photo of Zachery Burzee Text: Congrats! Zachery Burzee, HPEB doctoral student, has been elected president of the USC Graduate Student Association. Zachery will begin his role in May following a two-year term as the president of the Arnold School’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council.

After two years as president of the Dean's Advisory Council, HPEB doctoral student Zachary Burzee will serve as president for the the USC Graduate Student Association. Thank you for your leadership!

photo of Lexi Brehl, Ciara Robinson, and Jordan Kelley

photo of best presenter award

We're so proud of MHA students Lexi Brehl, Ciara Robinson, and Jordan Kelley (pictured left to right) for their outstanding performance in the Ohio State University Case Competition. And big congrats to Ciara on winning the Best Presenter Award! 🎉

photo of Beata Dewitt Text: Congrats! MPH in ENHS alumna Beata Dewitt, who is an Environmental Health Manager with the SC Department of Environmental Services, is the 2026 winner of the Outstanding Service Award from the South Carolina Public Health Association.

photo of Katie Schreiber Text: Katie Schreiber, a B.S. in Public Health alumna and current Ph.D. in ENHS student, is the 2026 winner of the Environmentalist Award from the South Carolina Public Health Association.

Beata Dewitt (MPH in ENHS) and Katie Schreiber (B.A. in Public Health; current Ph.D. in ENHS student) have been selected for the Outstanding Service Award and Environmentalist Award, respectively, from the South Carolina Public Health Association. Congratulations!

photo of Bria Singleton Text: Master’s student graduates equipped to improve health through incorporating cultural relevance

“My experience at USC and in Columbia has made me a proponent for all things sandstorm, garnet and Gamecock culture – a feeling I know resonates with many alumni, and I’ll carry these memories fondly.” Bria Singleton Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior '26

“I came into graduate school with the goal of optimizing my experience and not just leaving with an additional degree but using my two years in the program to diversify my skillset as much as possible." — Bria Singleton, B.S. in Public Health '24; MPH in HPEB '26 🎓 ow.ly/zMor50YMAFz

photo of Mark Sarzynski Text: Congrats! Exercise science professor Mark Sarzynski has received the 2026 Henry J. Montoye Scholar Award from the Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Congratulations are in order! Mark Sarzynski, professor of exercise science, is the 2026 recipient of the Henry Montoye Scholar Award from the Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. 🎉

Please join us for our upcoming 46th Big Data Seminar, Empowering Research Through Advanced Computing and AI at USC, featuring Paul Sagona from the University of South Carolina on Wednesday, April 22nd at 10am. This is an in-person seminar, and registration is required. You can register here: https://forms.gle/v7vG4ruFgUf62JAy8. Registration will close once all available seats are filled.

Interested in using advanced computing and AI in your research? Register for the next Big Data Seminar on April 22 when we'll hear from Executive Director of Research Computing Paul Sagona ➡️ https://ow.ly/Z7vX50YLaBR

Big news: Our first-ever impact report is here! Get The Arnold Abstract now: https://ow.ly/M01u50YLbx1

photo of award winners

photo of award

photo of Bankole Olatosi

photo of award winners

You already knew our Master of Health Administration program is one of the best, but here's even more proof: CAHME has recognized our HSPM dept with the Canon Award for Excellence in Sustainability in Healthcare Management Education and Practice. Watch the video to learn more 📹 ⤵️ ow.ly/Bif550YL2j0

photo of Angele McLeod Text: Congrats! Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor and Director of the Montgomery Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic Angela McLeod is the winner of the 2026 Clinical Practice Teaching Award from the Office of the Provost.

Big congratulations to Angela McLeod! The communication sciences and disorders clinical professor is the 2026 winner of the Clinical Practice Teaching Award from the Office of the Provost. 🎉

Diverse group of students attentively listening and taking notes during a classroom lecture; the second photo features Denys Lau speaking at the podium.

Man in a suit giving a presentation to an audience seated in a classroom.

Two pairs of professionals engaged in conversation during a formal event, dressed in business attire against a presentation screen backdrop; the second photo features two other individuals engaging in conversation in front of the screen.

We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Denys T. Lau, Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Public Health earlier this week, who met with students, faculty & staff about the direction and priorities of the publication.

photo of William Capell Text: Preventive medicine and public health resident plans to improve health for SC

I’m drawn to work at the intersection of public health and clinical practice – using data, research, and policy to inform care and improve outcomes at the community level. Ultimately, my goal is to apply these interests in ways that strengthen public health systems and improve health outcomes in the communities that need it most, particularly here in South Carolina." William Capell Master of Public Health in Epidemiology '26

Physician William Capell's commitment to practicing medicine grounded in public health has been inspired by his desire to advance population health as well as his direct interactions with patients. Learn more about this 20226 grad 🎓: ow.ly/ukUE50YKnLY

Dean's Student Advisory Council Only 14 slots available! Get certified in CPR! Date: 04/17/2026 (Fri.) Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm EDT Location: Carolina Coliseum Room 3004 Trainer: Dr. Casey Giraudy Register using the link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA8AE2EA3FBCF8-63444453-cardiopulmonary (signupgenius.com in Bing) Participants will be charged a $10 fee for the certificate (to be paid in cash after the training). University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health

📢 Attention students! You can be CPR certified just two days from now! ❤️‍🩹

Register to snag one of just 14 spots and join us at the Carolina Coliseum Room 3004 from noon to 5pm on April 17. Don't forget $10 cash to receive your certificate at the end of the training. https://ow.ly/wteZ50YK5mQ

photo of Debra Krotish and service dog, Silas Text: Exercise science clinical assistant professor Debra Krotish brings unique opportunities to Arnold School community

“Deb’s experiences give her an opportunity to bring public health and exercise science to life for the students. Her work outside the classroom brings unique perspective with it along with connections which can really benefit the program. She’s excited about the work she’s done, and this is obvious in any interaction with her.” Shawn Arent, exercise science chair

Ph.D. in EXSC alumna Debra Krotish didn't return to the Arnold School on her own. Her service dog, Sirus, is always by her side as she tells students how they can be involved in her work with the Olympics and international health outreach. ow.ly/6b3s50YJQZb

Peiyin Hung (HSPM), Amy Kalayjian (Undergraduate Student Services) and Jamy Claire Archer (COMD) (shown photos in order from the top) have been recognized by the USC Student Disability Resource Center with Two Thumbs Up Awards.

We're proud to share that the USC Disability Resource Center has recognized three of our faculty with their Two Thumbs Up Awards for going above and beyond in serving our students with disabilities. Congratulations! 🎉

University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health associate professor Peiyin Hung smiles warmly, wearing sharp modern glasses and a tidy grey suit with a light blue shirt as she leans against an accent wall with her arms crossed. The wall is decorated with multidimensional tiles in beige, light blue and light green.

@peiyinhung.bsky.social found her path into public health at age 10 when she saw how health care disparities affected her grandmother in Taiwan. Today the @uscarnoldschool.bsky.social researcher is working to stop geography from dictating health outcomes 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/ymntfjzn

photo of Victor Delgado Text: May graduate blends athletic training expertise with passion for public health

“The post-professional division of the athletic training program provides athletic trainers with diverse clinical sites to practice in while supporting our education. It is a rigorous program, but that is why it produces quality clinicians.” Victor Delgado M.S. in Advanced Athletic Training '26

Though invisible to many, public health projects were always underway in Victor Delgado's hometown of Laredo, Texas, so he developed an appreciation for the field from a young age. Learn how this May grad has blended his passion for the field with his work as an athletic trainer 🎓
ow.ly/a1AB50YIOjx

“We hope that future efforts will focus on both programs which directly seek to increase resilience among children and youth with special health care needs and policies ...” — Emma Boswell ow.ly/e6vw50YIsyj

HSPM Friday Seminar Series Department of Health Services Policy and Management Post-PhD Pathways Friday April 24, 1-2pm Discovery Building 913 Greene Street St 331 Moderator-Taryn Farrell, PhD Student Elizabeth Crouch, HSPM associate professor Christina Andrews, HSPM professor Joshua Sellner, HSPM clinical assistant professor

Pursuing or considering your doctoral degree but wondering what you can do with it? A panel of experts will discuss post-PhD pathways at the April 24 HSPM Seminar Series so you can figure out what happens next as you make your public health impact.

Lingering under the radar Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal parasite rarely seen in the U.S. University of South Carolina researchers Dr. Melissa Nolan and Dr. Matthew Haldeman wondered if these worms might still be lingering under the radar in South Carolina. What they found surprised them.

Melissa Nolan, associate professor of epidemiology and director of USC’s Institute for Infectious Disease Translational Research, and Arnold School alumnus Matthew Haldeman have found a rare intestinal parasite that could affect 1 in 20 South Carolinians. https://ow.ly/lyni50Yxor5

Fri. April 17 1 pm – 2 pm Discovery I Building, 915 Greene St., Ste 331 HSPM Friday Seminar Series Department of Health Services Policy and Management Salome-Joelle Gass, PhD Student Arnold School of Public Health Confidential Social Network Referrals for HIV Testing (CONSORT): Acceptability, ethical design, and effectiveness of SMS-based HIV testing invitations in Tanzania

Join us to hear from Salome-Joelle Gass at the HSPM Friday Seminar series on April 17 at 1pm, when the doctoral student will discuss confidential social network referrals for HIV testing.

Health care on the map On average, rural residents live farther away from hospitals compared to urban residents. Cassie Lewis Odahowski, assistant professor of public health, says those longer distances can lead to worse health outcomes. As a researcher for the Arnold School’s Rural Health Research Center, Odahowski studies access-to-care issues for rural communities using an advanced mapping tool available at USC.

USC features Cassie Odahowski, an Arnold School alumna (Ph.D. in Epidemiology, '19) and scientist with the Rural Health Research Center who uses ArcGIS to map rural health disparities.
https://ow.ly/rHCf50YxoqK

Arnold school of public health Office of Research presents American Journal of Public Health: Direction, Priorities, and Engagement Denys T. Lau, PhD Editor in Chief, American Journal of Public Health April 13, 2026, 9:30-10:30 AM | DISC 331 For more information, please contact Olivia Burnitz, mailto:rutledgo@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-0059

Join the Arnold School's Office of Research on April 13 when we'll hear from the American Journal of Public Health's Editor in Chief Denys Lau as he shares direction, priorities, and engagement for the publication. 📰

New Study Enhances Nutrition Security by Strengthening SNAP Incentive In a significant effort to combat food insecurity and improve nutritional outcomes for low-income families, Assistant Professor Elizabeth Adams, an expert in exercise science and healthy dietary

Bioengineer reports on Elizabeth Adams' efforts to improve health and nutrition security for families through SNAP: https://ow.ly/zIUy50YxohG

How What You Eat Affects Cancer Risk Decades of research suggests that your diet can influence the risk of various cancers. Here’s what we know.

Always proud to see our alumni relied on by reputable media, like this New York Times article on nutrition and cancer, which leans on the expertise of 2X alumnus Fred Tabung (Ph.D, '14 & MSPH, '09 in Epidemiology) ➡️ https://ow.ly/v2Nv50Yxop0

Study Shows Wastewater Testing Vital for Measles Outbreak University of South Carolina study backs wastewater-based epidemiology for tracking measles outbreak. Research compares PCR methods in Texas outbreak monitoring.

Life Technology reports on validity of wastewater testing for tracking measles outbreak in Texas, as researched by environmental health sciences assistant professor Laura Langan. https://ow.ly/Yxi750YxogP

Leila Meng I Am Public Health

Behind many of the most impactful medical advances are mathematical savants – behind-the-scenes superheroes who are working with vast stores of data to improve public health. Leila Meng is one of them. bit.ly/41En6kT

graphic of mosquitos and text. "22% of SC participants sampled possessed West Nile virus antibodies versus 2% national average of West Nile virus antibodies." From the USC Arnold School of Public Health

Quote with a mosquito photo. "Now that we have a better idea what we're facing, prompt public health interventions, such more widespread clinical testing and mosquito mitigation efforts, are critically important to protect the health and well-being of South Carolinians." Says Melissa Nolan, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, USC Arnold School of Public Health

Incorporating environmental, mosquito and human sampling, a multi-pronged study focused on neighborhoods in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. "Our research unearthed a hotspot for this infectious disease in central South Carolina,” says lead author & alumna Elba Fridrikkson.
sc.edu/publichealth

Congrats! Alina Tofiqul’s poster, “Everyday Positive Affect and Well-Being Across Daily Activities among African American Older Adults ,” is the March 2026 Arnold School Office of Research Undergraduate Student Poster Winner.

Congrats! Mojtaba Norozi’s poster, “Physiological Responses to Stranger Approach in Autistic Children, Non-Autistic Siblings, and Neurotypical Peers: Insights into Early Social Fear,” is the March 2026 Arnold School Office of Research Graduate Student Poster Winner.

Congratulations to our March Student Research Poster Winners, Alina Tofiqul (Undergrad) and Mojtaba Norozi (Graduate)! 🎉

Illustration of a beet with dollar bills and a quote about the high cost of healthy food limiting kids' nutrition and growth. "Healthy food costs a lot of money. I don't want that to be a barrier to kids being able to have the nutrition they need to grow up healthy, do well in school and thrive. ELIZABETH ADAMS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EXERCISE SCIENCE" USC Arnold School of Public Health

Illustration of a green bean. "In Dr. Adams' study, participants start with three free fruit and vegetable boxes from FoodShare, a South Carolina nonprofit that promotes access to nutritious food. These boxes include an assortment of in-season produce with recipe cards. A $40 value, FoodShare provides the boxes for $20; SNAP recipients pay $5, and the remaining $15 is subsidized by the state."

Quote with illustration of a strawberry. "These fruit and vegetable incentive programs do have pretty good evidence behind them that when used, they're helpful, they improve diet quality, they have the potential to save a lot for health care by lowering disease risk. I feel confident that these programs are valuable. I just think they're underutilized."

What does it take to make healthy food truly accessible? 🚚 Dr. Adams is trying to find out if people are more likely to use a healthy box program when it's available through home delivery. https://ow.ly/txWt50YBhH0

6 Warning Signs of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Find out if your tingling or trouble balancing could be due to Guillain-Barré syndrome, plus how to treat the autoimmune condition GBS

"When you have Guillain-Barré syndrome, your immune system becomes overzealous and mistakenly attacks your own nerves." —HSPM chair Brad Wright shares his personal and research experience with the rare autoimmune disorder with AARP. ow.ly/aFbT50YAoWj @bradwrightphd.bsky.social