Dean Marsha Davis opens the University of Georgia College of Public Health’s second annual Research Day.
The University of Georgia College of Public Health kicked off its 20th anniversary celebration with a spotlight on research.
At the second annual Research Day on March 28, students, faculty and staff from the college’s four departments and three research institutes embodied the 20th anniversary’s theme: Honor the past, engage in the present, look to the future.
“For two decades, this college has been at the forefront—advancing knowledge, training the next generation, and tackling some of the toughest challenges in public health,” said Dean Marsha Davis. “Today is a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve taken, the progress we’ve made, and the bold steps we’ll take moving forward.”
The day kicked off with remarks from Provost Jack Hu, who highlighted the College’s key campus partnerships, innovative practices and dedication to community.
“There’s no doubt that the College of Public Health is making a difference to campus, to our state, and helping fulfil the UGA land grant mission,” Hu said. “The College’s partnerships with state health departments and community organizations are helping to translate our research findings into tangible public health improvements.”
Part of the day was supported by Georgia Power, including keynote speaker Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington Department of Global Health. Ebi’s presentation, Climate Changes Health, emphasized the importance of understanding how climate change and health interact to affect populations across the globe.
As the day continued, the college’s four departments and three research institutes presented key research, faculty accomplishments and more, concluding with student awards and poster presentations to highlight the next generation of public health.
Awardees from the 2025 Research Day and the generous donors who have established awards.
Awardees included:
Stuart and Renee Feldman Health Disparities Award: Golam Sarwar
As a physician, epidemiologist, and public health professional, Dr. Golam Sarwar, has nearly 13 years of experience in HIV/AIDS, key population, people living with HIV (PLHIV), HIV prevention, treatment and care, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). He obtained his MBBS from the University of Dhaka, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology from the State University of Bangladesh, and a Diploma in SRHR from Lund University, Sweden.
He led Bangladesh’s first-ever pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) intervention. Serving as a member of the National STI Technical Committee and the National Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Advisory Committee in Bangladesh, he contributed to the policy formulation and development of national guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training modules. He has published several articles in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals.
Currently, Dr. Sarwar is a Ph.D. student in Health Services Research and Policy at the University of Georgia (UGA) and a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Health Policy and Management, where he is is currently implementing one of his supervisor’s research projects in Bangladesh, funded through the Sarah Moss Fellowship, which will contribute to his dissertation research.
Public Health Outreach Support Fund: Mi’Angel Williams
As a pre-med student with a passion for public health, Mi’Angel Williams is currently working on an internship project that focuses on tick surveillance as a vital initiative for preventing tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Through her internship, she collects and analyzes tick data to identify risk factors, track disease prevalence, and contribute to evidence-based prevention strategies. This research is especially important for rural and underserved communities, where environmental health challenges often go unaddressed.
As Ms. Williams prepares for a career in medicine, understanding how data-driven research translates into real-world health solutions is essential for providing holistic, community-centered care. This scholarship will support her continued efforts to address public health challenges and advocate for health equity in both research and clinical practice.
Public Health Outreach Support Fund: Samantha Clinton
Ms. Clinton is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior. She also completed her Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology at UGA and her Bachelors of Science Degrees in Biology and Psychology at UGA.
Since working as an intern at the Athens-Clarke County Jail, Ms. Clinton has had significant interest in working with underserved and marginalized communities. Her research interests revolve around mental health, substance use, sexual health, and HIV in marginalized populations such as those who are incarcerated, sexually minoritized, or unduly burdened by disease.
Ms. Clinton is currently working with Drs. Hansen, Haider, and Callands on the NIMH-funded EMPOWER intervention study, which will deliver a telehealth intervention designed to improve sexual health decision-making and PrEP uptake among Black women. Ms. Clinton plans to build on this framework to complete her dissertation research. This award will support her endeavors in this project.
Leonard Poon Mentorship Award: Spencer Smith
Smith is a dedicated MPH/PhD student specializing in Health Promotion and Behavior who is passionate about advancing public health through research and community engagement. His academic journey began with a degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia, where he developed a strong foundation in understanding human behavior.
Currently, Smith is a Graduate Research Assistant at UGA’s Vision Sciences Lab, where he studies biomarkers of healthy diets. Smith also collaborates with the college’s Center for Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) to study and serve rural communities across Georgia.
