Global Health Research Speaker Series

Global Health Research Speaker Series

Learn about a new global health topic at our quarterly Research Speaker Series.

Kosali Simon, PhD, presents during the first 2024 quarterly research speaker event.
Dr. Ken Cornetta presents about palliative care in western Kenya.
Michael Davis, PhD, RRT, FAARC, discusses the challenges in the delivery of respiratory care in West Africa.
Dr. Lonnie Embleton presents “Engaging underserved and marginalized adolescents in health services in Kenya: how are we doing?”
Dr. Molly Duman Scheel discusses her lab’s work to control mosquitoes.
Dr. Fiona Miller, professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, presents “What is a Sustainable Health System?” during the June 2021 Research Speaker Series event.
Dr. John Humphrey presents his research on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV during the April 2021 Research Speaker series.
Dr. Rajesh Vedanthan from NYU presents at the January 2021 Research Speaker Series event.
Dr. Adrian Gardner presents about “The Role of a Global Health Organization During a Pandemic.”
Dr. Mabel Nangami presents on disruptive public health strategies for transformative change in Kenya’s health outcomes.      
Dr. Jimmy Carlucci presents on improving retention in HIV early infant diagnosis services in resource-limited settings.      
Dr. Darron Brown presents on HPV and cervical cancer during the Research Speaker Series at the Regenstrief Institute social hub.
Dr. Laura Ruhl presents and update on the population health initiative with the AMPATH program in Kenya.
Dr. Aaron Ermel presents about HPV in western Kenya and biobanking.
Dr. James Cleary updates the audience on improvements in global palliative care.
Dr. Una Osili discusses the long-term impacts of civil war during the monthly research speaker series.
Dr. Horacio Duarte presents during the August 2020 Global Health Research Speaker Series.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars now to hear from these global health affiliated faculty members in 2025!

The Global Health Research Speaker series welcomes four IU Center for Global Health Equity affiliated faculty members for our quarterly events at the Regenstrief Institute. 

  • In-Person Location: Regenstrief Institute, 1101 W. 10th Street, Indianapolis (corner of 10th Street and Wilson Street)
  • Parking: Public (for fee) parking is available in the Wilson Street Garage which is adjacent to the building.
  • Building Security: Regenstrief maintains a secure building entrance. Event support from the Center for Global Health Equity and the Center for Health Services Research will be onsite to assist with entry and other event logistics. 

 

March 11, 2025

Andrea Conroy, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine

"Breaking down silos: a story of how cross-disciplinary collaboration transformed our understanding of severe malaria"

In this session, Dr. Conroy will discuss how interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration has transformed the field of severe malaria, leading to the recognition of acute kidney injury as an important clinical complication associated with increased mortality. These findings led to a call to update World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines formally recognizing kidney injury using definitions appropriate for children. Finally, we will discuss new biomarkers on the horizon and how they can be implemented in resource-limited settings. 

Dr. Conroy is associate professor of pediatric infectious disease and global health in the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Conroy's research centers on understanding the impact of infections on global women’s and children’s health. Her goal is to develop new tools to identify patients at risk of adverse clinical outcomes who may benefit from targeted therapies. She received her training at the University of Toronto in a translational global health research environment focusing on malaria pathogenesis and the development of new therapeutics for severe malaria. Dr. Conroy has been leading research projects in Uganda since 2011 and is the director of the CHILD laboratory in Kampala, Uganda, which is an Indiana University-Makerere University-Global Health Uganda biomedical research lab.

This session is being held both virtually (via Teams webinar) and in-person. If you plan to attend the session in-person at the Regenstrief Institute you must register by Friday, March 7th at 10 am Eastern Time and indicate this choice when you register.  Please note that Dr. Conroy will be presenting the session virtually.

Register today to attend virtually or in-person

 

May 13, 2025

Miguel Reina Ortiz, MD, PhD, CPH, FAIM, FASTMH

Associate Professor, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

Global health scientist and practitioner with expertise in the application of behavioral economics, community-engaged research for the development of culturally appropriate, effective, and efficient HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease prevention strategies, with a focus on vulnerable and minoritized populations.

His research expertise also includes the survey of post-disaster and post-pandemic health outcomes, including infectious disease dynamics. As such, his research contributes to the broader field of Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (i.e., pandemic preparedness, resilience, mitigation, response and recovery).

 

September 9, 2025

Vinita Sharma, PhD, MPH, BPH, CHES

Assistant Professor, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

Dr. Sharma is an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Global Health. Her research interests include behavioral health, infectious diseases, opioid and substance misuse and public health surveillance.

 

November 11, 2025

Jane R. Cheriyattil von Gaudecker, PhD, RN, AGCNS, FAES, CGNC

Associate Professor, Indiana University School of Nursing

Dr. von Gaudecker’s program of research focuses on generating knowledge to improve epilepsy care outcomes and the quality of life of people living with epilepsy in resource-limited settings. Specifically, her research focuses on behavioral mechanisms and health disparities that contribute to epilepsy treatment-seeking behaviors, access to care, treatment adherence, and efficacy. She teaches Nursing Theory and Measurement and Data Analysis courses in the master’s program. She is a certified global nurse consultant through the International Council for Nurses. She is the US-based lead for the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) nursing working group and the Vice Chair of the International League against Epilepsy Nursing Section.

 

Additional Resources

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