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Researchers at the Gillings School approach this work from many different angles.

One example is the Gillings School’s collaboration with Duke University, North Carolina State University, N.C. A&T University and UNC-Charlotte to lead the Precision Microbiome Engineering, or PreMiEr, research center. PreMiEr studies the microbiome – or community of organisms that live within a given environment – of the entire built environment. It originated during the COVID-19 pandemic and was created to gain a better understanding of how different types of buildings and building operations affected the spread of microbes, and thus diseases.

Professors Joe Brown, PhD, PE, and Barbara Turpin, PhD, both in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, represent the Gillings School at PreMiEr. Brown’s research evaluates how to prevent the spread of microbes in indoor spaces, particularly in homes, hospitals, workspaces and other large spaces where people congregate and where infection has a high chance of spreading.

“PreMiEr is studying both conventional and new methods of microbial control in built environments.”

– Joe Brown

“PreMiEr is studying both conventional and new methods of microbial control in built environments, and this work requires that we understand the roles that HVAC, plumbing and other aspects of construction play in a building’s ecosystem,” said Brown. “We’re looking at things like how to improve ventilation to reduce airborne pathogens or how to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria on surfaces in hospitals. We believe that this work will be increasingly important in the future, because killing these microbes is going to become even more difficult with worsening antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance.”

Killing these microbes is going to become even more difficult with worsening antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance.

The built environment also has an enormous impact on a person’s daily physical activity levels. Those who live in high-traffic areas with poor street connectivity and without a good sidewalk system are far less likely to bicycle or walk to work or other locations they frequent. And if a person’s home is not near a high-quality park, they are far less likely to regularly take their children to play at the park.

Natalicio Serrano, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior, studies how environmental and policy strategies related to the built environment can increase physical activity and improve health. In many communities in N.C. and throughout the U.S., driving is the only safe and reliable transportation option, which promotes sedentary behavior and raises the risk of many chronic diseases.

“I’m looking at how we can address this by improving land use design and zoning policies, such as bringing in more mixed-use development, facilitating better street connectivity and improving sidewalk access,” said Serrano. “But I’m also studying how we can improve the built environment in a way that doesn’t harm the people who are already living in an area. Making neighborhoods safer and more accessible also makes them more desirable and increases housing costs, so it’s important that as we change land use policies, we do so in a way that provides affordable housing provisions to protect the people who are living in that community.”

Kelly Evenson, PhD, professor in the Department of Epidemiology, also studies the impact of the built environment on physical activity, with a special focus on walking and bicycling.

She encourages local leaders to try short-term modifications in their communities and learn what works best. For instance, during the pandemic there was a greater need for outdoor restaurant seating in downtown locations, so parking lanes were roped off to extend outdoor seating. Similar modifications can be tested out on roads, temporarily adding walking and cycling lanes, and the use of those modified lanes can be measured to assess if the changes actually increase walking and bicycling in a community.

“It can feel overwhelming to think about how we improve our built environments to foster better health, especially when dealing with things like existing road networks. But there are short-term changes we can try and then measure to assess if they improve outcomes or not,” said Evenson. “Small changes to the built environment can make a big difference, and it’s worth it to create healthier environments in the future. We don’t have to be stuck with the same unhealthy environments repeating over and over.”

Other examples of Gillings School research in this area include the work of Leah Frerichs, PhD, associate professor, and Arrianna Marie Planey, PhD, assistant professor, both in the Department of Health Policy and Management. Frerichs studies how physical environments influence youth health behaviors in underserved communities, while Planey studies how the built environment affects access to and utilization of health care. The list of how the built environment affects public health goes on and on, so it will remain an important area of focus as Gillings School researchers seek to make daily life healthier and better for all people.

Cornelius Williams

Assistant Director of Admissions

What most interests you about your job? I really enjoy speaking with prospective students and learning their “why.” No two stories are the same, and it keeps me on my toes.

How do you unwind? I enjoy working out, riding my motorcycle and spending time with my family.

What do you think is the biggest issue in public health today? I think the biggest issue in public health currently is access to fair and affordable health care.

Brad Mallard

Director of Foundation Relations and Industry Engagement

What most interests you about your job? I enjoy collaborating with faculty and staff to identify philanthropic support from private foundations and corporations. Through these philanthropic efforts, I am able to help strengthen our teaching, research and practice work and advance the school’s mission of improving public health in North Carolina and beyond. Our faculty and staff are doing some incredible things, and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from them and partner with them!

How do you unwind? I unwind by spending time with my wife and daughter, often by taking in my daughter’s high school color guard and winter guard programs. Our family is also very involved at our church, as our faith is important to us. For personal hobbies, I enjoy exercising, reading and cheering for the Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.

What do you think is the biggest issue in public health today? One of the biggest public health issues today is misinformation. Many people have perceptions about public health but genuinely don’t understand what it is and how it influences people’s lives for the better. We have a great opportunity at the Gillings School to share positive stories of impact about how public health is improving our state, nation and world, and I am glad to help share these stories as I work with our philanthropic partners.

Naya Villarreal

Global Health Director

What most interests you about your job? The people! I get to work with a variety of people from students, faculty, staff, alumni and global partners to help promote, create and manage global health programming at the school. Knowing I have a hand in helping our school’s global efforts by working alongside the best people (I’m biased) is something I do not ever take for granted.

How do you unwind? I don’t! I’m a doctoral student in my spare time, but I try to unwind by treasuring the time I spend with my family (like at dinner time, taking neighborhood walks with our dog and getting hugs from my daughter).

What do you think is the biggest issue in public health today? At this moment in time? Misinformation. Misinformation is being spread and used to dismantle global public health. It is also being used to sow doubt into public health research and practice (e.g., vaccines).

Anne Glauber

Director of Innovation

What most interests you about your job? I love the opportunity to establish relationships with the great people at the Gillings School and across Carolina, learn about what they are doing and what they want to achieve, and then jump into the challenge with them to help them achieve their dreams.

How do you unwind? I am re-energized by being outside and try to prioritize that every day. I’m fortunate enough to have several ways to do that naturally built into my day, with a dog that keeps me honest about multiple daily walks and a commute by bike to campus! I am also a beekeeper, and, believe it or not, spending time with an open hive ‘working the bees’ is incredibly relaxing.

What do you think is the biggest issue in public health today? I think climate change is the biggest threat to our environment and to public health. Rising temperatures, habitat destruction and air pollution all have detrimental effects on public health. I also think the lack of effective communication between people with differing opinions is a real threat to the fabric of our society.

Addressing public health concerns, like chronic conditions and infectious disease, requires understanding an array of settings, cultures and strategies to improve outcomes globally and apply these insights locally. This collaborative process leads to better health for all.

Latin American countries are some of our closest neighbors – places where Gillings School researchers are putting the local-global mindset to work.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Improving care for chronic conditions

Researchers in health behavior, like Professor** Clare Barrington, PhD**, and Assistant Professor Deshira Wallace, PhD, are study how psychological and social stressors affect prevention and management of chronic conditions in the Dominican Republic. Their goal is to improve health care and support systems to provide holistic care and reduce barriers to treatment for vulnerable communities.

Barrington focuses on HIV treatment, a condition at the intersection of infectious and chronic disease management. Advances in medicine allow people with HIV to live longer, but stigma can hinder their navigation of the health care system, especially if they have another chronic condition, like diabetes. HIV care physicians can manage social determinants that lead to better HIV outcomes but often can’t treat other conditions.

“The success of HIV care delivery has generated this need to re-think how health care is structured for vulnerable populations,” she said.

BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, CHILE, MEXICO, U.S.

The epigenetics of kidney and liver diseases and obesity

People of Hispanic/Latino origin are often underrepresented in genetic studies that inform treatment strategies, especially for conditions like obesity, chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease.

Researchers in epidemiology like Professors Nora Francescini, MD, and Kari North, PhD, investigate how multi-omics – variations in biological processes, genetics, metabolism, environment and more – affect disease susceptibility, detection and management for Hispanic/Latino communities. They have studied populations in many Central and South American countries and Americans of Hispanic/Latino ancestry.

CENTRAL AMERICA

The epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in rural communities

Chronic kidney disease of unknown cause is highly prevalent in several Central American countries and the U.S. Researchers in epidemiology like Franceschini and Professor Larry Engel, PhD, study job exposures, medications and other risk factors for chronic kidney disease in rural communities to better understand disease causes and identify preventable factors. This work is a collaboration with several Central American sites known to be hotspots of chronic kidney disease.

BOLIVIA

Water security and sanitation solutions

Bolivia has recently faced severe droughts and water shortages. Research from Professor Joe Brown, PhD, contributes to environmental sciences and engineering solutions that deliver water and sanitation to the greatest amount of people under challenging conditions.

Brown also explores Far-UVC, a safe, affordable ultraviolet radiation technology used to sanitize indoor spaces and prevent spread of infection. Far-UVC lamps can be used in health care facilities to prevent hospital-acquired infections resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and will significantly impact human health, making affordable sanitation solutions even more necessary.

“Antimicrobial resistance is what’s going to kill all of us eventually,” he said. “Suddenly that little scrape you have on your knee is not something that an antibiotic is going to take care of.”

ECUADOR, GALAPAGOS, GUATEMALA, NICARAGUA

Improving environmental safety and nutrition for kids

Professor Sylvia Becker-Dreps, MD, MPH, an epidemiologist and family physician, studies infectious diseases impacting children in Guatemala and Nicaragua, focusing on digestive system viruses causing harmful diarrhea. Her current research in Guatemala examines how the mother’s immune system may protect their infants against norovirus, informing future vaccine design. Reducing diarrhea impacts a child’s nutritional status and development.

“The work we are doing to understand how babies develop immunity to norovirus is already informing pediatric norovirus vaccines in the U.S., too,” she said.

In the Galapagos and Ecuador, Professor Amanda Thompson, PhD, researches nutritional and environmental factors shaping a child’s long-term health and obesity risk, including food security, access to clean drinking water, improved breastfeeding practices, and mental health and educational support for parents.

CHILE

Food label policies to reduce ultraprocessed food consumption

Nutrition researchers, including Distinguished Professor Barry Popkin, PhD, Distinguished Scholar Shu Wen Ng, PhD, and Associate Professor Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, evaluate public health policies in Latin America to moderate the negative impacts of ultraprocessed foods high in sugar, salts and other unhealthy additives. These foods contribute to obesity and chronic disease globally.

Their studies on labels, taxes and marketing laws on ultraprocessed foods in Chile show that these policies support healthier diet choices, reduce exposure to ultraprocessed foods and even lead to product reformulation. These policies provide a framework for change in other Latin American countries and could inspire future change in other nations.

What’s your role in public health?

I’m a second-year Master of Public Health student in the Health Behavior concentration. Now that I’m in my third semester, I feel like I’ve gotten my bearings and have more flexibility to explore everything both public health and the Triangle area have to offer.

I’m a teaching assistant for two professors: Drs. Nat Serrano and Liz Chen. They’re also my mentors, and I love getting to work with both of them and being exposed to different ideas, from digital health interventions to design thinking to housing equity.

Can you describe your focus area in one sentence?

I’m passionate about working in health advocacy and health equity spaces.

That links to my focus on tobacco cessation in support of populations that tobacco marketing strategies have intentionally and unethically targeted. At the Gillings School, I’ve also been able to work on the use of design thinking and trauma-informed principles in mobile health and the intersection of built environment and health outcomes – all emphasizing my interest in health equity. In the long term, I’m seeking a balance between applied research and policy/program evaluation and dissemination.

What brought you to public health?

I was born in Pakistan and moved to the United States as an undergraduate. I graduated college in 2020 – what you’re thinking is true; graduating at the start of a pandemic wasn’t fun – and I took a job at the Yale School of Medicine. I worked there for three years before coming to the Gillings School.

At Yale, I was a clinical research assistant on three smoking cessation projects. One focused on neuroimaging related to mindfulness and smart apps; another was an adolescent vaping cessation clinical trial; and the third was an FDA-funded research study that used eye tracking to measure the influence of e-cigarette warning labels on the youth population.

The third study is the one that brought me to public health. Up to that point, I’d been planning to eventually get a doctoral degree in neuroscience. I was already a certified special ed teacher and thought the combination would lead to a career in child neuropsychology. But when the FDA project exposed me to the concept of public health policy, I completely changed tracks. I only applied to schools with strong tobacco research portfolios, and I was drawn to the Gillings School in part because of the work of Drs. Kurt Ribisl and Noel Brewer.

Can you describe a time when you’ve pivoted in your public health career?

As an international student, I have to be comfortable with frequent pivots. Students in my position face unique obstacles, from funding barriers to how long we can stay in the country. We are required to be mentally quick and open to change, which might mean switching specialties from something you’re passionate about to something more practical.

That happened to me during the pandemic. I was going to work in a lab studying Alzheimer’s, but the funding dried up, and I had just 90 days to either find another position or leave the U.S. I applied to more than 300 jobs and was lucky to get the placement at Yale.

Those experiences are why I volunteer as co-president of the recently formed Gillings International Graduate Student Association (IGSA). We strive to advocate for and offer support to international students, raise awareness of the challenges faced by international students, and effectively communicate their needs to school leadership and relevant entities and departments. At the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, it’s important to be inclusive of students around the globe and highlight their needs and perspectives.

We’re partnering with Gillings School leaders right now on a project to make it more clear which degrees at the School have official STEM status, because that designation affects how long international graduates can stay in the U.S. after finishing classes.

Who are you when you’re at home?

Friends describe me as someone who is full of life! I’m fond of establishing communities wherever I go, which is why I enjoy being the social chair for the health behavior department. I love bringing people together, and my focus right now is bridging the gap between different concentrations at the Gillings School. One way I approach that is by hosting weekly student socials at local businesses.

On other nights, you might find me salsa dancing, rock climbing or doing acro yoga.

Now senior vice president of strategy and innovation at Mindpath Health in Durham, North Carolina, his journey into public health and health care began at age 11, when his grandmother experienced serious health issues. He was impressed by the medical professionals they encountered, and this difficult time instilled an early desire to “heal” people, which evolved into a lifelong commitment to improving public health.

During his medical training, Garza observed that many working on the front lines of public health did not have specific training in the field, but he saw the promise in a public health approach.

“My question was, how do I use my clinical skillset to increase access to high-quality services?”

Garza’s broad base of experience is evident in his work. “I think about it from any and every angle,” he says. As a board member, he adopts a strategic perspective, encouraging collaboration among different stakeholders. “The true magic happens when all stakeholders start working together.”

Some of his most significant contributions have been in the area of telehealth. His work to develop telehealth services in Mexico highlighted the importance of tailoring interventions to specific populations. “There are overall frameworks we can apply for everyone. But for outcomes to be improved, we need to take a deeper dive into what influences the behaviors of your population,” he said. This open-minded and adaptable approach fueled subsequent success in developing telepsychiatry services for people across N.C. and the United States. “I designed a program to treat 400 people per month, originally, and now we treat more than 100,000,” he said.

Garza’s dedication to education and mentorship is another cornerstone of his career. A proud alum of the Gillings School, he remains actively involved, mentoring students and participating in School initiatives. “I want anyone and everyone to feel that the School is for them and that they can thrive in that environment,” he says. Garza’s efforts to support international students and ensure the School considers global applicants have been particularly impactful.

When asked about his advice to current or potential students, Garza emphasizes the importance of leveraging one’s strengths and getting involved in local initiatives. “Our field belongs to all of us, and it affects all of us,” said Garza. “Be aware of your limitations but get everything you can out of your strengths.”

His journey from a young boy inspired by his grandmother’s health struggles to a leader in public health is a testament to his dedication and innovative approach. Garza’s work continues to bridge the gap between clinical practice and public health, making a significant impact on communities locally and globally.

“I bring the public health perspective to every aspect of my job, trying to understand my populations better to better tailor effective strategies that address the main issues or challenges,” Garza said. Overall, my experience supports a holistic view of public health as a shared responsibility that requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors.”

_“Trato de analizar todo desde la perspectiva de la salud pública, y trabajo para entender mejor a las poblaciones a las que estamos intentado ayudar para poder crear estrategias que realmente ayuden a resolver los problemas de esa población,” dijo Garza. _

"Creo que mi experiencia trae consigo una visión en la que la salud pública es responsabilidad de todos y requiere de colaboración entre los diferentes sectores.”

“La pregunta principal era como hacer uso de mi entrenamiento clínico para incrementar el acceso a servicios de salud.”

“Quiero que todo el mundo sepa y sienta que esta escuela es para ellos y que pueden ser exitosos en esta industria.”

“La salud publica nos pertenece a todos y nos afecta a todos. Entiende tus limitaciones, pero aprovecha al máximo tus capacidades.”

David Zhang, PhD

Assistant Professor, Biostatistics and Genetics

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Beijing, China, and I came to the United States when I was 16. I noticed life here is much less competitive.

When did you know that public health was your path?

I started with a background in pure mathematics and computer science, but I was introduced to genomics and medical imaging in graduate school. I was drawn to biomedical data because of the complex and interesting problems in the field.

What are your research interests?

My research focuses on developing novel AI frameworks to advance critical biomedical and health care domains, including spatial omics, computational pathology, medical imaging and medical text analysis.

What do you do to unwind?

Running. I usually run 5k every morning with my goldendoodle in the neighborhood.

What do you think is the top public health issue today?

The potential and the hype of AI in transforming biomedical research and health care. AI will automate many routines of knowledge workers, but it is unclear to what extent this will happen and how intelligent AI will become.

Larelle H. Bookhart, PhD, MPH, RD, IBCLC

Assistant Professor, Maternal and Child Health; Member, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute

Where did you grow up?

I’m a proud native of Halifax County. My family has strong roots in Eastern North Carolina which has shaped my career and my affinity to want to promote optimal health here in N.C.

What are your research interests?

My research interests include nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, health care system practices and policies that influence early nutrition, and interventions to reduce and eliminate early nutrition-related health inequities with a focus on breast/chest feeding. My research includes examining factors associated with in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding among healthy, term newborns. I aim to create a continuum of support from the clinical setting to community setting in collaboration with community-based maternal care workers to improve breast/chest feeding outcomes. I am currently a co-investigator for the Partnering with WIC to Advance Maternal Health Equity Collaborating Center, which aims to support research and implementation of evidence-based strategies that can recognize and treat urgent maternal health warning signs among WIC participants.

When did you know that public health was your path?

I entered undergrad interested in pursuing a career in medicine. I took a public policy seminar course my freshman year of undergrad at UNC that explored inequities in various systems in the U.S., including the education system and the health care system. I knew then that to address the inequities that have adversely affected members of my family and community, I needed to pursue a career that focused on systems and population level health.

What do you do to unwind?

I like to unwind by taking long walks in nature. I enjoy spending time with my family. When I am able to, I like to catch up on documentaries and law and medicine dramas such as the Lincoln Lawyer, the Resident, Your Honor and my all-time-favorite Law and Order Special Victims Unit.

What do you think is the top public health issue today?

Based on my vantage point, the biggest issues in public health today are the racial and socioeconomic health inequities that stem from structural racism. I look forward to a career that will address this.

Dilshad Jaff, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Public Health Leadership and Practice

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Iraq in a town situated between lowland Mesopotamia and the highlands of Persia. As a Kurd, my community has been ravaged by conflict and violence for millennia. The armies of empires lying to the east and west of my town have passed through it for centuries and even today. Throughout the ages, my community has suffered the direct and indirect impacts of wars, and my distant ancestors and living relatives have often been forced to flee our home.

What are your research interests?

My research interests are shaped by my personal and work experience: how to address complicated humanitarian crises across the world. There are so many complex issues in these settings – health care services including mental health, maternal and child health, refugee communities and internal displacement, crisis response, and others. It’s important to communicate well and collaborate with other people and organizations so that we can address these critical challenges collectively. Research and scholarship related to improving humanitarian assistance has been an important focus for me during my career. Over the years, I conducted a range of implementation research studies that gathered data to improve humanitarian health practice. Included among my particular expertise and skills are designing, implementing and leading programs in humanitarian crisis and low-income settings; community engagement and interventions in crisis settings; managing emergencies, such as outbreak control, mass casualties and malnutrition; and other related subjects. I have published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on complex humanitarian emergencies, mental health and quality of care in humanitarian settings. My papers have served as guidance tools to other practitioners who are working to improve the quality of care offered by humanitarian organizations. These commendations and actions suggest that my work has a considerable impact on the field of public health in the U.S. and beyond. Considering the continuing world crises and the success of my work to date, I am confident that I will continue to contribute in important ways to improving health service delivery in complex emergencies.

When did you know that public health was your path?

Conflict really shaped my path. I grew up in a conflict zone and have worked in a number of settings where there are complex humanitarian emergencies. There are so many needs – medical, public health, conflict resolution, psychological and social support. Being a physician is useful, but the relationship is one-to-one between the patient and physician. It’s not about the community. More was needed, and I felt that I could do more.

What do you do to unwind?

I write. I have written a lot of commentaries and viewpoints online, and I’ve journaled a lot, even on scrap pieces of paper in the field. For me, writing is healing. So is talking to my family members and social network – they are an important source of support. I do meditation a lot as well.

What do you think is the top public health issue today?

For me, it’s mental health. This is an important issue everywhere, but for me, especially, in conflict zones. Every community you go into in a conflict zone, for example, you see all these generations who grew up with violence and conflict, and there is no effective way to help and treat them. On top of that, education is disrupted, health services are disrupted, and poverty and disease are widespread. I mean, it’s 2025, and still people die from measles and cholera and all these things, and polio and others sometimes. But I think mental health needs more attention.

Lamis Jomaa

Assistant Professor, Nutrition

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Middle East, spending my childhood between Lebanon, my homeland, a small and beautiful country along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the United Arab Emirates, where my family sought refuge for a few years to escape the war. Growing up in the Middle East, I was fortunate to enjoy the long and rich history of vibrant traditions, natural beauty, diverse cultural heritage, rich cuisine and warm hospitality.

When did you know that public health was your path?

My interest in the field of public health started during my high school years when I started reading more about nutrition and how food impacts our health and well-being. Despite my strong interest in this field, I first started my undergraduate studies as an English literature major before shifting into the field of nutrition, which was still a young and growing field of studies in the Middle East. It was through volunteering and extracurricular activities during college and beyond that got me particularly interested in the field of community and public health nutrition. This got me to change my major and pursue my undergraduate degree in nutrition and dietetics and then completed my dietetic internship at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon before pursuing my graduate studies in the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar. I have always been interested in learning how public health nutrition programs and community-based interventions can make a difference in people’s lives, especially children and adolescents.

What are your research interests?

My research interests are focused on evaluating the burden and determinants of food and nutrition insecurity experienced by different population groups including children, adolescents, young adults (college students), as well as refugees and displaced individuals in the U.S. and globally. In addition, my work includes designing evidence-based community nutrition interventions that aim at reducing health disparities while improving overall nutrition and health outcomes of those most at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. In parallel, I continue to work on innovative methods to promote sustainable, healthy and affordable diets and examine environmental footprints associated with dietary changes observed among different population groups.

What do you do to unwind?

I enjoy spending time with my family, reading non-fiction books, listening to different podcasts and international music, going for outdoor walks and hikes, swimming, and traveling to visit different countries and learn more about the diversity of cultures and rich cuisines. Yes, both my husband and I are foodies.

What do you think is the top public health issue today?

In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges that continue to face public health is the high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition in its different forms – undernutrition, overnutrition (overweight and obesity) and micronutrient deficiencies – that affect the most vulnerable individuals and communities in the U.S. and globally. My research and personal interests in this domain are the culmination of my lived experiences and a career that is focused on examining how conflicts and wars along with poor governance, inequities in distribution of resources can uproot lives, destroy livelihoods, damage our environment and perpetuate food insecurity, leading to the vicious cycles of poverty and malnutrition. Despite these challenges, I find hope in the field of public health to continue to uplift the unheard voices of those most vulnerable, to protect and promote the health and lives of those most in need, and uphold human rights of ensuring food, clothes, shelter, education (and more) are always provided to all people for a dignified life.

His training in biostatistics, and a fascination with the secrets hidden within large troves of data, prepared him for a successful career on Wall Street. He currently serves as Founder of U.S. equity-focused firm Trivariate Research, where he specializes in rooting out inefficiencies in the stock market. His involvement in the Gillings School made him increasingly aware of how much public health significantly improves the quality of life and productivity for many.

Parker is quick to point out that the world of statistics was vastly different when he went to college. “Computers were a rarity among students, and the field was steeped in theory,” he said. However, he developed core statistical competencies while working alongside researchers who were at the forefront of the field.

As a student, he found that he thrived on problem sets rather than essays, and his data-focused journey led him to the University of North Carolina, drawn by a significant investment from SAS Institute and cutting-edge software for applied statistics.

Reminiscing on his first visit to Chapel Hill, Parker acknowledges that the sunny, 75-degree weather starkly contrasted with the frigid 5-degree weather in Pittsburgh, where he had just gone on another university tour. However, he notes that the brilliance of professors like Lawrence Kupper, PhD ’70, and Gary Koch, PhD ’68, along with an impressive student body, left a lasting impression.

“The autonomy and inspiring community at UNC drew me back,” he said. “It was the people and the freedom to pursue meaningful work that made all the difference.”

After realizing career success, Parker’s interest in public health continued to grow, fueled by a desire to engage in meaningful philanthropy. Conversations with influential figures like Michael Bloomberg, who emphasized the importance of extending productive years of life, resonated deeply with him. He saw the potential for data and analytics to revolutionize health care, making it more efficient and effective.

“Public health isn’t just about treating diseases; it’s about preventing them and improving lives on a large scale,” he said. “That’s why I’m passionate about supporting this field.”

Parker has served on the Public Health Foundation Board at the Gillings School for 10 years, including as immediate past chair, and during that time, he has advocated for the critical role of public health in extending life expectancy and improving productivity. He is particularly excited about opportunities to fuse health care and technology, such as the use of artificial intelligence to reduce errors in breast cancer screening. This innovation has the potential to improve patient outcomes while freeing health care professionals to focus on patients.

“Adam has been a great partner and friend, and I am grateful for his steadfast leadership of the board over the past two years,” said Mary Margaret Caroll, associate dean for advancement at the Gillings School. “This caps a decade of service that has ensured a strong board and sound management of our charitable funds.”

Through his service, Parker aims to inspire others to support the Gillings School, ensuring UNC continues to lead in public health innovation and make a lasting impact on communities worldwide.

“Seeing the potential for data and analytics to revolutionize health care is incredibly exciting,” said Parker. “It’s not just about better stocks; it’s about better outcomes for everyone.”

STUDENTS

Three Gillings students won the 2024 Award for Excellence in Health Equity Research. This is the fifth year that Gillings has offered this honor and the first year that students and postdoctoral researchers were eligible to receive it. The awardees are:

Doctoral student: Austin Waters, Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM), for his research that has significantly advanced the understanding of health care inequities faced by LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and caregivers.

Master of Public Health (MPH) student: Fred Tusabe, Climate, Environment and Health concentration, for his work addressing critical disparities in water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) practices, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Undergraduate student: Emile Charles, Nutrition concentration, for a wide range of work ranging from hands-on labor – helping community gardens in rural North Carolina harvest more than 38,000 pounds of fresh produce that was delivered to over 1,400 vulnerable community members – to developing research best practices.

Halle Evans, Master of Science student in environmental sciences and engineering (ESE), was awarded the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program Graduate Fellowship from the United States Department of Transportation​. Through her work on vehicle-to-grid​​ technology in Thailand, Evans is investigating the potential of electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of these systems.

Jaya Dayal, a senior obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree, received the John H. Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award from N.C. Campus Engagement, a statewide collegiate network committed to preparing students for civic and social responsibility. Dayal co-founded the UNC Democracy & Dialogue Fellows Program to empower students to use dialogue as a tool to have challenging yet necessary conversations.

Gina Hidalgo, a graduate student in ESE, won the Campus Sustainability photo contest for her submission, Managing Dust, which provides an inside look at the UNC School of Nursing’s Carrington Renewal Project. Hidalgo, who studies exposure science, took the photo because it represents the controls implemented to mitigate exposures to those working on the building and the general public.

UNC Gillings’ third biannual Pitch Competition saw 48 students across 12 teams exploring entrepreneurial solutions to pressing public health challenges. The three winning teams were:

First Place: Sensible Pad, a diagnostic menstrual pad that non-invasively screens for cervical cancer at a low cost. Coached by Erik Eaker, MHA, an undergraduate and graduate alumnus of Gillings, the team won $3,000 + $5,000 in consulting services from BlueDoor Consulting. Vinitha Panchikarla, an HPM undergraduate student, was part of the research team.

Second Place and People’s Choice Award: Olea Health transforms health care accessibility for underserved populations by providing AI-driven, SMS-based health education and preventative care solutions. The team, which includes HPM undergraduate student Aveena Khanderia, was coached by Sammy Orelien, DrPH, an executive doctoral alumnus of Gillings. They won $1,500 for second place and $200 for People’s Choice.

Third Place: MedFam provides discounted lodging rates to families in emergency medical situations through hospital and hotel partnerships. The team, which includes MPH in epidemiology student Varad Gurude, won $750 and was coached by Richard Kelly, an undergraduate Gillings alumnus.

The Impact in Practice Award is a $500 non-service award that recognizes students who made a significant, immediate and direct impact on public health practice during their summer 2024 practicum experience, with a focus on capacity building, community engagement and health equity. This year’s winners, all MPH students, are:

Olivia Hoynes – Project: Preparing Volunteer Birth Doulas in a Hospital-Based Program: Designing, Implementing and Evaluating a New Approach to Doula Training. Organization: Birth Partners Volunteer Doula Program

Paddy Qiu – Project: Assessing and Mitigating Cervical Cancer Risks: The Impact of Social Determinants and Educational Interventions on HIV-Infected Women in Bali, Indonesia. Organization: Minority Health Research Training Program (MHRT) from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Lauren Lansing – Project: Evaluating Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Screenings Among Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Clients in Hanoi, Vietnam. Organization: Hanoi Medical University.

Rotimi Kukoyi, Bachelor of Science in Public Health student in health policy and management, was the undergraduate recipient of the 2025 Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award for his outstanding public health work and leadership as an undergraduate student through the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) and Get Covered Carolina.

Three students were honored with the Gillings School Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards, which recognize teaching assistants who inspire students, enhance learning, support success and facilitate their development as public health professionals. They are:

Kevin Yu, MPH student in nutrition,

Summer Peterson, Doctoral student in health behavior, and

Yating Zou, Doctoral student in biostatistics.

FACULTY/STAFF

Sarah Mills, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of health behavior, received the faculty Award for Excellence in Health Equity Research, which recognizes outstanding research that advances solutions to health inequities. Mills was honored for her groundbreaking studies that highlight racial and socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use and the marketing of menthol cigarettes, which have influenced regulatory actions and shaped the strategies of major tobacco prevention programs.

David J. Weber, MD, MPH, a Gillings epidemiology professor and distinguished leader in infection prevention and health care epidemiology, is serving as the president of the 2025 board of trustees for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). SHEA’s mission is to promote safe health care practices and reduce the burden of health care-associated​​ infections worldwide.

Eleven Gillings academics were named to Clarivate’s 2024 list of Highly Cited Researchers™ recognizing global research scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence by publishing multiple papers frequently cited by their peers during the last decade. From the Gillings School, those faculty include:

Ralph S. Baric, PhD, William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of epidemiology.

Noel T. Brewer, PhD, Gillings Distinguished Professor in Public Health and professor of health behavior.

Stephen R. Cole, PhD, professor of epidemiology.

Rachel Graham, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology.

Lisa Gralinski, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology.

Sarah Leist, PhD, research associate in epidemiology.

Hans W. Paerl, PhD, professor of marine and environmental sciences and engineering and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences.

Barry M. Popkin, PhD, William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of nutrition.

Byron Powell, PhD, LCSW, adjunct associate professor of health policy and management at Gillings and associate professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Alexandra Schaefer, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology.

Timothy Sheahan, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology.

Joseph Ibrahim, PhD, Alumni Distinguished Professor of biostatistics, received the American Statistical Association’s received Samuel S. Wilks Memorial Award. Director of graduate studies for the Department of Biostatistics and director of the department’s Biostatistics for Research in Genomics and Training Grant, Ibrahim focuses on developing statistical methodology related to clinical trials, cancer and genomics research. He was selected for this prestigious award for his distinguished career in biostatistics, as well as his contributions to cancer research, genomics and statistical education, which have significantly advanced public health and medical research.

William Vizuete, PhD, professor of environmental sciences and engineering, has been named the Gillings School’s first innovation strategy adviser. The inaugural role represents the School’s commitment to building a robust culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and translation for direct impact in public health. Working closely with Anne Glauber, MPH, associate director of innovation at Gillings, and Donald Holzworth, MS, the School’s entrepreneur in residence, Vizuete will advance transformative innovation solutions that address complex public health challenges.

Barbara Turpin, PhD, professor of environmental sciences and engineering, was selected to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) last fall by Administrator Michael S. Regan. CASAC members span several scientific disciplines and provide sound scientific advice to EPA leadership.

A UNC research team led by Gillings School epidemiologist Kari North, PhD, has partnered with Texas Tech University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to research anorexia nervosa (AN). The Sarah Kyle Anorexia Nervosa Research Foundation (SKANRF.org) has awarded its first Phase 1 grant to this research consortium, which seeks to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying AN by exploring epigenetic modifications that can influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself. Cynthia Bulik, PhD, FAED, Distinguished Professor of psychiatry and a professor of nutrition at Gillings, chairs the SKANRF Scientific Advisory Board and is also involved with this project.

Professor of Nutrition Anthony Hackney, PhD, DSc, was recently named a Fulbright Scholar. Hackney will be associated with the PANIC study (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children) at the University of Eastern Finland as the Fulbright-Saastamoinen Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences. It is his fourth experience as a Fulbright Scholar.

Gillings faculty received two of the first Translating Innovative Ideas for the Public Good (TIIP) Awards, which provide up to $50,000 in support for innovative projects that embody the University’s mission to drive research, invention and innovation for public benefit:

Oscar Fleming, DrPH, MSPH, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice, for his project: Community Co-Design for Street Medicine in Burke County.

Melissa Cox, PhD, assistant professor of health behavior for her project Building an Adaptive Mobile Intervention to Address High-Risk Alcohol Use.

The Teaching Excellence and Innovation Awards honor Gillings faculty members who inspire students; enhance student learning through creative, engaging and innovative teaching methods; and/or support student success in the classroom and student growth as public health professionals. The 2025 award winners are:

Kristen Hassmiller Lich, PhD, professor of health policy and management, received one of the School’s most prestigious awards, the Bernard G. Greenberg Alumni Endowment Award for teaching, research and service.

Jianwen Cai, PhD, Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of biostatistics, received the John E. Larsh Jr. Award for Mentorship, one of the School’s most prestigious awards, which recognizes the faculty member who best exemplifies the qualities of mentoring and commitment to students.

Melanie Studer, PhD, assistant professor of health policy and management, received the Edward G. McGavran Award for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes career-long excellence in teaching by a faculty member at the Gillings School.

Eight faculty members were awarded student-nominated Teaching Innovation Awards, which recognize one early-to-mid-career faculty member from each department. They are:

Lina Montoya, PhD, assistant professor of biostatistics,

Greg Characklis, PhD, W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of environmental sciences and engineering,

Jessie Buckley, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology,

Larissa Jennings Mayo-Wilson, PhD, associate professor of health behavior,

Franklin Farmer, DBA, MBA, adjunct instructor in health policy and management,

Angela Parcesepe, PhD, associate professor of maternal and child health,

Molly De Marco, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition, and

W. Oscar Fleming, DrPH, assistant professor of public health leadership and practice.

Charletta Sims Evans has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 ASPPH Student Services Excellence Award in recognition of her innovative, forward-thinking approach to student services and extraordinary dedication to working with applicants and students. The ASPPH Student Services Excellence Award recognizes individuals who have devoted their careers to innovating and improving the experience for applicants and students of public health programs. With over 20 years in higher education, counseling, and mental health, Sims Evans leads the Office of Student Affairs in providing student outreach and recruitment, advising and counseling on academic and career choices, preventing and managing student disputes and grievances, and advising student organizations.

Biostatistics Professor Hongtu Zhu, PhD, has been named a 2025 IEEE Fellow. Each year, less than 1% of its voting members are selected for the prestigious fellowship. Zhu has been recognized for his contributions to data integration in medical imaging and genetics and applying learning in ridesharing.

Two 2025 Robert E. Bryan Public Service Awards were given to staff and programs at the Gillings School. Addie Imseis, project director in the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice, was recognized for her outstanding work and leadership for the Building Veteran-Healthy Communities Project. The Place-Based Health MPH concentration also received special recognition for outstanding work with the Western N.C. community both before and after Hurricane Helene.

Two 2025 Office of the Provost awards were given to Gillings School faculty and programs for engaged research and partnership. Leah Frerichs, PhD, associate professor of health policy and management, was recognized for outstanding research in partnership with communities in Eastern N.C. to develop sustainable programming for adolescent youth engagement in local health-improvement initiatives. The Fort Bragg Public Health Partnership was also recognized for outstanding and ongoing work to address important health needs among military families in Fort Bragg.

ALUMNI

Lisa Koonin, DrPH, 2013 doctoral program in Public Health Executive Leadership alumna, received the 2025 Harriet Hylton Barr Distinguished Alumni Award, which honors an alumnus or alumna for outstanding achievements and contributions to public health.

Gary White, MS ’94 (environmental sciences and engineering), received a Distinguished Alumni Award for his devotion to creating sustainable solutions that provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation to millions of people throughout the world. White leads Water.org and WaterEquity, two nonprofits he co-founded with actor Matt Damon which, since 2003, have helped provide access to safe water and sanitation for 70 million people in more than 18 countries.

Amber Amparo, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health graduate from the class of 2023, received a Fulbright Award to conduct research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, studying how treatment strategies developed in the lab can be applied to pediatric neuroblastomas, a type of cancer that forms in nerve cells.

Roberto Hernández Orsini, DMD, MPH, MS, (UNC MPH ‘86), has been named president-elect of the American Board of Orthodontics. He is an associate professor in the graduate orthodontic program at the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine and will be part of the executive, clinical and certification committees.

Shelley Francis, DrPH, 2005 Gillings School alumna, was named to the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC). The committee is to advise the Department of Transportation and the Secretary about plans and approaches for transportation innovation.

EXAMPLES OF MAJOR GRANTS AND AWARDS

A team of UNC-Chapel Hill researchers that includes two Gillings faculty has been awarded up to $10 million in Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health funding to develop the Cancer Identification and Precision Oncology Center, a multidisciplinary effort to improve cancer diagnosis and support personalized treatments by quickly aggregating and analyzing a wide range of health data. Principal investigators for the three-year project include Caroline Thompson, PhD, MPH, associate professor of epidemiology, and Melissa Troester, PhD, MPH, professor of epidemiology.

Naim Rashid, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics, has received a two-year, $311,000 Department of Defense Pancreatic Cancer Research Program-focused pilot award to build an artificial intelligence tool that generates personalized clinical trial recommendations for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Michael Kosorok, PhD, W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of biostatistics at Gillings and professor of statistics and operations research, is another key project team member.

Baiming Zou, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics, received a grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health to bring machine learning analysis to post-surgical pain and opioid use, with the goal of producing data-driven insights that will help physicians provide personalized pain management plans and avoid the risk of opioid overuse. Co-investigators include Gillings biostatistics professors **Fei Zou **and Didong Li, PhD.

IN MEMORIAM

Sagar Chand Jain, PhD, a revered professor and health policy visionary, passed away Oct. 23, 2024, at age 94. Jain was professor emeritus of health policy and management at Gillings, a former department chair, and founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of World Health & Population. Born in India and immigrating to the United States in 1959, Jain joined UNC-Chapel Hill in 1965, serving the Department of Health Policy and Administration as a key faculty member and from 1971-1986 as department chair. His work was foundational in establishing the School’s reputation for health policy and public health administration, expanding the curriculum and collaborating with organizations like the World Health Organization to enrich the School’s academic programs and global outreach initiatives.

After retiring as department chair, Jain leveraged his health policy expertise to support the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) in its mission of improving health care management in India and South Asia. This partnership enabled IIHMR to adopt UNC’s approaches to health systems strengthening and management training, equipping health care professionals with skills to tackle health challenges in low-resource settings. In his ancestral village of Dadawas, where his efforts centered on poverty alleviation through education and empowerment, Jain was instrumental in establishing the BMB School of Science and Mathematics. By creating educational resources, health care access and a support system for underprivileged youth, Jain transformed Dadawas and modeled similar initiatives for rural communities across India.

James Trotter Staley, PhD, former assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering, died Aug. 22, 2024, at the age of 86. Staley decided to pursue a career in science when the U.S. began to place more emphasis on science and technology after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in math from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in microbiology from The Ohio State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of California, Davis. He taught Michigan State University’s first microbial ecology course before coming to UNC in 1969 as assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. In 1971, Staley left Chapel Hill to become a professor of microbiology at The University of Washington.

Staley was interested in microbial evolution and diversity and considered his life’s work “Seeking Truth in the Microbial Cosmos.” Among his research achievements were naming two new bacterial genera, writing and publishing textbooks (Microbial Life and Microbiology Dynamics & Diversity), and serving as the Founding Director of the UW Astrobiology Program from 1998-2005. Staley was a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for more than 50 years and received the U.S. Federation of Culture Collections J. Roger Porter Award from ASM in 2008.

R. Gary Rozier, DDS, MPH, a beloved and respected national expert on oral public health, died Jan. 29 at age 80. Rozier, who was professor emeritus of the HPM department, spent his career working to improve the oral health of low-income children in N.C. and across the U.S.

For more than 40 years, he served on the faculty of the Gillings School, teaching courses in public health dentistry and research design. He led the HPM doctoral program for several years and was an advisor to countless students. Rozier received his MPH and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill.

“Dr. Rozier was a member of HPM from 1976 to 2019, where he spent his career designing and evaluating strategies to reduce oral health inequities in children,” said Kristin Reiter, PhD, Humana Distinguished Professor and chair of HPM. “His work engaged physicians, dentists and community organizations such as Early Head Start in improving access to oral health preventive and treatment services for preschool-aged children. He was a remarkable teacher, mentor, researcher and colleague and a giant in the field of dental public health.”

Educator, mentor and friend to so many, Rozier was a role model who inspired people across the globe. He conducted dental public health research with direct applications toward improving the public’s health. He generously shared his time and research acumen. Perhaps his best-known research activities involved the development and evaluation of the “Into the Mouths of Babes” project that engaged and taught medical providers to conduct oral health screenings for young children, apply fluoride varnish and refer them to dentists. This innovative, interprofessional activity continues today.

Nearly 6,400 veterans died by suicide in 2021. With more than 700,000 veterans living in North Carolina and approximately 18 million across the United States, this crisis is making a profound impact on communities of all sizes.

Veteran well-being and suicide prevention are often addressed at the individual level from a clinical perspective. For example, at-risk veterans are often referred for clinical mental health services by their primary care provider. However, after an impromptu conversation at a workforce development conference between Vaughn Upshaw, DrPH, EdD, MPH – principal investigator of the BVHC project and chair of the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice at the Gillings School – and Paul Crews, MPH, former director of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, the idea for BVHC was born. Their shared public health background led them to agree that efforts to improve veteran well-being and suicide prevention should focus on communities.

The big-picture goal of the BVHC project is to support community efforts to become healthier places for veterans to live, and the project is specifically designed to work alongside community-based organizations with the understanding that they know their community best. The approach involves building awareness among local organizations of the unique issues veterans face when re-entering civilian life and fostering collaborations between the organizations to better address those issues. The project is also developing interactive resources that will provide information and tools to strategically support these community efforts.

Learn more at healthyvets.unc.edu.