People

Nazish Masud, MBBS, MSPH (DrPH epidemiology student - 4th year)

Graduate assistant, Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 

Dr. Nazish Masud is a medical doctor. She has joined Dr. Fung's group as a graduate assistant for 1 year, with her main responsibility on a digital health-related project.

Nazish's DrPH dissertation committee chair is Dr. Kelly Sullivan.

Francis Kengne, MS (DrPH epidemiology student - 2nd year)

Graduate assistant, Fall 2024 - now 

Mr. Francis Kengne is a current DrPH epidemiology student in my team. Francis is working on projects related to respiratory disease transmission dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Kengne has been selected as a Georgia Southern University Presidential (Doctoral) Research Fellow, starting August 2025, for 3 years.

Patra Ezeamii, MPH (DrPH epidemiology student - 1st year)

Graduate assistant, Fall 2025 - now 

Ms. Patra Ezeamii has joined Dr. Fung's group in August 2025 as a graduate assistant. She will take up a number of responsibilities, including doing research on COVID-19 epidemiology and assisint Nazish on a digital health-related project.

Naomi Reyes, BS (MPH epidemiology student - 2nd year)

Graduate assistant, Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 

Ms. Naomi Reyes has joined Dr. Fung's group in August 2025 as a graduate assistant. She will assist Nazish on a digital health-related project.

Currently, Dr. Fung serves on the dissertation committee of DrPH epidemiology student:

Joana Tome, MPH (Graduation expected: 2024-2025) (dissertation chair: Dr. Logan Cowan)

First (co-first) author, or coauthor, of these publications: 

1. Tome J, Cowan LT, Fung ICH* (2023). A pharmacoepidemiological study of myocarditis and pericarditis following the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Europe. Microorganisms. 11(5), 1099. Published, April 22, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051099  

2. Hua X†, Kehoe ARD†, Tome J†, Motaghi M†, Ofori SK, Lai PY, Ali ST, Chowell G, Spaulding AC, Fung ICH* (2023). Late surges in COVID-19 cases and varying transmission potential partially due to public health policy changes in 5 Western states, March 10, 2020, to January 10, 2021. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 17:e277. Published online, November 3, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.248  

3. Richmond HL, Tome J, Rochani H, Fung ICH, Shah GH, Schwind JS* (2020). The Use of Penalized Regression Analysis to Identify County-Level Demographic and Socioeconomic Variables Predictive of Increased COVID-19 Cumulative Case Rates in the State of Georgia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 17(21):8036. [Research] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218036

 Md. Mohiuddin Adnan, BS, MS, PhD

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

Formerly MPH Biostatistics student at Georgia Southern. 

After one year of study, he proceeded to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, from which he earned his PhD in biostatistics (2022).

Dr Adnan is now a senior health service analyst in Mayo Clinic.

First author or coauthor of the following publications:

1. Adnan MM†, Yin J†, Jackson AM, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Saroha N, Althouse BM, Fung ICH* (2019). World Pneumonia Day 2011-16: Twitter contents and retweets. International Health. 11(4):297-305. Published online, November 24, 2018. [Research] HTML (Author's free access link). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihy087. 

2. Yin J†, Basch CH†, Adnan MM†, Fullwood MD, Menafro A, Fung ICH* (2018). Attributes of Videos on YouTube Related to Cupping Therapy. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 24(6): 32-37. Published online, November 2018. [Research]

Simileoluwa E. Aduayi, BS, MPH (Graduated in May, 2014)

Capstone project title (MPH Epidemiology): "Food Nutrition Label Use, Difference between Race and Ethnicity among Women" (completed) (part of a bigger project headed by another faculty member)

 Jennifer Ahweyevu, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2018)

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2017 - Spring 2018

Jennifer proceeded to study medicine in a medical school.

First author of 1 publication:

1. Ahweyevu JO†, Chukwudebe NP†, Buchanan BM, Yin J, Adhikari BB, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2020). Using Twitter to Track Unplanned School Closures: Georgia Public Schools, 2015-17. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. In press. Published online, May 14, 2020. [Research] Full Text PDF; Link to Supplementary Materials. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.65; Authors' manuscript before final editing available Open Access via PubMed Central: PMCID: PMC7665976: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7665976/ 

Co-author of 4 publications:

• 1. Fung ICH*, Blankenship EB, Ahweyevu JO, Cooper LK, Duke CH, Carswell SL, Jackson AM, Jenkins JC, Duncan EA, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2020). Public health implications of image-based social media: A systematic review of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr. The Permanente Journal. 24: Article 18.307. Published online, December 6, 2019. Accepted for publication, June 6, 2019. [Research] Open Access. Main text (PDF). Technical Appendices (PDF). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.307 

  2. Schaible BJ†, Snook KR†, Yin J, Jackson AM, Ahweyevu JO, Chong M, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Fung ICH* (2018). Twitter conversations and English news media reports on poliomyelitis in five different countries, January 2014 to April 2015. The Permanente Journal. 23: Article 18.181. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-181 [Research]

  3. Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Ahweyevu JO, Jenkins JJ, Saroha N, Fung ICH*(2018). #CDCGrandRounds and #VitalSigns: A Twitter Analysis. Annals of Global Health. 84(4), pp.710–716. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29024/aogh.2381  [Research]

  4. Fung ICH*†, Jackson AM†, Ahweyevu J, Grizzle J, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Sekandi JN, Fu KW (2017). #GlobalHealth on Twitter: analysis of tweets on #Malaria, #HIV, #TB, #NCDS, and #NTDS. Annals of Global Health. 83 (3-4), 682–690. Published online, October 5, 2017. [Research] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2017.09.006 

Iurii Bakach, BS, MS, MS (Graduated in May, 2015), PhD

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2013 - Spring 2015. 

Iurii proceeded to earn his PhD in Mathematics at The University of Iowa. Currently Iurii works as a data scientist in the insurance industry.

Co-author of 2 publications:

1) Drake, Bakach, Just, O'Regan, Gambhir, Fung (2015) Transmission models of historic Ebola outbreaks. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 21(8): 1447-1450.

2) Bakach, Just, Gambhir, Fung (2015). Typhoid transmission: a historical perspective on mathematical model development. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, in press. DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trv075

 Brittany Buchanan, MPH (Graduated in May, 2018)

Research volunteer

Brittany proceeded to study for her PhD in epidemiology at UT Health School of Public Health, at Austin, TX.

First author or coauthor of the following papers:

1. Buchanan BM†, Evans HI†, Chukwudebe NP, Duncan EA, Yin J, Adhikari BB, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2022). Monitoring Different Social Media Platforms to Report Unplanned School Closures due to Wildfires in California, October & December 2017. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, March 31, 2022. Accepted for publication, February 9, 2022. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.32. 

2. Ahweyevu JO†, Chukwudebe NP†, Buchanan BM, Yin J, Adhikari BB, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2021). Using Twitter to Track Unplanned School Closures: Georgia Public Schools, 2015-17. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 15(5):568-572. Published online, May 14, 2020. [Research] Full Text PDF; Link to Supplementary Materials. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.65. 

   1. 1. • Authors' manuscript before final editing available Open Access via PubMed Central: PMCID: PMC7665976: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7665976/

Abigail A. Buesseler, MPH, BS, BA (MPH student. Graduated in May 2024)

Student volunteer, Spring & Summer 2024

Upon MPH graduation, Abigail proceeded to work as a data analyst in the biomedical industry.

Co-author of the following paper (first author):

1. Buesseler AA†, Hua X†, Adom DA††, Das S††, Kutten WS††, Olatunde O††, Sheppard OA, Soo J, Kersey J, Kwok KO, Chowell G, Fung ICH* (2025). Geographical variation in COVID-19 transmission potential and case burden, West Virginia, 2020-2023. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 19:e75. Published online, April 15, 2025. Accepted for publication, February 1, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2025.49 

Jingxian Cai, MPH, DrPH (Graduated in May, 2016)

Student research volunteer (Spring 2014)

Jingxian proceeded to work as a biostatistician in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Co-author of 2 publications:

1) Fung, Hao, Cai et al. (2015) Chinese social media reaction to information about 42 notifiable infectious diseases. PLoS ONE, 10(5): e0126092.

2) Fung, Cai, Hao et al. (2015) Global Handwashing Day 2012: A qualitative content analysis of Chinese social media reaction to a health promotion event. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal. 6(3). doi:10.5365/wpsar.2015.6.2.003 

Stacy Carswell, BS, MPH (Graduated in Dec 2016)

Student research volunteer (Spring 2016)

Stacy proceeded to work for the Georgia Emerging Infections Program. Currently she is the HAI Prevalence Coordinator.

Coauthor of the following paper:

1. Fung ICH*, Blankenship EB, Ahweyevu JO, Cooper LK, Duke CH, Carswell SL, Jackson AM, Jenkins JC, Duncan EA, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2020). Public health implications of image-based social media: A systematic review of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr. The Permanente Journal. 24: Article 18.307. Published online, December 6, 2019. Accepted for publication, June 6, 2019. [Research] Open Access. Main text (PDF). Technical Appendices (PDF). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.307

 Ngozi Chukwudebe, MPH (Graduated in May 2018)

Research volunteer

Ngozi proceeded to study for an MS in biomedical informatics in UTHealth Houston. Currently she works as an informatics analyst in the healthcare industry.

Co-author of the following papers: 

1. Ahweyevu J†, Chukwudebe N†, Buchanan B, Yin J, Adhikari B, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2020). Using Twitter to Track Unplanned School Closures: Georgia Public Schools, 2015-17. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Accepted for publication, Mar 22, 2020. [Research] Full Text PDF; Link to Supplementary Materials. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.65

2. Buchanan BM†, Evans HI†, Chukwudebe NP, Duncan EA, Yin J, Adhikari BB, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2022). Monitoring Different Social Media Platforms to Report Unplanned School Closures due to Wildfires in California, October & December 2017. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, March 31, 2022. Accepted for publication, February 9, 2022. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.32.

 Lacey Cooper, MPH (Graduated in May 2018)

Research volunteer

Lacey proceeded to work as a curriculum coordinator in University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville.

Co-author of the following paper:

1. Fung ICH*, Blankenship EB, Ahweyevu JO, Cooper LK, Duke CH, Carswell SL, Jackson AM, Jenkins JC, Duncan EA, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2020). Public health implications of image-based social media: A systematic review of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr. The Permanente Journal. 24: Article 18.307. Published online, December 6, 2019. Accepted for publication, June 6, 2019. [Research] Open Access. Main text (PDF). Technical Appendices (PDF). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.307

 Margaret Davies, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2021)

Research volunteer (2020-21) 

Margaret proceeded to work as an epidemiologist in a county department of health. Currently she works as a policy analyst in Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Coauthor of the following papers:

1. Davies MR†, Hua X†, Jacobs TD, Wiggill GI, Lai PY, Du Z, DebRoy S, Robb SW, Chowell G, Fung ICH*. SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Potential and Policy Changes in South Carolina, February 2020 - January 2021. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, August 4, 2022. Accepted for publication, July 26, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.212 

2. Politis MD†*, Hua X†, Ogwara CA, Davies MR, Adebile TM, Sherman MP, Zhou X, Chowell G, Spaulding AC, Fung ICH* (2022). Spatially refined time-varying reproduction numbers of SARS-CoV-2 in Arkansas and Kentucky and their relationship to population size and public health policy, March - November, 2020. Annals of Epidemiology. 68:37-44. Published online, January 11, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.12.012. 

3. Muniz-Rodriguez K†, Chowell G†, Schwind JS, Ford R, Ofori SK, Ogwara CA, Davies MR, Jacobs T, Cheung CH, Cowan LT, Hansen AR, Fung ICH* (2021). Time-varying reproduction numbers of COVID-19 in Georgia, USA, March 2-November 20, 2020. The Permanente Journal. 25:20.232. Published online, March 17, 2021; Accepted for publication, Dec 28, 2020. PDF; Supplementary Materials (PDF). doi: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/20.232. 

   • An earlier version as a preprint: Time-varying reproduction numbers of COVID-19 in Georgia, USA, March 2-June 14, 2020. medRxiv 2020.05.19.20107219; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.19.20207219 (Version 3: July 28, 2020)

 Bionca Davis, BA, BS, MN, MPH (Graduated in May 2015)

Capstone project, "Impact of a prevention bundle on Clostridium difficile infection rate in a hospital in southeastern US".

Proceed to work for Prof. Jim Neaton, Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Minnesota.

Bionca Davis is currently an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the CDC (Class of 2021).

First author of 1 publication:

1) Davis BM†*, Yin J†, Blomberg D, Fung ICH (2016). Impact of a Prevention Bundle on Clostridium difficile Infection Rate in a Hospital in Southeastern United States. American Journal of Infection Control. 44(12):1729-1731. [Brief Report (Research)] DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.014.

 Carmen H. Duke, BS, MPH (Graduated in May, 2016)

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016

Carmen proceeded to work as an infection control specialist for a hospital in Alaska, and later a hospital in Savannah, GA. Currently, she works as an epidemiologist in a state department of public health.

First author or coauthor of the following publications: 

1. Duke CH, Yin J, Zhang X, Blankenship EB, Akuse SE, Shah GH, Chan CH, Fu KW, Tse ZTH, Fung ICH* (2019). Adopting YouTube to Promote Health: Analysis of State Health Departments. The Permanente Journal. 23:18-094. Published online, January 14, 2019. [Research] HTML PDF Open Access. 

2. Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Duke CH†, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡, Adhikari A‡, Fung ICH*‡(2016). Public Health Implications of Social Media Use During Natural Disasters, Environmental Disasters, and Other Environmental Concerns. Natural Hazards. 83 (1), 729-760. DOI:10.1007/s11069-016-2327-8  (Free access - reading only: click here) This paper was mentioned in ASPPH Friday Letter, August 26, 2016. 

3. Fung ICH*, Duke CH†, Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Tseng PL†, Hernandez AC, Gambhir M, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2016). Ebola and social media: a systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control. 44(12):1660-1671. Published online on July 14, 2016. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.011. 

4. Sevilimedu V, Pressley KD, Snook KR, Hogges JV, Politis MD, Sexton JK, Duke CH, Smith BA, Swander LC, Baker KK, Gambhir M, Fung ICH* (2016). Gender-based differences in water, sanitation and hygiene-related diarrheal disease and helminthic infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110 (11): 637-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw080. 

5. Fung ICH*, Blankenship EB, Ahweyevu JO, Cooper LK, Duke CH, Carswell SL, Jackson AM, Jenkins JC, Duncan EA, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2020). Public health implications of image-based social media: A systematic review of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr. The Permanente Journal. 24: Article 18.307. Published online, December 6, 2019. Accepted for publication, June 6, 2019. [Research] Open Access. Main text (PDF). Technical Appendices (PDF). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.307. 

6. Fung ICH†, Yin J†, Pressley KD†, Duke CH†, Mo C†, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH, Hou SI (2019). Pedagogical demonstration of Twitter data analysis: a case study of World AIDS Day, 2014. Data. 4:84. Published online: June 10, 2019. [Research] HTML PDF. Open Access. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/data4020084. 

7. Fung ICH†, Blankenship EB†, Goff ME, Mullican LA, Chan KC, Saroha N, Duke CH, Eremeeva ME‡, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡ (2017). Zika virus-related photo sharing on Pinterest and Instagram. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 11(6):656-659. [Research - Brief Report] doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.23 PubMed abstract. Access via journal website.

  Haley Evans, BA, MPH (Graduated in 2019)

MPH Biostatistics student

Research volunteer

Haley proceeded to work as a biostatistician in the industry.

First author or coauthor of the following papers:

1. Evans HI†, Handberry MT†, Muniz-Rodriguez K, Schwind JS, Liang H, Adhikari BB, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2022). Winter storms and unplanned school closure announcements on Twitter: Comparison between the states of Massachusetts and Georgia, 2017-18. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, April 11, 2022. Accepted for publication, February 9, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.41

2. Buchanan BM†, Evans HI†, Chukwudebe NP, Duncan EA, Yin J, Adhikari BB, Zhou X, Tse ZTH, Chowell G, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2022). Monitoring Different Social Media Platforms to Report Unplanned School Closures due to Wildfires in California, October & December 2017. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, March 31, 2022. Accepted for publication, February 9, 2022. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.32

 Kathryn C. Finch, BS, MPH  (Graduated in May 2016)

Student research volunteer (Fall 2015, Spring 2016)

Kathryn proceeded to work as a specialist for quality assurance for a healthcare facility in Georgia.

Co-author on 2 publications:

1) Fung ICH*, Duke CH†, Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Tseng PL†, Hernandez AC, Gambhir M, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2016). Ebola and social media: a systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control. 44(12):1660-1671. Published online on July 14, 2016. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.011

2) Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Duke CH†, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡, Adhikari A‡, Fung ICH*‡(2016). Public Health Implications of Social Media Use During Natural Disasters, Environmental Disasters, and Other Environmental Concerns. Natural Hazards. 83 (1), 729-760. DOI:10.1007/s11069-016-2327-8 

 Kandace Gibson, BS, MPH (Graduated in 2019)

MPH Epidemiology student

Research volunteer 

Kandace proceeded to work in a hospital in Savannah, GA.

M. Elizabeth Goff, MPH (Graduated in May 2017)

Research volunteer

Elizabeth proceeded to work as an epidemiologist in the Coastal Health District, Georgia Department of Public Health.

Co-author of 4 publications:

1. Basch CH†, Blankenship EB†, Goff ME, Yin J, Basch CE, De Leon AJ, Fung ICH* (2018). Fluoride-related YouTube videos: a cross-sectional study of contents by upload sources. Journal of Dental Hygiene. Accepted for publication, July 21, 2018. [Research]

2. Blankenship EB†, Goff ME†, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Fu KW, Liang H, Saroha N, Fung ICH* (2018). Sentiment, contents, and retweets: a study of two vaccine-related Twitter data sets. Permanente Journal.  22:17-138. Published online, June 11, 2018. [Research]. Open Access Full Text HTML. PDF. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/17-138

3. Fung ICH†*, Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Blankenship EB, Goff ME, Guinn AJ, Saroha N, Tse ZTH (2018). Contents, followers and retweets of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (@CDC_AMD) Twitter profile: Cross-sectional study. JMIR Public Health & Surveillance. 4(2):e33. Published online April 2, 2018. [Research] Open Access: HTML  PDF.

4. Fung ICH†, Blankenship EB†, Goff ME, Mullican LA, Chan KC, Saroha N, Duke CH, Eremeeva ME‡, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡ (2017). Zika virus-related photo sharing on Pinterest and Instagram. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 11(6):656-659. [Research - Brief Report] doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.23 PubMed abstract. Access via journal website.

 Maya Handberry, BS, MPH (Graduated in 2019)

MPH Epidemiology student

Research volunteer

Maya proceeded to work as an epidemiologist in the CDC. Currently, she is an MD candidate in a medical school. 

Co-First author of the following paper:

1. Evans HI†, Handberry MT†, Muniz-Rodriguez K, Schwind JS, Liang H, Adhikari BB, Meltzer MI, Fung ICH* (2022). Winter storms and unplanned school closure announcements on Twitter: Comparison between the states of Massachusetts and Georgia, 2017-18. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Published online, April 11, 2022. Accepted for publication, February 9, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.41

 Yi Hao, BS, MS, DrPH (Graduated in 2016)

Student research volunteer (mainly in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014)

Yi was a graduate assistant of Prof. Karl Peace. She proceeded to work as a biostatistician in the pharmaceutical industry.

Co-author of 3 publications:

1) Fung, Fu, Ying, Schaible, Hao et al. (2013) Chinese social media reaction to the MERS-CoV and avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreaks. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 2:31.

2) Fung, Hao, Cai et al. (2015) Chinese social media reaction to information about 42 notifiable infectious diseases. PLoS ONE, 10(5): e0126092.

3) Fung, Cai, Hao et al. (2015) Global Handwashing Day 2012: A qualitative content analysis of Chinese social media reaction to a health promotion event. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal. 6(3). doi:10.5365/wpsar.2015.6.2.003 

 Ana Cristina Hernandez, BS

Student volunteer in Spring 2016.

Co-author of 1 publication:

Fung ICH*, Duke CH†, Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Tseng PL†, Hernandez AC, Gambhir M, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2016). Ebola and social media: a systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control. 44(12):1660-1671. Published online on July 14, 2016. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.011

 Jamesa Hogges, MPH (Graduated in May 2015)

Jamesa proceeded to work as an epidemiologist / data analyst in a number of organizations, including CDC, hospitals and other organizations in the healthcare/public health industry.

Coauthor of 1 publication:

1) Sevilimedu V, Pressley KD, Snook KR, Hogges JV, Politis MD, Sexton JK, Duke CH, Smith BA, Swander LC, Baker KK, Gambhir M, Fung ICH* (2016). Gender-based differences in water, sanitation and hygiene-related diarrheal disease and helminthic infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110 (11): 637-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw080

Emeka Ifebi, MBBS, MPH  (Graduated in Spring 2014)

Capstone project title (MPH Epidemiology): "The Association between Serum Folate and Mortality from Hypertension among a National Cohort of US Adults"  (completed) (part of a bigger project headed by Prof Jian Zhang).

Coauthor of the following paper:

1. Nkemjika S, Ifebi E, Cowan L, Fung ICH, Twum F, Liu F, Zhang J* (2020). Association between Serum Folate and Cardiovascular Deaths among Adults with Hypertension. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 74:970-978. [Research] Published online: November 27, 2019. Accepted for publication, Nov 21, 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0533-7  PubMed entry. Abstract.

 Ashley M. Jackson, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2017)

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

Ashley proceeded to work as an epidemiologist in the CDC.

First author or coauthor of the following papers:

• 1. Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Tse ZTH, Yin J, Zhou X, Kumar D, Fung ICH* (2020). Unplanned closure of public schools in Michigan, 2015-2016: Cross-sectional study on rurality and digital data harvesting. Journal of School Health. 90(7):511-519. Published online, May 7, 2020. Accepted for publication, Oct 22, 2019. [Research] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12901. 

  2. Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Ahweyevu JO, Jenkins JJ, Saroha N, Fung ICH*(2018). #CDCGrandRounds and #VitalSigns: A Twitter Analysis. Annals of Global Health. 84(4), pp.710–716. Published online, November 5, 2018. [Research] Open Access: HTML. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29024/aogh.2381.

  3. Basch CH†, Jackson AM†, Yin J, Hammond R, Adhikari A, Fung ICH* (2017). English language YouTube videos as a source of lead poisoning-related information: a cross-sectional study. The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 23(3): 222-227. Published online, May 2, 2018. [Research] HTML DOI: 10.1080/10773525.2018.1467621. Please note that the paper was published in May 2018 even though it belongs to a 2017 issue (issue 3 of volume 23). 

  4. Fung ICH*†, Jackson AM†, Ahweyevu J, Grizzle J, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Sekandi JN, Fu KW (2017). #GlobalHealth on Twitter: analysis of tweets on #Malaria, #HIV, #TB, #NCDS, and #NTDS. Annals of Global Health. 83 (3-4), 682–690. Published online, October 5, 2017. [Research] Abstract. Full Text (free access until end of Jan 2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2017.09.006. 

  5. Fung ICH*, Blankenship EB, Ahweyevu JO, Cooper LK, Duke CH, Carswell SL, Jackson AM, Jenkins JC, Duncan EA, Liang H, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2020). Public health implications of image-based social media: A systematic review of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flickr. The Permanente Journal. 24: Article 18.307. Published online, December 6, 2019. Accepted for publication, June 6, 2019. [Research] Open Access. Main text (PDF). Technical Appendices (PDF). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.307. 

  6. Schaible BJ†, Snook KR†, Yin J, Jackson AM, Ahweyevu JO, Chong M, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Fung ICH* (2019). Twitter conversations and English news media reports on poliomyelitis in five different countries, January 2014 to April 2015. The Permanente Journal. 23: Article 18.181. Published online, July 8, 2019. Accepted for publication, August 14, 2018. [Research] Open Access. Main text (HTML; PDF). Supplementary Figures 1-5 (PDF). Supplementary Tables I-V (PDF).  DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-181. 

  7. Adnan MM†, Yin J†, Jackson AM, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Saroha N, Althouse BM, Fung ICH* (2019). World Pneumonia Day 2011-16: Twitter contents and retweets. International Health. 11(4):297-305. Published online, November 24, 2018. [Research] HTML (Author's free access link). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihy087. 

  8. Fung ICH†*, Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Blankenship EB, Goff ME, Guinn AJ, Saroha N, Tse ZTH (2018). Contents, followers and retweets of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (@CDC_AMD) Twitter profile: Cross-sectional study. JMIR Public Health & Surveillance. 4(2):e33. Published online April 2, 2018. [Research] Open Access: HTML  PDF.

Matthew R. Just, BS, MS (Graduated in May 2016) 

Student research volunteer, Fall 2015.    Graduate Assistant, Fall 2014 - Spring 2015.   

Matt proceeded to PhD program in mathematics at the University of Georgia 

Award: Georgia Southern University - College of Science and Mathematics - Outstanding Graduate Student Award (April 7, 2016)

Co-author of 2 publications:

1) Drake, Bakach, Just, O'Regan, Gambhir, Fung (2015) Transmission models of historic Ebola outbreaks. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 21(8): 1447-1450.

2) Bakach, Just, Gambhir, Fung (2015). Typhoid transmission: a historical perspective on mathematical model development. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, in press. DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trv075

Aubrey D. Kehoe, DrPH, MPH (Graduated: Dec 2024) (dissertation chair: Dr. Kelly Sullivan) - Dr. Fung served as a member of Aubrey's DrPH dissertation committee. Aubrey is also working with Dr. Fung on a side project about COVID-19 in the Arctic region.

Co-first author of these publications:

1. Kehoe AD†, Mallhi AK†, Barton CR††, Martin HM††, Turner CM††, Hua X, Kwok KO, Chowell G, Fung ICH* (2024). SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, Canada, January 2020–January 2022. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 30(5): 956-967. Published online, April 8, 2024. Accepted for publication, February 28, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3005.230482  

2. Hua X†, Kehoe ARD†, Tome J†, Motaghi M†, Ofori SK, Lai PY, Ali ST, Chowell G, Spaulding AC, Fung ICH* (2023). Late surges in COVID-19 cases and varying transmission potential partially due to public health policy changes in 5 Western states, March 10, 2020, to January 10, 2021. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 17:e277. Published online, November 3, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.248  

Wayne Lawrence, BS, MPH (Graduated in Spring 2015), DrPH

Mentee, Fall 2013 - Spring 2015

Capstone project, "Racial disparities in prostate cancer screening behavior and electing of care"

Wayne was accepted to a summer MIRT program at Harvard University in the summer 2015. 

Wayne proceeded to the State University of New York at Albany and earned his DrPH in epidemiology there.

Currently Dr. Wayne Lawrence is a postdoc at the National Institutes of Health.

 Lindsay Lane (nee Mullican), BS, MPH (graduated in May 2017)

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

Lindsay proceeded to work in the CDC, monitoring media and social media posts for emergency responses.

Co-first author, or co-author of the following publications:

• 1. Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Tse ZTH, Yin J, Zhou X, Kumar D, Fung ICH* (2020). Unplanned closure of public schools in Michigan, 2015-2016: Cross-sectional study on rurality and digital data harvesting. Journal of School Health. 90(7):511-519. Published online, May 7, 2020. Accepted for publication, Oct 22, 2019. [Research] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12901

  2. Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Yin J, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Ahweyevu JO, Jenkins JJ, Saroha N, Fung ICH*(2018). #CDCGrandRounds and #VitalSigns: A Twitter Analysis. Annals of Global Health. 84(4), pp.710–716. Published online, November 5, 2018. [Research] Open Access: HTML. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29024/aogh.2381

  3. Fung ICH†*, Jackson AM†, Mullican LA†, Blankenship EB, Goff ME, Guinn AJ, Saroha N, Tse ZTH (2018). Contents, followers and retweets of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (@CDC_AMD) Twitter profile: Cross-sectional study. JMIR Public Health & Surveillance. 4(2):e33. Published online April 2, 2018. [Research] Open Access: PDF.

  4. Fung ICH†, Blankenship EB†, Goff ME, Mullican LA, Chan KC, Saroha N, Duke CH, Eremeeva ME‡, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡ (2017). Zika virus-related photo sharing on Pinterest and Instagram. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 11(6):656-659. [Research - Brief Report] doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.23 PubMed abstract. Access via journal website.

  5. Basch CH†, Mullican LA†, Boone KD, Yin J, Berdnik A, Eremeeva ME, Fung ICH* (2017). Lyme Disease and YouTube: a cross-sectional study of video contents. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.  8(4): 289-292. [Research - Brief Report] Open Access DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2017.8.4.10

  6. Bayliss LC*, Zhu Y, Fu KW, Mullican LA, Ahmed F, Liang H, Tse ZTH, Saroha N, Yin J, Fung ICH (2021). Conversing or Diffusing Information? An Examination of Public Health Twitter Chats. Published online, December 29, 2021. Journal of Public Interest Communications. 5(2):27-47. [Research] Open Access. Full Text: HTML, PDF. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32473/jpic.v5.i2.p27

Arshpreet Kaur Mallhi, DrPH (graduated in Dec 2023; dissertation chair: Dr. Jian Zhang) 

Currently, Arshpreet is a postdoc at the University of Michigan. 

Arshpreet worked with me on a side project, which is now published (below).

Co-first author of this publication:

1. Kehoe AD†, Mallhi AK†, Barton CR††, Martin HM††, Turner CM††, Hua X, Kwok KO, Chowell G, Fung ICH* (2024). SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, Canada, January 2020–January 2022. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 30(5): 956-967. Published online, April 8, 2024. Accepted for publication, February 28, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3005.230482 

Kelli Pierce, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2025)

Graduate assistant, Spring and Summer 2024    (Kelli served as a teaching assistant in PUBH 4233, Spring 2024)

Kelli is assisting Aubrey Kehoe in her side project on COVID-19 in the Arctic region. Kelli is also assisting Dr. Fung in one of his research projects. She is a coauthor of one of Dr. Fung's submitted manuscripts.

 Keisha D. Pressley, BS, MPH (Graduated in Spring 2015)

Graduate Assistant, Fall 2014 - Spring 2015.

Capstone project, "Examination of self-reported locations and content of HIV/AIDS Twitter data"

Keisha proceeded to work for the CDC. 

Co-author of 1 publication:

1) Sevilimedu V, Pressley KD, Snook KR, Hogges JV, Politis MD, Sexton JK, Duke CH, Smith BA, Swander LC, Baker KK, Gambhir M, Fung ICH* (2016). Gender-based differences in water, sanitation and hygiene-related diarrheal disease and helminthic infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110 (11): 637-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw080

 Kripa Regmi, BS, MPH (Graduated in Spring 2014)

Capstone project title (MPH Epidemiology): "Association of HIV and Nutritional Status to Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Pediatric Population in Haiti: An investigation" (completed) (Dr. Fung served as the primary advisor. Marie Denis-Luque is Kripa's secondary advisor.) 

 Kayin Robinson, BS, MPH (Graduated in Spring 2015), PhD

Mentee, Fall 2013 - Spring 2015

Capstone project, "Trends in sickle cell disease hospitalization, Georgia, 2003-2012"

Kayin proceeded to earn her PhD in health promotion & behavior at The University of Georgia.

 Braydon J. Schaible, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2015)

Graduate Assistant in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014. 

Braydon proceeded to work a statistician at Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida. After that, he proceeded to work in the industry as a biostatistician.

Co-author of 3 publications:

1) Fung, Fu, Ying, Schaible et al. (2013) Chinese social media reaction to the MERS-CoV and avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreaks. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 2:31.

2) Fung, Hao, Cai, Ying, Schaible et al. (2015) Chinese social media reaction to information about 42 notifiable infectious diseases. PLoS ONE, 10(5): e0126092.

3) Schaible BJ†, Snook KR†, Yin J, Jackson AM, Ahweyevu JO, Chong M, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Fung ICH* (2018). Twitter conversations and English news media reports on poliomyelitis in five different countries, January 2014 to April 2015. The Permanente Journal. Accepted for publication, August 14, 2018. [Research]

Jessica K. Sexton, BS, MPH (Graduated in Spring 2015), PhD 

Graduate Assistant: Spring 2014 (10 hours); Summer A, 2014 (20 hours) 

Mentee, Fall 2013 - Spring 2015

Capstone project, "Retrospective analysis of sepsis among young infants aged 0-59 days in Ghana through paper-based medical records"

Proceeded to ASPPH/CDC Allan Rosenfield Global Health Fellowship: Excerpt from "ASPPH Welcomes Class of 2015 ASPPH/CDC Allan Rosenfield Global Health Fellows" (ASPPH News, Sep 10, 2015)

Jessica later earned her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Queensland, Australia and worked as a Principal Epidemiologist in Queensland Health. She later worked for Mater Research as a senior research fellow. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor in epidemiology, at the University of Texas, Tyler, TX (LinkedIn).

Co-author of 1 publication:

1) Sevilimedu V, Pressley KD, Snook KR, Hogges JV, Politis MD, Sexton JK, Duke CH, Smith BA, Swander LC, Baker KK, Gambhir M, Fung ICH* (2016). Gender-based differences in water, sanitation and hygiene-related diarrheal disease and helminthic infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110 (11): 637-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw080

Olivia Sheppard, BSPH, MPH (Graduated in May 2025) - Student volunteer in Fall 2023 semester. 

Co-author of the following paper:

1. Buesseler AA†, Hua X†, Adom DA††, Das S††, Kutten WS††, Olatunde O††, Sheppard OA, Soo J, Kersey J, Kwok KO, Chowell G, Fung ICH* (2025). Geographical variation in COVID-19 transmission potential and case burden, West Virginia, 2020-2023. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 19:e75. Published online, April 15, 2025. Accepted for publication, February 1, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2025.49 

Kassandra R. Snook, BS, MPH (Graduated in May 2016)

Student research volunteer (Fall 2015, Spring 2016)

Kassandra proceeded to work as an epidemiologist in the industry after graduation.

Co-author of 4 publications:

1) Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Duke CH†, Fu KW‡, Tse ZTH‡, Adhikari A‡, Fung ICH*‡(2016). Public Health Implications of Social Media Use During Natural Disasters, Environmental Disasters, and Other Environmental Concerns. Natural Hazards. 83 (1), 729-760. DOI:10.1007/s11069-016-2327-8 

2) Fung ICH*, Duke CH†, Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Tseng PL†, Hernandez AC, Gambhir M, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2016). Ebola and social media: a systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control. 44(12):1660-1671. Published online on July 14, 2016. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.011

3) Sevilimedu V, Pressley KD, Snook KR, Hogges JV, Politis MD, Sexton JK, Duke CH, Smith BA, Swander LC, Baker KK, Gambhir M, Fung ICH* (2016). Gender-based differences in water, sanitation and hygiene-related diarrheal disease and helminthic infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110 (11): 637-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw080

4) Schaible BJ†, Snook KR†, Yin J, Jackson AM, Ahweyevu JO, Chong M, Tse ZTH, Liang H, Fu KW, Fung ICH* (2018). Twitter conversations and English news media reports on poliomyelitis in five different countries, January 2014 to April 2015. The Permanente Journal. Accepted for publication, August 14, 2018. [Research]

Pei-Ling Tseng, BS, MPH (Graduated in Dec 2014)

Volunteer research assistant, Feb, 2015 - Jan, 2016

Worked on social media-related projects

Capstone Project title (MPH Community Health): "Psychosocial determinants of influenza vaccine acceptance among college students in Statesboro, Georgia" (Dr. Fung serves as the secondary advisor. Pei-Ling's primary advisor is Dr. Levi Ross.)

Currently, Pei-Ling is working towards her PhD (health promotion) in National Taiwan Normal University.

Co-author of 2 publications:

1. Yin J, Tseng PL, Zerbo KR, Tse ZTH, Ross L, Fung ICH* (2018). Social media usage and influenza beliefs, risk perceptions and behavioral intentions among students at a university in Southeastern US. Journal of Georgia Public Health Association. Accepted for publication, July 16, 2018. [Research]

2. Fung ICH*, Duke CH†, Finch KC†, Snook KR†, Tseng PL†, Hernandez AC, Gambhir M, Fu KW, Tse ZTH (2016). Ebola virus disease and social media: A systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control.44(12):1660-1671. Published online on July 14, 2016. DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.05.011. Abstract; Online Supplementary Materials.

 Nathan Walker, BS, MPH (Graduated in Dec 2017)

Research volunteer, Jan 2017 - Dec 2017

Worked on Ebola social media project.

Nathan proceeded to work in the industry as a biostatistician/data scientist.

Co-author of 1 publication:

Basch CH, Yin J, Walker N*, de Leon AJ, Fung ICH (2018). TMJ Online: Investigating Temporomandibular Disorders as "TMJ" on YouTube. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 45 (1), 34-40 [Research]. DOI: 10.1111/joor.12580. PubMed abstract.  PDF.