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Faculty News & Research

The Mosquito Alert STL project team is promoting use of this smartphone app around our community. MASTL team members Jeanine Arrighi (St. Louis Academic Health), Alexis Bingham (SLU Masters candidate and MASTL student partner), and Dr. Ricardo Wray (Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice) talk with Earthworms podcast host (and fellow MASTL team partner) Jean Ponzi about this exciting, locally evolving work.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Behavioral Science and Health Equity professor Nancy L. Weaver, Ph.D., M.P.H. published the article "Parenting strategies are shifting as neuroscience brings the developing brain into clearer focus" in 'The Conversation.'
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.SangNam Ahn, Ph.D. (Health Management and Policy) led the publishing of the research article "Insomnia, major depressive disorders, and risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias" in the 'Aging & Mental Health Journal.' The research concluded that addressing sleep disturbances and depression may help lower dementia risk vulnerable populations.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Steve E. Rigdon, Ph.D. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) published the research article "Comparisons of Optimal Generally Weighted Moving Average and Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Charts" in the 'Quality and Reliability Engineering International Journal.'
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Zhengmin Qian, Ph.D., M.D. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics), Lauren D. Arnold, Ph.D. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics), and Tom Burroughs (Health Management & Policy) collaborated with other researchers outside of SLU to produce the research "Ambient air pollution exposure accelerates the occurrence of 78 non-communicable chronic diseases: an accelerated failure time analysis of a nationwide cohort" published in the 'GeroScience' Journal. According to the research, "This study provides the first evidence that air pollutants could accelerate onset of common chronic diseases. Findings highlight the urgent need for measures to improve air quality to slow progression of disease development."
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.SangNam Ahn, Ph.D. (Health Management and Policy) was quoted in a Medical Xpress article about his research into a link between depression and diabetes.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Cheryl Rathert, Ph.D. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the collaborative research "Team Creativity as a Catalyst for Care Effectiveness and Well-Being in Primary Care Teams" in the 'Academy of Management' journal. The "study advances understanding of team dynamics in healthcare and provides actionable insights for supporting sustainable and innovative practices in primary care settings."
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Ph.D. student Derick Simmons along with Cheryl Rathert, Ph.D. (Department of Health Management and Policy) collaborated to publish the research "Patient Psychological Safety: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experiences" in the 'Academy of Management" journal. The study "offers new patient experience insights, highlighting how providers’ words, non-verbal signals, and other actions—even if inadvertent—might interfere with patients’ perceptions of PPS and interpersonal connection."
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Kenan Li, Ph.D. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) led the research "Association of environmental exposome and cognitive function among older adults with and without preclinical Alzheimer’s disease" with collaboration from Enbal Shacham, Ph.D. and Washington University-St. Louis School of Medicine's Dr. Ganesh Babalul in partnership with WUSM ICTS and the Geospatial Health Data Analytic Core at SLU CPSHJ.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Xiaoyu Liu, Ph.D., MBA (Health Management and Policy) led the research "Assessing the accuracy and explainability of using ChatGPT to evaluate the quality of health news" with contributions from Echu Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. and SLU CPHSJ students. The research tested the feasibility of utilizing GPT, as an example of a widely used LLM, to evaluate and explain the quality of health news from a dataset annotated by experts, covering a wide range of health topics.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Ricardo Wray, Ph.D. (Public Health) was interviewed on HEC-TV about Mosquito Alert and the SWAT Team.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Mintesnot T. Teni, Ph.D. (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics) was the lead author on a study with CPHSJ's Anne K. Sebert Kuhlmann, Ph.D., M.P.H. and Travis Loux, Ph.D. with SLU's Ness Sandoval titled "Examining the low uptake of LARC in Ethiopia: An analysis of individual-level predisposing and enabling factors" in the Frontiers in Global Women's Health journal.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Cheryl Rathert, Ph.D. (Department of Health Management and Policy) was the lead author on the 'Journal of Healthcare Management' research article "Do Patient-Provider Therapeutic Connections Vary by Race or Ethnicity? A Comparison of Black, White, and Hispanic/Latino Patient Experiences."
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.CPHSJ faculty Thomas E. Burroughs, Ph.D. (Department of Health Management and Policy) and Hong Xian, Ph.D. (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics) contributed with other researchers in St. Louis to the development of the research "Assessing NODM Patients for Early PDAC Diagnosis: Incidence of NODM Before PDAC Diagnosis and Subsequent PDAC Risk" in the 'Cancer Medicine' journal.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Ricardo Wray, Ph.D. (Behavioral Science and Health Equity) was mentioned in a Spectrum News article about the need to track mosquitoes in St. Louis.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Kimberly Enard, Ph.D. (Public Health and Social Justice) was mentioned in a Washington Post announcement about a May 6 Washington Post Live forum when she will discuss the progress made in fighting cancer and ways to promote trust, access and care.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Keon Gilbert, DrPh (Behavioral Science and Health Equity) was quoted in a Reuters article about how tariffs could impact Black farmers. The article also appeared on MSN, Yahoo! News, AOL, U.S. News and World Report, Daily Mail, Colorado Gazette and multiple TV stations nationwide.
SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., M.P.S.A. (Department of Health Management and Policy) contributed to the study 'Examining Health Inequities in A1C Control over Time across Individual, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Factors among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Analyses of a Sample from One Commercial Insurer in a Southern State' in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.Echu Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. (Associate Professor; Health Management and Policy) contributed in collaboration with researchers from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine to publish the research "Assessing the Efficacy of Multimodal Approaches in Chronic Pain Management" in 'The Journal of Pain.' This study evaluates the efficacy of multimodal pain management strategies based on self-reports using data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

News and Events

Kimberly Enard Appointed to the James R. Kimmey, MD, MPH, Endowed Chair in Public Health

08/29/2025- The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is delighted to announce the appointment of Kimberly Enard, Ph.D., to the James R. Kimmey, M.D., M.P.H., Endowed Chair in Public Health.
Protecting the Pack At The Saint Louis Zoo

08/18/2025- Domini Montgomery, MPH, ASP, CSP, CEAS (MPH ‘13) has the good fortune to work in one of the most unique work spaces in Saint Louis. As the Director of Safety and Risk Management at the Saint Louis Zoo Montgomery naturally works in close proximity to animals of all kinds and with a vibrant Zoo community.
SLU Research Explores Depression's Ripple Effect on Diabetes

07/11/2025- A study conducted by researchers at Saint Louis University found that patients with depression were more likely to have uncontrolled diabetes over time, and that depression contributes to a heightened economic burden to diabetes management.
SLU to Sell Salus Center

07/08/2025- To better steward its resources and reduce its overall facilities footprint, Saint Louis University has announced plans to sell Salus Center, formerly home to SLU’s College for Public Health and Social Justice.
CPHSJ Research Roundup: June 2025

06/17/2025- The Research Roundup is a collection of recently published Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice faculty research, faculty featured in the news as expert sources, and professional achievements from February until mid-June.
Professional Notes: June 2025

05/30/2025- Professional Notes is a round-up of awards, presentations, papers, and other professional achievements of SLU faculty, staff members, and students.
Kimberly Enard and Marcea Walter Assume New Leadership Roles in CPHSJ

05/23/2025- The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice announces, effective July 1, 2025, that Kimberly Enard, Ph.D., will serve as the Chair of the Department of Health Management and Policy at Saint Louis University. Marcea Walter, M.H.S.A., will become the director of SLU's Master of Health Administration program.
Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator Names Second Cohort

05/05/2025- Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in 2024 out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, announces its second cohort of participants.
First-Year SLU M.H.A. Students Place Third in Health Administration Case Contest

04/25/2025- A team of first-year Saint Louis University Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) students placed third at the 14th Annual The Ohio State University (OSU) First-Year Health Administration Case Competition.
SLU’s M.H.A. Program Ranked No. 19 by U.S. News & World Report

04/17/2025- The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice’s Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) program is now ranked No. 19 in the country, making it among the top 20 in the nation, according to the newest edition of the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate School Rankings.
Three CPHSJ Students Earn Spirit of the Billiken Honors for 2025

04/14/2025- Reueline Arulanandam, Claire Leingang, and Michael Poirier were awarded the Spirit of the Billiken Award. The Billikens who receive this award will continue their engagement with the University after graduation and be active members of the alumni community.
A New Location, A Renovation: SLU Community Joins CPHSJ to Cheer a Move That Was Years in the Making

04/01/2025- At the start of the spring 2025 semester, Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice made a big move. Faculty, staff, and students left their homes in Salus Center, packed up, and headed north. The College now calls the second floor of the Marvin and Harlene Wool Center home. Members of the SLU community gathered in the space Monday afternoon to officially celebrate the move with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Saint Louis University Women’s Commission Spotlight: Katherine Stamatakis Ph.D., M.P.H.

03/27/2025- Katherine (Katie) Stamatakis is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the College of Public Health and Social Justice where she also serves as the interim director of Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program. Dr. Stamatakis’ research work includes chronic disease epidemiology, implementation science, sleep and metabolic determinants of chronic disease.
Public Health and Social Justice to Host National Public Health Week 2025

03/25/2025- Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice is proud to celebrate National Public Health Week. The week-long schedule features connecting SLU with the broader community, promoting public health initiatives, drives for those in need and much more. Below is a list of just some of the activities taking place during National Public Health Week.
SLU M.H.A. Students Advance to Finals in 2025 UAB Student Case Competition

03/12/2025- A team of Saint Louis University (SLU) Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) students advance to finals in the 19th Annual UAB Health Administration Case Competition. Case competitions allow students to gain hands-on experience diving into real-world healthcare problems.
Honorees Recognized at 3rd Annual Black History Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony

02/25/2025- The third annual Black History Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony, hosted by SLU's Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship, took place on Saturday, Feb. 22. Eight awards were given out during the event to students, staff, and faculty from across the University.
CPHSJ Research Roundup: February 2025

02/24/2025- The Research Roundup is a collection of recently published Saint Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice faculty research, faculty featured in the news as expert sources, and professional achievements from November until mid-February.
New CPHSJ Workshop Series to Prepare Faculty for Potential Teaching Challenges

02/01/2025- Each workshop will focus on a teaching challenge that is rooted in the types of group dynamics we commonly experience or observe in the classroom.
Second-Year M.H.A. Student Explores All Sides of Health Administration During Internship

01/27/2025- Second-year M.H.A. student Spencer Shreve got a first-hand look at all sides of the health administration world while completing his internship at the University of Colorado Health in Colorado Springs last summer.
M.P.H. Student Uses Skills Gained at CPHSJ During Corrections Medicine Internship

01/24/2025- Sehar Jain, a second-year MPH student, spent her summer interning with the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health within their Corrections Medicine Division located at the Buzz Westfall Justice Center. Sehar worked with a team of individuals who aided the medical director in overseeing inmate healthcare.
The College for Public Health and Social Justice Relocates to Renovated Space in Wool Center

01/16/2025- On Jan. 13th, the College for Public Health and Social Justice successfully welcomed students on the first day of class to their new home on the second floor of the Marvin and Harlene Wool Center.
Kelly Lane-deGraaf, Ph.D. Joins CPHSJ as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

12/05/2024- The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice has named Kelly Lane-deGraaf, Ph.D. as the Associate Dean in Academic Affairs as well as an associate professor in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases.
Professional Notes: November 2024

11/20/2024- Professional Notes is a round-up of awards, presentations, papers, and other professional achievements of SLU faculty, staff members, and students.
CPHSJ Research Roundup: October 2024

10/30/2024- The 'Research Roundup' is a collection of recently published faculty research, faculty featured in the news as expert sources, and professional achievements.
SLU Medical Students Honor ‘Invaluable’ Gift of Body Donors with Memorial Service

10/29/2024- Students at Saint Louis University honored those who donated their bodies for medical education with an interfaith memorial service on Friday, Oct. 25.
Health Management Minor to be Offered to Undergraduate Students, Beginning Fall 2024

08/26/2024- Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice will begin offering the new health management minor, requiring just 18 credits to completion.
Professional Notes: Summer 2024

08/26/2024- Professional Notes is a round-up of awards, presentations, papers, and other professional achievements of SLU faculty, staff members, and students.
MHA Alum Brett Moorehouse (MHA '96) Finds Calling at SLU, Follows Pathways to Leadership and Success

08/13/2024- Brett Moorehouse (MHA ‘96) is the Senior Vice President of Membership Services for the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) - a more than 100 year old not-for-profit member association which represents every acute care hospital in the state.
The Office of Public Health Practice Alumni Spotlight Series: Allison Kemner ('08)

08/08/2024- Allison Kemner ('08), a Saint Louis University graduate and Senior Vice President & Chief Research Officer at Parents as Teachers National Center recently did a Q&A with the Office of Public Health Practice about public health and learning at SLU.
Michaila Dix (MHA ‘22) Takes Lessons, Experiences Learned at SLU to New Role at Mayo Clinic

07/18/2024- Saint Louis University Master of Health Administration alumna, Michaila Dix (2022), is now an Operations Manager in the Department of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
Accelerated MHA student Lejla Hamidovic Finds SLU While in Pursuit of Contributing to Meaningful Change

07/12/2024- Accelerated MHA student Lejla Hamidovic is determined to improve the delivery of care and impact patient outcomes on a large scale.
Professor Echu Liu Draws on Experience, Passion for Health Economics to Mold Future Health Outcomes Through Research and Teaching

06/04/2024- Associate professor of Health Management and Policy Echu Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. is tackling health challenges through an array of avenues.
Decorated SLU Alumni Makes an Impact Globally and Locally

06/03/2024- Everest Cafe, owned and operated by SLU alumni Devi Gurung States, Ph.D. serves a blend of Nepalese, Indian, and Korean food to visitors from around the world, students from one of the many nearby Universities, and locals.
MPH Student Harnishad Kaur Binner Shares Experience from Campus Ministry Spring Break Immersion Program

05/10/2024- Harnishad Kaur Binner, a second-year student in the Master of Public Health program recently participated in the ‘Campus Ministry Spring Break Immersion Program’ along with other Saint Louis University students.
2024 Mary A. Bruemmer Award Honorees Celebrated at Luncheon

05/07/2024- The Women’s Commission hosted the 47th annual Mary A. Bruemmer Recognition Ceremony and Luncheon on Monday, May 6, in the Wool Ballroom of Busch Student Center. At the ceremony, the 2024 Mary A. Bruemmer Award Honorees were recognized and celebrated.
Professional Notes: May 2024

05/07/2024- Professional Notes is a round-up of awards, presentations, papers, and other professional achievements of SLU faculty, staff members, and students.
New for 2024, Master of Public Health Program Features Shorter Timeline to Completion, More Flexible Options

04/29/2024- Beginning with the Fall 2024 term, Saint Louis University’s MPH Program will require just 42 credit hours to complete rather than the current requirement of 48 (or 54 for joint concentrations).
CPHSJ student Reueline Arulanandam Elected To Be Next Saint Louis University Student Government Association (SGA) President

04/15/2024- This March, College for Public Health and Social Justice student Reueline Arulanandam was elected to be the next Saint Louis University Student Government Association (SGA) President. Arulanandam, a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health, previously held a senate seat in SGA representing CPHSJ.
Campus Ministry Spring Break Trip Brings New Perspectives to Public Health Education

04/05/2024- March 2024 will be the third time that MPH student Kristin Beduhn spends her spring break in the small-mountain towns of West Virginia. Beduhn currently fulfills a role as a SLU Campus Ministry graduate assistant, but has previously attended the ‘Immersion Experience’ trip offered through the organization as an undergraduate student. She now supports other undergraduate students on the trip.
SLU Honors 2024 Spirit of the Billiken Award Recipients

03/28/2024- Paying tribute to SLU’s founding date in 1818, the award recognizes graduating undergraduate students who represent what it means to be a Billiken.
Women’s Foundation Names Saint Louis University a Top Workplace for Women in 2024

03/19/2024- For the fifth straight year, Saint Louis University has been named as a top workplace for women by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. The foundation announced honorees for its seventh annual “Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard” on March 12.
2024 Mary A. Bruemmer Award Honorees Announced

03/19/2024- The Women’s Commission will host the 47th annual Mary A. Bruemmer Recognition Ceremony and Luncheon on Monday, May 6, in the Wool Ballroom of Busch Student Center. An informal reception for our honorees begins at 11:30 a.m.

News and Events

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