Dual degree Master of Public Health and Master of Medical Science students Cassidy Prewitt ’21M, MPH and Maura Franey ’21M, MPH were selected through a peer-reviewed process for oral presentations to share their capstone research at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo in Philadelphia on Nov. 5.

Prewitt presented during an Epidemiology and Biostatistics Oral Session on a study examining the relationship between hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and hospital characteristics such as location, size, ownership, and academic status. The study aimed to identify how these specific characteristics contribute to the problem of HAIs, which are preventable but still result in substantial mortality in the U.S. Based on the study, Prewitt concluded that the state where the hospital is located may have a great impact on hospital infection control.

During a session on Behavioral Health Science and Health Education, Franey presented an analysis of current male bystander intervention programs on college campuses, which seek to mobilize men as allies in reducing sexual violence. Her analysis sought to evaluate and compare program effectiveness by using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) technical report on sexual violence, and found that greater adherence to CDC recommendations may be related to the effectiveness of the programs. Both capstone research projects were advised by Dr. Heather de Vries McClintock, assistant professor of Public Health.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo gathers over 13,000 attendees each year, making it one of the largest and most influential conferences of its kind. This year Philadelphia was selected to host the event, which was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center.