Inaugural student symposium showcases range of projects

WashU School of Public Health’s inaugural Student Research and Practicum Symposium included 38 posters presented by the school’s MPH, dual degree and PhD students, with topics ranging from health insurance gaps in Missouri, to maternal and infant health disparities. The research and practicum projects presented at the symposium Wednesday, May 6, in Hillman Hall, reflected the school’s emphasis on research that is data-driven and aiming for real-world impact. 

“Opportunities for hands-on research and practice are a focus of our degree programs, and gaining experience communicating about public health in different ways is a key part of that,” said Todd Combs, MA, PhD, a research assistant professor at the School of Public Health and one of the symposium’s organizers. “The event gives students a venue to share their knowledge and perspectives on work they care about with staff, faculty, and the broader School of Public Health community.”

For the students presenting work, the posters represented more than academic projects. They reflected emerging efforts to better understand communities, reduce disparities, and improve lives through public health research and practice. 

“I’ve always been interested in health disparities, and when I had the opportunity to work with my mentor, Associate Professor Rachel Tabak, congenital syphilis stood out to me because it’s almost entirely preventable,” said MPH student Sandra Agyenim-Boateng, MBBS. “Seeing a condition like this persist and even increase made me want to understand who we’re still failing to reach and what is driving these maternal and perinatal health disparities.”

The posters and presentations were judged by members of the school’s faculty and staff, who assessed the quality of the work as well as how eloquently it was explained. Announced as winners were:

• Best communication of public health research and evidence: MPH students Caven Ngoe, MD, and Bezaye Dessie, MD, for “Prevalence and severity of mental health disorders among U.S. veterans: a cross-sectional analysis using BRFSS 2023 data.”

• Best overall public health data analysis: PhD student Sarah Stolker, MSPT, for “Adoption of indocyanine green lymphography imaging in lymphedema care: A national survey of U.S. lymphedema therapists and implications for access to evidence-based care.”
• Best research to understand the broader determinants of health: MPH student Cole Maher, for “Substance use screening and emergency department utilization among foster youth in St. Louis, Missouri: A retrospective cohort study.”

Judith Mwobobia is the inaugural Writing Fellow for the WashU Public Health Office of Communications. Mwobobia is a PhD student in public health sciences and previously was a journalist in Kenya. She writes profiles and helps cover the news of the school, with a particular focus on student- and education-related stories.