2020 News Archive

Arnold Institute on Aging, Office for the Study of Aging awards inaugural Research Fellowship to Jason Yang

Chih-Hsiang (Jason) Yang has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Office for the Study of Aging Research Fellowship, which is designed to support Arnold School faculty and professional staff to conduct aging research.

UofSC researchers to acquire instrument for measurement of ground truth

Stacy Fritz, professor of exercise science and director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, is a co-investigator on a $500K National Science Foundation grant to bring and Omnipercipient Chamber to UofSC.

December graduate pursues career in speech-language pathologist to work with individuals across the lifespan

Marian Easler made the most of the opportunities presented by the Master of Speech Pathology program (recently renamed Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology - Residential), particularly in the many clinical opportunities it provided.

Doctoral student completes epidemiology degree to improve health in Armenia

Maria Sevoyan joined the Arnold School and spent the next several years amassing knowledge and experience in new epidemiology methods, analytical skills and techniques to use in clinical and public health research.

Arnold School's Maternal and Child Health Public Health Catalyst Program selects inaugural Maternal and Child Health Graduate Scholars

As part of the Arnold School's Maternal and Child Health Public Health Catalyst Program, these scholarships provide funding to promising students to pursue research in areas related to the health and well-being of mothers, children, and adolescents.

December graduate makes UofSC and Doctor of Physical Therapy program a family tradition

Physical therapy appealed to Kelly Shepherd, who had always been physically active and appreciated the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. She also liked getting to know patients as individuals with specific goals.

Public health graduate heads to medical school to empower others to take control of their health

Matthew Telfer chose to attend UofSC after he was admitted into the South Carolina Honors College and offered an Academic-Scholar Elite Award. He decided to study public health to better understand the preventive side of medicine.

December graduate earns master's degree to change careers, working with middle school students as a speech-language pathologist

Amy Douglass' journey ultimately led her to find her ideal area of speech-language pathology: school-age literacy and aural rehabilitation. After her December graduation, she will work with middle schoolers at in a public school district in a rural community.

Two-time Arnold School graduate (DPT, Ph.D. in Exercise Science) lands position as physical therapy assistant professor

After seven years at the Arnold School, Reed Handlery is leaving UofSC with the two highest degrees offered by the Department of Exercise Science: a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science.

I Am Public Health: Roddrick Dugger

Doctoral student in the nation's No. 1 program (Ph.D. in EXSC) uses innovative approach to childhood obesity prevention among children from low-income and ethnic-minority backgrounds by identifying communities' strengths and amplifying them.

Public health graduate plans career in speech-language pathology, beginning with an Arnold School master's degree

After spending a day with a speech-language pathologist, Emma Grace Cornell knew she had found her passion. With several Gamecock alumni in her family, Cornell chose the Arnold School's public health major as a pathway to pursing a COMD career.

Vegan soul food: Will it help fight heart disease, obesity?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) offers an in-depth look at one of the projects they support -- health promotion, education, and behaviors associate professor Brie Turner-McGrievy's NEW Soul Study.

Nansi Boghossian wins NIH R01 grant to shed light on why racial and ethnic disparities persist in maternal adverse outcomes

The National Institutes of Health has awarded nearly $3.5 million to epidemiology associate professor Nansi Boghossian to examine the links between racial/ethnic disparities and higher-level factors such as hospital quality and Medicaid expansion.

Clarivate Analytics names Jamie Lead and Steven Blair to Highly Cited Researchers List once again

SmartState Endowed Chair Jamie Lead (ENHS; CENR) and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Steven Blair (Epidemiology and Biostatistics; EXSC) have once again been included in the Clarivate Analytics' Highly Cited Researchers List.

Victoria Lambert wins National Institutes of Health supplement to support dissertation research addressing cancer disparities among Latinos

Victoria Lambert, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, has been awarded a $200K grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct research addressing cancer disparities among Latinos.

UofSC No. 1 in U.S. in sport science for fourth time

The University of South Carolina continues to lead the way in sport science in the United States, with its programs ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fourth consecutive time in the Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.

National Rural Health Association selects Whitney Zahnd to join Rural Health Fellows Program

Following in the footsteps of Rural and Minority Health Research Center core faculty Jan Eberth (director), Elizabeth Crouch (deputy director), Peiyin Hung, and Melinda Merrell, Whitney Zahnd will join the Rural Health Fellows Program.

Mohammed Baalousha wins grant to examine release and impact of nanomaterials into environment due to wildfires

Mohammed Baalousha, an associate professor with the ENHS department and Center for Nanoscience and Environmental Research, is co-leading a Rapid Response Research Collaborative project to assess the effects of the 2020 fire season.

Doctoral student researches literacy interventions for children with hearing loss, selected to join national leadership program

Ellie Cooper, a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders, has been selected as a member of the 2020 Early Childhood Leadership Initiative Cohort of the Division of Early Childhood/Council for Exceptional Children.

Alumna Shaena Rouse makes good on commitment to improve health in South Carolina and beyond

Since her 2011 graduation, Rouse has applied lessons from her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior program to her work as a public health professional with UofSC, the SC Institute for Medicine and Public Health, and United Way.

Health promotion, education, and behavior researchers lead two new projects focusing on food insecurity

Edward Frongillo and collaborators have been awarded two R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health to study an intervention for individuals with diabetes and research aimed at reducing HIV and cardiovascular disease health disparities.

Danielle Brown (Ph.D. in Epidemiology) awarded NIH Diversity Supplement to examine how food insecurity affects diabetes among youth

Brown will use data from the SEARCH Food Security study to conduct her dissertation research, examining the experiences of food insecure youth and young adults with diabetes who have mental health problems.

I Am Public Health: Chloe Rodriguez Ramos

A passion for mapping the origins of pets' infectious diseases during her time as a veterinary assistant led Chloe Rodriguez Ramos to pursue her second UofSC degree - a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology.

Arnold School welcomes Christina Andrews, who specializes in addiction treatment

Christina Andrews has joined the Department of Health Services Policy and Management. The associate professor's interests in addiction treatment, particularly in response to the opioid epidemic, overlap with many HSPM researchers.

Health promotion, education, and behavior researchers and alumna examine how government officials behave during presidential transitions

One of their papers focused on the way government officials behave during these times of change - gaining insights that can be applied to presidential transitions in any country, including the United States as we enter the final months of an election year.

Assistant professor Peiyin Hung, Rural and Minority Health Research Center contribute to Rural Action Plan

The Rural Task Force developed the plan based on the work and input of rural researchers and organizations, such as health services policy and management assistant professor Peiyin Hung and the Rural and Minority Health Research Center.

State public health, academic and community leaders launch innovative new project to determine COVID-19 prevalence and immunity across South Carolina: SC STRONG

Melissa Nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology, and Virginie Daguise, director of DHEC's Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, are launching a new representative testing strategy to prospectively assess and monitor COVID-19 within South Carolina.

Ph.D. in Epidemiology candidate Lauren Reid selected to join American College of Sports Medicine's Leadership and Diversity Training Program

Lauren Reid is interested in how food insecurity affects people with diabetes. Her dissertation research focuses on how food insecurity is associated with glycemic control, physical activity and diet quality of youth and young adults with diabetes.

A decade at the top. Ph.D. in Exercise Science program ranks No. 1 in the nation for the second five-year term in a row

Released every five years since 1995, the National Academy of Kinesiology rankings are based on comprehensive information packages submitted by doctoral programs that focus on the study of physical activity.

CERortho awarded grant to assess effectiveness of surgery in treating musculoskeletal conditions

John Brooks, HSPM professor and director of CERortho, has won nearly $1.4 million from the Department of Health and Human Services to examine how early surgery affects health outcomes for people with musculoskeletal issues.

Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery renews funding with $12.5 million award, launches new projects

Julius Fridriksson broke records in 2016 when he won $11.2 million from the National Institutes of Health. In its next phase, C-STAR will expand its work to include two new clinical trials and two large projects.

Doctoral student Joshua Mercadel awarded National Cancer Institute Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

With epidemiology associate professor Jim Burch serving as mentor, Mercadel will use the three-year grant to support his dissertation research examining the role of circadian factors in inflammation and colorectal adenoma risk.

Doctoral student selected to join Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Health Policy Research Scholars Program

Just one year into his Ph.D. in Epidemiology program, Gabriel Benavidez has added another layer to his training and education. He was recently selected to join the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program.

I Am Public Health: Sophia Negaro

Doctoral student pursues Ph.D. in Health Services Policy and Management to advance mental health illness diagnosis, treatment and outcomes by combining interests in early symptom detection and intervention research.

Office for the Study of Aging releases 2020 Alzheimer's Disease Registry Annual Report

As the nation’s most comprehensive registry of its kind, the Alzheimer’s Disease Registry has maintained a record of diagnosed cases of ADRD in the state since 1988. Learn more with the latest report.

Researchers partner with patients to develop mobile app for enhanced physician-patient communication

Led by assistant professor Melanie Cozad, the team recently won its second Pfizer grant to collaborate with patients in improving physician-patient communication through the development of a patient-designed mobile app.

Angela Liese wins $1.25M grant to continue studying diabetes among youth, leveraging electronic medical records and novel mathematical tools

Liese will serve as principal investigator for the South Carolina-based component ($1.25 million) of the nationwide $15 million, five-year project assessing the burden of diabetes by type in children, adolescents and young adults known as DiCAYA.

American Heart Association elects Abbi Lane-Cordova as Fellow

Conferred by the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health, the Fellowship recognizes outstanding professional members for excellence, innovative and sustained contributions in the areas of scholarship, practice/education and volunteer service.

Podcast features Julie Smithwick discussing health equity, health disparities, social determinants of health

Julie Smithwick, director of the Arnold School's Center for Community Health Alignment, explains strategies that healthcare organizations can use to build a more equitable healthcare system and address social determinants of health.

UofSC Faculty Garner More Than $279 Million in Research and Sponsored Awards Funding

Health science research funding totaled nearly $94 million from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services, with Arnold School members leading numerous high-impact projects.

Health promotion, education, and behavior alumna lands assistant professor position at Harvard University

After winning a $1.1 million NIH Pathway to Independence Award, Stephanie Child researched social networks and cardiovascular disease at the University of California. Now she'll join Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as an assistant professor.

Donaldson Conserve wins emerging professional award and prestigious HIV fellowship

The 2020 Emerging Professional - Graduate Degree Award is from Conserve's alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. The fellowship is his selection into the HIV Prevention Trials Network Scholar Program.

Speech-language pathology student wins national award, pursues career in auditory verbal therapy

A Columbia native herself, Blythe Vickery is committed to increasing access to auditory verbal therapy in South Carolina and plans to pursue a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification after her 2021 graduation.

Public health seniors Jared Dawson and Emily Saathoff win Rotary Global Grants to pursue master of public health degrees abroad

Jared "JD" Dawson will complete an MPH at the University of Cape Town, studying disease prevention and treatment. Emily Saathoff will complete an MPH with a focus on child and maternal health at the University of Ghana.

Jan Eberth tapped to lead American College of Epidemiology

Jan Eberth, who is an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the director of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, will serve as president-elect during the 2020-2021 year and then president from 2021-2022.

Rural Health and Minority Research Center awarded $2.8 million from Health Resources & Services Administration

Jan Eberth (director) and Elizabeth Crouch (deputy director), co-principal investigators for the Arnold School's Rural and Minority Health Research Center, have been awarded funding to support the Center for another four years.

Leila Larson brings global health background, child nutrition/development expertise to HPEB department

She is using her expertise in child development and malnutrition in studies in Malawi and Bangladesh to examine the effects of nutritional supplementation in early life on cognitive functioning and health of children and their mothers.

Call for Proposals! Graduate funding opportunity in maternal and child health research

The UofSC Maternal and Child Health Catalyst Program invites proposals from graduate students and will fund up to three graduate scholars to pursue research in areas related to the health and well-being of mothers, children and adolescents.

I Am Public Health: Natalie Hirons

Master of Communication Disorders student changes careers to combine research and working with patients directly and engage in a profession that offers opportunities for growth and flexibility while working with diverse populations.

Master's student Kara Keiper wins national scholarship from American College of Healthcare Executives

Kara Keiper, an MHA student in the HSPM department, is one of just 14 recipients nationwide to receive a graduate student scholarship from the Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2020.

Curiosity and nanotechnology in environmental chemistry: meet Professor Jamie Lead

Jamie Lead joined Environmental Chemistry as it's new Editor-in-Chief. CSIROPublishing spoke to him about what inspires him in his work, and how an understanding of nanomaterials is supporting environmental chemistry research.

Researchers develop comprehensive index for assessing environmental factors that promote, deter obesity

Scientists from across the Arnold School have collaborated to develop the first comprehensive obesogenic environment (i.e., an environment that promotes weight gain/deters weight loss) index for youth in the United States.

Researchers outline potential impacts of COVID-19 on older adults living with HIV

Monique Brown and Sharon Weissman have published a paper on the impact of COVID-19 on older adults living with HIV, describing HIV care and psychosocial effects for this group during the coronavirus pandemic.

Graduate boosts clinical research skills, complementing medical degree with master's in biostatistics

Xingpei Zhao chose biostatistics to improve her analytical skills in clinical research. The Arnold School's Master of Science in Public Health in Biostatistics offered her ideal curriculum, and the enthusiasm of the faculty members confirmed her decision.

UofSC researchers leverage technology to engage hard-to-reach patients

With funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, co-principal investigators Nabil Natafgi and Ann Blair Kennedy will develop a diabetes-focused Virtual Patient (VIP) Engagement Studio to remotely connect with diabetes patients.

Fit students more likely to achieve academic success, despite poverty status

Research led by exercise science professor Russell Pate has found that the odds of achieving academic standards are significantly higher among students who have higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, regardless of poverty status.

Physician completes Global Health Fellowship Program to prevent and treat chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries

Physician Audrey Gleaton chose UofSC’s Family Medicine-Global Health Fellowship Program, which includes an MPH in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, to prepare for a career preventing/treating chronic diseases in low-/middle-income countries.

2nd generation Gamecock Amelia Wilks finds her 'thing' at UofSC

UofSC features Amelia Wilks, a second generation Gamecock graduating with a public health degree in August. The former intern for Congressman James Clyburn has already landed a job at CityBright LLC, a political consulting firm.

Study aims to understand effects of COVID-19 on the brain, cognition and language processing

The Aging Brain Cohort (ABC), one of eight high-impact projects established by UofSC's Excellence Initiative in 2019, has launched a study to learn more about the negative cognitive and neurological effects of COVID-19.

Doctoral graduate applies academic lessons daily as grants manager for SC DHEC

For the past year, Tramaine McMullen has worked at SC DHEC as a program evaluator. More recently, she took on the role of opioids grants manager for the Midlands Public Health Region.

COMD Chair Jean Neils-Strunjas elected Fellow of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Jean Neils-Strunjas, who recently joined the Arnold School's COMD department as professor and chair, has been has been awarded the Fellowship of the Association by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Whitney Zahnd awarded American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant

Whitney Zahnd, a research assistant professor with the Rural and Minority Health Research Center is one of four researchers to receive one of these grants distributed by the SmartState Center for Medication Safety and Efficacy.

Graduate Scholar in Aging Opportunity: Arnold School announces 2020 Graduate Scholar in Aging Research Awards Program

Through the generous support of Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold, the Arnold School of Public Health is committed to developing future leaders in aging research. This award program recognizes up to two outstanding graduate students.

I Am Public Health: Selena Ready DeConti

Pharmacist enhances career with U.S. Public Health Services by learning holistic approaches to public health as a student in the Online Master of Public health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior - Professional Program.

Master of Speech Pathology graduate pursues career working with children to help them thrive

During her program, Erin Van Meter learned more about swallowing difficulties and feeding disorders among pediatric populations and discovered an interest in the diagnostic process.

Daniela Friedman guest edits special issue on communication and aging for Journal of Women & Aging

The Journal of Women and Aging, a journal on which HPEB professor Daniela Friedman serves as an associate editor, has published a special issue: Communication and Aging: Challenges and Opportunities for Older Women.

Peace Corps alum graduates with Master of Public Health and continues with Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior

Emily Loud has refined her focus to tobacco control and smoking cessation -- working alongside Jim Thrasher on several of his federally funded projects related to health warning labels on cigarette packs and reduced nicotine cigarette messaging.

Research links adverse pregnancy outcomes, menopausal symptoms to increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Exercise science assistant professor Abbi Lane-Cordova has published research linking certain adverse pregnancy outcomes, menopause symptoms, and estimated risk for heart disease or stroke in the next 10 years.

Inaugural South Carolina SNAP-Ed impact report highlights program's state-wide reach

The South Carolina State SNAP-Ed Program has published its first-ever annual impact report, sharing the ways that the federal (USDA funding/oversight) nutrition assistance program provides support to communities throughout the state.

Jean Neils-Strunjas brings interprofessional focus to new role as COMD chair

With more than four decades in the field, Neils-Strunjas brings extensive leadership experience to her role. Her interprofessional research approach also makes her a good fit for leading a diverse department.

Public health researcher connects the dots between hearing impairment, language development

UofSC features communication sciences and disorders associate professor and Breakthrough Star Krystal Werfel, whose work focuses on literacy achievement for children with hearing loss and/or language disorders.

Study reveals how non-alcoholic fatty liver disease causes Alzheimer's-like neuroinflammation

Research from Saurabh Chatterjee's laboratory at the department of environmental health sciences has revealed the cause behind the previously established link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and neurological problems.

I Am Public Health: Katya Altman

Environmental health sciences doctoral student uses transdisciplinary sustainability science to tackle complex societal problems, such as climate change, that affect public health and the future of our planet.

STEP Project researchers assess perceptions of implementing HIV self-testing in Haiti

Donaldson Conserve, health promotion, education, and behavior assistant professor, has begun investigating the possibility of implementing his NIH-funded Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) Project in the Caribbean.

10 UofSC Students Named Fulbright U.S. Student Finalists

Arnold School graduates Samuel Breazeale and Christina Nielsen have been named as 2020 Fulbright Finalists and Paige Huffman has been selected as an alternate. They are among 10 finalists and three alternates to be chosen from UofSC.

Arnold School researchers receive National Institutes of Health grant to study sexual and gender minority health

Xiaoming Li and Shan Qiao, faculty members of the HPEB Department and the SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality have been awarded a competitive supplement grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Jan Eberth named 2020 Outstanding Researcher of the Year by National Rural Health Association

The National Rural Health Association has selected Jan Eberth, associate professor of epidemiology and director of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award.

Four exercise science students win awards from American Kinesiology Association

Students in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in the Department of Exercise Science have been recognized as the UofSC recipients for the 2020 National Scholar Awards from the American Kinesiology Association.

UofSC Big Data Health Science Center investigators receive $1.25million NIH grant to develop data-driven strategies in fighting COVID-19

Led by Xiaoming Li and Bankole Olatosi, this two-year grant will allow the team to develop a database system for collating surveillance, clinical, multi-omics and geospatial data on SC COVID-19 patients and health workers treating them.

Doctoral candidate wants to take physical therapy to the next level

UofSC features Bachelor of Exercise Science alumnus and current Doctor of Physical Therapy student Brooks Herring -- a veteran who is seeking to help injured soldiers regain full strength.

Public health researcher addresses stigma, isolation of people living with HIV

UofSC features Breakthrough Star Shan Qiao, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior and a researcher with the South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality.

COVID-19 highlights underlying racial health disparities

UofSC talks to epidemiology assistant professor Monique Brown, who is also a researcher with the Rural and Minority Health Research Center and CHQ, about how COVID-19 highlights underlying racial health disparities.

Jihong Liu wins grant to advance Arnold School training and curriculum in maternal and child health

The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $450,000 to epidemiology professor Jihong Liu, who will lead the Arnold School's maternal and child health experts in bolstering programming and training opportunities in this area.

Doctoral students publish research on HIV testing in global contexts

Working with mentor and global health researcher Donaldson Conserve, Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior students Dawit Alemu and Akeen Hamilton have published papers on HIV testing as lead authors.

Exercise Science Chair Shawn Arent elected as Active Fellow in National Academy of Kinesiology

Shawn Arent has been elected as an Active Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology. Arent was selected for this recognition due to his commitment to exercise science, kinesiology and public health.

Anthony Alberg leads development of policy statement on skin cancer prevention for American Society of Clinical Oncology

Anthony Alberg, the chair of the Arnold School's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and an internationally renowned cancer epidemiologist, served as lead author on the policy statement, which was published in JCO Oncology Practice.

Twitter could help predict future outbreaks thanks to UofSC research

Arnold School faculty Xiaoming Li (HPEB) and Dwayne Porter (ENHS) collaborate with geography associate professor Zhenlong Li through the Big Data Health Science Center to learn about people's movements based on location data embedded in tweets.

Prevention Research Center investigators identify factors related to successful implementation of Faith, Activity, and Nutrition Program

PRC scientists have completed a study investigating the factors that make churches more or less likely to improve physical activity and healthy eating among their members through the implementation the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition program.

I Am Public Health: Sydney Smith

Master of Science in Public Health in Biostatistics student gains hands-on experience through graduate assistantship with Arnold School's Office for the Study of Aging.

Coronavirus in wastewater treatment plants potential pathway to population testing

UofSC features the research of environmental health sciences associate professor Sean Norman, who is partnering with CDC and SC DHEC to detect COVID-19 in 11 locations.

Edward Frongillo wins national award from American Society for Nutrition Foundation

The American Society for Nutrition Foundation has recognized Edward Frongillo with the E.V. McCollum International Lectureships in Nutrition Award, which is designed to recognize individuals who advance nutritional science and its application.

Claflin students win Clyburn Scholarships to earn B.S. and MPH through 4+1 Dual Degree Program

Emersen Frazier and Jamal Walker, rising seniors at Claflin University, have been selected to receive the James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Public Health Endowed Scholarship Award to complete the 4+1 Dual Degree Program.

Center for Community Health Alignment awarded grant to enhance equity through cross-sector alignment

With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Aligning Systems for Health has awarded $273K to the Arnold School's Center for Community Health Alignment - one of seven recipients out of more than 150 applications for funding.

Jim Thrasher wins UofSC Educational Foundation Research Award for Health Sciences

Jim Thrasher has been named the 2020 recipient of the Educational Foundation Research Award for Health Sciences. He is the fourth Arnold School faculty member to win this award in the past five years and the seventh Arnold School winner in the past 12 years.

Arnold School faculty members to serve as principal investigators on 13 projects supported by 2020 ASPIRE grants

Faculty members from across the Arnold School received funding through the Office of the Vice President for Research's Advanced Support for Innovative Research Excellence (ASPIRE) program.

COVID-19 crisis adds new layer to diabetes study, researchers provide resources to vulnerable participants

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer to epidemiology professor Angela Liese's SEARCH Food Security Study: providing much-needed support and resources to individuals with diabetes.

Arnold School Center trains, supports community health workers as they serve SC communities on front lines of COVID-19 crisis

Julie Smithwick couldn't have known the COVID-19 pandemic would arrive just one year later, but the Community Health Worker Institute launched just in time to prepare its first cohort of community health workers for a greater challenge than anyone foresaw.

Charles Matthews and Nitin Shivappa win 2020 Arnold School Alumni Awards

Charles (Chuck) Matthews (M.S. in Exercise Science, 1991) has been awarded the Norman J. Arnold Alumni Medal, and Nitin Shivappa (Ph.D. in Epidemiology, 2014) is the recipient of the Gerry Sue Arnold Alumni Award.

Doctoral graduate builds expertise in leveraging tobacco control policies to combat nicotine addiction

Over the past six years, Yoojin Cho has worked with health promotion, education, and behavior professor Jim Thrasher to study the behavioral and regulatory aspects of tobacco control research. She'll continue their research with a postdoctoral fellowship.

Exercise science graduate pursues career combining occupational therapy with adaptive sports and recreation

Mackenzie Walker became interested in adaptive sports and recreation when she began volunteering with the Brooks Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports and Recreation program after high school.

Public health graduate to gain clinical experience before applying to medical school

After graduating this month, Zachary Travis will take the next step toward his future career as a physician by working as a clinical donation specialist with We Are Sharing Hope SC to gain experience.

Athletic training graduate to complete residency in orthopedics and diagnostics

During his Master of Science in Advance Athletic Training program, Kacey Ohlemeyer has developed interests in nutrition, manual therapy, professionalism and outcome measures.

COVID-19 impact: Why are hospitals laying off nurses in the middle of a pandemic?

Clinical associate professor of health services policy and management Bankole Olatosi answers UofSC questions about how hospitals are struggling financially because of strains brought on by the pandemic.

Master's graduate lands position with Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

During his Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology program, Samuel Godfrey explored the many areas of public health including mental health, substance abuse/misuse, and environmental health.

Alumnus selected for American Association of State Colleges and Universities 2020 Emerging Leaders Program

Shaun Owens, an assistant professor in the College of Social Work and an alumnus of the Arnold School's Ph.D. in HPEB program, will complete a project on UofSC's efforts to impact on statewide economic development and innovation.

Public health graduate to continue Arnold School education studying speech language pathology

After joining the COMD department's Master of Science - Residential program this fall, Meghan Smith will have the opportunity to continue learning more about specific language impairment.

Office of Research Announces Recipients of the COVID-19 Internal Funding Initiative

Arnold School faculty will lead and/or contribute to 17 of the 42 projects recently funded through a special internal initiative from the Office of the Vice President for Research to support research and scholarship related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I Am Public Health: Nancy Uriegas

Athletic trainer pursues Ph.D. in Exercise Science (No. 1 in the nation) to learn more about eating disorders and energy availability among performing artist and military populations.

Public health graduate to pursue two health-related master's degrees with full scholarship

With a long-term goal of earning a medical degree, Jordan Hammond chose to study public health because she wanted to learn more about the humanistic and social sciences aspects of healthcare.

Insights on how COVID-19 affects cancer patients

Faculty member Swann Arp Adams, professor in the College of Nursing and the Arnold School of Public Health, provides insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect current or recovering cancer patients and their families.

Center for Community Health Alignment awards grants to support five SC organizations to determine economic and social return on investment of the community health worker model

One year after its launch, the Arnold School's Center for Community Health Alignment has announced the recipients of its first competitive grants program as part of the Center's Community Health Worker Institute.

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology graduate builds expertise in infectious diseases

Brianna Tennie has successfully built her knowledge and skills in infectious diseases and clinical epidemiology as a result of her academic coursework and research/practicum experiences.

Linda Hazlett recognized with University of South Carolina Integrity Award

The Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity has selected Linda Hazlett, clinical associate professor and graduate director for epidemiology, as the recipient of the 2020 University of South Carolina Integrity Award.

Public health graduate to pursue master's degree in health policy and global health

Anna Book, a May graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program, will soon begin a Master of Public Health program at Columbia University where she'll study health policy and global health.

Arnold School announces 2020 Faculty Award winners, recognizing faculty members in the areas of teaching, research and service

The Arnold School is proud to announce the recipients of the 2020 Faculty Awards: James A. Keith Excellence in Teaching Award (Myriam Torres), Faculty Research Award (Suzanne McDermott), and Faculty Service Award (Andrew Kaczynski).

UofSC recognizes the service, scholarship, leadership and character of the undergraduate student community with 2019-2020 awards

Congratulations to Zach Goldberg, who won the Steven N. Swanger Award, and to the many public health and exercise science students who were recognized with 37 Outstanding Senior Awards and 15 President's Awards from UofSC.

May graduate leverage exercise science degree to pursue career in anesthesiology

Shortly after her May graduation, exercise science major Henson Sullivan will begin a Master's in Anesthesia program to become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant at a children's hospital.

Study examines mHealth intervention to reduce sedentary behavior among individuals with knee replacements

Christine Pellegrini, an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise Science, has been awarded a $600K NIH grant from the to reduce the amount of time that total knee replacement patients spend engaged in sedentary behaviors.

Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs honors PASOs with health equity award

In 2020, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs honored PASOs Health Connections with the Contributes to Achieving Health Equity Award, which recognize especially innovative and effective practices in maternal and child health.

COVID-19 response: Arnold School faculty rise to challenge of online teaching

In the new world of distance learning, faculty are getting a crash course in online education — and the learning curve can be steep. But it’s not insurmountable, says Lucy Ingram, assistant dean for academic affairs and online education.

I Am Public Health: Sabrina Karim

Doctoral student (Ph.D. in Epidemiology) pursues career in maternal/child health and mental health issues after battling depression and losing a child to sudden infant death syndrome.

Arnold School associate professors receive faculty service awards from Office of the Vice President for Research

The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the 2020 research-related service awards, and associate professors Jan Eberth and Brie Turner-McGrievy are among those selected from across the university.

Kenn Apel wins Honors of the Association award from South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association has selected Kenn Apel, professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, to receive the Honors of the Association.

2019-2020 SPARC Graduate Research Grants awarded to 12 Arnold School graduate students

Graduate students from across the Arnold School have earned 2019-2020 SPARC Graduate Research Grants from the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research to fund individual scholarship initiatives.

Researchers win $11.16 Million Grant to Launch a Research Center on Children’s Well-Being

Professor Ron Prinz (College of Arts and Sciences) landed an $11.16 million grant to establish the NIH Research Center for Child Well-Being with Exercise Science Professor Michael Beets and 15 other UofSC collaborators.

Mufaro Kanyangarara boosts Arnold School's global health and infectious diseases expertise

In 2019, Mufaro Kanyangarara joined the Arnold School to continue advancing her research in the areas of global health and infectious diseases, particularly those affecting mothers, newborns and children in low- and middle-income countries.

Research finds athletes with ADHD or learning disabilities at greater risk for incurring concussions, face harder recoveries

Members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association have been presenting and publishing findings from a series of studies on concussions among athletes who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Taking it to the next level. Environmental health sciences assistant professor Guoshuai Cai harnesses the power of bioinformatics

Guoshuai Cai was studying microbiology as a master's student when he first encountered the emerging field of bioinformatics - the development of software tools for understanding biological data - which was riding a wave of explosive growth.

Ph.D. student awarded predoctoral fellowship from American Heart Association

After a few years as a physical therapist, Allison Lewis began looking at doctoral programs to better understand how to optimize clinical interventions and found her way to the Arnold School's Ph.D. in Exercise Science program (ranked No. 1 in the nation).

Epidemiology students win awards for spirituality and public health essays

Two doctoral students in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics have won awards for their submissions to the 2019 Spirituality and Public Health Student Essay Contest. Rajat Das Gupta won first prize, and Maxwell Akonde won third prize.

Alumnus included in 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health list by National Minority Quality Forum

Shaun Owens, an assistant professor in the College of Social Work and an alumnus of the Arnold School's Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior program, has been recognized for his work on behalf of older adults and cancer patients.

Alumna strikes balance between military service and career in science

Ph.D. in HPEB alumna Julianna Jayne leads the Military Nutrition Division in providing the biomedical science basis for nutritional approaches that enable optimal performance for services members.

Communication sciences and disorders doctoral student leads development of top 10 paper

Members of the COMD department's Aphasia Laboratory have published a paper included in the top ten list for the most downloaded/read articles of the 750 papers published by American Speech and Hearing Association journals in 2019.

Anthony Alberg co-authors 2020 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking Cessation

Anthony Alberg, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and cancer epidemiologist with experience researching the health effects of cigarettes, contributed to the 2020 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking.

Physical therapy student wins scholarship from National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation

Brooks Herring, a 2018 graduate of the B.S. in Exercise Science program and a current student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been awarded the 2019 Challenge Scholarship from the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation.

Study finds surgery linked to increased mortality rates among older adults with proximal humerus fracture

Research by investigators at the Center for Effectiveness Research in Orthopaedics has found that higher rates of surgery to treat proximal humerus fractures were associated with increased mortality rates and other adverse health outcomes.

Students gain hands-on experience researching HIV intervention/prevention and other intersecting areas of interest

Epidemiology assistant professor Monique Brown's work in HIV intervention and prevention, childhood trauma, social and behavioral mental health, and aging has provided students with opportunities to engage in impactful public health research.

Collaboration in the classroom. Public health professors team up to teach Health Program Planning course

UofSC features health promotion education, and behavior clinical associate professor Lee Pearson and academic affiliate Megan Weis on their collaboration co-teaching a Health Program Planning course.

National Rural Health Association selects Melinda Merrell to join Rural Health Fellows Program

Melinda Merrell, a research assistant professor with the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, has been selected by the National Rural Health Association to join the 2020 cohort of the organization's Rural Health Fellows Program.

Susan Steck wins national research award from Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has selected Susan Steck, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, as the recipient of the 2019 Award for Excellence in the Practice of Dietetics Research.

Lisa Fitton wins grant to help improve educational assessments for dual language learners

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Lisa Fitton, a COMD assistant professor, to support her efforts to improve educational outcomes for children from diverse backgrounds.

Four Arnold School graduate students named 2020 Breakthrough Graduate Scholars

Yoojin Cho (HPEB), Lynsey Keator (COMD), Elizabeth Regan (EXSC) and Sutapa Sarkar (ENHS) were among the 14 Breakthrough Scholars selected for superior performance in their programs and an impressive list of achievements.

Study reveals pediatric mortality rates declining more slowly for rural children compared to urban peers

Recent research led by Health Services Policy and Management Distinguished Professor Emerita Janice Probst has found that the decline of deaths among children living in the rural U.S. has lagged behind rates of decline for urban children.

I Am Public Health: Victoria Henbest

Communication sciences and disorders doctoral student begins academic career at University of South Alabama where she investigates the literacy skills of children with various abilities.

Shan Qiao (HPEB) and Krystal Werfel (COMD) named 2020 Breakthrough Stars

The UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research has selected Shan Qiao, an assistant professor in the HPEB department, and Krystal Werfel, an associate professor in the COMD department, as 2020 Breakthrough Stars.

Program helps caregivers of those with dementia

UofSC features Maggi Miller, a research assistant professor with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Office for the Study of Aging, about a coaching program for caregivers of individuals who have dementia (11% of SC adults 65 & over).

Public health researcher seeks large-scale cross-campus collaboration

UofSC features health promotion, education, and behavior associate professor Katrina Walsemann and the Carolina Consortium on Health, Inequalities and Populations she leads.

December graduate uses knowledge from online Master of Public Health program to provide better healthcare, reduce inequities

Keerthana Kumar became interested in public health while she was studying to become a physician. As a student at Saint James School of Medicine in the Netherlands, the Florida native completed clinical rotations at underserved hospitals in Chicago.

National Rural Health Association elects Elizabeth Crouch to Board of Trustees

Health services policy and management assistant professor Elizabeth Crouch has been elected by the National Rural Health Association to serve on its Board of Trustees as chair of the Research and Education Constituency Group.

Alumna wins Young Scholar Fellowship to study PTSD, social vulnerability and dementia among Earthquake survivors

Yu-Hsiu Lin, a 2015 graduate of the Arnold School's Ph.D. in Health Services Policy and Management program, has received the Young Scholar Fellowship from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology's Einstein Program.

December graduate Eboni Haynes (Ph.D. in HSPM) engages teens in land use planning

The Graduate School at the University of South Carolina has featured December graduate (Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior) and Graduate Civic Scholars alum Eboni Haynes for her work engaging teens in land use planning.

Exercise science assistant professor Chih-Hsiang "Jason" Yang uses within-person approach to improve health across the lifespan

With bachelor's and master's degrees in education, Jason Yang taught elementary school-aged children for six years in his native Taiwan. It was during a stint as a physical education teacher that the obesity epidemic really began to concern him.

December graduate earns second Arnold School degree to pursue career in exercise science

Michael Smith's career path has always been straight forward. The Columbia, South Carolina native has always been passionate about sports and physical activity. His interest in science made studying exercise science a natural fit.

Jim Burch wins grants to support two new projects: circadian factors and inflammation/cancer, shiftwork and disease prevention

The first, with a $3 million NCI grant, will examine circadian factors in inflammation and colorectal adenoma risk. The second project will use $800K from the NIJ to study atypical work hours and adaptation among law enforcement employees.

Two-time alumnus named endowed chair at University of Pittsburgh

Daniel Patterson, a 2001 graduate of the MPH and 2004 graduate of the Ph.D. in HSPM programs, has been named the James O. Page Professor of Emergency Healthcare Worker Safety in the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Epidemiology and biostatistics assistant professor Stella Self brings modelling expertise to Greenville Satellite campus

Self uses Bayesian approaches in vector borne diseases, maternal neonatal health, ecology and conservation research. She also uses spatial clustering analysis, random effects models, and Markov chain and Monte Carlo methods.

Beyond the Gates: Headed to Capitol Hill

The South Carolina Honors College features Mae Chinnes, a public health/Honors College graduate who is heading to Washington D.C. to start a new position as a staff assistant in Congressman Jim Clyburn’s office.

Suzanne McDermott receives Disability Section Allen Meyers Award for Research, Teaching and Advocacy from APHA

The American Public Health Association has selected epidemiology and biostatistics professor Suzanne McDermott as the recipient of the 2019 Disability Section Allen Meyers Award for Research, Teaching and Advocacy.

I Am Public Health: Seth Shelby

Physical education teacher pursues Online Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior - Professional Program to improve health among students, staff and the community.