Their collective expertise and research bring a myriad of expertise and knowledge, and we are fortunate that they have joined our growing program. They are a welcome addition to our exceptional research community.
Sean Arayasirikul, PhD, is an associate professor-in-residence in the Department of Health, Society, & Behavior whose research portfolio can be broadly described in two areas. First, the investigation of social determinants of sexual and gender minority health. Second, the development and implementation of systems-oriented interventions – or interventions embedded in mobilizing clinics, communities, and public health departments – and stigma reduction interventions that center around digital technology, homegrown approaches, and emancipatory public health. Read more about their work.
Saurabh Chatterjee, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health who has spent the past 10 years researching climate change factors, such as heat, air, flooding, and water, and their long-term health implications in children, adults, pregnant women, and the elderly. Most recently, Chatterjee’s lab discovered the unique connection between the millions of bacteria found in the host gut and their relationship with different organ systems in causing disease. Read more about his work.
Andrea De Vizcaya Ruiz, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health whose research looks at how microplastics, polymers, and fibers in our air, water, and food are all materials humans are exposed to daily, in their micro and nano form, and how they threaten public health. Her research in toxicology, aerosol science, and nanotoxicity is pivotal in advancing the mission of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) and Air Pollution Health Effects Lab (APHEL). Read more about her work.
Brandy Lipton, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Society, & Behavior. As a health economist, Lipton has primarily focused on how access to health insurance affects health behaviors and, ultimately, her work helps recommend better policy interventions. Lipton’s current focus is on studying elderly populations who are also impacted by narrow health services – those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, but do not have coverage for dental insurance, eyeglasses, and even hearing aids unless they live in a state that provides those services. Read more about her work.
Denise Payan, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Society, & Behavior. An expert in community-based approaches to health policy research, Payan brings years of experience working directly with communities to address food insecurity through equitable public policy. With a focus on food insecurity and obesity as major issues here in Orange County, Payan plans to work closely with students in all program levels to address the issues our residents face and collaborate with frontline organizations. Read more about her work.
Anamara Ritt-Olsen, PhD, is an associate professor-in-residence in the Department of Health, Society, & Behavior whose research focuses on trying to create interventions to promote well-being in preventative medicine and adolescent mental health. She serves as the cluster leader in psychosocial factors for the Center for Young Adult Cancer Survivorship and the Executive Director of Training and Engagement for the CERES network, a consortium of international experts, which aims to reduce disparities in learning, development, and well-being. Read more about her work.
Nicole Sparks, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health. Sparks brings a unique area of research in that she is looking at what environmental toxicants, such as using and exposure to tobacco products, can do to a fetus’s development. Specifically, Sparks looks at these toxicants at a granular level and how they can cause birth defects and alter bone development. Read more about her work.
Baolin Wu, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Besides the satisfaction of helping biomedical investigators solve scientific research questions and making translational impact, his work also helps to motivate his own methodology research. He strives to develop novel statistical and computational methods that can more efficiently extract useful and accurate information from the vast amount of data available. Read more about his work.
