December Student Spotlight

Fall 2024 Epidemiology Graduates Doctoral Masters Precious-Junia de-Winton Cummings, PhD Dissertation Title:Analyzing COVID-19 Pandemic Response through Case Studies on Testing and Vaccination Strategies in the Midwestern United States and Introducing an Equity Framework for Future Disease Emergency Responses Roba Alwasila, MPH Practicum Title:The impact of storage, handling, and treatment on nutritional quality and safety of […] Published December 1, 2024

December Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Nichole Nidey Hometown: Granger, IA Alma mater: University of Iowa x 3 Field(s) of research: Substance Use, Pregnancy, Parenting, Stigma Topic or title of current project(s): EMPOWER Project Quickfire Queries: Two truths and one lie about me: The name of my current daylist on Spotify: “Cowboy Country Horse Tuesday Morning” Songs I listen to […] Published December 1, 2024

Summer course: Maternal Health in Migrant Communities

The College of Public Health is pleased to offer a brand-new faculty-led global program for summer 2025. Led by Drs. Nichole Nidey and Jonathan Platt, this four-week course will include instruction in Iowa City, as well as one week of travel to Costa Rica. This course is open to graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Iowa. Published November 19, 2024

Call for student posters: 2025 Public Health Conference of Iowa

The 2025 Public Health Conference of Iowa is now accepting student poster abstracts. All poster presentations will be in person at the conference that runs April 1-2 in Des Moines. The deadline for submission is Jan. 27, 2025. Published November 19, 2024

John Flunker joins Department of Epidemiology

The Department of Epidemiology welcomed Assistant Professor John Flunker to the team this fall. Flunker describes himself as an environmental epidemiologist and will be working on projects designed to elucidate the relationship between environmental exposures and associated adverse health outcomes. Published November 14, 2024

Study Finds COVID-19 Pandemic May Have Increased Inequities in Telehealth Utilization

A new study from researchers at the University of Iowa reveals significant disparities in telehealth use for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, particularly among vulnerable populations. Published November 7, 2024

Bridging Gaps in Neurological Research 

Bethany Huinker 2nd year MS Epidemiology “From a young age, I have been driven by a passion to seek out answers and understand the complexities of health. Yet, growing up with a rare neurological condition meant that many of the answers I sought were unavailable. Living with a disease that few people have heard of—and even […] Published November 5, 2024

November Student Spotlight

Madi Wahlen She/Her Program: PhD/MSTP Hometown: Rochester, MN Field(s) of interest: Cancer Epidemiology, Urology Topic or title of thesis, dissertation, or current project: “Impacts of BCG Shortages: Investigating Patient Access, Patterns of Care, and Disease Recurrence for Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer” Quickfire Queries: What are 3 essential items you recommend to survive grad […] Published November 1, 2024

November Faculty Spotlight

Dr. John Flunker Hometown: St. Louis, MO Alma mater: University of Kentucky, University of Missouri-St. Louis Field(s) of research: Environmental Epidemiology Topic or title of current project(s): “Respiratory health effects resulting from co-exposure to extreme heat and wildfire smoke” Quickfire Queries: Songs I listen to while working on research: Published November 1, 2024

Being a Parent in Grad School

I started my PhD the same day my youngest started daycare. I packed up her diapers, her bottles, and her extra clothes, as well as my backpack, pumping bag, and lunch box, and dropped my 6-week-old off in her classroom. After shedding a few tears, I went to my first day of orientation. My journey […] Published November 1, 2024