Outstanding Epidemiology Doctoral Student Award: Prince Addo

Prince Nii Ossah Addo is a Ph.D. candidate in Epidemiology at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. Originally from Ghana, his interest in public health was sparked during his undergraduate studies, where he became passionate about the field’s focus on prevention and community well-being. His academic journey led him to pursue epidemiology, drawn by its combination of data, research, and real-world impact. Prince’s research interests span non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, mental health, and sleep health, with a focus on how these issues intersect and influence health disparities. Prior to his doctoral training, he worked on projects related to obesity, and his current work explores modifiable risk factors and prevention strategies through an epidemiological lens. He chose USC after a formative Skype conversation with Dr. Monique Brown, whose mentorship has shaped his academic path. Under her guidance, he has published multiple peer-reviewed articles, presented internationally, and developed a strong foundation in academic writing and research. Prince plans to graduate in May 2025 and hopes to join academia to advance epidemiological science and contribute to healthier communities through research, mentorship, and advocacy. At USC, he has found a collaborative and supportive environment that has allowed him to grow both professionally and personally. He encourages future students to enter public health with clear intentions and a passion for impact.

Outstanding Epidemiology Doctoral Student: Ruilie Cai

Ruilie Cai is a biostatistics Ph.D. candidate in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. His research interests lie in the area of survival analysis. Specifically, his methodological research interests focus on dynamic prediction from longitudinal measurements. He also applies modern statistical models and machine learning approaches to real-world data including HIV and COVID-19 patients from electronic health records and social media platforms.

Outstanding Epidemiology Master's Student: Amirhossein Fakhre Yaseri

A physician, Amirhossein Fakhre Yaseri, transitioned to epidemiology after years of service as an emergency medical doctor. He pursued his Master of Science (MS) in Epidemiology at the Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) to address systemic health disparities through research, with particular focus on developing solutions to the maternal mortality crisis through both scientific studies and community engagement. Guided by mentors including Dr. Anwar Merchant and Dr. Nandita Perumal, Dr. Yaseri has developed expertise in maternal health research while leading multiple studies related to non-communicable diseases, working across both ASPH and the School of Medicine. His work on biomarkers for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy received the prestigious Dean's Student Travel Award for presentation at the 2025 Society for Reproductive Investigation conference, reflecting his commitment to addressing preventable maternal mortality. While maintaining strong academic performance, he cultivates the next generation of researchers through hands-on mentorship and serves his community as a hospital volunteer, Red Cross ambassador, and peer reviewer for multiple conferences and medical journals. Following graduation, Dr. Yaseri will advance his career in health equity solutions, with particular focus on maternal health outcomes, through doctoral training that synthesizes his clinical experience with population health research methodologies.