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A version of this story was originally published in the Fall 2013 UW SRP eBulletin.
When Toluwalose (Tolu) Okitika arrived in Seattle as a Master of Public Health student in the Environmental and Occupational Health Program, she was already well versed in environmental health issues that impact regional communities in Nigeria. In 2012-13, Tolu was involved in two research projects at the University of Washington (UW) School of Public Health. She initially worked with Dr. Judith Wasserheit in the Department of Global Health. Tolu helped implement a ‘Polio Eradication’ simulation game project that was designed to increase interest in global health concerns among the lay public. This study evaluated increased global health interest among game participants against control groups in an exhibition setting. Her results indicated that this kind of interactive activity can indeed raise awareness and increase interest in global public health challenges.
Tolu’s Master’s degree project involved a needs and capacities survey of 33 regional community organizations that focus on pollution and hazardous waste issues in the Northwest United States. In her work with Dr. Tom Burbacher and Research Translation Community Engagement staff of the UW-Superfund Research Program, Tolu developed an on-line survey and phone interview with protocols for collecting information. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were implemented with the intention of documenting individual experiences, expertise and available resources for organizations. The survey participants are from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and have received results that include their individual on-line survey scores and mean group scores. A webinar is being scheduled for the participants to review and discuss findings that have been completed so far. A publication of this study will follow.
Tolu also received a graduate certificate in global health and is currently an Associate Program Officer with the Malaria team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The NIEHS SRP is a strong advocate for interdisciplinary training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.