The Baylor University Department of Public Health made a strong and impactful presence at the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Conference, showcasing the outstanding research and contributions from its faculty, students, and alumni. Held in late October, this year’s conference was an exciting platform for these public health professionals to share their work with an engaged audience. Here’s a highlight of Baylor’s impressive representation:
Sunday, October 27th
- Eyram Owusu-Sekyere
Eyram’s poster focused on “Examining the Intersection of Race and Rurality in Up-to-Date Cancer Screenings for Breast, Colorectal, and Cervical Cancers: Trends from 2018 to 2022,” a study that addresses disparities in cancer screening rates across rural and racially diverse populations. - Dr. Matt Asare
Dr. Asare’s poster presentation explores cancer patients’ perceptions of using a mobile health (mHealth) app for comprehensive cancer management, revealing key themes around mental health, nutrition, and physical health challenges, while highlighting their interest in the app and suggestions for improvement to better address their unmet needs. - Emmanuel Abrefah
Emmanuel’s oral presentation examined the Ghanaian adolescent students’ perception of HPV vaccination and shed light on possible future intervention areas. - Sophia Garza Hatcher
Sophia presented her work examining the relationship between caregiver health status and childhood food insecurity.
Monday, October 28th
- Catie Bigbie, MPH
Catie presented on a study that assessed the association between WIC utilization and preventative healthcare service utilization among U.S. children. - Eyram Owusu-Sekyere
- In addition to his first poster, Eyram also presented on the “Identification and Characteristics of High-Need Counties in the United States,” shedding light on areas in need of targeted public health interventions.
- Dr. Jasmine Opusunju and Rebecca Anumel-Ackah
Dr. Opusunju and Rebecca co-led a roundtable discussion on “Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Barriers to Mental Health Through Community Health Workers.” This important session focusing on community-based approaches to combatting vaccine hesitancy and enhancing mental health care access. - Anjelica Elizondo, MPH
Anjelica presented her poster on research aiming to explore the relationship between the distribution of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and cervical and breast cancer screening behaviors in Texas. - Jourdan Milton, MPH
Jourdan’s research focused on using social determinants of health to predict the stage of diagnosis and survival outcomes in ovarian cancer patients.
Tuesday, October 29th
- Catie Bigbie
Catie’s oral presentation explored the association between sources of social support and breastfeeding outcomes among U.S. children - Aatiqah Hussain
Aatiqah presented “Moderating Effect of Primary-Caregiver Closeness on the Association Between Parenting Behaviors and Youth Aggression,” a study focusing on the relationship between parenting behaviors and youth aggression. - Tanvir Ahmed
Tanvir’s oral presentation focused on assess the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and kidney function in metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. - Dr. Katie Janda-Thomte
Katie presented on a student-led initiative that researched food insecurity on campus and translated their findings into the development of a grocery shuttle program to address identified barriers.
Baylor’s Continued Commitment to Public Health Education and Research
The range of topics presented by Baylor University’s faculty, students, and alumni at the APHA conference highlights the department’s ongoing commitment to addressing critical public health issues. From tackling health disparities and cancer screening gaps to exploring the effects of early childhood education and caregiving on youth behavior, Baylor researchers continue to provide valuable insights that shape the future of public health. Each of these contributions further solidifies Baylor’s role as a leader in the field, promoting innovation, equity, and community-focused solutions.
The diverse nature of the presentations also reflects the department’s holistic approach to public health—combining community-based interventions with rigorous research methods to tackle the most pressing health challenges of our time.