Jamie Chatman

Jamie Chatman will complete her Master's and PhD in Statistics from Rice University in August 2008. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Spelman College in Atlanta in 2003. Dr. Chatman is interested in using her statistical and quantitative skills to conduct health disparities research that can be translated into better intervention strategies within minority communities. Her previous research experiences have included working in areas of health disparities research related to infants and adolescents. She collaborated and published research on racial and gender difference in access to substance abuse services among Medicaid adolescents. She also led a meta-analysis research project on racial disparities and infant mortality, related to the Hispanic Paradox. Dr. Chatman will be at the University of Pittsburgh site where she will work on her current research focus of addressing physical and emotional health risks of minority single mothers during middle age. Printable version

Karen Ertel

Karen Ertel will complete her Doctorate of Science (ScD) at Harvard School of Public Health in June 2008. Her studies have concentrated on social epidemiology, maternal and child health, and methods of biostatistics and epidemiology. Karen also holds a MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Biopsychology from Georgetown University. Karen's research interests include maternal mental health, child health and development, and work-related factors that impact health. Her dissertation research focuses on maternal depression and its impact on child physical size and growth during infancy and early childhood. She hopes to extend this research to study social and psychosocial determinants of maternal mental health and explore social factors that contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in maternal mental health and how these may translate into poor health in the next generation. Karen's interests also include developmental origins of disease and lifecourse theory and methods. She plans to explore how we can use these frameworks to better understand racial/ethnic disparities across the lifecourse. Karen will be a Kellogg Health Scholar at the Harvard School of Public Health. Printable version

Patricia Miranda

Patricia Miranda will complete requirements in August for her PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she also received her MPH in 2003. She received her BA in Sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, in 2001. Her research experience includes a community-based participatory approach to examining social and physical determinants of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a multiethnic population, and systematic direct observation of the built environment and pedestrian physical activity along greenways in Detroit. Patricia's research interests include social determinants of health disparities, mental and physical comorbidities, Latino health, understanding the contribution of sociopolitical context to within-group differences among Latino populations, and using a CBPR approach to population health to create multilevel national, regional and local Latino health agendas and policy. Patricia will be at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center site in the Center for Research on Minority Health/Health Disparities Research, Education and Training Consortium.Printable version

Anthony Omojasola, DrPH

Anthony Omojasola, DrPH, is a healthcare executive with over ten years of expertise in healthcare reimbursement, strategic planning, revenue growth, organizational development, process improvement, project management, physician relations, community partnership, cultural competency, health disparities, customer service, personnel management and team leadership. His academic interests are in reducing health disparities, especially as it relates to health care access issues, health insurance issues, prescription issues, and how the determinants of health such as socio-economic factors, behavioral factors, dietary factors, socio-cultural factors, access to health care, health care delivery system, and health policy, both individually and in-combination contribute to our knowledge of cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. His educational background includes: BS Health Care Administration and Planning (Tennessee State University, Nashville), Master of Health Administration (Tulane University, New Orleans), and Doctor of Public Health (University of Kentucky, Lexington). He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Anthony will be a Kellogg Health Scholar at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center site in the Center for Research on Minority Health/Health Disparities Research, Education and Training Consortium. Printable version

Lisa Rosas

Lisa Rosas will receive her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, where she also received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health. Previously, Ms. Rosas received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Her work experience includes conducting case management and health education with migrant farmworkers and their families, coordinating a rural migrant health program, and working in Mexico as a research fellow with the Population Council. Recently, in addition to working towards her PhD, Ms. Rosas has served as the community outreach and translational research coordinator for the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research (CCEHR) at UC Berkeley. Her dissertation research examines the disparity in childhood obesity among children of Mexican descent by taking a binational (US-Mexico) approach. Ms. Rosas plans to continue to investigate the disparity in obesity among children of Mexican descent by examining the relationship between acculturation and childhood obesity taking into account socioeconomic status as well as identifying patterns and behaviors related to obesity in Mexico that immigrants bring to the US. She is also interested in developing indicators of acculturation specific to childhood obesity that can be used in epidemiologic studies. Lisa will be at the University of California, San Francisco site. Printable version

Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Ph.D.

Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh, PhD, completed a doctorate in Social Epidemiology at Harvard University's School of Public Health, Department of Society, Human Development and Health. Dr. Sanchez-Vaznaugh is an assistant professor at San Francisco State University, Department of Health Education, where she teaches courses in epidemiology and biostatistics. Her research examines the social and environmental determinants of health. This work requires particular attention to the influence of places (i.e. birthplace, place of residence, schools), socioeconomic position and immigrant status on social disparities in health. Dr. Sanchez's research involves multilevel studies on the influence of physical and social environments on health as well as individual level studies on social disparities in health. Dr. Sanchez is interested in how social and environmental factors shape health, risk factors and behaviors with emphasis on cardiovascular disease risk factors over the life course. Her research examines: 1) how neighborhood conditions (social and physical) and their interaction with individual factors may influence health, disease and behaviors; 2) the impact of obesity related policies on adiposity and behaviors; 3) the shape, direction and magnitude of the socioeconomic gradients in health and disease among diverse social groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity and immigrant status; and 4) the impact of migration on health and disease outcomes. Dr. Sanchez is a W.K. Kellogg fellow alumna in Health Policy Research and will be joining the KHS multidisciplinary track at the University California, San Francisco site. Printable version

Besangie Sellars

Besangie Sellars received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Hampton University in 2003. She is currently completing her PhD in developmental psychology at the University of Michigan, with an emphasis on lifespan and late life development. Completion of her PhD is scheduled for July 2008. During her doctoral studies, Besangie's research has focused on the well-being of older minority populations, and the positive role of social relations. She has been involved in research investigating racial and ethnic differences in caregiving preferences, as well as the role of social support in the link between socioeconomic status and health. Her dissertation investigates demographic differences in sex role endorsements, as well as how social relations may impact sex role endorsements across the lifespan. Besangie's general research interests include the factors that promote healthy lifespan development among minority populations. Specifically, she is interested in how social relations can both increase/improve longevity as well as reduce health disparities. Besangie will be at the University of Pittsburgh site. Printable version

Kellee White

Kellee White is expected to complete her PhD in Epidemiology from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in August 2008. She holds a BA in Sociology from Vassar College and a MPH in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University. Her dissertation examined the relationship between racial/ethnic residential segregation and hypertension as well as investigated the intervening mechanisms between residential segregation and hypertension. Her general research interests include: 1) the methodological and conceptual issues related to the study of racial/ethnic residential segregation and health outcomes; 2) the contribution of racial/ethnic residential segregation to health disparities; and 3) the intersection of epidemiology, urban planning, social and public policies to address health disparities and improve population health. Kellee will continue her research at Harvard University's School of Public Health. Printable version