Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the foundation of public health and is defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases or disorders within groups of people, and the development of knowledge on how to prevent and control them. The Graduate Certificate in Public Health Epidemiology aims to provide graduate-level instruction on the concepts, methods, and training in epidemiology focused on practical, applied skills. This certificate delivers the basis for promoting the health of populations and preventing disease through the study of health-related events.

Return

Tuberculosis in U.S. Prisons: Risks, Realities, and Responses

Florida State University

PHC5001: Public Health Epidemiology

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a persistent and often overlooked public health crisis within the U.S. prison system. Prison populations face heightened vulnerability to TB due to overcrowded facilities, inadequate access to healthcare, and a mix of structural and social determinants. This paper examines the historical trajectory of TB in prisons, from early 20th-century outbreaks to its resurgence during the HIV/AIDS crisis and the current landscape. By analyzing the conditions that promote TB transmission, such as poor ventilation, understaffed and undertrained medical personnel, and insufficient infection protocols, it becomes evident that structural inequalities and mass incarceration heighten risk. Addressing TB in U.S. prisons is not merely a matter of inmate health; it is a crucial public health imperative.

Tuberculosis in U.S. Prisons: Risks, Realities, and Responses Presentation

Florida State University

PHC5001: Public Health Epidemiology

This presentation is an overview of my paper discussing tuberculosis in U.S. prisons. This presentation examines the severity of TB and trends of mass incarceration in the United States. It also discusses the historical trajectory of TB in prisons, from early 20th-century outbreaks to its resurgence during the HIV/AIDS crisis and the current landscape. By analyzing the conditions that promote TB transmission, such as poor ventilation, understaffed and undertrained medical personnel, and insufficient infection protocols, it becomes evident that structural inequalities and mass incarceration heighten risk.

A Generation at Risk: Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Florida State University

PHC5003: Chronic Disease Epidemiology

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among children and adolescents in the United States has risen dramatically over the past two decades, transforming what was once considered an adult-onset disease into a pressing public health issue among youth. This paper examines the historical trajectory, current landscape, and multifactoral causes of youth T2DM that disproportionately affect minority and low-income populations. This paper also evaluates potential solutions, including screening, education, behavioral modification, and pharmacological treatments, noting both their strengths and limitations. Addressing youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus will require a multifaceted public health approach that targets both individual behaviors and structural inequalities to reverse this growing public health concern and improve the health outcomes of future generations.

Environmental Pthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth Presentation

Florida State University

PHC5001: Public Health Epidemiology

This presentation is an overview of the Ferguson et al. (2014) Environmental Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth. This presentation examines the definition of phthalate and the common products they are found in. This presentation goes over the methods and results of the nested case-control study that examines the relationship between phthalate exposure during pregnancy and preterm birth. This presentation also discussed related literature to phalate exposure and potential solutions.