Alumna's Pursuit to Enhancing Life Outcomes

Morgan Jibowu, PhD, MPH, postdoctoral associate at Baylor College of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine, entered the public health field at a critical time as an epidemiologist. Now more than ever, public health researchers are facing immense challenges developing solutions to diseases, social determinants of health, and the environment's impact on our populations.

For passionate public health professionals like Jibowu, a 2024 doctoral graduate from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health was motivated by her desire to improve the health of underserved and low-resource communities.

"I pursued a PhD in Epidemiology because I see it as an opportunity to paint broad strokes on improving health in underserved populations," Jibowu shared. "Epidemiology enables me to contribute to healthcare  by supporting clinicians with improved diagnostics, prevention strategies, and evidence-based treatment decisions."

Jibowu currently works as a postdoctoral researcher interested in infectious diseases, studying to bridge gaps in healthcare and strengthen implementation efforts to ensure interventions create a positive impact. As a postdoc, she can train under the guidance of epidemiologic researchers, all striving to produce solutions to the health issues our communities face through collaboration, data collection, and implementation efforts.

"One of the biggest challenges is the gap between research and implementation. Research findings don't always translate into immediate policy changes or intervention strategies, but the potential to improve health outcomes and contribute to disease prevention keeps me motivated," she stated. Her current work focuses on vector-borne and neglected tropical disease patterns, developing targeted interventions through epidemiological investigations, spatial analyses, and laboratory testing. Since completing her doctoral degree, Jibowu has published research examining mosquito populations within Harris County, Texas, and their distribution change through the seasonal shifts in urban environments. The publication shows Harris County to be highly susceptible to mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Her work lays a framework for future studies investigating the effects of climate change, urbanization, and other environmental drivers on mosquito populations.

Through her research, Jibowu has continued her pursuit of improving the field of public health and fostering innovative work in vector-borne and tropical diseases.

For future epidemiologists, Jibowu urges students to always keep the core mission of public health in mind. "Ultimately, epidemiology is about enhancing health outcomes. Whether working on disease surveillance, diagnostics, or intervention strategies, always ask yourself: How does my work improve public health, especially in underserved populations?"