The 2017 class of Sparkman Fellows included 15 students spanning 5 different schools within UAB. Read more about them below. Return to the main Fellows page here.
Joshua Arrage
School of Health Professions; Collat School of Business
Josh is a currently pursuing an MSHA and MBA as well as the Global Health Certificate. Josh strives to make a difference in the lives of others. This coupled with his personal healthcare experiences, created his desire to work in healthcare. More specifically, Josh has an interest in exploring the world of international healthcare management and leadership; working to improve delivery systems, population health, and care coordination. He has spent time in China working for a non-profit organization focusing on Leprosy care.
School of Health Professions; Collat School of Business
Josh is a currently pursuing an MSHA and MBA as well as the Global Health Certificate. Josh strives to make a difference in the lives of others. This coupled with his personal healthcare experiences, created his desire to work in healthcare. More specifically, Josh has an interest in exploring the world of international healthcare management and leadership; working to improve delivery systems, population health, and care coordination. He has spent time in China working for a non-profit organization focusing on Leprosy care.
Niranjan Biligowda
School of Public Health
Niranjan is a dentist from India pursuing a Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology. He is interested in studying the changing trends of chronic diseases worldwide and increasing preventative measures for sexually transmitted diseases, specifically HIV and AIDS. Niranjan currently works on projects in the Department of Biomaterials at the UAB School of Dentistry regarding research of new products which are more compatible for oral health.
School of Public Health
Niranjan is a dentist from India pursuing a Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology. He is interested in studying the changing trends of chronic diseases worldwide and increasing preventative measures for sexually transmitted diseases, specifically HIV and AIDS. Niranjan currently works on projects in the Department of Biomaterials at the UAB School of Dentistry regarding research of new products which are more compatible for oral health.
Tolu Dosunmu
School of Public Health
Tolu is an MPH student in Health Behavior. His interest lies in organizing community health outreaches, education, and campaigns on simple disease prevention techniques like proper hand washing, use of condoms, and breast feeding techniques in rural Western Africa communities. He hopes to create behavioral interventions to tackle the challenges faced in many rural West African communities.
School of Public Health
Tolu is an MPH student in Health Behavior. His interest lies in organizing community health outreaches, education, and campaigns on simple disease prevention techniques like proper hand washing, use of condoms, and breast feeding techniques in rural Western Africa communities. He hopes to create behavioral interventions to tackle the challenges faced in many rural West African communities.
Jay Dasigi
Heersink School of Medicine
Jay grew up in Atlanta, GA, and attended the University of Georgia where he developed an interest in emerging global diseases while pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology and a B.A. in Economics. He is currently enrolled in the MD program at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and intends to conduct a scholarly research project in infectious diseases. He also plans on pursuing further studies in public health and epidemiology in the future.
Heersink School of Medicine
Jay grew up in Atlanta, GA, and attended the University of Georgia where he developed an interest in emerging global diseases while pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology and a B.A. in Economics. He is currently enrolled in the MD program at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and intends to conduct a scholarly research project in infectious diseases. He also plans on pursuing further studies in public health and epidemiology in the future.
Trinh Huynh
School of Public Health
Trinh is an MPH Student in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her interest in Maternal and Child Health has grown since she started to work for Trinh Foundation Australia, a non-profit organization providing support for children with Autism and other disabilities in Vietnam. After graduating from MPH program, she hope to continue working with children with Autism and practicing to improve women and child health in global scenario.
School of Public Health
Trinh is an MPH Student in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her interest in Maternal and Child Health has grown since she started to work for Trinh Foundation Australia, a non-profit organization providing support for children with Autism and other disabilities in Vietnam. After graduating from MPH program, she hope to continue working with children with Autism and practicing to improve women and child health in global scenario.
Sherna Jackson
School of Public Health; Collat School of Business
Sherna is a dual degree MPH in Epidemiology/MBA student. Sherna earned a bachelor's degree in Health Education from the University of Florida. Her desire is to work with marginalized communities and creating interventions to improve their health outcomes.
School of Public Health; Collat School of Business
Sherna is a dual degree MPH in Epidemiology/MBA student. Sherna earned a bachelor's degree in Health Education from the University of Florida. Her desire is to work with marginalized communities and creating interventions to improve their health outcomes.
Sarah Jackson
Heersink School of Medicine
Sarah is currently a third year medical student at UAB. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and completed her MPH in international health and development from Tulane University. She previously worked for the Maasai American Organization in Kenya as a graduate student, and served in the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa, where she managed an acute malnutrition project for the United Nations World Food Program. Her interests include maternal and child health, tropical medicine and refugee issues.
Heersink School of Medicine
Sarah is currently a third year medical student at UAB. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and completed her MPH in international health and development from Tulane University. She previously worked for the Maasai American Organization in Kenya as a graduate student, and served in the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa, where she managed an acute malnutrition project for the United Nations World Food Program. Her interests include maternal and child health, tropical medicine and refugee issues.
Khushbu Khatri
School of Public Health; Collat School of Business
Khushbu is pursuing a MPH degree in the Health Care Organization and Policy Department as well as a MBA at the Collat School of Business. She aspires to improve the quality of life of underserved populations by increasing access to high quality healthcare services through systems reform.
School of Public Health; Collat School of Business
Khushbu is pursuing a MPH degree in the Health Care Organization and Policy Department as well as a MBA at the Collat School of Business. She aspires to improve the quality of life of underserved populations by increasing access to high quality healthcare services through systems reform.
Sandhya Krishna
College of Arts & Sciences; School of Public Health
Sandhya is a rising senior at UAB majoring in biology and on the 5 year Public Health Masters program. Her interest in menstrual hygiene management began with her involvement in Period, a new campus organization, and continues to mold her focus around global health. Her passion for animals has drawn her towards wildlife conservation and bridging the gap between health maintenance of human and wildlife populations.
College of Arts & Sciences; School of Public Health
Sandhya is a rising senior at UAB majoring in biology and on the 5 year Public Health Masters program. Her interest in menstrual hygiene management began with her involvement in Period, a new campus organization, and continues to mold her focus around global health. Her passion for animals has drawn her towards wildlife conservation and bridging the gap between health maintenance of human and wildlife populations.
Chang Liu
School of Public Health
Chang is currently an MPH student in the Department of Health Care Organizatin and Policy. He is from Beijing, China. His interests lie in health care management, health economic, finance in health care field and policy analysis. With the international experience, he desires to improve the efficiency of local hospitals in rural places and promote local health care regulations in developing countries.
School of Public Health
Chang is currently an MPH student in the Department of Health Care Organizatin and Policy. He is from Beijing, China. His interests lie in health care management, health economic, finance in health care field and policy analysis. With the international experience, he desires to improve the efficiency of local hospitals in rural places and promote local health care regulations in developing countries.
Matthew Moore
School of Public Health
Matthew is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health. During his undergraduate years pursuing degree in nutrition, Matthew traveled to several countries in Asia and Central America, including Thailand, India, and Belize. His experiences abroad led him to realize the importance of nutrition and wellness in Maternal and Child Health, especially during the first 1,000 days. He hopes to move abroad after graduation to pursue these interests, learning from and impacting the lives of communities in other nations.
School of Public Health
Matthew is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health. During his undergraduate years pursuing degree in nutrition, Matthew traveled to several countries in Asia and Central America, including Thailand, India, and Belize. His experiences abroad led him to realize the importance of nutrition and wellness in Maternal and Child Health, especially during the first 1,000 days. He hopes to move abroad after graduation to pursue these interests, learning from and impacting the lives of communities in other nations.
Samuel Moss
School of Public Health
Samuel is an undergraduate student pursuing his B.S. in Public Health, with a concentration in global health. His passion lies in improving the health status of minority and immigrant populations as well as easing the burden of health disparities in low-income populations. His past research includes work with maternal and neonatal health outcomes relating to sepsis in India as well as the health of American Muslim women.
School of Public Health
Samuel is an undergraduate student pursuing his B.S. in Public Health, with a concentration in global health. His passion lies in improving the health status of minority and immigrant populations as well as easing the burden of health disparities in low-income populations. His past research includes work with maternal and neonatal health outcomes relating to sepsis in India as well as the health of American Muslim women.
Steve Nappoe
School of Public Health
Stevie is an MPH student in Health Care Organization and Policy and Fulbright Scholar from Indonesia. He was working as a research assistant in developing quality health care for maternal and child health in the rural area in his country. His research interests include maternal and child health, health care reform, quality of health care, health system and management, health policy, and health disparities.
School of Public Health
Stevie is an MPH student in Health Care Organization and Policy and Fulbright Scholar from Indonesia. He was working as a research assistant in developing quality health care for maternal and child health in the rural area in his country. His research interests include maternal and child health, health care reform, quality of health care, health system and management, health policy, and health disparities.
Judson Russell
School of Public Health
Judson is currently working on an MPH at the School of Public Health, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Global Health Studies with UAB's Sparkman Center for Global Health. Judson’s prior research experiences include access to care, health care infrastructure, and chronic disease epidemiology in rural Alabama. Building on prior service work in rural Central America, Judson hopes to provide sustainable, innovative solutions to underserved populations experiencing health disparities both domestic and abroad.
School of Public Health
Judson is currently working on an MPH at the School of Public Health, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Global Health Studies with UAB's Sparkman Center for Global Health. Judson’s prior research experiences include access to care, health care infrastructure, and chronic disease epidemiology in rural Alabama. Building on prior service work in rural Central America, Judson hopes to provide sustainable, innovative solutions to underserved populations experiencing health disparities both domestic and abroad.
Nicholas Sherwood
College of Arts & Sciences
Nick is earning his MA in the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights while serving as a graduate assistant at UAB’s Institute for Human Rights. He has undergraduate degrees in Psychology & Political Science from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. His primary research interests are assessing trauma & resilience in post-conflict societies and synthesizing Sterling & Eyer’s concept of Allostasis with cultural trauma theory. He is currently researching the biopsychosocial antecedents and outcomes of traumatized Israelis and Palestinians. Nick is also a consultant to RooChute, a global mental health initiative focused on US music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza.
College of Arts & Sciences
Nick is earning his MA in the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights while serving as a graduate assistant at UAB’s Institute for Human Rights. He has undergraduate degrees in Psychology & Political Science from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. His primary research interests are assessing trauma & resilience in post-conflict societies and synthesizing Sterling & Eyer’s concept of Allostasis with cultural trauma theory. He is currently researching the biopsychosocial antecedents and outcomes of traumatized Israelis and Palestinians. Nick is also a consultant to RooChute, a global mental health initiative focused on US music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza.