News and Notes from the Department of Epidemiology

Department of Epidemiology Students, Staff, and Faculty

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In this newsletter, I am pleased to share with you how our students and faculty continue to excel in research that directly affects public health.

Nichole Nidey leads the EMPOWER Project, supporting mothers with substance use disorders. Anjali Deshpande is now president of the Iowa Public Health Association Board of Directors, guiding public health advocacy in Iowa.

Professor Mary Charlton and her team are sharing vital cancer data across Iowa’s 99 counties. Paul Romitti has been honored as a 2025 University of Iowa Distinguished Chair for his significant contributions to epidemiology.

Our students are also making remarkable strides. Rebeca Galindo is researching rapid diagnostic tests for antibiotic resistance, Tristan Milarch is engaging in community health, Ragan Martin received the IPHA Emerging Leader Award, Emily Jester was honored with the Hancher-Finkbine Award, and Emily Acers is advancing youth concussion recovery research.

As we celebrate the 26 Spring and Summer 2025 graduates, let's continue to support and stay connected with our vibrant community.

Betsy Chrischilles
e-chrischilles@uiowa.edu

Student Stories

Rebeca Galindo of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Rebeca Galindo: Researching antibiotic resistance and rapid testing

Rebeca Galindo, a second-year doctoral candidate in epidemiology, knew she wanted to be an infectious disease epidemiologist at a young age. Now she's involved with a research project developing a rapid diagnostic test to accelerate identifying antibiotic resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter.
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Tristan Milarch: Building positive health outcomes and community connections

Meet Tristan Milarch, a first-year PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology. He recently answered a few questions about his interest in public health and the importance of student engagement outside of the classroom.
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Ragan Martin of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Ragan Martin recognized with IPHA Emerging Leader Award

Ragan Martin, an MPH student in epidemiology, was honored by the Iowa Public Health Association (IPHA) with the 2025 Emerging Leader Award.
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Emily Jester honored with Hancher-Finkbine Award

Congratulations to epidemiology student Emily Jester for receiving a 2025 Hancher-Finkbine Awards! She was honored at an event on April 8.
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Portrait of Emily Acers of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Emily Acers: Evaluating youth concussion recovery in Iowa

As a PhD student in the University of Iowa Department of Epidemiology, Emily Acers is dedicated to advancing our understanding of injury prevention, with a particular focus on mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI), more commonly known as concussions.
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Nichole Nidey works to change stigma to support

Nichole Nidey, assistant professor of epidemiology, focuses her research on mothers with substance use disorders. She directs the EMPOWER Project, which is committed to listening to patient stories and ensuring that the voices of those with lived experiences drive meaningful change in health care.
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Anjali Deshpande on her role as IPHA board president, public health challenges, and preparing students

In January 2025, Anjali Deshpande began a two-year term as president of the Iowa Public Health Association (IPHA) Board of Directors. In this role, she will help guide IPHA in fulfilling its mission to be “the independent voice for public health in Iowa.” You can listen to Deshpande discusses her journey into public health and the role of IPHA in advocating for and strengthening public health practice on the Plugged into Public Health Podcast.
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Iowa experts share cancer data with each of Iowa’s 99 counties

A public health team led by Professor Mary Charlton from the University of Iowa is collaborating with partners across the state to share county-specific cancer data with residents in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. See the CPH Media Roundup for more coverage of the 2025 Cancer in Iowa Report.
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Romitti named 2025 UI Distinguished Chair

Paul Romitti, professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health, has been named a 2025 University of Iowa Distinguished Chair. The UI Distinguished Chair, one of the most prestigious honors granted to faculty members at Iowa, is given to those who are known nationally and globally for their scholarly work and who have made significant contributions to the university, state of Iowa, and beyond.
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University of Iowa College of Public Health ranked No. 19 in the nation

The University of Iowa Department of Epidemiology is the No. 19 program in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2025.
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