This series spotlights the amazing students in the YSPH Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases (EMD) program. This month focuses on students who are conducting vaccine-related research. Here, Mallory Ellingson, Ph.D. 24’, tells us about the program and some of her exciting research in a Q&A format.
Please tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to pursue a Ph.D./MPH in the EMD Department at the Yale School of Public Health?
Mallory: During my undergraduate degree I studied History of Medicine, with a particular focus on how pandemics had shaped civilizations throughout history. The more I looked at how the infectious disease has impacted humans, the more interested I became in how humans have controlled infectious diseases. Especially the importance of vaccines! This drove me first to an MPH studying vaccine epidemiology and ultimately to a PhD at YSPH!
What is the current focus of your research?
I look at the different factors that influence healthcare provider recommendations of adolescent vaccines (HPV, meningococcal vaccines, etc.) including community & policy-level influences.
What are some of the most significant findings or innovations from your vaccine research?
As part of my dissertation work, I found that healthcare providers’ recommendations of the HPV vaccine vary by urbanicity and community levels of education - this can help us target future interventions to improve HPV vaccine uptake in regions of the US that are more rural or have lower educational attainment.
Having this data available allows us to get a much better picture of who is being vaccinated and make sure that we're reaching the communities most affected by the diseases we're trying to prevent!
Mallory Ellingson
Which emerging trends or technologies in vaccine research do you find most exciting?
This is very niche, but post-pandemic there's an increasing focus on improving the infrastructure at the local and state level for keeping track of vaccinations (i.e., immunization information systems). Having this data available allows us to get a much better picture of who is being vaccinated and make sure that we're reaching the communities most affected by the diseases we're trying to prevent!
I think in the field of vaccine uptake we're realizing more and more that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving vaccine acceptance.
Mallory Ellingson
Where do you see the field of vaccine research heading in the next few years, and what role do you hope your work will play in this future landscape?
I think in the field of vaccine uptake we're realizing more and more that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving vaccine acceptance. I think this is driving more community-tailored interventions, and I hope to work at the intersection of community-based research and data-driven approaches.
How has the EMD Department supported your research and academic goals?
The flexibility of the EMD PhD program was hugely helpful for me - I always felt encouraged and supported in charting my own path of research, within and beyond the department!
What advice would you give to prospective students considering applying to the EMD training programs at Yale?
Don't underestimate the importance of a great sense of community to your PhD experience! In addition to all the academic perks, EMD is a great department full of very supportive and helpful people!