In November, several students and professors travelled to Washington, DC for the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual Meeting. This conference is the largest gathering of public health professionals in the country.
Health Studies major, Fernanda Moya Quezada ’26, was recognized for Outstanding Student Work in the Advancement in Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Policy category. She gave an oral presentation entitled “Social Networks and Their Impact on Perceptions and Characteristics of Substance Use in Undergraduate College Students: Findings from Phase 1 of an Exploratory Sequential Design.” She conducted this research as part of Dr. Courtney Blondino’s independent study group along with Ella Karcewski ’26, who is double majoring in Health Studies and Biology.
Dr. Nigel James was honored with the 2025 APHA Cancer Forum Global Health Award, which is the highest award in the Global Health category. Two students who spent the summer researching with him, Julia Messerman ‘28 and Callia Nickels ’28, presented their poster entitled “Transforming Detection: Assessing the Impact of Task Shifting in Nurse-Led Breast Cancer Screening in Rural Ghana”. For this study, they collaborated with researchers at Penn State and the University of Ghana.
UR is partnering with local environmental justice nonprofit Southside ReLeaf on a community-led study of flooding on the Southside of Richmond.
Over the next three years, Stephanie Spera, associate professor of geography, environment, and sustainability, Hemali Oza, assistant professor of health studies, and Todd Lookingbill, professor of geography, environment, and sustainability and biology, will work closely with the local environmental justice nonprofit Southside ReLeaf on a community-led study of flooding on the Southside of Richmond with the support of a grant from the Jeffress Trust.
Nigel James, assistant professor of health studies, published “Conflict, Climate, and Child Health: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa” in Population and Development Review.
Nigel James, assistant professor of health studies, published “Quality of care and health insurance uptake in Namibia” in Journal of Public Health in Africa.
Nigel James, assistant professor of health studies, has been appointed to the YIELD Hub Advisory Board. The group of global leaders are committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), youth leadership, gender justice, and systems change across the world.
UR is partnering with local environmental justice nonprofit Southside ReLeaf on a community-led study of flooding on the Southside of Richmond.
Mailing address:
Department of Health Studies
102 Weinstein Hall
231 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: (804) 662-3034
Department Chair: Dr. Rick Mayes
Academic Administrative Coordinator: Stephanie Fillman