Epidemiology Student Association (ESA)

About the Association

The Epidemiology Student Association, ESA, aims to promote the study and use of epidemiological theory and techniques of practice, as well as increase the awareness of occupational and educational opportunities, foster collaboration and comradery among our students and faculty, and promote professionalism in Epidemiology. Our voting membership consists of all students seeing an MS, PhD, MPH or MSCI in epidemiology at the University of Iowa.

Mission Statement

The Epidemiology Student Association, ESA, is intended to be a voice, an advocate, and a resource for students in the Epidemiology Department. We serve as a liaison between the students and the department, facilitating cooperation and understanding as we work together to create an excellent department and exceptional graduates.

2025-2026 Executive Board

Faith Elenwa of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Faith Elenwa

Director, PhD Representative

Faith is a second-year PhD student from Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. She received her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Murray State University in 2019. She completed her MPH in Epidemiology at Texas A&M University in 2021. Faith’s research interests include cancer prevention and management and cancer health equity. She is a research assistant at the HCCC Population Research Core. Outside CPH, Faith is involved as a junior data analyst for the Upstream initiative and serves on a committee at ISAB. In her free time, she loves to travel and explore nature.

A portrait of Lauren Johnson of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Lauren Johnson

MS Representative

Lauren is a second-year MS student from Tremont, IL. She earned her B.A. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Global Public Health from Monmouth College. Her primary research interests center on the intersection of maternal and child health and infectious diseases, with an emphasis on infection prevention. She currently works as a research assistant in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology under Dr. Jessica Tucker and volunteers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading a good book, watching movies (especially at the drive-in), and spending time with friends and family.

Chioma Okezie

MPH Representative

Chioma is a second-year MPH student from Nigeria. She earned her MBBS degree from Abia State University in 2018. Her research interests include clinical trial methodology, patient-centered outcomes, and global health. Prior to pursuing her MPH, she worked as a clinical trial manager, gaining extensive experience coordinating and overseeing clinical studies. She is currently a research assistant with Dr. Nichole Nidey’s group and Dr. Paul Romitti’s lab, where she contributes to projects at the intersection of maternal and child health, epidemiology, and public health research. After completing her MPH, Chioma plans to further her career in clinical and epidemiological research, applying her medical training to advance inclusive and evidence-based care.

A portrait of Prithvi Daliboyina of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Prithvi Raj Daliboyina

MPH Representative

Raj is a second-year MPH student in Epidemiology from Visakhapatnam, India. He earned his M.B.B.S. degree and has over five years of clinical experience in internal medicine, emergency care, and geriatrics before beginning his graduate studies at the University of Iowa. His academic interests include infectious disease epidemiology, biostatistics, and health disparities. At Iowa, Prithvi has worked as an Academic Research Assistant with the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research, and Policy under Dr. Anjali Deshpande, where he contributed to a project on diabetes and hypertension care in partnership with the Iowa Primary Care Association.

A portrait of Katarina Fuhrmeister of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Katie Fuhrmeister

PhD Representative

Katie is a second-year PhD student in Epidemiology from Iowa City, IA. She earned her BA (International Studies), BS (Anthropology), MPH (Epidemiology), and certificate in Emerging Infectious Diseases from the University of Iowa. Katie is deeply interested in molecular epidemiology, particularly in understanding genetic interactions in disease states. Her focus is on how these interactions can be influenced and potentially rescued through genetic manipulation or pharmacological interventions. This interest stems from the potential to uncover novel therapeutic strategies that can mitigate or reverse the effects of genetic mutations, thereby improving patient outcomes and advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms. Katie works in the Wallrath laboratory at the Carver College of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where the team focuses on nuclear processes such as chromatin packaging, nuclear organization, pre-mRNA splicing, and gene expression. Her responsibilities have included managing a mouse colony for a project that characterizes the natural history of a pediatric patient mutation in the SNRNP200 gene. This involves propagating specific mouse strains and performing Electroretinography (ERG) assays to quantify rod-cone expression in the retina of the mouse eye. Additionally, former project responsibilities included Drosophila cytology quantification using immunohistochemistry and PCR. Outside of academics, she’s an avid reader and enjoy exploring the outdoors, especially aquatic environments.

Payal Venanayagam

Payal Vedanayagam

MPH Representative, 1st Year Student Rep.

Payal is a first-year MPH student from Cedar Falls, Iowa. She earned her B.S. in Global Health Studies with a Public Health Certificate from the University of Iowa in 2025. Payal’s research interests include diabetes prevention and cancer and rural health. She currently works as a laboratory research assistant at the Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratory. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and binge watching a good show.

Monthly Newsletters

2026 Monthly Newsletters

2025 Monthly Newsletters

2024 Monthly Newsletters

Click here for general newsletter submissions. (Art, achievements, stories, etc.)

Activities and Events

Spring 2026 Semester

January

  • January 21 C302 @ 1-2 OEH Back to school social

February

  • February 4 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Building Healthier Futures: Explore the New Maternal and Child Health Program
  • February 5 S402 @10:30 – 11:30 Epi Coffee Hour
  • February 9th S106 @12:30-1:20 Faculty speed dating
  • February 18 Zoom @ 12-1 Alumni Presentation: Supervising Students
  • February 18 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: UI Sound Awareness for Everyone
  • February 23 C217 @ 4 – 6 pm BSO Board game night
  • February 23 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Global Case Competition

March

  • March 6 S402 @ 9:30 – 10:30 Epi Coffee Hour
  • March 9th S402 @ 12:30 – 1:20 Resume Workshop with the Graduate Success Center’s Marissa Hardin
  • March 11 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: VP for Research Schlegel Research Seminar
  • March 16 – 20 Spring Break
  • March 25 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Burnout a presentation by Tippie College of Business
  • March 26-27 Obermann Symposium: Cultivating Rurality
  • March 30 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Global Case Competition

April

May

  • May 1 S402 @ 9:30 – 10:30 Epi Coffee Hour
  • May 4 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Difficult Conversations a presentation by Tippie College of Business
  • May 6 N110 @ 12:30 – 1:20 CPH Spotlight Event: Faculty and Staff Awards
  • May 7 CPHB Atrium Ep Spring Poster Session – MPH and MS Graduating Capstone Project Student Posters
  • May 8 City Park Shelter 6 @ 4:30 – 8 Epi Departmental Picnic
  • May 11 – 15 Finals Week
  • May 16 Hancher @ 6:30 – 8 CPH Commencement Ceremony

Fall 2025 Semester

September

  • 1st: Labor Day (no classes)
  • 5th: Monthly Coffee Gathering in Epi
  • 8th (Monday): First ESA Meeting – (12:30 PM, room S402)
    • Mentor/Mentee Pairings Released
    • 1st Year Representative Elections (closes 9/16)
  • 27th (Saturday): CPH Homecoming Pregame Breakfast (8:00-10:00 AM, CPH Atrium)

October

  • 3rd: Monthly Coffee Gathering in Epi
  • 13th (Monday) ESA Monthly Meeting (12:30 PM, room S402)
    • How to get the most out of APHA
    • Introduce 1st Year Rep
  • TBD: Epi Apparel Design Contest

November

  • 7h: Monthly Coffee Gathering in Epi
  • 10th (Monday): ESA Monthly Meeting (12:30 PM, room C217)
    • Faculty Speed Dating Event
  • 10-14th:  CPH Research Week
  • 2nd – 5th: American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting (Washington, DC)
  • TBD: ESA Leaf Raking Fundraiser (Saturday afternoon in November)
  • 23rd – 30th: Thanksgiving Break (no classes)

December

  • 5th: Monthly Coffee Gathering in Epi
  • 12th (Friday): ESA Cross-departmental social (TBA)
  • 12th (Friday): Last Day of Classes for Fall 2025 Semester
  • 15th-19th: Finals Week

Have feedback for the ESA? Click here to submit suggestions.

Tie Blankets for SFCH 2024

Bowling Social 2023

End of year picnic 2024