MCH Concentrators 2007-2008
Allison Appleton is a returning doctoral student. She received her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Sociology and Psychology. Prior to coming to Harvard, Allison spent several years evaluating child mental health and adolescent substance abuse programs in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Currently, Allison works on a large epidemiologic cohort study examining the pathways through which education affects health. Her research interests include socioeconomic determinants of child health and development, and the role of early child emotional development in determining physical health in later adolescence and adulthood.
Alison El Ayadi is a returning doctoral student. She is interested in social determinants of health primarily with regard to maternal health and breastfeeding issues. Prior to beginning her doctoral program she worked at HSPH doing research and evaluation in school health and youth nutrition and physical activity. She received her MPH from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and her BA from Colby College. She enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, and most of all playing with her two sons Lucas (4) and Isaac (1.5).
Beth McManus is a 4th year doctoral student. My background is in pediatric physical therapy, and currently, I work as the NICU clinical specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Prior to coming to HSPH I received a MPH in MCH from Boston University and worked in Early Intervention. My research interests focus on developmental epidemiology, in particular the long-term outcomes of children born low birth weight and utilization of Early Intervention among children at-risk for poor developmental outcomes. I enjoy hiking, trail running, cross-county skiing, and kayaking with my husband and puppy.
Candice Belanoff is a returning doctoral student. “My interests are primarily around social determinants of (and disparities in) maternal and child health – particularly where breastfeeding and childbirth are concerned. Before coming to Harvard, I worked as a research associate on the Bedford-Stuyvesant Healthy Homes Initiative (based at Hunter College in NYC where I earned my MPH). My other interests in life are my family (I have a 5-and-a-half-year-old son, Eli, and husband, Jason) music and the occasional bout of exercise.... p.s. My hair has grown substantially since I started at HSPH!"
Courtenay Kessler
Cyndi Moreira is a second year master’s student. She received an undergraduate degree from Boston College in 2003 and has worked as a nurse on an Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant unit at MGH since. Cynthia is in a 2 year dual-degree program with HSPH and Simmons College, where she will earn an MS in SHDH and MS in Nursing. She a member of Michael Rich's research team at Children's Hospital that is investigating differences in self esteem and quality of life for overweight adolescents. Future plans include providing prenatal care to adolescent women as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.
Deana Wagner is a second year two-year master’s student. She graduated from Brown University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health. As a charter member of Teach For America’s 2004 South Dakota corps, she taught high school science on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Deana is concentrating in Maternal and Child Health and is interested in a variety of public health topics and their relationship/application to Native American populations. She is very interested in health literacy, improving health through empowering women, and drug and alcohol prevention.
Deb Stone is a fourth year doctoral student. "I grew up in upstate NY but I am a tried and true Wolverine from the University of Michigan where I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a dual Master’s in Public Health and Social Work. After receiving my Master's, I worked for two years doing HIV/AIDS case management in MI and then did a 3-yr fellowship with the CDC. As part of my fellowship, I worked for the RI Department of Health heading the state suicide prevention coalition and helping to draft their state suicide prevention plan. From there I moved on to the Harvard Injury Control Research Center (HICRC) running a federally funded project--the National Center for Suicide Prevention Training (www.ncspt.org). My research interest is in child sexual abuse, health and mental health outcomes in adulthood, and suicide prevention. I am an aspiring Buddhist. In my spare time I enjoy biking, tennis, reading, and visiting with friends and family, especially my three nephews."
Elise Robinson
Elizabeth Greenwell
Erin Dunn is a second year doctoral student. “I received a BS in Psychology and Elementary Education from Northeastern University and a MPH from the Boston University School of Public Health. Before coming to HSPH, I was an Associate Project Director at Education Development Center, Inc. in Newton, MA, where I oversaw the completion of several projects related to college student mental health promotion. Prior to joining EDC, I worked at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and at Simmons College on a 25-year long longitudinal study of child mental health and development. My research interests are centered on environmental risk and protective factors associated with the onset of mental illness, especially depression, among both women and children/adolescents and the intersection between mental disorders and violence. When I’m not studying, I enjoy traveling, food/wine, movies, and spending time with my partner, Chad.”
Eve Nagler is a returning doctoral student. Her roots in public health began as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic working in maternal and child health. She subsequently coordinated a patient education project in Africa as part of the CDC/WHO Malaria Initiative, worked with Georgia communities to develop drug prevention programs for youth, and trained physicians and midwives in Central Asia ( Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) to conduct family planning counseling. Most recently, she served as the national director for Special Populations at the American Cancer Society, where she continues to work part-time. Eve holds an M.P.H. in Health Behavior and Health Education from UNC Chapel Hill and a BSFS in Foreign Affairs from Georgetown University. Her research interests focus on blending two seemingly divergent passions: working with underserved communities and weight control/obesity. When she’s not trekking the globe, Eve enjoys reading, running, thrifting and baking – her grandmother won the Pillsbury Bake-Off, giving her a GREAT role model!!!
Joanna Almeida
Joanna Brown
Juliana Weinstein is a first year doctoral student. "I received a BA in Italian Studies from Emory University and an SM from HSPH in the Society Human Development and Health department. Before coming to Harvard I was an ORISE Fellow at the CDC in the Department of Nutrition and Physical Activity and a research assistant for Dr. Marion Nestle. I am currently a consultant for Project Bread's Better Breakfast initiative and a research assistant for Dr. Lilian Cheung and Dr. Matthew Gillman. My research interests include maternal diet and fetal growth, overweight in children, and how cognitive development influences food preferences. Outside of public health, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, family and friends, as well as traveling the globe, reading, and cooking.
Karen Ertel is a returning doctoral student. Her research interests are in maternal mental health and its implications for both maternal health and child health and development. She is particularly interested in the impact of maternal depression occurring in pregnancy and throughout childhood.
Kendrin Sonneville is a third year doctoral student in Public Health Nutrition minoring in Maternal and Child Health and Social/Behavioral Research Methods. Kendrin received a B.S. in nutritional sciences and a B.S. in dietetics from Michigan State University and an M.S. in nutrition from Tufts University. Kendrin is a registered dietitian and has been working as a clinical nutrition specialist at Children's Hospital Boston for the last 5 years and has a small private practice in Newton. Kendrin's interests include adolescent/child nutrition issues including the prevention and treatment of overweight and eating disorders. In her free time, Kendrin enjoys cooking, traveling, golfing, and biking.
Lindsay Giorgi is a second-year MS2 student. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Human
Development and Health and Social Issues at the University of California, San
Diego. Lindsay's research interests surround women's reproductive health, with
a particular interest in family planning concerns, the health status of
children, orphans and other vulnerable populations, and gender issues in the
context of the developing world. After HSPH, she intends to pursue a medical
degree in pediatrics, specializing in the health care needs of orphans and
fostered children. She loves to travel, and has been fortunate to spend time
in Ghana, Japan, Trinidad, India and Switzerland. Additionally, she enjoys
reading, hiking, and swimming.
Malia Duffy
Margie Skeer is a fourth-year doctoral student focusing her doctoral research on childhood determinants of adolescent and young adult substance use disorders using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods. She received her Masters in Social Work, with a clinical focus on substance abuse, and her Masters in Public Health, with a focus on interventions, at Boston University. Prior to coming to HSPH, she worked in tobacco control, researching the effect of workplace smoking policies on workers in Massachusetts. In her 'not-so-spare' time, Margie loves to hike, cook and bake, and spend time with her husband and friends.
Marlene Camacho is a first year doctoral student. Marlene holds a BS in Biology and Society from Cornell University, an MPH in Health Services Management and Policy from Tufts University School of Medicine, and and MS from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is interested in the role of social policies (particularly housing, immigration, education) in eliminating health disparities among children. Outside of school, she enjoys Latin dancing, yoga, and cooking.
Mary Fournier is a returning MPH student. Mary received her undergraduate degree from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2002. After that, she pursued pediatric residency training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She is currently in the final year of her Adolescent Medicine fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston. Mary's current research interests include risk behaviors of homeless adolescent students. After finishing her fellowship and master's degree, Mary plans to pursue a career path that will include both her clinical and public health interests. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, baking, and learning to ski.
Michele Decker is a third year doctoral student focusing her research on gender-based violence and sexual/reproductive health, including sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in conflict settings. She has enjoyed field work in South Asia, South America, and Central America. Michele completed her MPH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Maternal and Child Health Department. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and spending time with friends and family.
Monica Wang I graduated from Tufts University in 2007 with a B.A. in Community Health and Child Development and a minor in Chinese. Professional experience includes biomedical lab research at Brigham and Women's Hospital in the Dept. of Pathology and Dept of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, as well as public health research in the Nutrition Dept. at HSPH. Fields of interest are childhood obesity and racial health disparities.
Nancy Street is a first year doctoral student in SHDH. "I have been a nurse practitioner for the past twenty years, working with adolescents in school based health centers. I completed my Master's degress in Public Health in 2006 and look forward to resuming my studies at Harvard, with a focus on research on adolescent fatigue. I am an assistant professor of nursing, teaching at the graduate level. Native to the Boston area, I curently live in Milton with my hsuband and two children."
Rebekah Hattery
Sabrina Selk is a first year doctoral student who is returning after completing her master’s degree at SHDH. She has a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington. Her research interests are in adolescent mental health and health disparities, although recently she has worked on issues of cancer disparities through the Division of Public Health Practice. She has a phenomenal husband who is supporting her through her prolonged education, and an adorable almost 2 year old daughter, who can be seen on the cover of this year’s HSPH catalogue.
Shalini Tendulkar is a doctoral candidate majoring in Human Development in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health. She completed her two year, Master of Science degree in Maternal and Child Health from HSPH in 1999 and is currently in her 5th year in the doctoral program at HSPH. Shalini has extensive experience related to Maternal and Child Health. Over the past 8 years, Shalini has worked professionally and consulted with numerous organizations in the capacity of an evaluator, program developer, and grant writer. Her work has focused on several areas, including youth violence prevention, integration of mental and physical health services for children and families, injury prevention, health communication around adolescent health risk behavior and child welfare advocacy. Additionally, Shalini also has extensive service experience related to Maternal and Child Health, including serving as the Newsletter Editor for the American Public Health Association's Maternal and Child Health Section and organizing public health learning opportunities for Boston youth while at HSPH. Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Shalini enjoys gardening and cooking with her adorable 3 year old son Arman and her husband Sumukh.
Sharon Iron-Segev
Tim Williams is a first year master’s student in the one-year program. His research interests include developing strategies for integrating psychosocial supports to HIV/AIDS-affected children and families in community based organizations in low resource contexts. Upon receiving his MSW from Boston College, Tim has evaluated a pediatric HIV after school program; provided direct support at McLean Hospital; worked with a child mental researcher at HSPH; and provided research assistance for the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS. He spent the summer months in Uganda as a co-investigator on a qualitative study involving orphans. Originally from Oregon, Tim enjoys live music, road trips, good coffee, and his family.
Tuyen Trinh I was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam. I moved to the United States in 1992. I have a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science at the University of California at Berkeley. Following graduation, I spent a short time in Lima, Peru studying local nutrition systems and dietary practices among Peruvian mothers and children, while exploring how those factors influence maternal health and child development. Prior to my MS2 program at HSPH, I spent two years working as a Research Associate at the University of California at Irvine, where I conducted research on oocyte apoptosis. At HSPH, I am concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. My interests include community- based healthcare programs, infant health, and perinatal care. I would like to practice both domestically and internationally.