Students from the USF College of Public Health were recognized for their exceptional contributions to public health research and practice at the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Minneapolis in October. Their innovative work ranged from road safety and genomics to food security and maternal and child health.
Here are a few of their stories.
Leomar White, MPH
Leomar White, MPH, presenting his research at APHA. (Photo courtesy of White)
Doctoral student Leomar White was awarded the APHA Presidential Road Safety Scholarship by the Injury Control and Emergency Health Services (ICEHS) section. This honor supports emerging leaders in traffic safety research and advocacy.
White’s research focuses on creating safer, more equitable road infrastructure and highlights the importance of reframing roadway crashes as preventable incidents rather than individual failures.
“I chose road safety because this form of injury is the leading cause of death for people in my age group, and I enjoy biking in my free time,” said White. “I hope my work informs traffic safety interventions to make roadways safer for all users, especially vulnerable groups like pedestrians and cyclists.”
At the conference, White said he networked with fellow scholars, gaining insights into applied practices and equitable safety solutions.
Jan Dahrendorff, MS
Jan Dahrendroff, MS, presenting his research at APHA (Photo courtesy of Dahrendroff)
PhD in genomics student Jan Dahrendorff presented findings from their ongoing study on epigenetic differences in depression treatment outcomes. The research explores transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a promising therapy and aims to identify biomarkers to predict treatment success.
“TMS is effective for many, but it’s unclear who benefits most,” said Dahrendorff. “Identifying biomarkers could optimize treatment and reduce the trial-and-error process in addressing major depressive disorder.”
Dahrendorff plans to expand the study, aiming for larger sample sizes and replication across diverse cohorts.
Rebecca Filipowicz, DrPH, MPH
Rebecca Filipowicz, DrPH, MPH, at the APHA Annual Meeting (Photo courtesy of Dr. Amber Mehmood)
Dr. Rebecca Filipowicz, a DrPH in advanced practice leadership in public health alumna, earned the highest scoring doctoral level abstract award from the Community Health Planning and Policy Development section. Her poster, “Determining Factors Contributing to Pandemic Resilience Among Georgia Counties with High Social Vulnerability,” examined factors contributing to pandemic resilience in socially vulnerable communities, offering insights for future public health preparedness.
Filipowicz, a seasoned public health leader with over 24 years of experience, currently serves as a public health principal at MITRE, a non-profit organization that provides technical guidance on cybersecurity and other advanced technology problems, leverages over two decades of public health leadership to address complex challenges.
She has led transformative projects, including those advancing the CDC’s readiness and response capabilities.
Namara Swillum, MPH
Namara Swillum, MPH (Photo courtesy of Swillum)
MPH alumna Namara Swillum’s research on the effectiveness of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) in mitigating food insecurity during COVID-19 was highlighted in APHA’s Emerging Scholars Plus program.
Titled, “Effectiveness of SNAP eligibility amongst low-SES populations in mitigating the impacts of heightened food insecurity during COVID-19: Implications for other disaster contexts,” Swillum’s findings indicate that SNAP expansion could alleviate community service caseloads and improve disaster response in low socioeconomic communities.
“This work underscores SNAP’s vital role during disasters and its potential to support vulnerable populations,” said Swillum.
Melissa Newsome, MPhil
Melissa Newsome, MPhil (Photo courtesy of Newsome)
Melissa Newsome, a PhD student, was selected as an APHA Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section Student Fellow for the 2024-2025 cohort. Newsome is one of only 10 students nationwide to receive this honor, which includes a $300 stipend and extensive professional development opportunities.
The fellowship equips emerging leaders to address critical maternal and child health challenges, fostering improved outcomes for families across the nation.
Newsome said she is dedicated to improving perinatal health and integrating behavioral health services into primary care.
"I’m passionate about connecting patients with their desired care during the perinatal period," she said. Her work with Florida’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems and Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting programs reflects this commitment.