Camille Prisbrey

Dear SER Students, Postdocs, and Early-Career Professionals,  Hi everyone! My name is Tendai Gwanzura, and I am excited and honored to begin my term as President of the Student & Postdoc Committee. It was wonderful connecting with so many of you at our Annual Meeting in Phoenix, and I hope you are settling into the new academic year.  I am grateful to Anthony Nixon for his leadership over the past year and to the outgoing committee for all they have done for our community. I am also excited to work with this year’s SPC leadership team: Meghana Shamsunder, President-Elect; Anthony Nixon, Past-President; Meghan Buxton and Hayami Koga, Education Co-Chairs; Anlan Cao and Eunsun Gill, Program Co-Chairs; Ariadne Rivera, Internal Affairs Chair; Sarah Weber and Jessica Beetch, Media Co-Chairs; and Leslie Worrell, Diversity and Inclusion Chair.  This is a challenging time for many students, postdocs, and early-career professionals. Changes in funding, a difficult job market, and broader shifts in research and public health can make the path ahead feel less predictable. Still, our work matters. The questions we ask, the evidence we generate, and the communities we serve can make a real difference.  A theme I hope will guide SPC this […]

SER President’s Message  September 2026  Two months have passed since the Annual Meeting brought us together to share research and exchange ideas. The 2026 meeting marked SER’s return to Phoenix, where the Society previously met in 1969, 1972, 1975, and most recently in 1978 under then-President Roger Detels. We were glad to hear positive feedback about another great meeting, our first in Phoenix in nearly 50 years. And yes, it was hot!  Nearly 1,100 registered attendees took part in an outstanding scientific program of workshops, symposia, oral abstract sessions, poster presentations, and professional development sessions, with opportunities to connect with colleagues and celebrate achievements and awards. And, all while working hard to stay cool and hydrated. It was excellent to see the strong turnout from programs in the area, particularly among students. We are grateful to everyone who attended, presented, organized or reviewed sessions, volunteered, or supported the meeting in other ways. Special thanks to the students and other volunteers who helped welcome us to Phoenix and supported the first SER Fun Run to be held indoors.   Looking forward:  Planning is already underway for our 2027 meetings. The virtual Mid-Year Meeting will be held February 1–5 and continues to grow […]

SER President’s Message  September 2025    I can’t believe that fall is here – I don’t know about you but the summer really flew by.  Students are back in school (or about to return) and pumpkins and holiday decorations fill the store shelves.  I’m not quite ready for the holidays. Feels like the annual meeting was just yesterday.  The 2025 annual meeting was record setting with more than 1,600 registered attendees in 18 in-person workshops and 8 virtual workshops, 23 symposia, 32 oral abstract sessions, and 867 poster presentations!  Yes, you read that number correctly – 1,600!  Even with last minute cancellations, budget constraints, grant terminations and all the many challenges we faced in the first half of the year, we still had record attendance at the meeting.  Based on the feedback we have received, the annual meeting was a huge success.  Many thanks to the society members for supporting the meeting, the SER board and Sue Bevan and her team.    So, what’s next? We have many exciting things going on this year.  The call for interest in serving on SER committees just ended but the call for participation in the SER mentoring program is still open.  And, of course (drum […]

Greetings,  As we head into February, I want to take a moment to check in with our student, postdoctoral, and early-career epidemiologist community and to thank you for the energy, care, and thoughtfulness you bring to SER. The Student & Postdoctoral Committee continues to be a space for connection, mentorship, and shared learning — made possible by your engagement and leadership. This time of year can feel especially full: balancing coursework, research, manuscripts, applications, and next career steps. SPC exists to support you through all of it. Whether you’re attending workshops, presenting your work, joining committees, or simply connecting with peers, your participation helps shape what SPC offers and how it grows. Looking ahead, there are several important opportunities I encourage you to keep on your radar. The 2026 SER Mid-Year Meeting (February 9–13, virtual) offers a great opportunity to share your work and engage with the broader SER community. For those interested in supporting research excellence and trainee scholarship, serving as a poster judge is a meaningful way to get involved — sign-ups are open, and I encourage you to consider participating. I also want to highlight the Annual Meeting Student Dissertation Workshop, taking place June 22–23, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. This workshop offers students the […]

It’s almost here—I can hardly wait! Our mid-year meeting is just around the corner, February 9-13, 2026 (cue the confetti, balloons, and streamers ). We’ll kick things off with an exciting keynote plenary on space epidemiology—not spatial epidemiology, but SPACE epidemiology. To infinity and beyond! (Yes, it’s a real field.) The keynote will feature epidemiologists from NASA who study spaceflight and the health effects of living beyond Earth, followed by a panel discussion. And while Colonel Buzz Lightyear will not be joining us, we will be hearing from a real astronaut. Other interesting mid-year meeting session topics include updates on menopause research, creating cultural epidemiology, meta-scientific reviews, tools that measuring neighborhood disadvantage, omics, cardiovascular health, selection bias and many more. There is also a poster session. So much to see and hear! Don’t miss out on this really great conference. If you haven’t already registered for the conference, you can register here. Registration is free for SER members. Our annual meeting is less than 6 months away. Join us, June 23-26, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ for another opportunity to see your colleagues, learn new methods, see exciting research, and breathe in the fresh, dry, hot desert air. Nothing says summer […]