The 2020-2021 class of Mu Chapter inductees included 28 new members. Each Spring,
eligible students are contacted by the Mu Chapter directly to apply for membership.
Faculty and alumni application information is sent out through Arnold School listservs.
For questions about membership criteria or applications, email deltaomg@mailbox.sc.edu.
Gabriel Benavidez
I am a PhD candidate in Epidemiology interested in the impact of social and environmental
influences on cancer outcomes within vulnerable populations. I hope to further expand
my research to improve how we measure and assess health disparities in epidemiological
research.
Ryan Leighton
I am an environmental microbiologist interested in marine pathogens and their interactions
with surfaces, specifically plastics. In the future I hope to work for a governmental
agency, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
Jiajia Zhang
My long term plan is to develop a risk prediction model to help the disease prevention,
management and control in public health. Particularly I am focusing on using electronic
health record data on infectious disease including HIV and COVID 19.
Peiyin Hung
My career goal is to develop a research program that assists community, state, and
federal agencies in evaluating and identifying evidence-based healthcare interventions
ensuring vulnerable populations, including those in underserved areas, prepare transitions
from one care setting to another, with subsequent improvements in health for all.
Jennifer O'Neill
My public health interest is to increase opportunities for physical activity through
policy and environmental changes and to educate future public health professionals.
Nabil Natafgi
My primary areas of research are focused performance improvement, evaluation of telehealth
intervention and policies, and methodologies of patients’ and stakeholders’ engagement
in research. My career goal is to further advance my research agenda while contributing
to teaching of our future generation of public health experts.
Dianna Colvin
- I have been working as a public health practitioner at UofSC for four year after
completing my Masters of Public Health program. My experience is with policy, systems
and environmental interventions and health communications. In the future, I would
like to help create state and national health communications campaigns.
Serena Finley
I hold a B.A. in Public Health and a Masters in Health Administration in Health Services
Policy and Management from the Arnold School of Public Health. My goal as a public
health professional is to address opportunities for improvement in my community. I
currently focus my education and experience in my role as the Electronic Health Record
Specialist for University Health Services at UofSC. Each day I do all that I can to
promote a healthy Carolina community, and provide clinical professionals with the
resources to give UofSC a welcoming health care environment and the highest quality
of care possible. I am excited to be contributing to UofSC health services and provide
quality documentation and reporting services for our growing patient population.
Diana Diaz
My interests are in child and maternal health, and cancer epidemiology. I plan on
continuing as an environmental epidemiologist to learn more and gain more experience
in these topic areas, so I can eventually work as an epidemiologist at a children's
hospital.
Eboni Haynes
Dr. Haynes plans to continue her research in the scholarship of teaching and learning
public health and quality improvement to advance public health performance. She also
plans to continue her work with federal HHS agencies, state agencies, and non-profits
in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within their organizations.
Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury
I am going to involve in academia and research. My future research interest areas
would include maternal and child health, health systems, mental health, and non-communicable
diseases. I am going to join a research intensive university as a faculty where I
can fulfill my dreams and contribute effectively to the society and also the scientific
community.
Allie Silverman
I am going to pursue a PhD in Social Policy with a concentration in Behavioral Health
from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. As
an NIAAA pre-doctoral trainee, I hope to further study substance use, national policies,
and sexual health in young adults.
Chloe Rodriguez Ramos
I will be continuing my work with the Institute for Families in Society for the Voices/Voces.
Brianna Ashford-Carroll
My public health interests are in maternal, child, and adolescent health, rural health,
and racial/ethnic minority health. My goal is to use the public health approach in
my career in medicine. I want to implement programs that serve the populations at
the intersection of my public health interests.
Hannah Vickery
Hannah “Blythe” Vickery plans to pursue a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
certification with an end goal of attaining a PhD focusing on individuals with hearing
loss. She desires to remain in South Carolina to increase the availability of auditory
verbal therapy for clients who would benefit from such services.
Hildehardo “JR” Viado
My public health interest(s) include addressing and mitigating environmental health
risks to communities that are impacted by environmental justice challenges. My future
plans include growing/mentoring the next generation of researchers and scientists
by establishing STEM programs in school systems located in rural areas.
Amanda Elmore
My public health focus is maternal and child health epidemiology. I am currently finishing
my PhD in epidemiology with a focus on perinatal health and maternal substance use.
I am also currently a contractor with the Florida Birth Defects Registry. My future
career plans include either a post-doc position in academia or a private sector epidemiologist.
Shelly-Ann Dakarai
My interests are in the delivery of healthcare services, particularly in low and middle-
income countries.
Melinda O'Leary
My interests are childhood obesity prevention and treatment.
Alexa Tavares
I will be devoting my public health career to serving those with disabilities.
Gabriella Reynolds
I am a speech-language pathologist who has worked with children with reading impairment
and children with hearing loss. As a researcher, I bring my clinical experience to
my research questions. Through mentorship of students, publications, and presentations
at conferences, I reach clinicians, and future clinicians, who work with these populations.
Alicia Oostdyk
I am interested in patient-provider communication and shared decision making for patients
with chronic conditions. After graduation, I will be looking to continue conducting
research in a healthcare or academic setting.
Adam Ereth
My background is in climate change, adaptation planning and sustainability. I hope
to use my education in Environmental Health Sciences to assist in creating common-sense
rules and regulations that will help reach national sustainability goals.
Tina Leonard
My public health interests include maternal/infant health, mental health, substance
use, and adverse childhood experiences. Through evaluation and research, I hope to
work with government agencies to improve program delivery and coordination of prevention
efforts to reduce adverse childhood experiences and promote positive well-being for
children in South Carolina.
Chloe Cobb
I plan to go to PA school to become a knowledgeable provider that can better the lives
of many patients by providing the information and care necessary for them to live
healthier lives.
Donald Baker
My name is Adam Baker, a senior in the Arnold School studying exercise science. After
graduation, I will be enrolling in a rehabilitation science doctoral program to pursue
a career devoted to advancing rehabilitation strategies from stroke, Parkinson’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders.
McKenzi Norris
Since graduation, I have been working as a COVID-19 contact tracer at UofSC. I will
be starting my MS in Epidemiology at the University of Washington this autumn in pursuit
of a research career in academia. My research and graduate interests include emerging
vector-borne and zoonotic infectious disease epidemiology.
Bethany Hamm
After graduation from USC, I plan to obtain my Masters in Healthcare Administration
to hopefully pursue a career in hospital management or healthcare consulting. During
my career, I hope to increase access to healthcare in rural areas.
Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.