MPH Students Present Research at OPHA Annual Meeting

Two Master of Public Health students from the OU Hudson College of Public Health recently highlighted their research at the Oklahoma Public Health Association (OPHA) annual meeting. Jon’e Mae Fulton and Vivian Sanchez, both enrolled in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, shared findings from a project examining how tobacco marketing targets youth and adults across Oklahoma.

The project, led by epidemiology professor Dr. Laura Beebe and funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, provided valuable insights into tobacco retail environments and pricing patterns. Jon’e Mae’s poster, “Geographic variations in little cigar retail environments: Urban vs. rural perspectives,” explored differences in tobacco availability between urban and rural areas. Vivian’s presentation, “Cigarette price variation according to area deprivation index and county,” analyzed how cigarette pricing varies with socioeconomic factors.

Both students served as graduate research assistants on the project, gaining hands-on experience in public health research while contributing to a better understanding of tobacco marketing and its impact on communities across Oklahoma.