Former Yerby Fellows
Yerby Former Fellow Visits
In addition to the wide assortment of workshops, seminars, and classes available to the Yerby fellows, former fellows return to the School from time to time to share their research interests and to provide counseling and advice to the current fellows through workshops and discussions about career development and career choices. The first former fellow to visit the school was Dr. Shairi Turner, acting Surgeon General for the state of Florida.
In addition, to learn more about the Yerby postdoctoral experience, prospective applicants are welcome to contact some of our former fellows:
Gary Bennett
Yerby Fellow, 2002-2003
Current Title(s): Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University
Adjunct Associate Professor of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health
Research Interests: Bennett’s work focuses on strategies to prevent obesity in high risk populations. His research includes use of new media technologies to deliver obesity interventions; examining social and psychosocial determinants of obesity and physical inactivity, and exploring the dissemination of evidence-based interventions. Current focus is on health disparities and understanding why rates of obesity vary by demographic characteristics.
Contact Information: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
9 Flowers Drive, Room 222
Durham, NC 27708
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Jorge Chavarro 
Yerby Fellow, 2006-2008
Current Title(s): Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Research Interests: Chavarro’s research focuses on investigating the role of diet and the interaction between dietary and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of diseases affecting reproductive and hormone sensitive organs, particularly malignancies of reproductive organs. Specific research areas include investigation of the role of fatty acids and their metabolism in the development and progression of prostate cancer, work on a methodological problem in nutritional epidemiology related to the study of breast cancer, and a study of the role of diet in male and female fertility.
Contact Information: Department of Nutrition
Harvard School of Public Health
665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
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Bettina Drake 
Yerby Fellow, 2006-2009
Current Title(s): Assistant Professor, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Her work focuses on the interactions between the social/behavioral and biological determinants of cancer disparities, an understanding of which may lead to the development of more effective disease prevention strategies. Her research objectives are: 1) to identify the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for cancer as well as the at-risk groups for these factors; 2) to utilize epidemiologic methods to understand the interactions between behavioral and biologic determinants of adverse cancer outcomes; and 3) to contribute to the translation of epidemiological findings into behavioral interventions at the individual and population level.
Contact Information: Washington University School of Medicine
Prevention and Control
660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8100
St. Louis, MO 63110
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Renee Johnson 
Yerby Fellow, 2004-2006
Current Title(s): Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health
Research Interests: Dr. Johnson’s current research centers on the prevention and etiology of suicide, firearm injury, youth violence, and adolescent substance use. Recent articles have explored violence, suicide ideation and deliberate self-injury among immigrant youths in Boston. Dr. Johnson is a core faculty member with the CDC-funded Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center. She has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study youth violence and substance abuse.
Contact Information: Crosstown Center, CT445
Boston University School of Public Health
Boston, MA 02118
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Lupita Montoya 
Yerby Fellow, 2001-2003
Current Title(s): Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Research Interests: Dr. Montoya studies indoor air quality, namely its health effects and control. She is interested in elucidating the role that biological and physiochemical characteristics of various aerosols (e.g. biological, combustion, nanoparticles) play in the development of disease and toxicity. She also works on the development of methods to measure and control indoor airborne pollutants and to assess human exposure to these agents. She focuses on both green technologies for indoor air quality control for developed countries as well as appropriate technologies for developing communities.
Contact Information: Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department
University of Colorado Boulder
ECOT 514, UCB 428
Boulder, CO 80309-0428
Lupita.Montoya@colorado.edu