Director
Andi Schwingel, PhD, Lab Director
Associate Professor
Curriculum Vitae
andiara@illinois.edu
I study ways to improve the health of underserved populations through community health programs that are both culturally sensitive and sustainable. Underserved populations, such as US Latino immigrants, older adults, and rural dwellers, are often at the highest risk for developing chronic diseases. My research informs public health policy and practice that can lead to healthier communities.
Graduate Students
Sadia Anjum Ashrafi
PhD Candidate, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
ashrafi3@illinois.edu
Through my research, I aim to improve the access to Chronic Kidney Disease care at the community level, especially for minorities. I also want to determine effective strategies to manage Chronic Kidney Disease in minorities, especially in African Americans and Hispanics.
Laura M Quintero Silva
PhD Candidate, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
lmq2@illinois.edu
I study ways to improve the provision of palliative and end-of-life care for historically underrepresented communities living with life-threatening illnesses. I am particularly interested in understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted patient-centered models of care and the role of technology in supporting the patient-provider relationship under conditions of isolation and social distancing
Rifat Alam
PhD Candidate, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
rifata2@illinois.edu
My research interest lies in seeking answers about the prevention of dementia in older adults. I also want to address the growing concerns of health inequities and will gather evidence on what could be done to prevent dementia among the disadvantaged population and in resource constrained settings.
Ogunjesa Babatope Ayokunle
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
bo9@illinois.edu
My research interest revolves around population health and how socioeconomic factors intersecting behavioral and cultural practices influence the health outcomes of the vulnerable population, especially older adults and their informal caregivers. Primarily, I am investigating factors that serve as barriers to the uptake of respite care services by family caregivers and building machine learning model on respite care utilization
Ana Laura Selzer Ninomiya
PhD Student, Kinesiology
Curriculum Vitae
als17@illinois.edu
My research interest focuses on strategies to increase physical activity levels to promote health equity. I am particularly interested in low-cost physical activity interventions such as active transportation and the Community Health Workers’ model on the prevention of chronic diseases in vulnerable populations.
Rafael Guimaraes de Lima e Silva
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
rafael5@illinois.edu
My research interest is related to the development of nutrition apps that can improve the quality of health in the community. Specifically, I study a new model of nutrient intake recommendation based on the energy expenditure, which allows a personalized recommendation of micronutrients.
Deanivea Mendes Felix
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
dm36@illinois.edu
My research interests are Brazilian Politics, Public Health, Global Health, and International Organizations
Iffat Noor
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
iffatn2@illinois.edu
My research work revolves around the modeling and behavior of SARS-CoV-2.
Francisco Timbó de Paiva Neto
PhD Student, Visiting Scholar
Curriculum Vitae
tim28@illinois.edu
I study Organization of Health Systems with a focus on Health Care Models, in the Public Health area. I also carry out research related to the promotion of physical activity in community contexts based on implementation science and research on the environmental determinants of physical activity, particularly in the older adults
Diana Morales
PhD Student, Kinesiology
Curriculum Vitae
dianam3@illinois.edu
My research interests include neurodegenerative disease and aging, as well as developing and implementing culturally adapted behavioral interventions in Latine populations to improve brain health outcomes.
Juliana Eri Watanabe Soufen
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
jw141@illinois.edu
My research interest is to understand the societal impact of large-scale infrastructure improvement projects in the health of vulnerable families. Particularly, I would like to answer how the community health programs truly impact people’s lives using a thoughtful evaluation process, which includes, among others, the beneficiaries’ voices.
Emmanuel Dubure
PhD Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
edubure2@illinois.edu
My research interest is in the application of nutrition education to address chronic conditions, particularly in minority and disadvantaged populations. I am currently focusing on the burden of chronic kidney disease in Black Americans and the role of nutrition interventions in the prevention and management of chronic kidney disease. I aspire to improve the health of disadvantaged populations through research, education, and advocacy.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Pari Shah
Undergraduate Student, Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
Pari4@illinois.edu
My research interests include community health, diversity in our population, data analysis and anything science related. I hope to be able to use my education to better our community
Katherine Hopkins
Undergraduate Student, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Curriculum vitae
kh25@illinois.edu
I am interested in research interests that include diversity as well as community and public health. I will use this experience to better my understand and others of health inequalities in my future education and career
Collaborators
Kristen DiFilippo, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
Curriculum Vitae
kdifilip@illinois.edu
I study ways to improve health through nutrition interventions. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, my research focuses on using mHealth to support behavior change to improve chronic disease outcomes.
Julie Bobitt, PhD
Faculty affiliated
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Curriculum Vitae
jbobitt@illinois.edu
My research focuses on evaluating the dissemination and implementation of policies and programs for older adults. This work informs policy makers and promotes the development of better programs to improve the lives of older adults.
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, PhD
Faculty affiliated
Professor and Dean of Graduate College
wojtek@illinois.edu
My primary research interests are in the area of aging and health. My research focuses on public policy and public health recommendations related to physical activity and healthy living.
Tania Benedetti, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Susie Aguiñaga, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Patricia Galvez, PhD
Collaborator, Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, University of Chile
pa_galvez@med.uchile.cl
My research focuses on home food environment and family relationships with food. I am currently studying how family can influence women’s eating behaviors in vulnerable neighborhoods in Chile with high prevalence of obesity.
Emerson Sebastião, PhD
Collaborator
Curriculum Vitae
esebastiao@niu.edu
My research interest focuses on the broad relationship between physical activity/exercise/fitness, health outcomes and quality of life in older adults and persons with Multiple Sclerosis. My research helps device strategies and intervention aiming to promote physical activity among these at-risk populations.