Spring 2026 SPHIS Accolades

MSHA student Sidney Durbin selected for Administrative Fellowship with UK HealthCare

MS in Health Administration (MSHA) student, Sidney Durbin, BA ’24, was selected as an administrative fellow with UK HealthCare. Durbin was selected after an extensive and highly competitive interview process. 

The fellowship will begin in July 2026 and will take place in Lexington, Kentucky. She will work on strategic initiatives, receive mentorship from executives and gain exposure to hospital operations, policy and health system management. 

She said, “This fellowship represents an important next step in my professional development, offering hands-on experience in health system operations, strategic planning and leadership. I am grateful for the preparation, support and mentorship I have received throughout my time at SPHIS and in the MSHA program, which played a significant role in making this achievement possible.”

Doctoral student Melody Ucho presents research at ISPOR 2025 Conference in Glasgow, Scotland

Melody Ucho, doctoral student, Dept. of Health Management and Systems Sciences, presented her research, "Cost-Effectiveness of WIC Eligibility Extension in Preventing Maternal Postpartum Depression: US Payers’ Perspective," at the ISPOR 2025 Conference in Glasgow, Scotland in November. ISPOR is a professional society for health economics and outcomes research. Seyed Karimi, PhD, Interim Chair and Associate Professor, Dept. of Health Management and Systems Sciences, co-authored this research. 
 

Alumna Sonali Salunkhe receives Portneuf Medical Center Endowed Professorship in Healthcare Administration

SPHIS alumna Sonali Salunkhe, MD, PhD ‘23, MPH ’19, became the first recipient of the Portneuf Medical Center Endowed Professorship in Healthcare Administration at Idaho State University. Salunkhe is the Undergraduate Healthcare Administration Program Director and Assistant Professor of Healthcare Administration and Idaho State University College of Business. Read more about the award. Read more

Tammy Albers presentation selected as “Best of Summit” for NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Management Summit

Tammy Albers, MS, Program Manager, Office of Student Services, led a breakout session during the 2025 NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Management Summit in San Francisco. It was selected as one of the “Best of Summit” presentations, and she was invited to present it again virtually in November.  Albers’ presentation, “Keeping Students SAFE: Protecting Physical, Mental and Financial Student Well-Being from Recruitment to Graduation,” focuses on strategies the SPHIS Office of Student Services uses to provide holistic support, identify early warning signs of distress and foster cross-departmental collaboration to ensure graduate students' success. 

Albers also recently celebrated her 20 years of service at the University of Louisville. Read more

Jeremy Gaskins receives ASA Award for Outstanding Chapter Service

Jeremy Gaskins, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, received the American Statistical Society (ASA) Award for Outstanding Chapter Service. He has served the ASA Kentucky Chapter for more than 10 years in a variety of leadership roles, including two terms as Secretary, two terms as President, and two terms as Council of Chapters (COC) Representative. 

Gaskins has made a significant impact on the chapter by initiating student presentation sessions that support career development and engagement. Through his leadership, mentorship and commitment to taking on meaningful responsibilities, he has strengthened member involvement and advanced the chapter’s mission.

Trinidad Jackson named National Academies of Practice Distinguished Fellow

Trinidad Jackson, PhD, MPH, MS, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, has been selected as a Distinguished Fellow in the Public Health Academy of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), which advises governmental bodies on interprofessional healthcare in the United States. Its selection process seeks distinguished professionals who lead and participate in NAP’s mission to advance the policy and design of interprofessional healthcare to provide affordable, accessible, coordinated quality healthcare for all. Nominated by SPHIS alumna Leslie Lopez, PhD ’19, Jackson will be recognized for his contributions to the science and practice of public health and for his history of interprofessional collaboration with other health professionals. He will be inducted into the NAP Public Health Academy at the NAP 2026 Annual Meeting & Forum on March 14, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Publications

Michael Sekula, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, co-authored an article, “Detection and Estimation of Active Proteinases in Biological Samples: An Optimized Protocol,” which was published in Frontiers of Bioscience: Landmark Ed. The research team, led by Hebah Almarshood, explored a laboratory method using zymography to detect and measure active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in biological samples. They found the optimized protocol enables reliable detection of endopeptidase activities, and that this approach facilitates a deeper understanding of metalloproteinase roles in extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation, particularly in matrix-related pathologies, including cancer and other tissue disorders. UofL School of Medicine co-authors included Yu-Ting Zheng, Robert Brainard, Suresh Tyagi, Daniela Terson de Paleville and Utpal Sen.

https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/12/10.31083/FBL45771

SPHIS Alumnus Chathura Siriwardhana, PhD ’16, along with Dept. of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics faculty, Bakeerathan Gunaratnam, PhD, and K. B. Kulasekera, PhD, published, “Personalized Treatment Selection for Multivariate Ordinal Scale Outcomes and Multiple Treatments” in Pharmaceutical Statistics. The research team conducted methodological and simulation studies to present an innovative approach for tailoring treatment selection on an individualized basis in the presence of correlated multiple responses, particularly those measured on ordinal scales, including binary responses. The method offers flexibility by allowing the integration of response weights, enabling customization based on patient and clinician preferences on an individual case basis for optimal treatment decisions. 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pst.70023

Dept. of Epidemiology and Population Health Associate Professor Anne Wallis,  MHS, PhD, published the editorial, “Mpox surge in West Africa: Unmet maternal health needs” in the African Journal of Reproductive Health. She discusses how the rising Mpox cases in West Africa are straining health systems and raising maternal health concerns amid declining global health funding and cuts to major public health agencies. Wallis joined the editorial board of the African Journal of Reproductive Health in 2025.