On April 16th, Najhee Purdy and Riley Summers showcased the culmination of their hard work and dedication by presenting their Master of Public Health (MPH) capstone projects through formal poster presentations. These projects, an essential requirement for completing their MPH degrees, reflected not only academic rigor but also their commitment to addressing timely public health challenges.
Riley Summers’ project, “Single Shot, Double Defense: Exploring Interest and Acceptability of a Combined Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccine,” delved into an increasingly
important topic within infectious disease prevention. With the public health community seeking innovative strategies to improve vaccination uptake, Riley’s research explored how combining two critical vaccines into a single shot could influence public interest and acceptability. Her findings offer valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health campaigns aiming to streamline vaccination efforts and bolster community protection.
Najhee Purdy’s project, “Willingness to Use HPV Self-Collection in a Healthcare Setting for Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in the United States,” examined a pivotal advancement in women’s health. As cervical cancer screening remains a critical preventive measure, Najhee’s work focused on understanding how self-collection methods could be integrated into clinical practice to increase screening rates, particularly among populations who face barriers to traditional screening approaches. Najhee will be advancing his academic journey further by finishing medical school following the completion of his MPH.
Beyond their academic achievements, both Najhee and Riley have been integral members of the LIFT Lab, contributing significantly to developing and expanding
the Quality Improvement (QI) Hub.
Congratulations to Najhee and Riley on reaching this important milestone in their MPH journey. Their contributions embody the spirit of innovation, inquiry, and impact that defines the next generation of public health leaders