Public Health students present varied research in Creative Scholars Showcase
On April 9, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health celebrated Public Health Week by highlighting the work of some of its student scholars in its first annual Creative Scholars Showcase.
The showcase aligned with the national theme “Protecting, Connecting, and Thriving,” and explored a myriad of topics with local and global implications, including access to mental health services in rural areas, domestic violence prevention, and methods to combat food insecurity in foreign countries.
In his opening remarks, the college’s Dean Stuart Tedders, Ph.D, spoke of Georgia Southern’s “quest” to raise its research profile and the importance of combining research and practical experience.
“The thing that excites me the most about this creative scholars’ showcase is the coupling of research and practice,” he said. “Both are very important, but when you combine the two, the knowledge gained in research can be used to make a difference in the real world.”
Emmanuel Azu, is pursuing a doctorate in public health with a focus on biostatistics and is among the students working to make that difference. He presented his research on the efficacy of school feeding programs in Nigeria, an experience that has been an invaluable stepping stone in his professional and academic career.
“My current research has really helped me improve my writing and presentation skills,” he explained.
Azu added that opportunities to communicate with the public have served as essential points of connection in his career, something befitting of this year’s theme.
“My ultimate professional goal is to optimize health data management in underserved communities, he said. “To do that, you have to be able to relate to the community, and platforms like these give me the confidence to talk about my research in public and even connect with people of different backgrounds.”
The intersection of communication and public health is also particularly poignant for
Tobi Oloyede, a second-year DrPH student focusing on community health. She presented a poster highlighting her practice experience with Child Advocacy Services Southeast Georgia.
Oloyede’s project originated from a communications and advocacy class. She worked with staff at Child Advocacy Services in Statesboro to create fact sheets that would be used as a part of a larger communications plan by the organization to prevent child abuse.
Oloyede emphasized the value of working and learning in the community.
“This experience taught me about the power of combining data and design,” she said. “Before, I just thought it was a matter of using Canva to create something that looked good. It turned out to require a lot more precision. Our design and language were inspired by the data and specific objectives we had to reach the community.”
Plenary speaker Stacy Smallwood, Ph.D, also reiterated the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to public health. He currently serves as the executive director of the Wake Forest School of Divinity’s Faith COMPASS Center.
Smallwood spoke about the Center’s efforts to end the stigma around HIV/AIDS in the South, and the vital role faith communities can play in empowering those who may be dealing with illness and social marginalization.
The importance of communication and connection in addressing public health challenges and improving outcomes is something that Research Associate Dean Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Ph.D., recognizes, and it is in part why she spearheaded the effort to make the Creative Scholars Showcase happen.
“Our faculty mentor students in practice, engagement, and research initiatives,” she said. “The Showcase provides a platform to share the results and foster collaborations within the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and the Georgia Southern community. Through this initiative, we believe students learn the value of dissemination and their role in enhancing the college’s research profile.”
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