Recent fact sheet highlighting local air pollution concerns

sha55 — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:06:28 +0000

Our recent fact sheet, published by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center shows that South Fresno residents experience high rates of health issues and air and noise pollution, and express strong support for public interventions to mitigate environmental issues. Findings of this fact sheet is part of an ongoing health impact assessment to investigate how air pollution impact the health of residents in Fresno CA. The study is expected to inform the ongoing South Fresno Truck Reroute study, which aims to identify, analyze, and evaluate potential strategies that freight-impacted communities might implement, in cooperation with the City, to abate truck impacts.

The final report will be available soon, stay tuned!

sha55 Mon, 01/22/2024 - 16:06

Recent fact sheet highlighting local air pollution concerns

sha55 — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:56:30 +0000

Recent fact sheet highlighting local air pollution concerns sha55 Mon, 01/22/2024 - 15:56

Our recent fact sheet, published by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, shows that South Fresno residents experience high rates of health issues and air and noise pollution, and express strong support for public interventions to mitigate environmental issues.

Our team is conducting a health impact assessment to investigate the effects of air pollution on health in Fresno California. The purpose of this study is to inform the Fresno Truck Reroute Study in its efforts to identify, analyze, and evaluate potential strategies that freight-impacted communities might implement, in cooperation with the City, to abate truck impacts.

Our report is expected to be available soon. Please stand by!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 12:00pm

Featured on ABC30

sha55 — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:24:36 +0000

Featured on ABC30 sha55 Wed, 09/06/2023 - 15:24

Our work on climate change and health has been recently featured in local news here:

https://abc30.com/uc-merced-new-review-health-study-pregnancy-complications/13564066/

Friday, July 28, 2023, 12:00pm

Interview with Yale Climate Connection

sha55 — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 18:17:40 +0000

Interview with Yale Climate Connection sha55 Fri, 08/05/2022 - 14:17

I was interviewed by Samantha Harrington from Yale Climate Connection regarding climate impacts on pregnancy health. Please see the article here: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/07/extreme-heat-makes-pregnancy-more-dangerous/

Friday, August 5, 2022, 12:00pm

CV

sysadmin — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:30:48 +0000

Available upon request

sysadmin Wed, 07/27/2022 - 11:30

Publications

sysadmin — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:24:17 +0000

Publications

Peer-reviewd journal articles

2023 - under construction

2022

Balascio P, Moore M, Gongalla M, Regan A, Ha S, Taylor BD, Hill AV. Measures of Racism and Discrimination in Preterm Birth Studies: A Narrative Synthesis. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2022. Accepted 10/4/2022. In Press

Ha S, Ghimire S*, Martinez V*. Outdoor air pollution and pregnancy loss: a narrative review. Current Epidemiology Reports. (in press) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40471-022-00304-w [invited]

Mendola P, Ha S. Beyond the baby in your arms - climate effects last for generations. Fertility and Sterility 2022; S0015-0282(22)00385-5. PMID: 35791979 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.06.007 online ahead of print. [invited]

Zhou M, Chittamuru D, Ha S, Schillinger D, Ramirez S. Protocol: Effectiveness of message content and format on individual and collective efficacy in reducing the intention to consume sugar-sweetened beverages. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2022.106711

Ha S. The changing climate and pregnancy health. Current Environmental Health Reports 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00345-9

2021

Ha S, Martinez V*, Chan-Golston, MA. Air pollution and preterm birth: a time-stratified case-crossover analysis in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12836

Kanner J**, Stevens D, Nobles C, Rohn M, Ha S, Mannisto T, Ouidir M, Mendola P. Risk of cardiovascular events during labor and delivery associated with acute ambient temperature changes. The Journal of Climate Change and Health 2021:3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100060

Hall C*, Ha S, Yen I, and Sidra Goldman-Mellor. Risk factors for hyperthermia mortality among emergency department patients. Annals of Epidemiology 2021; S1047-2797(21). PMID: 34547445 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.09.009.

Williams AD, Ha S, Shenassa E, Messer L, Kanner J, Mendola P. Joint effects of ethnic enclave residence and air pollution exposure on risk of gestational diabetes mellitus among Asian/Pacific Islander women in the United States. Environmental Health, 2021; 20:56. PMID: 33964949 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-021-00738-7

Ha S, Martinez V*. Associations between disability and infertility among US reproductive-aged women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021; 18, 3202. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063202 . Published 3/9/2021

Ha S. Air pollution and neurological development in children. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14758. PMID: 33300118

2020

Ha S, Nobles C, Kanner J, Sherman S, Cho SH, Perkins N, Williams A, Grobman W, Biggio J, Subramaniam A, Ouidir M, Chen Z, Mendola P. Air pollution exposure monitoring among pregnant women with and without asthma. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020; 17(13), 4888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134888 Published July 2020
Kanner J, Williams A, Nobles C, Ha S, Ouidir M, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and stillbirth: Risks associated with chronic extreme temperature and acute temperature change. Environmental Research. Accepted 7/13/2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109958

2019

Ha S*, Mendola P. Opportunities and challenges to investigate the effects of air pollution on pregnancy loss. Fertility and Sterility, 2019;111(2):256-257. PMID 30691626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.11.027
Ha S*, Mendola P. Are we ready to establish a causal relationship between air pollution and pregnancy loss? The Lancet Planetary Health 2019; 3(5):e198-e199. PMID: 31128763. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30073-7
Ha S*. Yeung E, Bell E, Insaf T, Ghassabian A, Bell G, Muscatiello N, Mendola P. Prenatal and early-life exposures to air pollution and neurodevelopment. Environmental Research 2019; 174:170-175. PMID: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.064
Entwistle MR, Gharibi H, Tavallali P, Cisneros R, Schweizer D, Brown P, Ha S. Air pollution and asthma emergency department visits in Fresno, California, USA, during the warm season 2005-2015: a time-stratified case crossover analysis. Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health 2019; 12(6): 661–672. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00685-w
Naeem F, Mhaissen MN, McCarty J, Ha S, Rongkavilit C. Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis among children in Central California: a retrospective review. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 2019 38(12):1189-1194. PMID: 31738333. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000002470
Thao C, Burke NJ, Ha S, Joyce AL. Pesticide Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Small Scale Hmong Farmers in the Central Valley of California. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 2019; 10(1):32, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmz030
Williams AD, Messer L, Kanner J, Ha S, Mendola P. Ethnic enclaves and obstetric outcomes among Asian/Pacific Islanders in the United States. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 2019; PMID: 31728931 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00650-4

2018

Ha S, Liu D, Zhu Y, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and preterm rupture of membranes. Epidemiology 2018; 29(2):175-182. PMID: 29087988.
Ha S, Sundaram R, Buck Louis G, Nobles C, Seeni I, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient air pollution and the risk of pregnancy loss: a prospective cohort study. Fertility and Sterility 2018; 109(1):148-153. PMID: 29153729.
Nobles C, Schisterman EF, Ha S, Sundaram R, Buck Louis G, Sherman S, Mendola P. Time-varying cycle average and daily variation in ambient air pollution and fecundability. Human Reproduction 2018; 33(1):166-176. PMID: 29136143.
Nobles C, Schisterman E, Ha S, Kim K, Mumford S, Buck Louis G, Chen Z, Liu D, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient air pollution and semen quality. Environmental Research 2018; 163:228-236. PMID:
Seeni I, Ha S, Nobles C, Liu D, Sherman S, Grantz KL, Mendola P. Air pollution exposure during pregnancy: maternal asthma and neonatal respiratory outcomes. Annals of Epidemiology 2018; 28(9):612-618.e4. PMID: 30153910
Gharibi H, Entwistle MR, Ha S, Gonzalez M, Brown P, Schweizer D, Cisneros R. Ozone pollution and asthma emergency department visits in the Central Valley, California, USA, during June to September of 2015: a time-stratified case-crossover analysis. Journal of Asthma 2018; 9:1-12. PMID: 30299181. https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2018.1523930
Ha S, Mendola P. Is there a common mechanism underlying air pollution and reproductive outcomes noted in epidemiologic and IVF lab-based studies? Fertility and Sterility 2018; 109(1).

2017

Hu H, Ha S, Xu X. Ozone and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Florida: Identifying Critical Windows of Exposure. Environmental Research 2017; 153:120-125. PMID: 27940104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.12.002
Ha S, Liu D, Zhu Y, Kim SS, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and early delivery of singleton pregnancies. Environmental Health Perspectives 2017; 25(3):453-459. PMID: 27580125. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP97
Ha S, Zhu Y, Liu D, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and air quality in relation to small for gestational age and term low birthweight. Environmental Research 2017; 185(4):259-261. PMID: 28258738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.02.021
Ha S, Liu D, Zhu Y, Kim SS, Sherman S, Grantz KL, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and stillbirth: a multi-center retrospective cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives 2017; 125(6):067011. doi: 10.1289/EHP945. PMID: 28650842. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP945
Ha S, Männistö T, Liu D, Sherman S, Ying Q, Mendola P. Air pollution and risk of cardiovascular event at labor and delivery: a case-crossover analysis. Annals of Epidemiology 2017; S1047-2797(16)30351-9. PMID: 28552468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.05.007
Zhu Y, Zhang C, Liu D, Ha S, Kim SS, Pollack A, Mendola P. Ambient air pollution and risk of gestational hypertension. American Journal of Epidemiology 2017; 186(3):334-343. PMID: 28472208. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx097
Mendola P, Ha S, Pollack A, Zhu Y, Seeni I, Kim SS, Sherman S, Liu D. Chronic and acute ozone exposure in the week prior to delivery is associated with the risk of stillbirth. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health2017; 14(7). pii: E731. PMID: 28684711
Ha S, Nguyen MK, Liu D, Männistö T, Nobles C, Sherman S, Mendola P. Ambient temperature and risk of cardiovascular event at labor and delivery: A case-crossover study. Environmental Research 2017; 159:622-628. PMID: 28926807.
Mendola P, Ha S, Männistö T, Liu D. Air pollution and cardiovascular events with special reference to labor and delivery. Annals of Epidemiology 2017; 27(10):687-688. PMID: 28919356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.023
Ha S, Mendola P. Ambient environment and risk of preterm delivery. American Journal of Epidemiology 2017; 185(4):259-261. PMID: 28087511.

2016

Ha S, Hu H, Mao L, Roussos-Ross D, Roth J, Xu X. Potential Selection Bias Associated with Using Geocoded Birth Records for Epidemiological Research. Annals of Epidemiology 2016; 26(3):204-11. PMID: 26907541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2016.01.002
Cai J, Meng X, Wang C, Chen R, Zhou J, Xu X, Ha S, Zhao Z, Kan H. The cold effects on circulatory inflammation, thrombosis and vasoconstriction in type 2 diabetic patients. Science of the Total Environment 2016; 568:271-277, PMID: 27295598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.030
Xu X, Ha S, Basnet R. A Review of Epidemiological Research on Adverse Neurological Effects of Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution. Frontiers in Public Health 2016; 4(suppl4). PMID: 27547751. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00157
Xu X, Hu H, Ha S, Han D. A Smartphone-Assisted Spatial Data Collection Method to Improve Geographic Information Quality: A Pilot Study Using Birth Dataset. Geospatial Health 2016; 11(3):482. PMID: 27903063. https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2016.482

2015

Cai J, Chen R, Wang W, Xu X, Ha S, Kan H. Does CO ambient have protective effect on COPD patients? Environmental Research 2015; 136, 21-26. PMID: 25460616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.09.039
Ha S, Hu H, Roth J, Kan H, Xu X. [Editor’s choice] Association between proximity to power plants and adverse birth outcomes. American Journal of Epidemiology 2015; 182(3):215-24. PMID: 26121989. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwv042
Wang C, Chen R, Zhao Z, Cai J, Lu J, Ha S, Xu X, Chen X, Kan H. Particulate air pollution and circulating biomarkers among type 2 diabetic mellitus patients: the roles of particle size and time windows of exposure. Environmental Research 2015; 140:112-118. PMID: 25863184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.03.026
Chen R, Zhao A, Chen H, Zhao Z, Cai J, Wang C, Yang C, Li H, Xu X, Ha S, Li T, Kan H. Cardiopulmonary benefits of reducing indoor particles of outdoor origin: a randomized double-blind crossover trial of air purifiers. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2015; 65(21):2279-87. PMID: 26022815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.03.553
Hu H, Ha S, Warner TD, Roth J, Kan H, Xu X. Association of Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Ozone with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Environmental Health Perspectives 2015; 123(9):853-9. PMID: 25794412. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408456
Yang Y, Chen R, Xu J, Li Q, Xu X, Ha S, Song W, Tan J, Xu F, Kan H. The effects of ambient temperature on outpatient visits for varicella and herpes zoster in Shanghai, China: A time-series study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2015; S0190-9622(15) 01929-5. PMID: 26277211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.07.015

2014

Ha S, Talbott E, Kan H, Prins C, Xu X. Effects of heat stress and its effect modifiers on stroke hospitalizations in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. International Archives of Environmental Epidemiology 2014; 87(5):557-65. PMID: 23897226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0897-2
Xu X, Hu H, Ha S, Roth J. Ambient Air Pollution and Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2014; 68(1):13-20. PMID: 24022815. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2013-202902
Cai J, Zhao A, Zhao J, Chen R, Wang W, Ha S, Xu X, Kan H. Acute effects of air pollution on asthma hospitalization in Shanghai, China. Environmental Pollution 2014;191C:139-144 PMID: 24836410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.04.028
Hu H, Ha S, Roth J, Kearney G, Talbott EO, Xu X. Ambient air pollution and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atmospheric Environment 2014; 97: 336-345. PMID: 25242883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.08.027
Ha S, Hu H, Roussos-Ross D, Kearney G, Kan H, Roth J, Xu X. The effects of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes. Environmental Research 2014; 134C:198-204. PMID: 25173052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.002
Ha S, Thompson LA, Kearney G, Roth J, Xu X. Population Attributable Risks of Neurobehavioral Disorders due to Low Birth Weight in US Children. Advances in Pediatric Research 2014; 1(2):1-10. https://doi.org/12715/apr.2014.1.2

2013

Xu X, Sun Y, Ha S, Lissaker C. Association between Ozone Exposure and Onset of Stroke in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania 1994-2004. Neuroepidemiology 2013;41(1):2-6. PMID: 23548644. https://doi.org/10.1159/000345138
Xu X, Ha S, Kan H, Hu H, Curbow B, Lissaker C. Health Effects of Air Pollution on Length of Respiratory Cancer Survival. BMC Public Health 2013; 13: 800. PMID: 24004483. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-800

2012

Ha, SU. “RE: Use of Penicillin and Other Antibiotics and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-based Case Control Study”. American Journal of Epidemiology 2012; 175(7):728. PMID: 22415033. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws019

2011

Xu X, Kan H, and Ha S. Ambient Air Pollution and Reproductive Health. The impact of air pollution: on health, economy, environmental and agricultural sources. Intech Open Access Publisher, 2011 (ISBN 978-953-307-528-0), pages 93-116.

sysadmin Mon, 07/18/2022 - 20:24

Current Projects

sysadmin — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:19:02 +0000

Current Projects

Air pollution health impact assessment (2022-2023, role: PI)

Funded by the City of Fresno, this project aims to assess the impacts of air pollution among Fresno residents. The utilizes two approaches: 1) link large population-based health datasets to air pollution data to estimate the impacts of air pollution on health across the lifespan; and 2) conduct a community survey to explore residents' knowledge, perception, attidude, needs, and health outcomes related to air pollution exposures.

San Joaquin Valley Center for Community Air Assessment and Injustice Reduction (SJV CC-AIR) (2022-; role: Co-PI)

In partnership with the Stockton nonprofit organization Little Manila Rising, this 1.2M grant will address the health impacts of air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley. Specifically, the funds from the Automobile Emissions Research and Technology Fund grant will be used to launch a mobile air quality laboratory and health assessment clinic; deploy community air quality monitoring networks in Stockton and Fresno by installing 125 new PurpleAir monitors; and establish a permanent community-university air quality research and clinical center at UC Merced.

Environmental risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in California (2018 – present; role: PI )

California, especially the San Joaquin Valley, has many environmental issues including air pollution, pesticide use, extreme temperature events, and wildfire. Exposures to these environmental hazards have been linked to many health outcomes including cancer and cardiorespiratory complications in the general population. However, few studies have simultaneously examined how these exposures (alone and in combination) affect pregnant women and the developing fetus. The overarching purpose of this study is to determine whether and how these environmental risk factors affect the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birthweight, preterm birth, and neonatal/infant death.

The project links environmental data from federal/state agencies to birth certificates of all babies delivered from 2005-2015 in the state of California (n > 5 million births). Exposures among pregnancies with adverse outcomes are compared with those with healthy outcomes. We hypothesize that pregnancies that were exposed to higher environmental risk factors had higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Findings can potentially be used to device potentially novel strategies to minimize the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in high-risk areas. The project is led by Dr. Sandie Ha, and is funded by the University of California.

California Policy Lab: Data-Driven Solutions to California’s Most Complex Issues (2021 - 2024; role: Co-I)

Local and state governments are often at the cutting edge of innovative policymaking. Though they often collect substantial administrative data about their programs and the people they serve, they often lack the resources, data infrastructure, and rigorous research expertise they need to evaluate success and inform future policy decisions.  The CPL helps fill these gaps by bringing experts from the country’s top public universities and a secure platform for data and policy analysis. This project is funded by the UC Office of the President’s Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives.

sysadmin Mon, 07/18/2022 - 20:19

Past Projects

sysadmin — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:18:33 +0000

Past Projects

Disseminated coccidioidomycosis among pediatric patients in the San Joaquin Valley (2018; role: Co-I)

This is a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (ages 0 to 21) who were treated at Valley Children's Hospital for disseminated coccidioidomycosis (i.e., Valley fever). The purpose of the project is to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors for disseminated disease. The project is in collaboration with physicians at Valley Children's Hospital.

Breathe-Wellbeing, Environment, Lifestyle and Lung Function (B-WELL-Mom) Study (2015 – 2021, role: collaborator)

The B-WELL-Mom Study enrolls pregnant women before 14 weeks of gestation. It is a multicenter prospective cohort study, which aims to increase understanding of factors that predict poor asthma control during pregnancy, and that add to our knowledge of the basic immunology of pregnancy. Asthma is a common chronic disease. It affects about 9 out of 100 pregnant women and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We know that one-third of all pregnant women with asthma experience worsening symptoms throughout pregnancy, while one-third improve. However, the reason for this change is not known. This study funeded by NICHD (PI: Pauline Mendola. For more information, please visit http://www.b-well-mom.org.

Incidence of pediatric antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis in the San Joaquin Valley (2019, role: consultant)

ANCA-associated vasculitis is a rare but serious autoimmune condition characterized by self-destruction of the small blood vessels. However, it's incidence and risk factors are not well-understood, especially in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV). This project aims to determine the incidence of ANCA-associated vasculistis in the SJV and explore risk factors associated with the condition. A retrospective chart review will be conducted for the SJV, and hospital discharge/emergency department visits data will be used to explore how SJV is different form the rest of California with respect to ANCA-associated vasculitis. This project is conducted in collaboration with Valley Children's Hospital.

Exploring congenital syphilis in the San Joaquin Valley (2020 - 2022, role: consultant)

In collaboration with physicians from UCSF Fresno, this project explores factors contributing to the recent sharp increase in congenital syphillis in the San Joaquin Valley.

Ambient temperature and premature delivery in the San Joaquin Valley (2019 - 2020, role: Co-PI)

In collaboration with faculty and physicians at UCSF Fresno, this retrospective study investigates the effects of temperature changes on the risk of preterm delivery among pregnancies in the San Joaquin Valley. The project is funded by the Central California Faculty Medical Group and is conducted in collaboration with UCSF Fresno.

Air pollution and neurodevelopment (2018 – 2019)

This study aims to examine whether prenatal and early-life exposures to ambient air pollution affects neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood. The study uses data from the Upstate KIDS study (PI: Edwina Yeung from NICHD), a cohort study funded by NICHD to look at the impact of infertility treatment on growth and development. Neurodevelopmental outcomes are assessed using a standardized, well-validated assessment called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. To achieve the study aim, I collaborate with staff and researchers from the New York Department of Health and University at Albany to geocode (assigning latitude and longitude) participants from the Upstate KIDS cohort (n~5,000), and estimate their air pollution exposures using data from the EPA air monitor network. This study will contribute to the limited literature on the potential impact of prenatal and early life exposure to air pollution and neurodevelopment.

Air Quality and Reproductive Health (2015 – 2018)

AQRH aims to investigate the relationship between exposures to various air quality parameters and the risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes across the US. The study links local environmental data (e.g. air pollution and meteorological parameters) to participants from three existing cohort studies at the Division of Intramural Population Health Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study, the Consortium on Safe Labor, and the Consecutive Pregnancy Study. The study is led by Dr. Pauline Mendola from NICHD.

Associations between ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes in Florida (2013-2015)

The project is a retrospective cohort study aimed to study the effects of air pollution during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes among all births occurring in the state of Florida from 2000-2010. Air pollution exposures was assessed at the mothers’ residential addresses during pregnancy using the Bayesian Hierarchical Model developed by the USEPA. Adverse birth outcomes such as preterm delivery, low birthweight, gestational complications, and birth defects were obtained from birth certificates. This study was led by Dr. Xiaohui Xu, who is now at Texas A&M.

sysadmin Mon, 07/18/2022 - 20:18

Undergraduate students

sysadmin — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:10:45 +0000

Undergraduate students

If you are interested in joining my team, please email me with a short cover letter expressing why you're interested, and a copy of your CV/resume.

Hannah Aguinaga (2023-)
Simone Samra (2023-)
*Erika Ramsey, Public Health (2021 - 2022)*	Erika Ramsey is a third-year UC Merced Student majoring in Public Health. Her preferred pronouns are she/her/hers. She is originally from Okinawa Island, Japan, but has lived in Italy, France, Germany, Mainland Japan, and the U.S. Her hobbies include learning languages, traveling, photography, and video editing. She speaks Japanese, English, German, Korean and is also learning French and Spanish. Her research interests include health disparities within minority populations and vulnerable populations in relation to environmental health. Erika has expanded her experience through the Lead Pre-Health program by working on navigation of language translation to improve communication between minority populations and health care providers and learning from leaders in health care about different approaches to leadership in this field. She is currently in the UROC SURF program, and will conduct research on pregnancy intention in women with disability vs. women without disability to gain more experience in research. She hopes to have a research paper published at the end of her research. Her future goal is to obtain a PhD in epidemiology and work in environmental health, so she can help communities and ensure a healthier world.
Abigail Cruz Reyes, Public Health (2020 -2021 )	Abigail is an undergraduate Public Health major at UC Merced. She grew up in Livermore, CA, and plans to obtain a PhD in Public Health. Her research interest includes maternal and child health, immigrant health, health disparities, environmental factors, and other diseases endemic to the San Joaquin Valley that can contribute to the overall maternal, and child health problems. Through a 2020 Summer Internship, Abigail has been working with the Greenlining Institute on a Research Project addressing Access to Telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic between San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area. She hopes to follow her passion for public health by improving the health of ethnic minority populations who are underrepresented across the Nation.
*Izel Dominguez, Public Health (2020 -2021)*	Izel Dominguez is a second-year Public Health student. She transferred in 2019 from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton CA. She is well focus in learning about the Merced community and later being able to help overcome adverse obstacles as a medical physician. One of her main interest in research is maternal and fetal health.
Angelica Flores, Public Health (2020 - 2021)	I am a 5th year student at UC Merced and I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Global Arts. My main focuses are in Health Education, Health Promotion, and Women’s Health. This will be my first research team and definitely not my last. I have experience interning at The Fresno Veterans Hospital in the Women’s Health department shadowing doctors and interacting with patients. I look forward to combining my in person experiences with my online collaborative research and learning how to apply these skills to my future
Sandy Rubio, Public Health (2020 - 2022)	My name is Sandy Rubio, and I am currently an undergraduate at the University of California, Merced. I am a first-generation college student, born and raised in the Central Valley. My research interests include recognizing trends in the Latinx community regarding nicotine and cannabis use and studying the effects of female genital mutilation (FGM) in third world countries. I plan to attend medical school after receiving my B.A. in Public Health. After finishing medical school, I plan to serve the Central Valley and its various counties, ranging from San Joaquin to Kern county. To stay busy, I am heavily involved within student life at UC Merced. I am the UC Merced Peace Corps Ambassador, Vice President of Membership for the Pre-Med Club, and more. In my spare time, I enjoy tending to my garden, listening to indie music, and expanding on the diversity of my bookshelf.

Goharik Saakyan, Biology (2018-2019)

*Winner of the Poster Award at the FURS Poster Competition (May 2019)

My name is Goharik Saakyan and I am a pre-medical undergraduate student at the University of California, Merced. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA and am a first generation Armenian-American. My interests currently include prenatal/women and child’s health along with global health. I hope to, one day, be able to serve as a health care provider in underserved communities. Until then, I plan to continue on with my education and focus on Public Health, where I will gain insight on community health and prevention. Recently, I was awarded a grant as a F.U.R.S recipient to conduct my own research project under the mentorship of Dr. Ha. My research will investigate health outcomes in newborns due to maternal pesticide exposure in the Central Valley. I am also a medical scribe at a hospital site placed in a very underserved county. Between my education and work, I have gained first-hand exposure to the health crisis in the Central Valley. When I’m not busy working or studying, I enjoy spending time with family/friends, reading, writing and traveling.

sysadmin Mon, 07/18/2022 - 20:10

PhD Students

sysadmin — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:08:15 +0000

PhD Students

If you are interested in joining the UC Merced Department of Public Health and/or working with me as a PhD student, please reach out and check out the Department's website for prospective students.

Current PhD Students:

Valerie Martinez (2019-)

Valerie Martinez joined the doctoral program in the UC Merced Public Health program in Fall 2019 with a focus in epidemiology. She received her B.A.in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from UC Merced. Her research interests include examining the environmental determinants of pregnancy and child health. Her current projects include looking into environmental chemicals and infertility.

Sneha Ghimire (2021-)

Sneha Ghimire joined the doctoral program in Public Health at UCM in Fall 2021. Prior to joining UCM, she obtained her undergraduate degree in Public Health from Pokhara University in Nepal (2018). She also worked as a research assistant and health data surveyor in organizations including the United Mission and InReach in Nepal. Her undergraduate research thesis focused on understanding knowledge, attitude, practice, and stigma among tuberculosis patients. Sneha’s current research interest is in epidemiology; she will be conducting her doctoral research in maternal and child health in relationship to exposures environmental hazards.

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