Prevention
  • Chronic Kidney Disease

Professional Experience: Bengucan has been involved with the design, implementation and evaluation of several community-based nutrition interventions aimed at improving healthy food access and obesity prevention in Baltimore City. Her work on the Center for a Livable Future's Baltimore City Food Environment Map has been used to inform local food policy.

J. Rachael HaileSelasse, MA

J. Rachael HaileSelasse

Degrees: MA in International Affairs from the American University of Paris; BA in International Studies, Minor in African Studies from University of Oregon

Rachael's Focus: Rachael (she/her) uses participatory research and practice-based evidence to inform violence prevention policy and interventions. With nearly two decades of experience in global settings, Rachael is known for diplomacy and delivering high-quality results in complex settings.

Her extensive experience includes managing projects, conducting research, designing programs, teaching, and building consensus in non-profit, business, and academic settings. She is looking to continue to teach, practice, and learn in areas of social determinants of health.

Research Interests:

  • Gender-based Violence
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Mixed Methodology
  • Rural Populations

Contact: Rachael.haileselasse@drexel.edu or rachaelhs@gmail.com

Kati Hinman, MA

Kati Hinman

Degrees: MA in Social Psychology of Groups and Institutions, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana- Xochimilco; BA in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of California at Berkeley

Kati's Focus: Kati is passionate about responding to violence as a public health issue, psychosocial support for survivors of violence and conflict, and working with communities and young leaders to develop programs that break the cycle of violence. She has worked in grassroots settings in the U.S., Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, and enjoys working directly with young people.

She is also interested in arts and participatory methods in qualitative research, to create stronger and more equitable collaborations with communities affected by violence, conflict, and natural disaster.

Her master’s thesis in Mexico City used participatory collage and photo-voice techniques to explore the experiences of young people transitioning out of the criminal justice system. At Dornsife she is a research assistant for the Jonathan Mann Global Health and Human Rights Initiative with her advisor Dr. Joe Amon.

Research Interests:

  • Participatory Research (CBPR)
  • Community-Based Violence Prevention
  • Psychosocial interventions with Survivors of Trauma
  • Health Disparities
  • Humanitarian Health/ Human Rights

Awards and Honors:

  • Fulbright García Robles Graduate Degree Grantee (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Davis Projects for Peace Grantee
  • John Gardner Fellow in Public Service

Eunji Kim, MPH

Eunji Kim

Degrees: MPH in Maternal and Child Health and minors in Epidemiology and American Indian Health and Wellness from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health; BS in Communication Studies from University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities;

Eunji 's Focus: Eunji’s central professional goal is to become a highly qualified and effective researcher and educator. She hopes to contribute to progress in addressing health inequities and disproportionalities so as to be able to find effective and culturally responsive tools to reduce health inequities and mitigate the occurrence of mental health challenges and behavioral disorders.

Before her doctoral studies, Eunji was a Program Manager at the Korean Adoptees Ministry Center in Minnesota. She led responses to racial discrimination against Koreans during COVID-19 and conducted a Community Readiness Assessment for the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative.

She is primarily interested in employing a culturally informed lens to understand the lived experiences of vulnerable populations within multifaceted socio-ecological contexts and to investigate how psychosocial factors, as well as their social-cultural environment, influence mental and behavioral health and the well-being of racial/ethnic minority youth and families.

Research Interests:

  • Mental Health
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Health Inequities
  • Racial/Ethnic Minority Health and Immigrant Health
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Research
  • Community Based Participatory Research
  • Health Communication and Education

Professional Experience:

  • 2022 – Present, Doctoral Graduate Fellow, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University
  • 2020 – 2022, Project Manager, Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development (CSHCD) and Early Childhood Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER), Korean Adoptees Ministry Center
  • 2020 – 2022, Project Coordinator, Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI), Korean Adoptees Ministry Center
  • 2019 – 2020, Graduate Research Assistant, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • 2019, Graduate Fellow Intern, Women Empowerment Initiative (WEI), Batey Relief Alliance

Publications:

  • • Saahoon Hong, Kweon, Oyong, Kim, Eunji, & Sung, Junghoon. (2021). Exploring Ecological Factors Associated with At-Risk Students with Suicidal Ideation: A Decision Tree Algorithm. Journal of Behavior Analysis and Support, 8(3), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.22874/KABA.2021.8.3.17

Contact: ek876@drexel.edu

Giyoung Lee, MPH

Giyoung Lee

Degrees: MPH in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases from the Yale School of Public Health; BA in Biological Sciences and a minor in Health and Society from Rutgers University

Giyoung's Focus: Giyoung is interested in improving pediatric health outcomes by identifying barriers to care and researching parents' health-seeking behaviors. She has a background in infectious disease epidemiology, Asian American health, and health services research. As a doctoral student, she works alongside her advisor, Dr. Ann Klassen, on various studies related to vaccine hesitancy and chronic hepatitis B in Korean Americans. Before pursuing doctoral training, she worked as a clinical research coordinator in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Clinical Futures group, assisting with research on antibiotic stewardship and provider prescribing behavior.

Research Interests:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccine Hesitancy
  • Health-seeking Behaviors

Professional Experience:

  • 2019 – present, Clinical Research Coordinator II, Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Publications:

  • Lee, G., Juon, H., Kim, E., Smith, K. C., Hann, H. W., Chang, M., & Klassen, A. C. (2024). HBV Transmission Knowledge Among Korean-American Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in the United States. Journal of community health, 10.1007/s10900-024-01412-y. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-024-01412-y
  • Klassen, A. C., Lee, G., Chiang, S., Murray, R., Guan, M., Lo, W. J., Hill, L., Leader, A. E., Manganello, J., & Massey, P. M. (2024). Did the COVID-19 experience change U.S. parents' attitudes towards HPV vaccination? Results from a national survey. Vaccine, 42(7), 1704–1713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.01.105
  • Dutcher, L., Li, Y., Lee, G., Grundmeier, R., Hamilton, K. W., & Gerber, J. S. (2022). COVID-19 and Antibiotic Prescribing in Pediatric Primary Care. Pediatrics, 149(2), e2021053079. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-053079
  • Lee, G., Meyer, A. J., Kizito, S., Katamba, A., Davis, J. L., & Armstrong-Hough, M. (2020). Predictors of evaluation in child contacts of TB patients. The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease: the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 24(8), 847–849. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0108

Contact: gl497@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Grace Mahasi, MPH

Grace Mahasi

Degrees: MPH from Wayne State University; BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from Eureka College; Global Health Certificate from Wayne State University School of Medicine

Research Interests:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Health Disparities
  • Community-driven Neighborhood Development

Grace's Focus: Grace is passionate about addressing system- and structural-level factors perpetuating racial disparities in health outcomes. She has a background in community development, communication, policy analysis and advocacy. Her combined interests in the biological and social sciences have led her to focus on maternal and child health and disparities experienced by marginalized communities. This work has included initiatives in the US as well as in India, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.

Grace has experience in partnership and program development in the nonprofit space as well as working with civic and social leaders to support community-based organizations. During her MPH she gained research experience on a study partnered with the CDC and NIOSH. At Dornsife, her current research work with her advisor, Dr. Irene Headen, pairs her interests in community development and maternal and child health with her passion for addressing structural factors that impact communities and persons of color.

Awards and Honors:

  • 2016 Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award recipient, awarded by the The Lincoln Academy of the State of Illinois
  • 2017 Leadership Fellow, Eureka College

Professional Experience:

  • 2022-Present, Research Assistant, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University
  • 2020-2022, Project Support Specialist, High Gain Solutions Group
  • 2019-2021, Research Assistant, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Contact: grace.mahasi@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Bevyn M. Mannke, MPH

Bevyn Mannke headshot

Degrees: MPH in Community Health and Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Minor, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; BA in History, Enhanced Natural Science Minor, Pennsylvania State University Schreyer Honors College

Research Interests:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Global Health
  • Infectious Disease

Bevyn's Focus: Bevyn pursues equitable healthcare for families. Her research interests include maternal health disparities and the intersections of sexual and reproductive health and infectious disease.

Her professional experiences encompass local and global non-profit work committed to enhancing health access and disease prevention.

Professional Experience: 2019-present, Research Analyst, AccessMatters

Publications:

Contact: bmm393@drexel.edu

Samantha L. Pagán, MPH

Samantha Pagán headshot

Degrees: MPH from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health in Community Health and Prevention; BS from SUNY Empire State College in Interdisciplinary Studies in Community Health and Wellness; Certified Chef in Health Supportive Culinary Arts from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts

Samantha’s Focus: Throughout her career, Samantha has worked at the intersection of food and health in various settings that include holistic wellness centers, non-profit organizations, urban farms, and community centers around NYC.

Prior to coming to Dornsife, she was developing a food advocacy curriculum for a workforce training program based in Brooklyn, NY after having spent eight years developing and teaching nutrition education curricula for youth development programs in the lower NYS region. She is looking to expand her knowledge and experience to reduce health inequities for various groups of historically marginalized people through community-based participatory research and evaluation that is socially just.

Research Interests:

  • Food Access
  • Food Systems Change
  • Health Inequities among historically marginalized people
  • Medical Cannabis use among pregnant and parenting people
  • CBPR
  • Mixed Methods
  • Evaluation

Awards and Honors:

  • 2021 SUNY PRODiG Scholar
  • 2022-2024 recipient of the Dean’s Award at Dornsife School of Public Health
  • 2022 recipient of the Community Health and Prevention (CHP) student club’s Social Justice Award
  • 2024 recipient of the CHP department’s Exemplary Integrative Learning Experience Award

Professional Experience:

  • Research Assistant at Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Research Assistant at SUNY Empire State College
  • Nutrition Education Special Program Contractor, Green City Force
  • Director of Education and Programs, The Sylvia Center

Contact: smnthpgn@gmail.com or sp3779@drexel.edu

Idris Robinson, MPH

Idris Robinson

Degrees: MPH in Health Management & Policy from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; BS in Health Education with a Psychology minor from Virginia State University

Idris's Focus: Idris Robinson is a native of Philadelphia and public health doctoral candidate whose research goal is to maximize the treatment effect of adopting cultural spaces—like the Black barbershop—for health promotion interventions that target the diverse needs of Black men. He is a system’s thinker, whose work focuses on equity issues for underrepresented populations around the world. With a resolute commitment to health equity, Idris has diligently advocated for marginalized communities through public health program management, cross-cultural capacity building, and collaborative community engagement on both national and global scales. Beyond these endeavors, Idris is a proud husband, father of two, food enthusiast, and active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Research Interests:

  • Black Health
  • Men's Health
  • Health Disparities
  • Global Health or International Health

Awards and Honors:

  • Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements and Population Health Equity Doctoral Fellow
  • World Affairs Council Global Leadership Institute Fellow
  • Civitas GES Cuba Fellow

Professional Experience:

  • Executive Director of Global Health and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Global Health, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University

Publications:

  • Robinson, I. Five important issues surrounding black food justice this Thanksgiving. Op-Ed: As we gather with friends and family for the holiday, there are things our community at large must still deal with. BET 2023.

Contact: itr24@drexel.edu

David Alan Sherrell, MA

David Alan Sherrell

Degrees: MA, Rutgers University; BS, University of Phoenix

Research Interests:

  • Youth Substance Misuse Prevention
  • Racial Health Inequity

David's Focus: David Alan Sherrell is a veteran of global schools-based substance misuse prevention, having delivered interventions in over 15 countries from 2009-2021. He received his Master’s in Psychology from Rutgers University in 2017. After over a decade in the field, he is excited to be on an academic journey, expanding his knowledge and skills.

Contact: David.alan.sherrell@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Bukiwe Sihlongonyane, MPH

Bukiwe Sihlongonyane headshot

Degrees: MPH from Boston University School of Public Health; BA in Psychological & Brain Sciences and African & African-American Studies from Dartmouth College

Bukiwe’s Focus: Bukiwe is interested in understanding and addressing structural factors affecting the capacity and responsiveness of health systems not only in times of stability, but also in times of crisis. Her research interests center on the role of governance at all levels, from local to international, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries. She has experience in qualitative research, health policy analysis, project management, advocacy and communication. She is looking forward to building significant breadth and depth in her research portfolio.

Research Interests:

  • Governance
  • Global Health
  • Infectious Disease
  • Political Determinants

Awards and Honors:

  • Dean’s Doctoral Award, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Tri-Alpha National Honor Society, Boston University School of Public Health
  • Hannah T. Croasdale Award, Dartmouth College
  • Pamela Joyner Prize in African & African-American Studies, Dartmouth College
  • Samuel E. Aronowitz 1911 Prize For Social Change, Dartmouth College

Professional Experience:

  • 2019-2021 Project Coordinator & Research Assistant, Ariadne Labs
  • 2018-2019 Research Coordinator, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

Contact: bps73@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Patrick D Smith, BSN RN

Patrick Smith

Degrees: BS in Nursing from Villanova University

Patrick’s Focus: Patrick is interested in using research to advance policy and practice-related responses to structurally determined health inequities. His most recent research focuses on examining the processes through which residential eviction contributes to poor physical and mental health, and, correspondingly, to health inequities. In his previous research and clinical roles, he has devoted substantial attention to strengthening primary healthcare services within and outside the US.

Patrick’s dissertation will use a mixed-methods approach to examine whether, how, and for whom individual and neighborhood-level exposures to eviction affect cardiovascular health. He is ultimately interested in leveraging his research to advance the development and implementation of evidence-informed policies to promote housing stability and health equity.

Research Interests:

  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Housing Policy and Health Equity

Awards and Honors:

  • US Fulbright Student Grantee, Lesotho
  • Drexel University Graduate Fellow
  • Carpenter Community Nursing Fellow, National Nurse-Led Care Consortium

Professional Experience:

  • 2020 – 2021, Complex Care Manager, Fenway Health
  • 2018 – 2020, RN Case Manager, Fenway Health
  • 2017 – 2018, National Health Reform Evaluation Officer, Partners In Health-Lesotho
  • 2016 – 2017, US Fulbright Student Grantee, Lesotho

Publications:

  • Smith, PD, Groves, AK, Langellier, BA, Keene, DE, Rosenberg, A, Blankenship, KM (2022). Eviction, post-traumatic stress, and emergency department use among low-income individuals in New Haven, Connecticut. Preventative Medicine Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101956
  • Groves, AK, Smith, PD, Gebrekristos, LT, Keene, DE, Rosenberg, A, Blankenship, KM (2022). Eviction, intimate partner violence and HIV: Expanding concepts and assessing the pathways through which sexual partnership dynamics impact health. Social Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115030
  • Groves, A. K., Gebrekristos, L. T., Smith, P. D., Stoebenau, K., Stoner, M. C., Ameyan, W., & Ezeh, A. C. (2022). Adolescent Mothers in Eastern and Southern Africa: An Overlooked and Uniquely Vulnerable Subpopulation in the Fight Against HIV. Journal of Adolescent Health, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.012
  • Groves, AK, Stankard, P, Bowler, SL, Jamil, MS, Gebrekristos, LT, Smith, PD, Quinn, C, Ba, NS, Chidarikire, T, Nguyin, VTT, Baggaley, R, Johnson C (2022). A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Evidence for Community-Based HIV Testing on Men’s Engagement in the HIV Care Cascade. International Journal of STD and AIDS. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624221111277
  • Smith, PD, Boyd, C., Bellantoni, J., Roth, J., Becker, K. L., Savage, J., Nkimbeng, M., Szanton, S. L. (2016). Communication between office-based primary care providers and nurses working within patients’ homes: an analysis of process data from CAPABLE. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 25(3-4), 454–462. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.13073
  • Smith, PD, Becker, K. L., Roberts, L., Walker, J., & Szanton, S. L. (2016). Associations among pain, depression, and functional limitation in low-income, home-dwelling older adults: An analysis of baseline data from CAPABLE. Geriatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2016.04.016

Contact: pds74@drexel.edu or LinkedIn

Kathleen Ward, MSPH, CHES

Kathleen Ward

Degrees: MSPH in Health Education and Communication from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; BA in Communication Studies from The College of New Jersey

Kathleen’s Focus: Kathleen is passionate about using community-engaged research methods to understand the complex relationships between substance use, violence, and health among urban women. Her work with the Health Equity Advancement Lab (HEAL) at Drexel includes implementing a HIV prevention intervention for women who inject drugs. She has also evaluated low-barrier community-based programs that improve access to treatment for opioid use disorder in Philadelphia. She is interested in harm reduction interventions that prevent drug overdose death and promote trauma-informed care.

Prior to pursuing doctoral training, she worked as a program coordinator at Johns Hopkins University on NIH-funded research focused on improving health outcomes and increasing access to healthcare for persons living with HIV, Hepatitis C, and substance use disorders. She has facilitated peer-based interventions for linkage to HCV testing and treatment and has worked on many HIV/HCV community outreach initiatives in Baltimore, MD. Throughout her work, she aims to reduce stigma surrounding substance use and infectious diseases.

Research Interests:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Substance Use
  • Program Evaluation
  • Trauma Informed Care

Awards and Honors:

  • 2022 Mentor Recognition Award, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
  • 2020-2022 Graduate College Doctoral Fellowship, Blue Award, Drexel University

Research Experience:

  • Doctoral Research Fellow, Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Senior Research Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Professional Experience:

  • Health Education Fellow, Break the Cycle (Washington, D.C.)
  • Education and Outreach Assistant, Healthy Teen Network (Baltimore, MD)

Publications:

  • Ward KM, Scheim A, Wang J, Cocchiaro B, Singley K, Roth A. Impact of reduced restrictions on buprenorphine prescribing during COVID-19 among patients in a community-based treatment program. Drug Alcohol Depend Reports. 2022; 3: 100055.
  • Ward KM, McCormick SD, Sulkowski M, Latkin C, Chander G, Falade-Nwulia O. Perceptions of network based recruitment for hepatitis C testing and treatment among persons who inject drugs: a qualitative exploration. Int. J. Drug Policy. 2021; 88:103019.
  • Ward KM, Falade-Nwulia O, Moon J, Sutcliffe CG, Brinkley S, Haselhuhn T, Katz S, Herne K, Arteaga L, Mehta SH, Latkin C, Brooner RK, Sulkowski MS. A randomized controlled trial of cash incentives or peer support to increase HCV treatment for persons with HIV who use drugs: The CHAMPS study. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019; 6(4): ofz166. Highlighted as Editor’s Choice, May 2019.

Contact: kmw444@drexel.edu

Arturo Zinny, LPC, MA

Arturo Zinny, LPC, MA

Degrees: MA in Psychology from Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Argentina

Arturo's Focus: Arturo's professional goals focus on the implementation of evidence-based and promising practices for trauma-impacted children, adults, and their families.

Research Interests:

  • Child Trauma & Mental Health
  • The implementation of trauma-specific evidence-based practices for trauma-impacted children and their families
  • LGBTQ youth
  • Mental health needs of racial & ethnic minority youth and families

Professional Experience:

  • 2023-Present, Executive Director, Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice (CNSJ) within the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University
  • 2018-Present, Program Director, Healing Hurt People, CNSJ
  • 2013-2018, Project Director, Philadelphia Alliance for Child Trauma Services (PACTS) Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
  • 2013-2014, Adjunct Professor, Chestnut Hill College of Graduate Studies
  • 2008-2013, Director for Behavioral Health Services; Clinical Coordinator for Children Services, Congreso De Latinos Unidos
  • 2006-2008, Primary Instructional Coordinator and Mobile Therapist, Devereux
  • 2004-2005, Clinical Psychologist, Psicored, Rosario, Argentina

Research Fellowship:

  • Stoneleigh Fellowship to further examine the prevalence of trauma and the efficacy of community-based trauma mental health care among violently injured youth at CNSJ.

Publications:

  • Cohen, JA, Mannarino, AP, Wilson, K & Zinny, A (2018): Trauma‐Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy LGBTQ Implementation Manual. Pittsburgh, PA: Allegheny Health Network.
  • Rudd, B.N., Last, B.S., Gregor, C., Jackson, K., Berkowitz, S., Zinny, A., Kratz, H.E., Cliggitt, L., Adams, D.R., Walsh L.M., & Beidas, R.S. (2019). Benchmarking treatment effectiveness of community delivered Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. American Journal of Community Psychology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/ajcp.12370.
  • Lessons learned while building a trauma-informed public behavioral health system in the City of Philadelphia (2016) Beidas, R., et al. Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning 59 (2016) 21–32.

Claudia Zumaeta Castillo, MPH

Claudia Zumaeta Castillo

Degrees: MS in Neuropsychology from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; MPH in Community Health and Prevention from Drexel University; BS in Psychology from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Claudia’s Focus: Claudia’s professional goal focus on implementing and evaluating initiatives to improve immigrants’ and Latinx health. Her dissertation aims to characterize intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, using a mixed-methods approach, among Latino immigrant men living in Philadelphia.

Research Experience:

  • Immigrant Health
  • Latinx Health
  • Community-Based Violence Prevention
  • Mixed Methods
  • Social Determinants of Health

Professional Experience: She has worked over the past 4 years with the Latino immigrant community in Philadelphia; where she served as a project and research coordinator, gaining experience in implementing prevention programs and qualitative and quantitative research skills with minoritized populations in topics related to Substance Use, Violence, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19. Prior to joining Drexel University, she worked as a psychologist for oncology patients and as a school counselor in her home country.

Research Fellowships:

  • 2020-Present, Doctoral Research Fellow, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • 2018-2020, International Research Fellow, Dornsife School of Public Health

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