On Friday, April 3rd, GSPH held the 11th annual Dean's Day student research competition. Read on for a list of the winning presentations as well as other information about Dean's Day to help you prepare to submit your abstract for consideration for Dean's Day 2010.
2009 Awardees
Doctoral Category:
1st Prize-Nitin Bhardwaj, IDM/PhD
Oral presentation-Comparative Evaluation of DNA Plasmid and Alphavirus Replicon Based Vaccine Strategies Against Rift Valley Fever Virus
2nd Prize-Rachel Bailey, Epi/PhD
Poster presentation-Modeling the Cost Effectiveness of Facility-wide Active Surveillance for Methicillin-resistant Stapholococcus aureus (MRSA) in Acute Care Hospitals
3rd Prize-Andria Robinson, Hugen/PhD
A therapueutic strategy to delay age-related degenerative changes in a murine model of accelerated aging
Master's Category:
1st Prize-Andrew Michanowicz, EOH/MPH
Poster presentation-Community driven research: Effluent characterization of legacy contamination containing trace metals in an alkaline outfall entering the Allegheny River near Cadogan, Pennsylvania
2nd Prize-Chien-Wen Jean Kuo, Biostatistics/MS
Oral presentation-Endothelin-1 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid may be predictive of learning and memory outcomes 12 months after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
3rd Prize-Chris Lauricella, Hugen/MS
Oral presentation-Knowledge of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and its Effects on African Americans' Perception of Medical Research
Rosenkranz Award (For Presentation with Greatest Public Health Significance)-Andrew Michanowicz, EOH/MPH, Poster presentation-Community driven research: Effluent characterization of legacy contamination containing trace metals in an alkaline outfall entering the Allegheny River near Cadogan, Pennsylvania
Keleti Award (For Excellence in Environmental Health)-Andrew Michanowicz, EOH/MPH, Poster presentation-Community driven research: Effluent characterization of legacy contamination containing trace metals in an alkaline outfall entering the Allegheny River near Cadogan, Pennsylvania
Delta Omega Poster Award- Vanessa Short, Epidemiology/PhD, Poster presentation-Mycoplasma genitalium in early pregnancy is not associated with spontaneous abortion among urban women at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases.
The following information was posted before Dean's Day. There is general information about the event, as well as schedules of the presentations and information for presenting students. Dean's Day takes place once a year in the spring. Information on abstract submission is typically available in December and abstracts are typically due in January with notification of chosen presenters going out in mid-late February. Check the student affairs section of the GSPH web site in December for more information on Dean's Day 2010. Information will also be sent out via email and will appear on the LCD screens throughout the GSPH building.
General Information and Schedule of Events
Awards and Evaluation Process
2009 Poster Presentations
2009 Oral Presentations (approved for PHGR points)
Information for Poster Presenters
Information for Oral Presenters
Past Winners of Dean's Day
In 1999, former dean Dr. Herbert Rosenkranz established GSPH Dean's Day as a venue for our students to share their projects, and as a GSPH community special event to recognize and award their superior research and practice.
All GSPH students were eligible to submit abstracts, with the exception of those who won first prize in the 2008 Dean's Day competition. Abstracts were judged by 14 faculty jurors, two from each GSPH department.
Contact Caitlin McCullough, Office of Student Affairs, at cem62@pitt.edu or 412-624-3646 with questions about Dean's Day.
Schedule of Events
| 8:30-10:15 | Poster Session I, Public Health Community Commons (118) |
| 10:15-10:30 | Break |
| 10:30-12:15 | Oral Session I, G-23 Auditorium |
| 12:15-1:00 | Break |
| 1:00-2:45 | Poster Session II, Public Health Community Commons (118) |
| 2:45-3:00 | Break |
| 3:00-4:15 | Oral Session II, G-23 Auditorium |
| 4:15-5:00 | Reception (Dean's Day Participants and GSPH Community) |
| 5:00*-5:30 | Presentation of Awards, G-23 Auditorium |
*Please note that this is an approximation. Awards cannot be presented until all scores are calculated.
Schedule of Poster Presentations
Schedule of Oral Presentations
Awards
There will be First, Second and Third place prizes awarded for best presentation for both doctoral and master's students. Those prizes will be in the amounts of $1,000, $600 and $300 respectively. Please note: according to University policy, awards will be applied to student accounts and awardees will receive a refund from the university, assuming they do not have an outstanding balance on their account.
One of each of the following awards will also be given:
Rosenkranz Award of $500 for the project judged to be the most significant contribution to the public health field.
Keleti Award of $150 for the project demonstrating excellence in environmental health.
Delta Omega Poster Award of $250 for the best poster, with the opportunity to compete nationally for an additional $250 to attend and present the poster at the APHA annual meeting.
Evaluation Process
The Graduate School of Public Health consists of seven departments with diverse disciplines. The breadth of research extends from bench sciences to community based interventions. Therefore, one key component of presentations at Dean's Day is the absolute need to make your presentation accessible and understandable to jurors, other faculty, staff and students who are not from your discipline.
In addition, student projects will be judged according to the following, equally weighted criteria:
- Quality of Abstract
- Organization/Clarity
- Presentation Skills
- Significance to Public Health Field
- Summary Evaluation (overall impression of judges)
Quality of Abstract: Has the student successfully and succinctly described the purpose, context, significance, methodology, and findings/outcomes of the research, program, evaluation, or intervention? Is the language employed clear, correct, and appropriate to professional audiences? Is the physical presentation clean, word-processed, nicely formatted, and free of errors? Are all contributors to the project acknowledged?
Organization/Clarity: Has the student employed sound logic in creating this presentation? Has the student made good decisions regarding scope, arrangement, language, visual images, and presentation of data? Is the presentation understandable to audience members outside of the student's home department or research area?
Presentation Skills: Has the presenter attended to physical appearance and dress?
Oral Presentation: Does the student connect with her audience, using eye contact and other nonverbal cues? Does he provide an adequate introduction that peaks the audience's interest? Does she employ vocal variety and expression so that audience members are impressed she is clearly interested in her research topic? Are visual aids successfully and appropriately incorporated? Is he able to respond to audience questions with confidence?
Poster Session: Is the presentation visually attractive, and professionally polished? Are font sizes large enough to read easily without strain? Are visual images of the right scale and proportion? Does the visual presentation contain only essential material? Does the student explain her project well, especially to those outside her area of inquiry?
Significance to Public Health Field: How does the research, program, or intervention contribute to public health knowledge? Does the project break new ground, help to settle theoretical controversy, support or refute prior research of note, demonstrate innovative practice, or address important public health policy issues?
Summary Evaluation: What is the overall and lasting impression made by the presentation and student presenter? How do the sum of the parts described above work together to create a successful and memorable project? How does this project's presenter stand out among his/her peers?
2009 Poster Presentations
Poster Session I, 8:30-10:15
Rachel Bailey
Epi, PhD studentModeling the Cost Effectiveness of Facility-wide Active Surveillance for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Acute Care Hospitals
Nabanita Biswas
IDM, PhD studentADAR1, an adenosine deaminase, inhibits HIV-1 infection
Rebecca Bosko
IDM, PhD studentVariation in the DC-SIGN gene and susceptibility to HHV-8 infection and Kaposi's Sarcoma in HIV-positive men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)
Rama Rao Damerla
Hugen, PhD studentAssessing the Mutagenic Potential of Telomeric DNA
Hu Li
Epi, PhD studentHeritability of Renal Function Measures in Multi-Generational Families of African Ancestry
Kelly Lloyd
Epi, PhD studentSleep Measures Associated with Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Younger Adults
Kusum Pandit
Hugen, PhD studentRegulation and potential role of let-7d microRNA in Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Lung Fibrosis
Poonam
IDM, PhD studentA Novel Prime Boost Vaccination Approach Using Recombinant Clostridium Perfringens and Virus Like Particle Induces Strong Immune Responses against HIV-1
Andria Robinson
Hugen, PhD studentA therapeutic strategy to delay age-related degenerative changes in a murine model of accelerated aging
Vanessa Short
Epi, PhD studentMycoplasma genitalium in early pregnancy is not associated with spontaneous abortion among urban women at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases
Poster Session II, 1:00-2:45
Laura Tomedi
Epi, PhD student
Nutritional status of methadone-treated pregnant women
Nora Watson
Epi, PhD student
Longitudinal Relationships of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease with Gait Speed in Older Adults
Laura Tomedi
Epi, PhD student
Nutritional status of methadone-treated pregnant women
Nora Watson
Epi, PhD student
Longitudinal Relationships of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease with Gait Speed in Older Adults
Tina Assi
Epi, PhD student (master's category-research done during MPH program)
Differential Association of Brachial-Ankle and Carotoid-Femoral Pulse-Wave Velocity with Lipoprotein Subclasses in White Men Aged 40 to 49 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study
Ayan Chakrabarti
IDM, MS student
Detection of HIV-1 RNA/DNA and CD4 mRNA in Feces and Urine samples of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study Donors
Tennille Leak
Epi, MS student
Association of the downstream region of the ENPP1 gene with type 2 diabetes risk in Afro-Caribbean men from Tobago
Suzanne Mamrose-Hunt
EOH, MPH student
Andrew Michanowicz
EOH, MPH student
Community driven research: Effluent characterization of legacy contamination containing trace metals in an alkaline outfall entering the Allegheny River near Cadogan, Pennsylvania
Malcolm Murray
EOH, MPH student
A comparison of water quality variables and concentrations of selected toxins at various locations downstream from Allegheny River gravel mining operations during periods of activity and inactivity.
Chuck Tomljanovic
EOH, PhD student (master's category-research done during MPH program)
The Development of Improved Conceptual Site Models to Prevent Exposure to Chemical Safety Hazards Caused by Conflict Related Unexploded Ordnance
Eileen Bauer (10:30)
EOH, PhD student
Role of Protein kinase C epsilon PKCε in hypoxia induced contraction of pulmonary endothelium
Nitin Bhardwaj (10:45)
IDM, PhD student
Comparative Evaluation of DNA Plasmid and Alphavirus Replicon Based Vaccine Strategies Against Rift Valley Fever Virus
Tina Bhargava (11:00)
BCHS, DrPH student
Patient satisfaction with an Internet-based approach to translating a proven lifestyle intervention into clinical practice
Vanessa Short (11:15)
Epi, PhD student
The microbiological, demographic and behavioral correlates of Mycoplasma genitalium infection amoung women with clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease
Helen Smith (11:30)
Epi, PhD student
Obesity, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Orientation: Women Enrolled in the ESTHER Study
Xing Yuan (11:45)
Biost, PhD student
Resource-Use Analyses with Death as a Confounding Factor: The Competing Risks Modeling Approaches
Oral Session II, 3:00-4:15
Chien-Wen Jean Kuo (3:00)
Biost, MS student
Endothelin-1 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid may be predictive of learning and memory outcomes 12 months after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Chris Lauricella (3:15)
Hugen, MS student
Knowledge of the Tuskegee Syphillis Study and its Effects on African Americans' Perception of Medical Research
Michael Roman (3:30)
BCHS, MPH student
Adaptation vs. Migration: A closed comparative pilot study on the intersection of rising sea levels and population resettlement
Jing Wang (3:45)
MMPH student
Cultural Beliefs and Chronic Disease Self-management among Elderly Chinese Immigrants
Information for Poster Presenters
Setting Up and Dismantling Your Poster
All posters must be in place in the lounge before the event begins at 8:30 am regardless of when you present. Presenters are responsible for setting up their own posters, as well as for dismantling the poster at the end of the day, after the presentation of awards. You may set up your poster as early as 7:00 am on April 3rd. Jurors will begin judging posters promptly at 8:30 and you will not be able to set up your poster after the event has started. If you are not in place and ready to present at the beginning of your session, you may lose your chance to compete.
You will receive a foam board 60 inches wide and 40 inches tall. You will also receive an easel for display. You must pin your poster to the board with your own pins. Pins will not be provided to you and tape may not be used. It is important that your poster fit on the foam board. If you are using individual 8.5x11 pieces of paper, 20 pieces will fit horizontally and 21 will fit vertically. There will be GSPH staff there that morning to direct you as to the exact location of your poster, but you should plan to set up your poster on your own.
Poster Instructions
Your poster must include all of the headings that were required for the abstract: title, authors, objectives/research questions, methods, results, conclusions and implications for public health. If you will not be finished with your research by April 3rd, be prepared to provide preliminary results as of the time of the presentation. You must use a font that is large enough to be easily readable. As with your abstract, keep in mind that you will be presenting to an audience that is comprised mostly of people from outside your discipline. While it is obviously an educated audience, 12 of the 14 jurors will be from a department other than your own and they need to be able to understand your research to judge it accurately.
Presenting Your Poster
It is essential that you are able to summarize your work concisely. Be prepared to give a short (approximately 3-5 minute) oral presentation to the jurors. Jurors will have approximately 10 minutes to view each poster, and their understanding of your research relies on your ability to summarize it. You should also be prepared to answer any questions that the jurors might have about your research. Jurors will be split into three groups to view the posters. This means that you will have to give your presentation three times, to three different groups of jurors. All posters will be numbered before your session to facilitate this process.
Audience
You will have other faculty, students, and staff visit your poster. Again, be prepared to summarize your study in a manner understandable to people outside your discipline.
Presenting Yourself
Dean’s Day is an opportunity to present yourself and your work to the Dean, faculty and other students. You should prepare for this as you would for a professional meeting. That includes your dress and demeanor. Your dress should be professional. You should allot yourself enough time that day that you are not late, nor are you rushed when you arrive in the building.
Addressing the Public Health Implications of Your Work
We are a school of public health with a wide diversity of departments and research/programmatic areas. However, we all share in common the commitment to improve the health of populations and communities. Therefore, it is critical that you be able to articulate how your work contributes to that goal. One way to think about this might be to link your work to Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives. Is your work related to HP goals and objectives? Another way to think about this is if your research has promising results, how might it help to shape a public health policy or program? How might it contribute to reducing morbidity, mortality or improving the span of healthy life?
Questions About Dean's Day?
Contact Caitlin McCullough, Office of Student Affairs, at cem62@pitt.edu or 412-624-3646 with questions about Dean's Day.
Information for Oral Presenters
**Oral presenters are encouraged to attend the workshop "Techniques for Giving Great 10-Minute Talks at Conferences" given by Dr. Beth Fischer, director of the Survival Skills and Ethics Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. Preregistration is required by e-mailing Dawnlyn Diehl. This event is approved for one PHGR point and will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 10:00 am in room A425 Crabtree Hall.
The Format of Your Presentation
All presentations must include a PowerPoint component. You must obtain permission - prior to the event - to use any other format. Your presentation must include all parts that were required in the abstract: title, authors, objectives/research questions, methods, results, conclusions and implications for public health. If you will not be finished with your research, be prepared to present preliminary results as of the time of the presentation. As with all PowerPoint presentations, remember that your font must be large enough for your audience to see; you should not have slides that are so dense with text that your audience can't read them; and finally, that you should limit the number of slides.
When you speak, you will be at the podium with a microphone. However, you must still project your voice. Unless you are using a pointer to call the audience's attention to something on the slide, you should not be turning to look at the slide. Print out notes pages for your presentation, and use those and the monitor of the computer.
Handing in Your Presentation
Your presentation must be emailed or brought in on a CD to Bernadette Foley, Office of Student Affairs, no later than 12 noon on Wednesday, April 1. If we do not receive your presentation by then, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to compete. The Office of Student Affairs is located in room 114 Parran Hall. Please note that you may not turn in your presentation on a floppy disk.
Length of Presentations
You will have a total of 13 minutes for your presentation: 10 minutes for the actual presentation and 3 minutes for the jurors and audience to ask you questions. We will be timing the presentations and may stop you if you run over your time. A Student Affairs staff member will hold up signs when you have five, two and one minute of your presentation time remaining. If you go over the time limit, the jurors reserve the right to lower your score accordingly.
Audience
The audience will include the jury and other Dean's Day participants, as well as GSPH faculty and students that are not participating in Dean's Day. Remember that you are presenting to an educated audience, but that 12 of the 14 jurors will be from a department other than your own and they need to be able to understand your research to judge it accurately.
Presenting Yourself
Dean’s Day is an opportunity to present yourself and your work to the Dean, faculty and other students. You should prepare for this as you would for a professional meeting. That includes your dress and demeanor. Your dress should be professional. You should allot yourself enough time that day that you are not late nor are you rushed when you arrive in the building.
Addressing the Public Health Implications of Your Work
We are a school of public health with a wide diversity of departments and research/programmatic areas. However, we all share in common the commitment to improve the health of populations and communities. Therefore, it is critical that you be able to articulate how your work contributes to that goal. One way to think about this might be to link your work to Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives. Is your work related to HP goals and objectives? Another way to think about this is if your research has promising results, how might it help to shape a public health policy or program? How might it contribute to reducing morbidity, mortality or improving the span of healthy life?
Further Oral Presentation Instructions
Questions about Dean's Day?
Contact Caitlin McCullough, Office of Student Affairs, at cem62@pitt.edu or 412-624-3646 with any questions about Dean's Day.
2008 Awardees
Doctoral Category:
1st Prize-Adam Straub, EOH/PhD
Arsenic signals through G-proteins and NADPH Oxidase (NOX) to promote mouse liver sinusoidal endothelial cell capillarization
2nd Prize-Alana Hudson, Epi/PhD
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and serum estradiol in postmenopausal women
3rd Prize-Cristie Glasheen, Epi/PhD
Predicting trajectories of maternal depression and anxiety across pregnancy and the postpartum
Master's Category:
1st Prize-Heather Douglas, Hugen/MS
The Long-Term Effect of BRCA Gene Testing on Family Relationships: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Interviews
2nd Prize-Sarah Bradley, Hugen/MS
The contribution of economic hardship to caregiver burden and depression
3rd Prize-Rafael Flores-Obando, Hugen/MS
Smoking, Chromosome Damage and an Abnormal DNA Damage Response (DDR) in Head and Neck Cancer (SCCHN)
2007 Awardees
Doctoral Category:
1st Prize-Adam Soloff, IDM/PhD
Immunotherapeutic Adenoviral-Based Vaccination Enhances Cellular Immunity During Antiretroviral Treated Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
2nd Prize-Megan Kavanaugh, BCHS, DrPH
Counseling about and Use of Emergency Contraception (EC) in the United States: Results from the National Survey of Family Growth
3rd Prize-Katherine Reeves, Epid/PhD
Body Mass Index and Mortality among Elderly Breast Cancer Survivors in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF)
Master's Category:
1st Prize-Yan Liu, EOH/MS
Mercury in Channel Catfish Caught in the Three Rivers Areas of Pittsburgh, Allegheny River at Kittanning, and Store-bought from a Local Fish Market; Public Health Implications Regarding Fish Consumption for Local Fishers and the General Public
2nd Prize-Alana Gregg Hudson, Epid/MPH
The 6:3 PUFA ratio and serum estradiol in postmenopausal women
3rd Prize-Susan Bealko (Robertson), EOH/MPH Do Mining Equipment Cabs Protect Operators from Noise Overexposures?
Rosenkranz Award (For Presentation with Greatest Public Health Significance)-Poonam Poonam, IDM/PhD Development of a mucosal vaccine approach against HIV-1 using recombinant Clostridium perfringrens and HIV-1 virus like particles
Keleti Award (For Excellence in Environmental Health)-Molly Stitt-Fischer, EOH/PhD Nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis in pulmonary artery endothelial cells
Delta Omega Poster Award- Megan Kavanaugh, BCHS/DrPH Counseling about and Use of Emergency Contraception (EC) in the United States: Results from the National Survey of Family Growth
2006 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-John Shafer, Human Genetics
"Five-year Change in Bone Mineral Density is Heritable in Mexican Americans: The San Antonio Family Osteoporosis Study"
2nd Prize-Xiaojing Wang, Human Genetics
"Genetic and Environmental Determinants of DXA and pQCT Measured BMD in Afro-Caribbean Families"
3rd Prize-Sherrianne Gleason, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Implementing a Teaching Module on Bioterrorism for High School Students"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Shanna Gustafson, Human Genetics
"Health Beliefs Among African American Women on Acceptance of Genetic Testing and Counseling for Sickle Cell Disease"
2nd Prize-Mioara Manole, Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health
"Preterminal Gasping During Hypoxic Cardiac Arrest Increases Cardiac Function in Immature Rats"
3rd Prize-Elizabeth Jenkins, Human Genetics
"Assessment of Minor Physical Anomalies in Twin Pairs Age 5-12 Years: A Predictor of Behavioral Variation?"
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Adam Straub, Environmental and Occupational Health
"Chronic Arsenic Exposure Induces Angiogenic Gene Expression and Changes Vascular Architecture in Mouse Liver"
Delta Omega Poster Award- Charlene Bryan, Epidemiology
"Is There a Differential Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Remission by Race in Depression Treatment?"
Rosenkranz Award for Greatest Public Health Significance- John Shaffer, Human Genetics
"Five-year Change in Bone Mineral Density is Heritable in Mexican Americans: The San Antonio Family Osteoporosis Study"
2005 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Adam Soloff, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Rapid Response Vaccination Protects Against Lethal Human Outbreak Avian Influenza"
2nd Prize-Kevin Brown, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Disproportionate Loss of Lymph Node Myeloid Dendritic Cells in AIDS Associated with Impaired Langerhans Cell Migration"
3rd Prize-Kelley Pettee, Epidemiology
"The Relationship Between Leisure Physical Activity, Lipoprotein Sub-Classes, and Hormone Therapy in Post-Menopausal Women"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Rachel Malinowski, Human Genetics
"Assessing the Impact of Prenatal Diagnosis of Clefting on the Maternal/Paternal Birth Experience"
2nd Prize-Kristen Sonon, Health Policy & Management
"Searching for and Selecting an Assisted Living Facility"
3rd Prize-(tie) Erin O'Leary, Human Genetics
"The Role of FANCD2 in the DNA Damage Response Pathway"
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Camille Ragin, Epidemiology
"Cervical and Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Tobagonian Females"
Delta Omega Poster Award- Adam Soloff, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Rapid Response Vaccination Protects Against Lethal Human Outbreak Avian Influenza"
Rosenkranz Award for Greatest Public Health Significance- Adam Soloff, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Rapid Response Vaccination Protects Against Lethal Human Outbreak Avian Influenza"
2004 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Adam Soloff, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Dual Adenoviral-Based Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccine Induces Broad and Potent Cellular Immunity Associated with Control of Viremia Upon Heterologous Challenge"
2nd Prize-Kristen St. George, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Biological Stability and Anatomical Site Compartmentalization of Drug Resistant Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients"
3rd Prize-Caterina Rosano, Epidemiology
"Subclinical Brain MRI Abnormalities Predict Physical Functional Decline in Older Adults"
Master's Category
1st Prize-David Huang, Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health
"Cost-effectiveness of Early Goal-directed Therapy for Severe Sepsis"
2nd Prize-Benjamin Nti, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Enhanced Production of TNF-a by Hemozoin-challenged Leukocytes Mediates Increased Viral Replication in SIV-infected Rhesus Macaques"
3rd Prize-Elizabeth Shaffer, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Antiviral Effects of Mifepristone and its Analogues on Vpr-Mediated HIV-1 Replication"
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Rosemarie Ramos, Environmental and Occupational Health
"Geographic and Socioeconomic Distribution of Risk for Asthma Hospitalization of Adults Living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania"
Rosenkrantz Award for Greatest Public Health Significance- Sunita Dodani, Epidemiology
"Establish a World Class School of Public Health for Aga Khan Development Network in Collaboration with University of Pittsburgh and Global Health Network"
Delta Omega Poster Award- Rosemarie Ramos, Environmental and Occupational Health
"Geographic and Socioeconomic Distribution of Risk for Asthma Hospitalization of Adults Living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania"
2003 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize- William Pewen, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Cumulative nucleoside exposure as a prognostic marker for development of HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome"
2nd Prize-Anna Noller, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
"Multi-locus variable-number repate analysis for detection of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 outbreaks"
3rd Prize-Mazen Zenati, Epidemiology
"Hypotension on Second ICU Day Predicts Morbidity and Mortality in Severely Injured Patients"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Neyal Ammary, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
"Talking to Children about Cancer: An assessment on In Mommy's Garden, culturally approriate picture books for children"
2nd Prize-Caterina Rosano, Epidemiology
"Coronary artery calcium associations with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain abnormalities"
3rd Prize-Chad Rittle, Environmental and Occupational Health
"A Risk Assessment of Nitrate Pollution in the Connoquenessing Creek"
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Allison Robinson, Environmental and Occupational Health
Delta Omega Poster Award- Ami Patel, Epidemiology
Rosenkranz Award for Greatest Public Health Significance- Benjamin Nti, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
2002 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Urvi Parikh
"HIV-1 Encoding a Single Amino Acid Substitution in Reverse Transcriptase at Residue 65(Lys-Arg) Shows Varying Susceptibility to NRTIs Based on Pseudosugar Structure"
2nd Prize-Ayleen Godreau
"Carotid Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in African-American and Caucasian Adults"
3rd Prize-Xin Huang
"Characterization of the Hq13 amplicon in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Ami Patel
"The Hazel Township Health Effects Study: Epidemiological Evaluation of a Community Exposure to Gasoline"
2nd Prize- Rubina Das
"In vitro HPRT mutation frequency increases with age of donor due to an intrinsic increase in mutation rate and accumulation of mutants"
3rd Prize-Wendy King
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Rubina Das: "In vitro HPRT mutation frequency increases with age of donor due to an intrinsic increase in mutation rate and accumulation of mutants"
Delta Omega Poster Award- Hui Ju Tsai: "Type 2 diabetes and calpain-10 gene polymorphisms in Samoans"
Rosenkranz Award for Greatest Public Health Significance- Ami Patel: "The Hazel Township Health Effects Study: Epidemiological Evaluation of a Community Exposure to Gasoline"
2001 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Patricia Escobar
2nd Prize-Larry Harshyne
"Dendritic Cells Acquire Antigen from Live Cells: Implication for Vaccine Strategies"
3rd Prize- (tie)Rachel Wildman and Lorraine Ettaro
Rachel Wildman: "Homocysteine and Incident Isolated Systolic Hypertension in Older Adults"
Lorraine Ettaro: "The Epidemiology of Head Trauma in Young Children"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Ruby Castilla
2nd Prize-Rhonda McCartney
3rd Prize-Kara Uherka
Keleti Prize for Excellence in Environmental Health- Patricia Escobar
Delta Omega Poster Award- Zorana Jovanovic: "Comparison of Gray's and Cox Models in Analysing Survival Data"
2000 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Purnima Desai
"Apolipoprotein D distribution in normal and Alzheimer's disease brains: implications for its role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease"
2nd Prize-Rachel Wildman
"Predictors of Aortic Stiffness in Healthy Women"
3rd Prize-Jiping Wang
"Use of Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves Evaluating Logistic Regression Model"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Shervondalonn Brown
"The Relationship Between Pain and Lumbar Range of Motion and Their Effects of Activities of Daily Living in Elderly African-American Women"
2nd Prize-Diane Helinski
"Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention on the Knowledge and Behavior of Health Care Providers Regarding the Importance of Preconceptional Use of Folic Acid"
3rd Prize-Lisa Bernardo
"Playgound Injuries in Children: A Review and Trauma Center Experience"
Delta Omega Poster Award- Jiping Wang: "Use of Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves Evaluating Logistic Regression Model"
1999 Awardees
Doctoral Category
1st Prize-Lorraine Ettaro
"Cost-Effectiveness of Nutrition Therapy in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD) Study"
2nd Prize-Qiong Wang
"MHC Class 1 Restricted CD8* Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses (CTL) to Lytic Proteins of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)"
3rd Prize-Janice Zgibor
"The Use of Specialist Care by Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Characteristics and Outcomes"
Master's Category
1st Prize-Catherine Cartier Ulrich
"Psychosocial Factors in Influencing Cancer Screening in older African-American: Focus Group Results"
2nd Prize-Lisa Bernardo
"Dog Bites in Children Treated in a Pediatric Emergency Department"
3rd Prize-Shawn Fultz
"Diabetes Cost and Control: Differences Between Faculty, Housestaff, and Nurse Practitioners"