ACADEMIC FELLOWSHIP

Each year, the center will name and support an academic fellowship for a third-year NYCOM student. The following fellows and research are mentioned below.

2011-2012

Jasmine Beria

A Prospective Study Using Electrocardiograms as a Potential Screening Tool for the Detection of Chronic Chagas' Disease in an Endemic Population- Morazan, El Salvador

Approximately 10 million people are diagnosed with Chagas’ disease in the Americas, in which 232,000 people reside in the country of El Salvador.  Chagas’ disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, with the most common route of infection through vector-borne transmission.  Less than 1% of all acute cases are diagnosed.  Seventy-five percent of chronic patients remain in the indeterminate or asymptomatic form throughout their lives.  Serology has been shown to be the most useful test for this stage of Chagas’.  After review of current literature, studies have been conducted in which EKG’s were analyzed for the presence of abnormalities within known serologically positive Chagas’ populations.  The propensity for arrhythmias indicates that an EKG could make an attractive, inexpensive screening tool.  A prospective study within endemic populations has yet to be conducted in an effort to assess and validate whether or not an EKG would provide enough sensitivity and specificity to be used as a screening tool.  The investigators suggest that patients with specific EKG manifestations could subsequently be serologically tested for asymptomatic chronic Chagas’ disease infection, thereby allowing for earlier detection and intervention.  The rise in immigration from endemic countries to the United States increases the need for greater awareness of the globalization of Chagas’ heart disease.  Early recognition and management may prevent significant morbidity and mortality from Chagas’ cardiomyopathy in this country.  This study was conducted in Morazán, El Salvador. A 12-lead EKG and blood samples were obtained from 310 subjects.  ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence testing were performed on each sample.  The investigators anticipated 10 positive subjects based on prevalence data from the WHO. Serological results show that 25 subjects are positive; this is above the reported prevalence for the country.  The EKGs have been evaluated by a cardiologist that is blinded to the laboratory results.  Current analysis will then determine the validity of using EKGs as a screening tool for Chagas' disease in El Salvador and other endemic countries.

Jasmine has been awarded the Benjamin H. Kean Fellowship in Tropical Medicine for her research by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2012.

Jonathan Giordano

Evaluation of nutritional status among school-aged children in rural Kwahu- Eastern Region, Ghana

Nutrition is often ignored when discussing the economic development of nations. Times of political unrest, drought, and famine highlight the situation only when it is too late.  Although the leading causes of disease in the world are infectious in nature - with preventable disease of lower respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases and malaria contributing to 7.3 million deaths and leading to more than 168 million disability-adjusted life years lost in low-income countries - the problem is worsened by malnutrition. In order to investigate the nutritional status of children in this region, over 400 students were interviewed at local schools in Kwahu-Eastern Region, Ghana – a 24 hour diet recall was conducted, as well as height, weight and arm circumference measurements.  Based on this data, the investigators are currently examining what each child consumes in both macro and micronutrients, as well as comparing their physical development to WHO standards.  In addition to looking for trends in the cohort as a whole, the investigators have a particular interest in comparing results between communities that have a government sponsored school lunch program (an incentive for the child to attend school) and those communities that do not have this program.

In addition to this research, Jon has won a first-place award in the outreach category of the BIOMEA/SOMA Abstract Competition for "Malaria Education of School Aged Children in Kwahu-Eastern Region, Ghana; Anansi Tricks Mrs. Mosquito," – an award that resulted in his invitation to be an oral presenter at the BIOMEA seminar of the annual AOA conference.  The presentation is a result of an educational outreach program designed by the Center for Global Health in conjunction with the NYIT School of Education, Wisser Memorial Library, Jesse M. Rohde Foundation and a local NY artist.

2010-2011

Dianna El-Neemany-Socioeconomic and cultural factors contributing to HIV transmission in Women in Belize

2009-2010

Cheryl Dinglas-Mothers Providing Care

Vanessa Parisi-The effectiveness of simulation in global health fieldwork: Linking theoretical knowledge to practical experience.

Anna Mardakhayeva - School aged Children's Attitude and perception of Hygiene and transmission of Infectious Disease in rural Ghana

2008-2009