University of Missouri

DrPH, MD, MPH, CHES

Assistant Teaching Professor

Education

• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) – Mercer University, 2025
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago, Santiago, Dominican Republic, 2008
• Master of Public Health (MPH) – University of Missouri-Columbia, 2016
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), 2021

Courses taught

• P_HTLH 2200: Introduction to Public Health and Health Promotion
• P_HTLH 3400: Global Health and Healthcare Systems
• P_HTLH 3620: Public Health Promotion and Program Planning
• P_HTLH 4975: Emerging Issues in Public Health (Capstone)
• P_HTLH 7150: Principles of Public Health
• P_HTLH 7160: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health
• P_HTLH 8953: Evaluating Global Public Health Programs

Research interests

• Diverse Populations’ Health
• Health Disparities
• Social Determinants of Health
• Racial Health Equity
• Health Education, Promotion, and Literacy

Publications

• Aikins, N. A., Simelus, S. (2022) Strategies to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the Black Community and Promote Health Equity. University of Missouri. Institute of Public Policy.
• Gable S., Holliday A., Zars J., Simelus S., Nickell A., Anderson B. (2024). Intergenerational conflict, contact with biological parents, and child functioning in kinship caregiver families. Children and Youth Services Review, 160, art. no. 107581.

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