February Student Spotlight
Published on February 1, 2025
Joy Edeh
Program: MS, 2nd-year
Hometown: Enugu State, Nigeria
Field(s) of interest: Maternal and Child health, social and environmental exposures,
and chronic disease/life course epidemiology
Topic or title of MS preceptorship project: The evaluation of a Targeted Screening Program for Congenital Cytomegalovirus in Infants Who Fail Newborn Hearing Screening in Iowa
Quickfire Queries:
What are your interests and hobbies outside of the Department of Epidemiology?
One of my interests is reading thrillers and mystery novels. My favorite author is Ted Dekker, a Christian novelist who does an awesome job of capturing the Fatherhood of God in his stories.
I also love visiting new places.
What’s a random fact about you that usually surprises people?
I’m actually an introvert, despite being in a field that requires a lot of interaction and collaboration.
I also love cycling.
Describe a piece of your work or an accomplishment that you are most proud of:
I was selected as an APHA Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section Student Fellow for the 2024/2025 academic session. I also got the opportunity to present my first poster presentation at the APHA Annual Conference in Minneapolis last year. It was such an exciting moment for me to share my findings from a systematic review on the obstetric mistreatment of women living with HIV in maternal healthcare settings.
What is something you are thankful for right now?
I am grateful for this present phase of my career, particularly for the invaluable opportunities I’ve had throughout my master’s program. I am thankful for the experiences that have allowed me to expand my skills and work alongside incredible mentors and colleagues. These opportunities have also enabled me to network with experts in maternal and child health, paving the way for both professional growth and future collaborations in the field.
What is an important cause to you right now?
Finishing my master’s program.
Ranking must-haves for surviving grad school:
1. A good study buddy
2. An understanding advisor
3. Sticky notes
4. Noise-cancelling headphones
5. Caffeine
Congratulations on your admittance to the PhD in Epidemiology program!
What are your plans as a doctoral student and what are you most looking forward to?
- I look forward to further developing my skills as an epidemiologist and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. I am excited to be part of this community, where I can collaborate with experts in my field of interest.
- As a doctoral student, I hope to contribute to understanding the complex relationship between socio-environmental risk factors and how they impact chronic disorders, including developmental disorders in children. I will focus on how early life exposures influence adverse outcomes for maternal and child health.
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