FAMU Student Selected As Public Health Education Fellow

Florida A&M University Institute of Public Health MPH candidate Roxie Zarate was selected as one of the Society for Public Health Education/Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (SOPHE/ATSDR) Fellows. The fellowship is designed to support the training of a new generation of environmental health researchers and practioners in the behavioral sciences. The Institute of Public Health is housed within the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Zarate will work with the Florida Poison Control Information Network to evaluate data associated with chlorine injury. Additionally, she will develop an outreach program designed to reduce exposure and injury and will present her findings at the 2009 SOPHE meeting in Philadelphia, PA, November 5-7, 2009.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to participate in research and to translate that research into an outreach program that may help reduce chlorine associated morbidity in Florida,” said Zarate.

Zarate has also been invited to submit a manuscript to the peer-reviewed journals of Health Education and Behavior or Health Promotion Practice.

“We are so proud of Roxie and her diligence and commitment to public health research that will aid in the prevention of unnecessary illness and death related to chlorine exposures,” said Cynthia M. Harris, Ph.D., director and professor for the Institute of Public Health.

Henry Lewis, III, Ph.D., dean and professor said, “We commend Ms. Zarate for being selected as a SOPHE/ATSDR Fellow in Environmental Health Promotion. As a College, we motivate our students to be competitive nationally for these types of fellowships and research initiatives that can improve the health of all Floridians.”