By Jill Pease
Acquel Allen-Mitchell, M.P.H., M.B.A., was selected to participate in the Modelers and Storytellers Transdisciplinary Training program, hosted by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Allen-Mitchell, who graduates from the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions next month with a Ph.D. in public health with a social and behavioral sciences concentration, plans to use the training to expand her skill set in systems and data science methods, allowing her to integrate quantitative approaches in her research to address complex health disparities.
The Modelers and Storytellers Transdisciplinary Training is a two-week virtual summer research education program for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees as well as early-career researchers. The program has been offered over the last three years. Allen-Mitchell completed the final iteration of this training experience earlier this month.
“This program was an invaluable opportunity to learn how to combine qualitative insights with data-driven models, enhancing the impact of my research,” she said. “With this training, I am more prepared to bridge the gap between community-driven knowledge and evidence-based practices, accelerating the translation of research into real-world solutions.”
Allen-Mitchell’s dissertation work focused on the impact of studentification — a form of gentrification — on health among residents in East Gainesville. Following graduation, she will begin a postdoctoral position with the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Hospital-based Systems of Care Research Training ProgrAm, or VISTA, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“My long-term vision for my research is to analyze multifaceted health challenges and translate research into actionable, real-world solutions that makes a difference in the experiences, health and well-being of many,” she said.