EHS Department Newsletter Fall 2023
Table of Contents Letter from the Chair …………………... 3 Updates ……………………………………….. 4 Faculty …………………………………... 4 Students ………………………………… 5 Alumni …………………………………... 6 Staff …….………………………………... 7
Credits: Karen Gutensohn, 2nd Year MPH Student Jackie Becker, 2nd Year MPH Student Sanika Parasnis, 2nd Year MPH Student Brandy Coleman, Academic Assistant Erica Tyler, Communications and Marketing Coordinator Nina Kulacki, Director, Academic Programs
Spotlights …………………………………..… 8 Students ………………………………… 8 Graduated PhD Students ……………. 11 Meet Our New Students …………….. 12 PhD ………………………….………….. 12 MPH …………………………………….. 14 MPH 4+1 …………………………..…. 21 MS Data Science ………………….. 22 MS Toxicology …………………...... 24 Practicum Portraits …………………….. 26 MPH Students ………………..….… 26 4+1 …………………………………….... 38 PrIMER Trainees ……………………….… 39 Letter from SEA ………………………….. 48 Summer Workshops …………………... 49 New EHS Courses ……………………..... 50 Granville H. Sewell Lecture ….……… 51 Memories ………………………….…..…… 52 Publications …………………………….….. 54 Share Your News With Us ………….… 56 Pg. 2
Letter from the Chair Dear EHS Family: I am delighted to share the Fall 2023 EHS newsletter with you, but it is bittersweet as this will be my last. In January, I will be beginning my next chapter as the Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I am extremely grateful for the incredible seven-and-a-half years that I’ve spent as the Chair of EHS at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In the EHS newsletter that announced my arrival to Columbia—together with Drs. Markus Hilpert and Ana Navas-Acien—in June 2016, Dr. Joe Graziano used the slogan “Amazing Things are Happening Here” to detail EHS future. Amazing things have indeed happened and—be sure—will continue to happen for years to come. Together the EHS family has broken ground in new research domains, enhanced the academic curriculum, and fostered an environment conducive to dialogue and innovation. Our successes have not been a product of any one individual's efforts but the outcome of our collaborative spirit and endeavors. I am fully confident that EHS is on an upward trajectory towards even loftier achievements. Moving forward, Dr. Regina Santella has generously agreed to step into the role of Interim Chair. For now, I’d like to focus on the incredible updates our department has made recently. This fall we welcomed the first cohort of MS in Environmental Health Data Science students. We are extremely excited to see this new program, directed by Dr. Tiffany Sanchez, come to fruition. This summer Drs. Anne Nigra and Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne launched the EARTH Program, a collaboration between EHS, the Columbia University Northern Plains Superfund Program, and Missouri Breaks Research Industries, Inc. Teams of high school student and teacher researchers conducted structured, on-site, locally relevant environmental health science research under the mentorship of EHS faculty. During this experience, students learned about the responsible conduct of research, environmental health challenges in Indigenous communities, and scientific communication and presentation. We’ve also recently welcomed several new faculty members. Dr. Randolph Reyes Singh joined us as an Assistant Professor. His work lies at the intersection of human health, environmental health, and analytical chemistry. Dr. Marcela Tamayo y Ortiz, whose research focuses on women’s environmental and occupational exposure, bone health, and body composition, joined us as an Associate Professor. Finally, Dr. Howie Wu, who has been with the department since 2018, was promoted to Assistant Professor. He is an environmental epidemiologist with a focus on reproductive, pulmonary, and neuropsychological health. In saying goodbye, I want to express my deepest appreciation for every member of the EHS family. Your unwavering dedication has been the cornerstone of our accomplishments. Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD Leon Hess Professor and Chair (He-Him) Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Pg. 3
Updates: Faculty Updates Dr. Julie Herbstman On June 28, Dr. Herbstman advised the State Health Department to mirror an Environmental Protection Agency proposal and reduce the amount of harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water to the lowest levels that tests can detect. Dr. Herbstman is a member of New York’s Drinking Water Quality Council. The council provides recommendations to the New York State Department of Health on emerging contaminants in drinking water. The aim is to maintain and improve the quality of New York’s drinking water supplies and infrastructure. The council consists of representatives from government, academia, the public, and drinking water systems who are uniquely qualified, with expertise in drinking water, water resources, environmental conservation, environmental engineering, microbiology, toxicology, and health risk assessment.
Drs. Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne and Annie Nigra EARTH Program, created by Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne and Annie Nigra, is a collaboration between the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Missouri Breaks Industries Research, Inc., The EARTH Program is funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. The Environmental Health Sciences health sciences Research for Teachers and High school students (EARTH) Program is a structured summer environmental health sciences research program for high school students and teachers from three Native communities in the Northern Plains. Locally based teams (one high school teacher and up to three students) conduct high-quality, locally relevant environmental health sciences research through collaboration with Columbia University and Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc (MBIRI) researchers.
Dr. Robbie Parks This year Dr. Parks established a lab group, SPARK Lab NYC, and welcomed many members, including Gali Cohen (Post-doctoral Fellow), Victoria D. Lynch (Postdoctoral Fellow), Gabriella Meltzer (Post-doctoral Fellow), Kelton Minor (Post-doctoral Fellow), Grace Santos (PhD Student), Raenita (Rae) Spriggs (PhD Student), Hingling Angel Yu (Master’s Student), and Xicheng Xie (Master’s Student). The first lab outing was to a Yankees Game in June 2023! Pg. 4
Updates: Students Updates
Christine Kuryla, PhD Student
First-year PhD student Christine presented their data on far UVC radiation effects in corneal epithelial cells this past June at the International Conference on Far-UVC Science and Technology (ICFUST), held in the Columbia University Vagelos Education Center in June.
Kevin Patterson, PhD Student On October 10th, CUNP-SRP Community Engagement Core Lead Rae O'Leary and Kevin Patterson were speakers for Dean Fried's Grand Rounds titled "What Would It Take To Increase Public Health in Indigenous Communities?" They discussed research translation, tribal sovereignty, and best practices for Indigenous-owned data.
Pg. 5
Updates: Alumni Updates Dr. Kyle J. Colonna, MPH ‘18
Dr. Colonna graduated with a PhD in Population Health Sciences from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health this past May. He also published his third and final dissertation paper entitled, Acute exposure to total and source-specific ambient fine particulate matter and risk of respiratory disease hospitalization in Kuwaita.
Dr. Richard Evoy, MPH ‘16 Dr. Evoy started a new position with the CDC as a research epidemiologist for the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health in the Western States Division. He will be doing occupational health and safety research for wildland firefighting.
Pg. 6
Updates: Staff Updates Dr. Ilan Cerna-Turoff,
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Dr. Cerna-Turoff was appointed to the World Health Organization (WHO) technical advisory group tasked with harmonizing and standardizing global child health and well-being indicators. He is currently advising on child health issues related to climate change, nurturing care, and gap areas of research.
Imke Folkerts, MPH, Staff Associate Dr. Norman Kleiman’s Staff Associate Imke Folkerts presented their data on far UVC radiation effects in corneal epithelial cells this past June at the International Conference on Far-UVC Science and Technology (ICFUST), held in the Columbia University Vagelos Education Center in June.
Dr. Katlyn McGraw, Postdoctoral Research Scientist Dr. McGraw gave two oral presentations, one at ISES 2023 in August in Chicago, IL on Cannabis Products and Trends in a Novel Cohort: The VapeScan Study, and one at ISEE 2023 in September in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Urine Cadmium Levels and Coronary Artery Calcification: A Longitudinal Study in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
Pg. 7
Spotlight: Student Kat Morgan, MPH 2nd Year
During my time with the Rockefeller Foundation, I managed a scoping review to investigate upstream drivers' impact on downstream variation in food crop composition. This project allowed me to present our preliminary findings at the 2023 Society for Ethnobotany and Society for Ethnobiology Joint Conference. The conference was held at my alma mater, Emory University, and I even presented in a lecture hall where I used to sit as a student! This research will inform food composition meta-data analysis and contribute to foodomics advancements for sustainable food systems. The final manuscript will categorize and map these drivers, shedding light on underresearched areas and identifying vulnerable food biomolecule groups. Watch the conference presentation here! Listen to me discuss my work on this podcast with the conference coordinator here! I am a published coauthor of an article I contributed to during my role at the Rockefeller Foundation. The article, What’s in a Tomato?: Mapping the Building Blocks of Food, was published in Frontiers for Young Minds, 2023. This open-access article is an accessible tour of tomatoes to expose young minds to science and the building blocks of food, known as biomolecules. The paper explores the thousands of biomolecules in food, many of which play important roles in nutrition and health. See the next page for an interview with Kat Morgan, lead by Karen Gutensohn, MPH 2nd year. Pg. 8
Kat Morgan Interview You mentioned co-authoring an article titled "What's in a Tomato?: Mapping the Building Blocks of Food," published in Frontiers for Young Minds in 2023. Can you provide a brief overview of the article and explain its significance in terms of exposing young minds to the science of food and biomolecules? The paper presents a collaborative, comprehensive overview of the intricate composition of tomatoes. We selected Frontiers for Young Minds as our target journal to educate the next generation about food biomolecules fundamental to sustenance, using the tomato as an exemplar. We discuss thousands of vital components that shape nutrition and well-being and culminate the publication with a glimpse into a pioneering laboratory where scientists contribute to a global initiative mapping biomolecules. We hope that the illuminating work of the Periodic Table of Food Initiative will inspire an up-and-coming generation of scientists to pursue research at the forefront of preserving human and planetary health. It's impressive that you had the opportunity to present your preliminary findings at the 2023 Society for Ethnobotany and Society for Ethnobiology Joint Conference at Emory University! Could you talk more about your presentation and how it felt to present at your alma mater? My scoping review oral presentation, "Key Upstream Drivers of Downstream Variation of Food Biochemical Composition," introduced preliminary findings on climate change and agricultural management's impact on food biochemical composition. It was a full-circle moment to present my research in the lecture hall where I sat as an Emory student just four years ago, and the presentation was on my birthday nonetheless! One of my past professors at Emory was a keynote speaker at the conference, and it was super exciting to reconnect with her and share updates. Practicing an academic presentation for a diverse audience was tricky and helped me hone my communication and graphic design skills to communicate our methodology and preliminary findings. What are your suggestions for students interested in impactful research in these areas? Take risks and dive into topics that you're authentically excited about. Find the support to make these leaps- Greg and Nina supported me so much during my initial transfer into EHS from another department. My EHS classes gave me a more pointed lens to delve into exciting research and develop new skills that I hope will help me make a positive difference. Also, finding other passionate people further ahead in their careers is the best way to learn about cutting-edge research and professional opportunities, so network and practice your interview skills! I talk to so many people and am grateful to my mentors and those willing to share their time and insight with me via informational interviews. Interview continued on the next page. Pg. 9
Kat Morgan Interview What advice would you offer students considering a career in food science or ethnobotany? A successful career in food science or ethnobotany demands a multidisciplinary skill set, a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, and a commitment to addressing the pressing issues of our time, including climate change and social justice. The only way to successfully mitigate and adapt to climate change is to change the current paradigm! Balancing school, research projects, and extracurricular activities can be challenging. What time management and organization strategies have worked best for you? I love checklists because I get a spark of joy from crossing the little things off. Completing shortterm tasks Keeps me energized to focus on the outcome of long-term projects when I start to feel burned out. Most importantly, I have fun and prioritize things that help me recharge. I like to paint in the evenings to turn my academic brain off and focus on something that brings me joy. How did you find this incredible opportunity, and what advice can you offer to students who aspire to work in prestigious organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation with a focus on research and sustainability? In all honesty, luck plays into landing a great job. It's also a numbers game- so keep applying and don't take it personally when you get rejected. As my dad always says, "Good things come to those who wait as long as you work like hell while you're waiting." When you're passionate about something, it shines through, so if possible, pick a career or research focus that you have a natural knack for that gets you excited. We all feel pressure to pursue different career tracks but keep in mind that the perfect job you want may not even exist yet. You have already accomplished so much after only one year of your master's degree! What are your next steps in this field as you look toward graduation? I'm applying to interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs at the intersection of food, health, and environmental resource management. I'm also considering taking time off before another degree to continue working and building my experience. I have no clue where I'll be in the next ten months, but I'm excited for the unknown. No matter what, I will be working to improve human and planetary health through efforts centered in environmental justice.
Pg. 10
Graduated PhD Students Dr. Misbath Daouda defended on June 27, 2023. Dissertation Title: Powering Equity: Characterizing the Impacts of Energy Transitions on Environmental and Health Disparities in the US and Ghana.
Dr. Jenni Shearston defended on June 9, 2023. Dissertation Title: Traffic-related pollution: Implications for environmental justice and policy.
Dr. Maya Spaur defended on May 24, 2023. Dissertation Title: Drinking water arsenic and uranium: associations with urinary biomarkers and diabetes across the United States.
Pg. 11
Meet Our New Students: PhD Stephanie Calluori Hometown: New Jersey Previous School: Barnard College Fun Fact: I enjoy all things music: singing, playing the piano (mainly jazz, rock, classical), listening to music, and going to concerts. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and drawing.
Zander (Alexander) De Jesus Hometown: Quincy, MA Previous School: Yale University Fun Fact: Creative Writing, Freestyle Dancing, Latin Jazz & Salsa Music, Aquarium Fishkeeping.
Sharon Kulali Hometown: Anderson, IN Previous School: Purdue University Fun Fact: I like to read, try new restaurants, and visit green spaces in the city.
Pg. 12
Meet Our New Students: PhD Christine Kuryla Hometown: New Jersey Previous School: Barnard College Fun Fact: I enjoy all things music: singing, playing the piano (mainly jazz, rock, classical), listening to music, and going to concerts. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and drawing.
Grace Santos Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA Previous School: University of California, Berkeley Fun Fact: Running, cooking, reading, and watching long tv series and rom-com movies.
Allison Stewart Hometown: Port Washington, NY Previous School: Washington University in St. Louis Fun Fact: Exploring nature (hiking, camping), running, baking, ceramics and other art.
Pg. 13
Meet Our New Students: MPH Ammar Ahmed Certificate: Health Policy and Practice Hometown: Chicago, IL Previous School: Loyola University Chicago Fun Fact: I love to play tennis.
Taeghan Cavanaugh Certificate: Toxicology Hometown: Holyoke, MA Previous School: University of Rhode Island Fun Fact: I like to draw and paint, watch movies, and go running.
Catalina Ferreira-Dias Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: Hialeah, FL Previous School: Cornell University Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I have stuck my hand in a cow, and it was not fun!
Alexis Grayon Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Hometown: South Plainfield, NJ Previous School: New York University Fun Fact: Knitting and crocheting as much as I possibly can – with music or videos on in the background being a necessity. Pg. 14
Meet Our New Students: MPH Mufei Guo Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Hometown: China Previous School: Imperial College London Fun Fact: I like badminton and cooking.
Maya Hajny Fernandez Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: Portland, OR Previous School: Macalester College Fun Fact: Hiking, running, reading and cooking/baking.
Kameelah Hollis Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: Atlanta, GA Previous School: Louisiana State University Fun Fact: Hiking, baking, and apple picking during the fall.
Mugdha Kinjawadekar Certificate: Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hometown: Mumbai, India Previous School: St. Xaviers College, Mumbai Fun Fact: Exploring the city on foot, reading in different parks and trying new cuisines! Pg. 15
Meet Our New Students: MPH Julie Kinoshita Certificate: Food Systems and Public Health Hometown: Fujisawa, Japan Previous School: University of Illinois Champaign Urbana Fun Fact: Hiking, spending time with my family and friends, reading, exploring New York, and traveling.
Aidan Lee Certificate: Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hometown: Montvale, NJ Previous School: Cornell University Fun Fact: I have watched the entirety of Grey's Anatomy 6 times (and counting).
Niki (Nicole) Leshgold Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Previous School: University of Washington Fun Fact: Skiing, hiking, baking, rollerblading! And recently, pickleball :)
Chia-Yi Lin Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Hometown: Taichung, Taiwan Previous School: Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine Fun Fact: Go hiking and swimming, and also enjoy being a foodie, hehe.
Pg. 16
Meet Our New Students: MPH Brooke Lovett Certificate: History, Ethics and Law Hometown: Duxbury, MA Previous School: University of Pittsburgh Fun Fact: Fitness, outdoor activities, concerts.
Rocky (Raquel) Mack Certificate: Environmental Health Policy Hometown: Springfield, NJ Previous School: Clemson University Fun Fact: I like movies, walking, and reading.
Carolina Montes Garcia Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: I was born in Cartagena, Colombia in South America but I grew mainly in Tenafly, NJ. Previous School: Columbia University Fun Fact: I paint in oils, watercolors, and acrylics. I also enjoy making collages. I love to go to art museums and spend time outdoors swimming and hiking. Most recently I have been getting into Dungeons & Dragons.
Eva Neumann Certificate: Toxicology Hometown: Menlo Park, CA Previous School: George Washington University Fun Fact: Cooking, running, and thrifting clothes!
Pg. 17
Meet Our New Students: MPH Jordyn Pykon Certificate: Climate and Health Hometown: New York City Previous School: Lehigh University Fun Fact: I like to play Ultimate Frisbee, read, cook, and plays the Sims 3.
Matthew Ramey Certificate: Toxicology Hometown: San Diego, CA Previous School: University of California, Berkeley Fun Fact: Skateboarding and exploring NYC!
Marilyn Santo Certificate: Health Policy, and Practice Hometown: Vienna, WV Previous School: Columbia University Fun Fact: Walk in the park, watch movies/ TV shows, and be on Youtube:)
Sara Shwikhat Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Hometown: Washington D.C. Previous School: George Mason University Fun Fact: I write.
Pg. 18
Meet Our New Students: MPH Naomi Simon-Kumar Certificate: Applied Biostatistics and Public Health Data Science Hometown: Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand Previous School: The University of Auckland Fun Fact: I'm a fan of video games (particularly horror and action), sci-fi movies, and reading anything under the sun. Deepshika Verma Certificate: Environmental Health Policy Hometown: San Francisco Bay Area Previous School: University of San Francisco Fun Fact: Dance, music festivals, tennis, exploring new cities, museums, traveling to new places.
Zhiyu Wei Certificate: Applied Biostatistics and Public Health Data Science Hometown: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China Previous School: University of Washington Fun Fact: Playing video games, playing with my friends’ dogs, and swimming.
William (Mingye) Xie Certificate: Applied Biostatistics and Public Health Data Science Hometown: Beijing, China Previous School: New York University Fun Fact: I like soccer.
Pg. 19
Meet Our New Students: MPH Carina Yiu Certificate: Food Systems and Public Health Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Previous School: University of Michigan Ann Arbor Fun Fact: Boxing, and anything with water.
Janna Zilkha Certificate: Toxicology Hometown: Dix Hills, NY Previous School: Cornell University Fun Fact: I love to bake, hang out with my cat, play my clarinet, and go on walks around Central Park.
Pg. 20
Meet Our New Students: 4+1 Sooik Son Hometown: Andong, South Korea School: Dickinson College Fun Fact: I am into travel photography and hiking and am trying to find some cool hiking spots around NY. I also love reading.
Pg. 21
Meet Our New Students: MS Data Science Qianyuan Huang Hometown: China Previous School: University of Toronto Fun Fact: I like soccer.
Xuer Liu Hometown: China Previous School: University of Toronto Fun Fact: I watch movies.
Ziqi Wang Hometown: China Previous School: University of Cincinnati Fun Fact: I like eating and swimming.
Pg. 22
Meet Our New Students: MS Data Science You Wu Hometown: China Previous School: Duke University Fun Fact: I like games.
Hingling Yu Hometown: Beijing, China Previous School: Franklin and Marshall College Fun Fact: Golf and Scuba diving Piano and Chinese zither.
Xinyi Zheng Hometown: Nanjing, China Previous School: Columbia University Fun Fact: Vocaloid music, Dostoevsky’s novels, Nintendo games, animation, composing, writing.
Pg. 23
Meet Our New Students: MS Toxicology Gajapriya Gajapathi Hometown: Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, India Previous School: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical and Educational Research Fun Fact: I like to be involved in group sports or board games.
Ananda Kimm-Drapeau Hometown: New York Previous School: McGill University Fun Fact: I like museums and writing.
Sarah Manderbach Hometown: Reading, PA Previous School: Dickinson College Fun Fact: Reading, writing, traveling, instruments, and trying new food!
playing
Karen Ni Hometown: New York, NY Previous School: University of New Haven Fun Fact: My lunar birthday is once every 19 years!
Pg. 24
Meet Our New Students: MS Toxicology Vaiju (Vaijayanthi) Rajamarthandan Hometown: Burke, VA Previous School: George Mason University Fun Fact: Reading, running, cooking, and completing jigsaw puzzles.
Fang Wang Hometown: Anhui Province, China Previous School: Shanghai University Fun Fact: I love New York not just for its iconic skyline and bustling streets, but also because it embraces the wonderfully inclusive tapestry of weirdos that make this city so uniquely fantastic!
Emme Weisenfeld Hometown: Key West, FL Previous School: Fordham University Fun Fact: I rollerblade and eat a lot of sushi.
Vivian Xu Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Previous School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Fun Fact: I like to hike, read, crochet and go to museums! Pg. 25
Practicum Portraits: MPH Tanaya Ambadkar Certificate: Climate and Health Organization: Maximon Behavioral Health Location: Remote Description: I am responsible for keeping the daily reports current and entering the productivity data. Create weekly report presentations and take notes during the daily hospital team huddle about the previous day's incidents. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Explored New York and enjoyed maximum possible summer activities the city has to offer.
Jackie (Jacqueline) Becker Certificate: Toxicology Organization: New York Presbyterian / Columbia Location: Remote/NYC Description: I joined the nutrition outcomes research team at New York Presbyterian. I conducted a literature review and analysis to determine the effects of hospital visitors on the patient’s risk of developing malnutrition. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Huckleberry picking!
Pg. 26
Practicum Portraits: MPH Rachel (Min) Chen Certificate: Environmental Health Policy Organization: Civilience company Location: Remote Description: I am in charge of around 12 RA teams under the supervision of my boss. We develop questionnaires for the top 50 infectious diseases and create a logic mapping for further software development. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: It’s exciting to explore a new format of mapping infectious diseases guidance and exposure analysis with a group of passionate young public health professionals. Catie (Catherine) Eiref Certificate: Climate and Health Organization: NGO Sustainability Location: Remote Description: My primary responsibility was writing, managing, and editing our newsletter. This included some writing topical reports on climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy, and environmental health, as well as updates on our non-profit's ongoing projects. I also had the opportunity to help plan and organize our annual board meeting, including speakers from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Cycling through Nova Scotia!
Pg. 27
Practicum Portraits: MPH Karen Gutensohn Certificate: Toxicology Organization: Columbia University & Natural Resources Defense Council Location: New York, New York Description: I use R to analyze exposomics, and assess the relationship between CBD oil products and common environmental contaminants through data analysis and visualization under the supervision of Dr. Tiffany Sanchez. I conduct research on health equity, social determinants of health, built environment, climate resiliency, clean energy, and community health assessments. I also develop informative resources for partners on community health assessments and work with community partners on focus groups and research on eviction and health. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Seeing Barbenheimer with my friends. Hope Hendry Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: Office of the New York State Attorney General Location: New York, NY (FiDi area) Description: Aided in legal investigations by providing scientific expertise to lawyers and other professionals. Worked with various city agencies and non-profit organizations to get a pulse on EJ issue affecting various communities across the state-petitioned for new rulemaking/policies in federal agencies such as the EPA. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Went to the beach!
Pg. 28
Practicum Portraits: MPH
Ziting Huang Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: Dr. Julie Herbstman Location: Columbia Mailman School of Public Health Description: I engaged in designing and translating questionnaires for about 60 participants from different communities about arsenic exposure and rice consumption. I helped administer questionnaires and describe the criteria for collecting rice and urine samples. And I will also prepare report back narrative based on organization and experience on data collection after doing the interview. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: We did interviews in three different languages and discussed cultural differences. Sophie Ideker Certificate: Infectious Disease Epidemiology Organization: WE ACT for Environmental Justice Location: New York, NY Description: I mainly worked on developing youth education modules for WE ACT to provide educators and community members alike to teach young people about different environmental justice topics. In addition, I also observed and occasionally helped facilitate WE ACT’s youth summer environmental justice education program. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I went to a number of summer food festivals and markets.
Pg. 29
Practicum Portraits: MPH Ishika Kaushal Certificate: Child, Youth and Family Health Organization: Wellness Equity Alliance Location: Remote Description: My role is to assist in a Community Health Needs Assessment and research in the city of Vernon, California. This included environmental health assessments on lead and zoonotic diseases as well as research on the businesses in the city and their environmental impact. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Travelled!
Alicia Kelley Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: WE ACT for Environmental Justice Location: New York/Virtual Description: I created a flyer about hazardous chemicals to avoid in cosmetic products, which was handed out to the public. I created a survey for a research project about formaldehyde in personal care products. Additionally, I gave a presentation on cosmetic safety and the formaldehyde research project. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I enjoyed visiting Yosemite National Park this summer.
Pg. 30
Practicum Portraits: MPH Madeleine Killough Certificate: Environmental Health Policy Organization: New York League of Conservation Voters Location: New York City Description: I aggregated and analyzed lead contamination reports from all public school drinking water outlets across New York state. New York recently passed a law that lowered the acceptable lead level in drinking water from 15 to 5 parts per billion, and my summer research contributed to a report analyzing the impact of the new policy on reducing lead exposure among children across the state. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I saw a capybara in person!
Lauren Lopez Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: Harvard University Location: Remote Description: Interpreting the data and writing the manuscript for the study. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Went to the beach and learned how to propagate my plants!
Pg. 31
Practicum Portraits: MPH Cindy Ma Certificate: Infectious Disease Epidemiology Organization: The Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc. Location: Apopka, FL (remote) Description: I was responsible for conducting research on culturally competent care for migrant farmworkers with a focus on environmental and occupational exposures. I also helped develop training for healthcare providers with the goal of improving cultural awareness and sensitivity to deliver effective care. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Taking a trip to Costa Rica! Layla Manoochehri Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: The Collaborative for Women's Environmental Health at Columbia Location: Columbia OBGYN (remote) Description: I worked with Dr. Wylie, a Columbia OBGYN physician, on researching and developing concepts for both patient and clinician education regarding women’s health and environmental exposures. I specifically focused on some key exposures such as PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates and how they can impact pregnancy, infertility, and the health of children exposed in utero. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I got to go to the Taylor Swift Eras tour with some of my best friends!
Pg. 32
Practicum Portraits: MPH Madeleine McGuinness Certificate: Climate and Health Organization: TreePeople Location: Los Angeles (I worked remotely) Description: I received a Huo scholarship from Mailman to volunteer with TreePeople and aid their research team in geocoding spatial soil data from fine satellite imagery to create maps of soil and impervious surface in urban LA. I also informed the selection of an SVI (social vulnerability tool) that will be used to map the extent of soil patches along socioeconomic gradients in LA to inform tree planting policies as a means of reducing urban heat. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Visiting and exploring Los Angeles for the first time! Kat (Katherine) Morgan Certificate: Food Systems and Public Health Organization: The Rockefeller Foundation Location: New York, NY Description: As a Summer Associate at the Rockefeller Foundation's Global Food Portfolio, I coauthored a published paper called "What's in a Tomato?: Mapping the Building Blocks of Food" and served as a content editor, focusing on biomolecules in food and their impact on nutrition and health. I also managed an ongoing project on Upstream Drivers of Downstream Variation in Food Composition, developing the review protocol, conducting data extraction, and presenting my findings at the 2023 Society for Ethnobotany Joint Conference. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Presenting my Rockefeller Foundation research at a conference held at my alma mater in Atlanta, Ga! Pg. 33
Practicum Portraits: MPH Danny (Duong) Nguyen Certificate: Applied Biostatistics and Public Health Data Science Organization: Dr. Tiffany Sanchez (EHS) Location: Mailman School of Public Health Description: I worked on a metabolomic project in which I performed data analysis to identify potential metabolomic signature related to exposure to metals and development of asthma. Through it, I am able to utilize my skill in RStudio, as well as to expand my knowledge in xMWAS and Mummichog. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I have been able to visit my family back home while still being able to work in NYC. Bianca Notarainni Certificate: Toxicology Organization: Re Lab at the Columbia University EHS Research Department Location: Columbia University EHS Research Department Description: I worked hand in hand with Dr. Re's team to expose mice to e-cigarettes and study their behavior, metal acclimation in the body, and much more. I also helped with other ongoing papers within the group. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I went to Japan with my family!
Pg. 34
Practicum Portraits: MPH Sanika Arun Parasnis Certificate: Toxicology Organization: Mailman School of Public HealthDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences Location: New York, NY Description: I work as a research assistant at the EVC lab under Dr. Ornelas Van Horne. My work involves geo-mapping environmental reparations cases using R. I also designed and developed an interactive dashboard app using this data. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Weekend picnics at different parks in the city!
Chara Proud Certificate: Environmental Health Policy Organization: Columbia University Location: New York City, NY Description: I perform noise monitoring throughout areas of Inwood and Washington Heights to determine differences in noise level among areas differing in traffic levels and road types. I then perform data analysis to help visualize the differences in noise among the locations. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Visited friends in Long Island.
Pg. 35
Practicum Portraits: MPH Mia Stewart Certificate: Infectious Disease Epidemiology Organization: Catalent Pharma Solitions Location: Philadelphia, PA Description: I am currently working on updating and implementing some programs on site, completing hazardous waste inspections, and conducting risk assessments on various processes and their potential hazards. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I haven’t done anything super exciting outside of work, but I have spent some much-needed time hanging out with friends whenever I can! Sarah (Xinhui) Tan Certificate: Climate and Health Organization: WE ACT Location: New York, NY Description: I created educational materials and social media content to raise awareness about various environmental health topics, including air quality monitoring, transportation, and indigenous voices in environmental justice. I also assisted with community outreach for monthly Healthy Homes working group meetings, coding for an R shiny interface on air quality monitoring, and wrote a policy paper on bioplastics and environmental justice. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: Paddle boarding/swimming in a lake in Seattle. Pg. 36
Practicum Portraits: MPH Gabe (Gabriel) Trotz Certificate: History, Ethics, and Law Organization: Columbia Mailman School of Public Health EHS Department Location: New York, NY Description: This summer, I have been conducting a research project to look at the links that exist between malnutrition and heat stress tolerance. I have been writing a narrative literature review under the guidance of Dr. Lewis Ziska that we are aiming to get published and have been collaborating with scientists across the United States to create projects to investigate this question further. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I started throwing pottery again this summer and it's been an absolute blast!
Xingyu Zhang Certificate: Molecular Epidemiology Organization: Columbia University-Laboratory of Precision Environmental Health Location: Remote Description: I do data analysis and visualization using R. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I went back home.
Pg. 37
Practicum Portraits: 4+1 Ava Chow Organization: Dr. Anne Nigra Location: EHS Department Description: My task this summer was to write R code that creates a tool for communicating lead concentration data in Public Water Systems to residents. I used public Safe Drinking Water Information Systems (SDWIS) data from the EPA. The tool is a template for visualizing the prevalence of lead and other contaminants in a specific Public Water System and comparing its data with that of other Public Water Systems. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I took a Black & White Film Photography class! Priyanka Shrijay Organization: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Kupsco Lab Location: New York, NY Description: After learning lab techniques — size exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and nanoparticle tracking analysis, to name the ones most essential to this project — from Professor Kupsco, I worked on optimizing a protocol for urinary extracellular vesicle isolation. The goal is to use these EVs to study kidney disease biomarkers in samples from Sri Lankan children experiencing heat stress. Favorite thing you did for fun last summer: I walked the length of Manhattan with a couple of friends from the department! Pg. 38
PrIMER Trainees
Claudia Dabie Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Pearson Home Institution: Fordham University Project: Validation of immunohistochemical markers of brain toxicity associated with chronic drinking water metals exposures in mice There is a high prevalence of heart disease and diabetes afflicting rural areas in the US Northern Plains, including Indigenous communities. Toxic elements, such as arsenic (As) and uranium (U), are known to affect communities in the Northern Plains and are thought to contribute to the prevalence of these diseases. Hazardous metals in drinking water are major contaminants around Superfund sites and abandoned uranium mines. In addition, to cardiovascular diseases, there is burgeoning evidence that these metals are neurotoxic. This summer, I will be working with Dr. Brandon Pearson on a study to determine the neurological effects of arsenic and uranium from drinking water in private wells and rural water systems in the Northern Plains. We will utilize immunohistochemistry to visualize brain cells and tissue and assess for neurotoxicity in arsenic and uranium exposed mice. This project will advance the ability to recognize strong molecular signatures and mechanistic pathways in order to aid in the creation of intervention strategies and improve our understanding of the neurotoxicity of metals.
Pg. 39
PrIMER Trainees
Leslie Delgado Muniz Faculty Mentor: Drs. Markus Hilpert & Steven Chillrud Home Institution: Barnard College Project: Investigating Noise Pollution in Washington Heights The third most frequent chronic health condition in the United States is hearing loss. This summer, I investigated noise pollution in Washington Heights by recording and identifying the subjects responsible for super-emitter noises, which are defined as sound levels exceeding 70 dB. The EPA suggests an exposure limit of 70 dB in an individual's 24-hour noise exposure to avert hearing loss. Noise levels exceeding 85 dB can increase hearing damage with prolonged exposure. Therefore, analyzing sound levels near expressways is critical to understanding the environmental injustice the Washington Heights community is facing from their heightened vulnerability to hearing loss health effects.
Pg. 40
PrIMER Trainees
Laila Gad Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ami Zota Home Institution: Hunter College Project: Assessing the Impact of Chemical Hair Straightener and Relaxer Use on Cancer and Reproductive Outcomes in Women The environmental injustice of beauty spaces outlines the intersection between chemical exposures and the systemic oppression of women of color in the form of retailer redlining and racism. This summer, I worked on a systematic literature review of the potential relationship between chemical hair straightener and relaxer use and reproductive health outcomes in women across the United States. Through PubMed and Google Scholar, 16 studies were reviewed, and the varying frequency of hair relaxer use was discussed in terms of the likelihood of cancer and fertility outcomes. Using this review, I will begin a data analysis project focused on quantifying the relationship between chemical exposures from hair relaxers on expecting mothers and their fetuses. In addition, through Agents of Change in Environmental Justice, I had the opportunity to host a podcast episode with activist Neeshad Shafi highlighting Arabic voices in climate change spaces. Alongside the podcast, I conducted and presented my analysis of the 2023 AoC Fellows survey responses, building my qualitative analysis skillset and science communication.
Pg. 41
PrIMER Trainees
Ria Mahju Faculty Mentor: Dr. Haotian (Howie) Wu Home Institution: Rutgers University Project: Investigating the effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on the Metabolome of Folic Acid Naïve populations Vitamin B9, or folate, is a crucial nutrient, responsible for many processes within the body such as growth and development of tissue cells and healthy red blood cell formation. Fortification of folate through its synthetic form, Folic Acid, has already been mandated in numerous countries to prevent issues such as neural tube defects in fetuses or folate deficiency anemia. However, the side effects of excessive supplementation and unmetabolized folic acid in circulation have not been extensively studied. Our project seeks to understand 1) how folic acid supplementation results in unmetabolized folic acid in circulation and 2) the metabolic pathways altered by folic acid supplementation. I will be using data from Dr. Mary Gamble’s FACT study in Bangladesh, which introduced the supplement to a folic acid naïve population in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Under the guidance of Dr. Haotian Wu, I will be working with data comparing supplement dosage/period to metabolite concentrations by employing multivariable regression models as well as other statistical methods to advance current knowledge of folic acid supplementation.
Pg. 42
PrIMER Trainees
Isaac Mullings Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diane Re Home Institution: Fordham University Project: Gene-Environment Interaction and Metal Exposure in Neurodegenerative Diseases Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are two neurodegenerative diseases, mostly sporadic and that are believed to involve geneenvironment interactions. Among environmental factors potentially implicated in their etiology, exposure to neurotoxic metals is a prime suspect. This summer I was involved in two projects: 1) a continuation of a gene-metal interaction ALS modeling project in mice looking into biomarkers of disease progression; 2) a new project investigating whether chronic exposure to metals from electronic cigarette (e-cig) aerosol trigger neurotoxicity and increase the risk of developing PD in mice. In the ALS project, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were quantified for their presence and density in the spinal cord and brain of mice exposed to manganese via drinking water and carrying or not a mutation in TDP-43 increasing their risk of developing ALS. A pathological feature common to most cases of ALS is the accumulation of the protein TDP-43 and its pathogenic phosphorylated form (pTDP-43) in the patient's central nervous system. A major portion of this summer was set in contributing to the second project on e-cig-derived metal exposures and PD in which I was given the privilege of measuring metals in brain samples, including the ventral midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, frontal cortex, and olfactory bulb of mice carrying or not a LRRK2 mutation linked to PD and exposed for 6 months to e-cig aerosols. The next step will be to carry out the same pathological investigations I did in ALS in the e-cig exposed mice and taking images of the brain staining's for GFAP and IBA1. The project's goal is to contribute to advancing our understanding on the etiology of ALS and PD in relation to chronic metal exposure. I will be working on these projects throughout the year.
Pg. 43
PrIMER Trainees
Alex Olivares Faculty Mentor: Drs. Maya Deyssenroth & Hui-Chen Wu Home Institution: Hunter College Project: Impact of alcohol exposure on placental gene expression patterns in the JEG-3 cell line Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is a group of conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure from maternal alcohol consumption. Children who suffer from these conditions face various neurological effects, including learning disabilities, poor memory, speech problems, and hyperactive behavior. My project entails characterizing potential placental biomarkers as early indicators of FASDs. In continuation of my work from last year, I employed various cell culture techniques, manipulation of nucleic acids, and PCR strategies on the JEG-3 cell line to test placental expression changes of candidate genes in response to ethanol exposure. Specifically, this summer I furthered my investigation of the relationship between TEK and prenatal alcohol exposure while also beginning investigations for the genes, SNCA and PP1MD based on findings reported in previous studies. Should any of these genes show a strong correlation with the placental gene expression, they could provide mechanistic insight into the pathway leading to FASDs and serve as candidates to develop screening biomarkers to identify FASDs early. Pg. 44
PrIMER Trainees
Izzy (Isabella) Pacenza Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne Home Institution: Barnard College Project: Metal Exposures and Indigenous Health: Theory and Approaches for Reporting Research Results Isabella (Izzy) Pacenza is a first-year PrIMER trainee and senior at Barnard College studying Environment and Sustainability as well as Sociology. Izzy is committed to advancing research at the intersection of environmental science and Indigenous health. She works closely with Drs. Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne and Ana Navas-Acien as part of the ongoing Columbia University Northern Plains Superfund Research Program (CUNP-SRP), which seeks to generate new knowledge and advance solutions to metal exposures using systems science and local expertise. Izzy focuses on balancing urgency, clear communication, and culturally relevant recommendations to understand the best ways to report back individual metal sample results to study participants. She is leading a literature review on the theory vs. application of approaches in the report back of research results, identifying novel dissemination techniques, and strategizing implementation solutions.
Pg. 45
PrIMER Trainees
Andres Silva Faculty Mentor: Dr. Norman Kleiman Home Institution: Fordham University Project: Mutational analysis of Far-UVC radiation using a GFP reporter imbedded in a CAG repeat sequence Multiple repeats of short DNA sequences within the genome are associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s. Environmental insults such as oxidative stress or UV irradiation can cause mutation that affects the number of these repeats within a specific stretch of DNA. We are using human embryonic kidney cells that have a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene inserted into the middle of these repeats to examine the effect of far-UVC irradiation on repeat length. Changes in the number of repeats affect the fluorescent intensity and thus allows us to examine the potential for far-UVC-induced mutation.
Pg. 46
PrIMER Trainees
Z (Z'Dhanne) Williams Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allison Kupsco Home Institution: Molloy University Project: Investigating the Influence of Mitochondrial Biomarkers on Children’s Neurodevelopment and Kidney Disease Many environmental toxicants accumulate within the mitochondria and pose damage to the Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) impairing critical processes within cells. The mtDNA is highly vulnerable to oxidative stress which activates systemic inflammatory reactions and is recognized as a biomarker for cellular stress. Our project is focused on using cord blood samples from a cohort population of Dominican and African American children from Northern Manhattan. The samples of blood will be used to uncover the influence cellular mtDNA and Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) biomarkers have on children's health. The general purpose of the project is to provide preliminary data on novel mtDNA biomarkers for prenatal metal exposures and child neurodevelopment for future studies. We are also focused on using urine samples from a population in Sri Lanka to determine if urinary mtDNA can be used as a biomarker of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). Under the directive of Dr. Allison Kupsco, I am working towards optimizing novel biomarkers for future environmental health studies, including Cell-free Mitochondria DNA and Mitochondrial DNA. Our goal is to ultimately gain a better understanding of the molecular basis of children's environmental health to advance the early detection and prevention of environmental disease. Pg. 47
Dear EHS Family,
Letter from SEA
We would like to thank everyone for joining us at our events thus far. We loved meeting you all on our trip to the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG) and at our General Body Meeting! We are looking forward to our Fall 2023 Sea of Thoughts event, where we will have recent Mailman alumni share their experiences working in the field of climate change adaptation and resilience. As the 2023 SEA E-Board comes to a close, we would like to share our thoughts on our favorite aspects of being a part of the club this year. President - Madeleine Killough (she/her) I loved working with the whole SEA E-Board to throw environmentally friendly events for the Mailman community. I especially enjoyed opportunities to explore off-campus and was really grateful to be able to continue the SEA Botanic Gardens trip tradition! One of my favorite events though was our clothing swap last spring, where students and faculty across campus got to donate (or leave with!) amazing clothes donated by our community. VP Community Outreach - Alícia Kelley (she/her) I enjoyed being on the SEA E-Board because it has been a great way to get involved on campus. I am happy we had the opportunity to continue great traditions that were passed on from SEA members before us, while making tweaks to add our own touch this year. As someone who was new to NY at the beginning of my program, SEA was very helpful in exposing me to ways in which I could become involved in sustainability efforts on and off campus. VP Finance - Duong (Danny) Nguyen (he/him) Through SEA, I have gotten opportunities to connect with friends and faculty. Meeting so many of you in our General Body Meeting was such a wonderful time for me to get to know each of you better and sit down to discuss the new events for this semester. With that, come to our next SEA events to explore environmentalrelated themes along with some SWAG! VP Communications - Kat Morgan (she/her) My favorite event of the year was SEA’s annual NYBG trip. We had a blast exploring the festive fall gourds and spooky decor. Meeting the first years and chatting about certificate selection, the Core, and campus involvement made me realize how quickly time has flown by. It’s been a privilege to serve on SEA’s executive board, and I’m excited to see how the next group will build on past traditions. Thank you to everyone who joined our NYBG Trip and General Body Meeting! We loved getting to know you all and are so excited for the upcoming year! Shout out to Nina and Brandy as well for helping make this semester’s events a reality and supporting the club as we transition into the spring. Keep an eye out for our upcoming bi-annual panel event, SEA of Thoughts on 11/9. See you there! Love, Your SEA E-Board (Madeleine, Alícia, Danny, Kat) Follow us on social media to stay up to date on future events! Instagram: @seacolumbia
Pg. 48
Skills for Health and Research Professionals (SHARP) Winter Offerings • 2-Day Single Cell Analysis Boot Camp: December 14-15, 2023 • 2-Day PI Crash Course: January 8-9, 2024
2023 Recap Summer 2023 was another successful season of training research professionals. This year, trainings were offered inperson, virtually, and in a hybrid format. Our 28 training topics revolved around climate change, omics, data science, and professional development. Our roster of 140+ skilled instructors shared their expertise with over 900 attendees. We’d like to give a special shout-out to all the EHS faculty members, researchers, staff, and students involved. Your effort has been instrumental in the success of the SHARP program – thank you all! EHS Training Directors, Session Leaders, and Panelists: Andrea Baccarelli, Jaime Benavides, Joel Capellan, Joan Casey, Julie Herbstman, Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Norman Kleiman, Allison Kupsco, Yunjia Lai, Gary Miller, Ana Navas-Acien, Matthew Perzanowski, Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, Robbie Parks, Jeremy Porter, Diane Re, Cecilia Sorensen, Ami Zota Scholarship Committee: Anne Nigra, Diane Re, Yike Shen Staff: Meaghan Doherty, Nader Elmehdawi, Fernando Luque, Mary McPoland, Erica Tyler, Abby Welbourn Student Assistant: Emma Seguljic Workshop Guides: Emma Amissah, Tess Bloomquist, Tana Butt, Haley Campbell, Vivian Do, Alana Ferris, Emma Gorin, Lea Jean-Francois, Catherine Lucey, Tory Lynch, Irene Martinez Morata, Katlyn McGraw, Sarah McLarnan, Danielle Medgyesi, Gabriella Meltzer, Boris Minasenko, Kevin Patterson, Marisa Sobel, Millie Tung Looking Forward to 2024 Check out our growing list of trainings and join the email list to be the first to know our 2024 summer training dates. EHS Doctoral Students and Postdocs: Become a Workshop Guide Workshop Guide opportunities are available for many trainings. Assist with a training and attend a training of your choice at no cost! More details will be available in the coming months.
Pg. 49
New EHS Courses: Spring 2024 P6351 Introduction to Network Science with Dr. Sen Pei Explore the world of networks with our new course in network science! Are you fascinated by the way social networks influence our daily lives? Curious about the secrets behind epidemic spread and information diffusion? Want to understand how to address public health challenges using networks? Our brand-new course, P6351 Introduction to Network Science, is designed to immerse you in the captivating world of networks, offering a deep dive into their theory, analysis, and real-world applications. P8383 Foundations in Environmental Justice: From Theory to Action with Dr. Ami Zota Socially vulnerable communities bear a disproportionately high burden of environmental exposures due to structural challenges such as racism. This multi-disciplinary course will introduce environmental justice scholarship and advocacy through a public health lens. The class will explore foundational theories critical to the environmental justice movement, innovative research approaches for characterizing inequities in environmental health as well as analyzing potential solutions, and community-driven strategies for systemic change. This course will draw on crossdisciplinary materials from academic articles and communications for a broad audience, such as podcasts, news articles, or nontechnical reports. Lastly, using a range of practice-based approaches, students will have opportunities to reflect on their own social position and how that informs their public health approach.
Pg. 50
Granville H. Sewell Lecture Allison Crimmins, Director, National Climate Assessment for the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Office of Science and Technology Policy Climate & Energy (Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States) spoke on April 24, 2023. The title of her talk was “Assessing the impacts of climate change on human health in the United States”. Watch Recording(link is external and opens in a new window)
Pg. 51
Fall Memories Vegetarian Chili Winner: Dr. Howie Wu
Meat Chili Winner: Dr. Matt Perzanowski
Dessert: Drs. Marianthi Kioumourtzoglou & Diane Re
Cornbread Winner: Dr. Norman Kleiman
Pg. 52
Fall Memories Fordham University had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Diane Re for a talk concerning neuroscience, her journey into academia, and the interplay of finding a balance between work and family.
ISEE's 35th Annual Conference held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Pg. 53
Publications
Please check out some of the amazing work being published by our community! These publications are listed in chronological order, by initial publication. Faculty, students, and staff names are bolded: Martinez-Morata, I., Bostick, B. C., Conroy-Ben, O., Duncan, D. T., Jones, M. R., Spaur, M., Patterson, K. P., Prins, S. J., Navas-Acien, A., & Nigra, A. E. (2022). Nationwide geospatial analysis of county racial and ethnic composition and public drinking water arsenic and uranium. Nature communications, 13(1), 7461. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35185-6 Parks RM, Rowland ST, Do V, Boehme AK, Dominici F, Hart CL, Kioumourtzoglou MA. (2023). The Association Between Temperature And Alcohol- And Substance-Related Disorder Hospital Visits In New York State Communications Medicine Parks RM, Kontis V, Anderson GB, Baldwin JW, Danaei G, Toumi R, Dominici F, Ezzati M, Kioumourtzoglou MA. (2023). Short-Term Excess Mortality Following Tropical Cyclones In The United States Science Advances Nunez Y, Balalian A, Parks RM, He M, Hansen J, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Ketzel M, Khan J, Brandt J, Vermeulen R, Peters S, Goldsmith J, Re DB, Weisskopf MG, Kioumourtzoglou MA. (2023). Exploring Relevant Time Windows In The Association Between PM2.5 Exposure And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study In Denmark, American Journal of Epidemiology Casey JA, Parks RM, Bruckner TA, Unwin HJT, Gemmill A, Catalano Ralph (2023). Excess Injury Mortality In Washington State During The 2021 Heat Wave, American Journal of Public Health Flaxman S, Whittaker C, Semenova E, Rashid T, Parks RM, Blenkinsop A, Unwin HJT, Mishra S, Bhatt S, Gurdasani D, Ratmann O (2023). Assessment Of COVID19 As The Underlying Cause Of Death Among Children And Young People Aged 0 To 19 Years In The US, JAMA Network Open" Zhang, R., Tai, J., & Pei, S. (2023). Ensemble inference of unobserved infections in networks using partial observations. PLOS Computational Biology, 19(8), e1011355. Zeng, Q., Yu, X., Ni, H., Xiao, L., Xu, T., Wu, H., Chen, Y., Deng, H., Zhang, Y., Pei, S., Xiao, J., & Guo, P. (2023). Dengue transmission dynamics prediction by combining metapopulation networks and Kalman filter algorithm. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17(6), e0011418. Ryu, S., Han, C., Ali, S. T., Achangwa, C., Yang, B., & Pei, S. (2023). Association of public health and social measures on the hand-foot-mouth epidemic in South Korea. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 16(6), 859-864. Yamana, T. K., Galanti, M., Pei, S., Di Fusco, M., Angulo, F. J., Moran, M. M., Khan, F., Swerdlow, D.L., & Shaman, J. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 vaccination in the US: Averted burden of SARS-COV-2-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Plos one, 18(4), e0275699.
Pg. 54
Publications Pei, S., Blumberg, S., Vega, J. C., Robin, T., Zhang, Y., Medford, R. J., Adhikari, B., & Shaman, J. (2023). Challenges in Forecasting Antimicrobial Resistance. Emerging infectious diseases, 29(4), 679. Zhang, R., Wang, X., & Pei, S. (2023). Targeted influence maximization in complex networks. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 446, 133677. Xu, X. K., Liu, X. F., Wang, L., Wu, Y., Lu, X., Wang, X., & Pei, S. (2023). Assessing the spread risk of COVID-19 associated with multi-mode transportation networks in China. Fundamental Research, 3(2), 305-310. Colonna, K. J., Alahmad, B., Choma, E. F., Albahar, S., Al-Hemoud, A., Kinney, P. L., Koutrakis, P., & Evans, J. S. (2023). Acute exposure to total and sourcespecific ambient fine particulate matter and risk of respiratory disease hospitalization in Kuwait. Environmental Research, 237, 117070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117070 Sorensen, C., Dresser, C., Balakumar, A., Wheat, S., Yates, E., Healy, J. P., Brown, C., Butala, N., Lehmann, E. Y., Malina, G., Redelmeier, R. J., Hess, J. J., & Salas, R. N. (2023). Extramural US Federal Research Grants for health outcomes associated with climate change inadequate, too narrow in focus. Health Affairs, 42(9), 1289–1297. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01407 Meltzer, G.Y., Merdjanoff, A.A., Xu, S., Gershon, R., Emrich, C., & Abramson, D.M. (2023) Examining the effects of cumulative environmental stressors on Gulf Coast child and adolescent health. Population and Environment 45: 21. Dowling, R., Thompson, A. B., & Kolokotronis, S. O. (2023). Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices About Zika Virus Infection Among Women of Reproductive Age in Central Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Journal of Community Health, 1-8. Howell, E., Dammala, R. R., Pandey, P., Strouse, D., Sharma, A., Rao, N., ... & Dowling, R. (2023). Evaluation of a results-based financing nutrition intervention for tuberculosis patients in Madhya Pradesh, India, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Global and Public Health, 1(1), 13. Ahmed S, Chien C, de la Parra J, German J, Jarvis A, Lal V, Lartey A, McDade M, Morgan K, Prenni J, Rajasekharan M, Shafizadeh T, Vázquez-Manjarrez N and Watkins S (2023) What Is In A Tomato? Mapping The Building Blocks Of Food. Front. Young Minds. 11:1038318. doi: 10.3389/frym.2023.1038318 Patterson, K. (2023, September 27). Opinion: Protecting Indigenous children means protecting water. Environmental Health News. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://www.ehn.org/amp/indigenous-childrenshealth-2664598641
Pg. 55
We enjoy sharing news about our EHS Family with the community and we want to hear from you! Please send us information about your accomplishments, awards, presentations, publications, pictures, and any noteworthy EHS updates you’d like to share. Email Nina Kulacki at njk2128@columbia.edu with your submissions. We look forward to hearing from you. Be well and keep in touch!
Pg. 56