ACCESSIBLE FACULTY
PERSONALIZED STUDENT ADVISING CHOICES
1
Structured Faculty Group Advising with Small Cohort of GH Students
Mentoring and Advisement Communities (MAC) are small groups of students led by one faculty member and a second-year student mentor. The groups meet regularly though the semester to build relationships with peers and faculty.
“Our MAC meeting is such an open space to express concerns and questions. Dr. Waford has been amazing, and it helps me decompress from school. It has been a great support group as well.” — 1st year MPH student
“Dr. Lavery is easygoing and always interested in what we have to say. He is always on our side and eager to help us in any way he can.”
2
One on One Faculty to Student Advising
Students can opt to work in a 1:1 setting with a faculty member whose expertise, research, and skills match those of the student.
“I was delightfully shocked when I had my student advisor and a professor reach out to check on me during a difficult time because I had fallen behind on assignments. It was validating and helped me to get back on track.”
Ways That Our Faculty Provide Support For Students
“One of my 1-1 GH advising students, Morgan Fleming, wanted to work on an infectious disease global topic. We brainstormed ideas and Morgan did her thesis on children’s vaccine compliance in a Colombian Caribbean community where she used her quantitative data analysis skills.” -Dr. Juan Leon, Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor of Global Health
HDGH Faculty members have a vast network of collaborators at the local and global levels (community partners, NGOs, governmental and inter-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and scientific societies). Through their networks, our faculty provide abundant connections for HDGH students to pursue applied experiences and career opportunities.
FACULTY CONNECT STUDENTS WITH REAL WORK-PROJECT 1
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS INTERVENTION IN UNDERSERVED PERUVIAN WOMEN IN THE CUSCO REGION
Emory PIs: Quyen Phan (School of Nursing)
Students: Parie Bhandari, Rollins School of Public Health; Alexandra Casison, Rollins School of Public Health; Nichole Noel, Emory College of Arts & Sciences; Emily Ramos, School of Nursing; David Wang, School of Medicine
Partner Organization: CerviCusco
Project Summary
Alexandra Casison from the Hubert Department of Global Health worked with Dr. Quyen Phan (School of Nursing, Emory PI) and other students (Parie Bhandari, RSPH; Nichole Noel, Emory College of Arts & Sciences; Emily Ramos, School of Nursing; David Wang, School of Medicine) on a mixed-method study serving Peruvian women in the Andean region with CerviCusco.
Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates continue to rise in the Andean region of Peru (Torres-Roman et al., 2020). In 2020, there were 6860 new cases of breast cancer in Peru with a crude mortality rate of 11.0 per 100,000 people, or 1,824 deaths (WHO, 2021). Breast cancer screenings allow early cancer detection and timely treatment. However, the percentage of women aged 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years in Peru is only 16.9% (Hernández-Vásquez, 2019) while that number in the United States is 65.9% (CDC, 2018). There is also a disparity in the rate of screening among the women in the Andean region (Soldan et al, 2008), in which the city of Cusco is situated.
The proposed mixed-method study focused on addressing breast cancer risks, symptoms, and early detection awareness among Peruvian women in the Andean region, in collaboration with CerviCusco, a local community-based, non-profit organization. A team of research assistants comprising of Emory students from the college, public health, nursing, and medicine recruited ~130 women through CerviCusco outreach efforts and social media. They conducted a pre-post survey, using the Spanish version of Breast Cancer Awareness Measurement. The students also developed a culturally and linguistically appropriate education video and flyer for use by CerviCusco, along with a five-question interview guide which evaluated their effectiveness in raising breast cancer awareness.
Alex Casison, MPH '23
“I had a couple goals before having the privilege to travel to Cusco, Peru for my Applied Practice Experience. I wanted to ensure that I check my positionality, acknowledge my privilege, demonstrate utmost respect for Peruvians, listen more than I speak, eagerly learn from the local community, and that my presence helps rather than harms. Listening to the Andean women speak about breast cancer and some of the stories they shared regarding their personal health allowed me to take a step back and have them lead the conversation, resulting in newfound suggestions that I believe are feasible to increase breast cancer awareness and decrease the dissemination of common breast cancer myths and misconceptions. From the advice and guidance of our local partner, CerviCusco, as well as the anecdotes the women from the clinic shared, my research team was able to return to Rollins and provide recommendations for future program implementation that we believe has the capability to address the challenges Andean women face in obtaining educational materials and information regarding breast cancer, especially in rural communities.”
FACULTY CONNECT STUDENTS WITH REAL WORK-PROJECT 2
PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACCESS AND RIGHTS AMONG WOMEN IN COSTA RICA: A MIXED METHODS STUDY
Emory PIs: Roger Rochat and Anna Newton-Levinson (both Rollins School of Public Health)
Students: Emma Halper, Rollins School of Public Health; Hans-Kristof Nelson, Rollins School of Public Health; Jacqueline Holstein, Rollins School of Public Health; Trisha Sengupta, Emory College of Arts & Sciences; Emily Penrose-Thompason, MDP; Ariana Barquero, UCIMED; Julieta Carnevale Carnevale, UCIMED
Partner Organization: Universidad de Ciencias Medicas
Project Summary
Emma Halper and Hans-Kristof Nelson from the Hubert Department of Global Health worked with Drs. Roger Rochat and Anna Newton-Levinson (Emory PIs) and other students (Jacqueline Holstein, Rollins School of Public Health; Trisha Sengupta, Emory College of Arts & Sciences; Emily Penrose-Thompason, MDP; Ariana Barquero, UCIMED; Julieta Carnevale, UCIMED) with the Universidad de Ciencias Medicas.
Costa Rica lacks information regarding care-seeking for unintended pregnancy, research on community attitudes toward abortion, and perceptions surrounding sexual and reproductive health access. Lawmakers, researchers, and other stakeholders continue to use data from a 2007 study estimating the incidence of abortion in Costa Rica at 27,000 abortions in that year. From the 2021 Emory Global Health Institute study, we found some respondents don’t believe abortion is a problem because of high contraceptive prevalence and free access to contraception. Research on these topics may be used to inform decision-makers, clinicians, advocates, and community members.
The 2022 study intended to build on these findings and was focused on populations living in vulnerable situations in San Jose, as we anticipated compounded barriers to access to reproductive health services for this population. The team conducted a mixed-method study employing individual in-depth interviews and a low-cost anonymous quantitative texting survey which gathered information on the perceptions of unintended pregnancy management, sexual and reproductive health perceptions, and morbidity nationally. The study was guided by our partner organization UCIMED and Emory faculty advisors, and the team worked with several local nonprofits who helped with recruitment and outreach for the study. Data collection and fieldwork activities occurred over 8 weeks from June to July 2022 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Emma Halper, MPH '23
“This project provided us with the opportunity to gain first-hand data collection experience and work alongside local partners and research teams. I loved how interdisciplinary our team was—I learned so much from the other Emory participants and our Costa Rican counterparts!”
Hans-Kristof Nelson, MPH '23
“I really appreciated the opportunity to apply the skills I had learned in the classroom to an international setting.”
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Students will all be assigned an Assistant Director of Academic Programs (ADAP) within Global Health to support them. The ADAP helps students navigate the rigors of the program by connecting them with academic, social, and mental health resources. The ADAP also provides support to ensure students are on track to earn their degree. This ranges from advising sessions to discuss courses, schedule planning, and clarifying practicum and thesis requirements.
“The ADAPs I had were very supportive in my first year. I thought they provided great advice on classes, registration, emotional support, and career guidance. I went to my ADAPs for most things that I had questions about.”
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