Congratulations School of Nursing Graduates Sonya Alivio and Cristina Watkins!
Sonya Alivio and Cristina Watkins are the first two graduates of the DNP Executive/MPH Dual Degree Program who pursued doctoral projects addressing Planetary Health.
This unique program, offered through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and directed by Dr. Cecília Tomori, integrates cutting-edge nursing and population health frameworks to prepare nurse leaders to address the most critical public health challenges of our time. We hope these students will serve as inspiration for future nurse leaders to pursue their interests in Planetary Health!
Sonya’s doctoral project examined the occupational and environmental health risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly among firefighters who face elevated exposure through aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and PFAS-treated protective gear. However, these chemicals are estimated to be in nearly all Americans’ blood, and the risks are not strictly limited to firefighters. This project evaluated gaps in current federal, state, and Department of Defense (DoD) regulations and proposed evidence-based policy solutions highlighting the need for policy action to reduce PFAS exposure and safeguard firefighter and population health.
Sonya is the recipient of the DNP Leadership Award from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Stay tuned for her podcast, which will be released in collaboration with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments.
Household water security is the consistent access to sufficient, safe water that promotes health, yet approximately 2 million people in the US cannot realize the human right to water, and the climate crisis exacerbates this issue. Lack of safe drinking water has adverse health effects, especially for pregnant women and infants. Cristina’s doctoral project investigated options to improve water security among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), whose infants are particularly vulnerable to water insecurity.
Cristina is the recipient of the DNP Leadership Award and the Biggest Policy Impact Poster Award from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and she was inducted into the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society, Alpha Chapter at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her podcast produced in collaboration with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is available here.
Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates!
We wish you the very best as you take the next steps in your journeys. Your dedication, resilience, and visionary leadership toward a healthier world continue to inspire us. Whether you’re moving on from JHU or continuing your career here, we hope you’ll stay connected with JHIPH.