Congratulations Class of 2024

May 8, 2024

Congratulations to the Department of Sociomedical Sciences’ graduates of the Class of 2024. Cheers to the bright future ahead, impacting public health one step at a time! 

Awardees

The Jack Elinson Award

Given to students in Sociomedical Sciences for published articles of outstanding merit. A faculty selection committee enthusiastically chose two article's for this year's award. The panel noted the rigor, significance, and overall excellence of the research. This year's winners are:

  • Alyssa L Basmajian (PhD candidate) for her artile titled, "Reproductive Gerrymandering, Beaureaucratic Violence, and the Erosion of Abortion Access in the United States" Medical Anthropology Quarterly 1.4.
  • Alexandra Filipkowski (MPH Student) for her article titled, "Association of HIV infection and Incident Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Among 143,001 Veterans".

The Eugene Litwak Award 

Given to a doctoral student in Sociomedical Sciences for excellence in the preparation of a dissertation research proposal. This year's award winner is:

  • Ruth Shefner (PhD candidate) for her dissertation titled, "Policy Determinants of Substance Use and Treatment for Individuals Registered as Sex Offenders in Philadelphia: A Qualitative Investigation".

Marisa de Castro Benton Dissertation Award

Given for a dissertation that makes an outstanding contribution to the sociomedical sciences and is worthy of special recognition. This year's award winner is:

  • Hawi Teizazu, PhD, for her dissertation titled,  "Do We Have a Problem? Examining How Research Media and the Public Understand Maternal Health".

Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award 

Given annually by the Department for distinguished scholarship and research in the student’s master’s thesis. This year's SMS thesis award winner is:

  • Margot Balliet (MPH student) for her thesis titled, "Navigating Realities of Pornography Literacy and Sexual Health Curriculum for High School Student" (Jessie Ford, Sponsor).