Starting August 1, 2026, the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention will start two new research projects. | | |
New Research Collaboration Focuses on Urban and Rural Mental Health Trends
Dr. John Pamplin II, PhD, MPH, Bruce P. Dohrenwend Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at Columbia University and Dr. Jonathan Platt, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health are leading a new research project to forecast emerging trends in drug overdose and suicide. Partnering with the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center—which brings dedicated focus on rural populations—the cross-institutional team will combine methodological expertise and geographic insights across three key research aims to advance our understanding of these intersecting public health crises.
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The Community Impact of Policing on Youth & Family Health
A new study led by Gerard Torrats-Espinosa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Columbia University is tackling a critical gap in public health research: how community-level policing practices affect physical and mental health. While exposure to police violence can lead to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and long-term trauma, data limitations have historically made these impacts hard to measure. Using novel datasets, this project will examine the frequency and types of physical injuries, as well as the broader mental health outcomes for children and adults—providing essential evidence to help prevent police violence exposure and protect family wellbeing.
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TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Summer 2026 Practicum Students Supported by CCISP
The Summer months are a wonderful time for hands-on learning and practical educational experiences. This year, the CCISP hosted seven (7) public health summer practicum students focused on urban and rural health.
Urban-Related Topics
Youth Advisory Council through the Injury Center
The Science of Safety: The Role of Youth Advisory Councils
Student: Hannah Xu; Mentor: Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD
NYC DOH Injury Group
Operationalizing Disability as a Risk Factor for and Outcome of Traffic Injury
Student: Ariana Boswell; Mentor: Anna Caffarelli, MS
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Rural-Related Topics
Bassett Research Institute in Cooperstown, NY
Examining Associations Between Suicidal Ideation and Attempts and Marijuana Use in Rural New York Youth: Effect Modification by Mode of CBD Delivery
Student: Minju Kim; Mentor: Laura Jones, PhD, MS
NYCAMH and NEC in Cooperstown, NY
Structural Negative Impacts to Safety and Health for Farmers and Loggers in New York State
Student: Emma Fanuele; Mentor: Amanda Roome, PhD
Assessing the Cost of Occupational Injuries in the Northeast Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) Sector via HCUP Data: It pays to Prevent AgFF Injury
Student: Yutong Ding; Mentor(s): Erika Scott, PhD & Laura Jones, PhD, MS
Implementation Project to Outfit Fishermen with Lifejackets that Are Workable and Comfortable
Student: Lara Havandjian; Mentor: Julie Sorensen, PhD
Side by side: Building Community Capacity to Support Dairy Farmers During Periods of Crisis and Transition
Student: Sania Mohamed Sheifuddin; Mentor: Conor Hammersley, PhD
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Fall 2026 Violence and Injury Epidemiology Unit Seminars
The Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention (CCISP) is hosting new speakers and topic areas for the Fall 2026 Violence and Injury Epidemiology Unit Seminar. Join us to learn more about studies on older adult drivers and licensing policies, the role of AI in injury science, and polysubstance use and firearm-related risk among adolescents.
September 28, 2026
Driver Licensing Policies and Older Driver Safety
Cara Hamann, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
Core Director for Training and Education, University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, Iowa City, IA
Zoom address: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/97339497076?pwd=h6ziNEnjUCwxibqdsbXun5vHFk6Asm.1
October 26, 2026
An AI-assisted Nationwide Road Safety Map
Ted Alcorn, Policy Director, Vital City NYC and Associate, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY
Zoom address: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/99315338706?pwd=X7EuvqRbEuBykYj9PTQ4ixG6m05QsR.1
November 16, 2026
The Role of Agentic AI in Agent-Based Modeling of Unintentional Injuries in Urban Environments
John H. Holmes, PhD, FACE, FACMI, FIAHSI, FAMIA, Professor of Medical Informatics in Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Philadelphia, PA
Zoom address: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/95636976540?pwd=fhOXgdM2wIx66WQUxWLVtA77yCEh7v.1
December 7, 2026
Recipient of the 2025 Jess Kraus Award in Injury Epidemiology for:
Examining longitudinal associations between polysubstance use and firearm-related risk behaviors from
adolescence into emerging adulthood: a group-based multi-trajectory modeling approach
Mike Henson-Garcia, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI
Zoom address: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/93417763791?pwd=KeqVTCwADrwjpJxbBBlLTaOFZbKx6M.1
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2025 Jess Kraus Award
In December, the recipient of the 2025 Jess Kraus Award in Injury Epidemiology, Dr. Mike Henson-Garcia from the University of Michigan Institute of Firearm Injury Prevention, will present his research on polysubstance use and firearm-related risk among adolescents. The Jess Kraus Award is presented each year to the authors of the best paper published in the Journal of Injury Epidemiology. Dr. Guohua Li, DrPh, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and Founding Director of the Columbia Injury Control Research Center interviewed Dr. Henson-Garcia - Check out the Interview
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Join the Movement for Safer Communities: 7th Annual National Injury Prevention Day, November 18th, 2026
Unintentional injuries and violence are the #1 cause of death and disability for individuals ages 1 to 44 in the United States. National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD) is a nationwide effort designed to raise awareness about the heavy burden of injuries and violence. NIPD helps families by providing evidence-based knowledge to reduce everyday risks. Most severe injuries—such as those caused by motor vehicle crashes, firearm incidents, bike crashes (including e-bikes), drowning, poisonings, and fires—are preventable through education, proper safety equipment, and public policy. For National Injury Prevention Day, over 16 national organizations work together to amplify the message, uniting trauma centers, hospitals, schools, scientists, and local leaders. This year’s theme shines a light on local heroes working to protect their neighborhoods and communities to #BEINJURYFREE.
To register a local event, download campaign toolkits, or learn more, visit injuryfree.org or contact the Injury Free Coalition for Kids at 212-305-6718 (info@injuryfree.org).
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CDC Paula E. Jayne Fellowship For Adolescent & School Health
Reference Code: CDC-2026-0071
The Paula E. Jayne Fellowship for Adolescent & School Health is a research opportunity available from the Research Application and Evaluation Branch of the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Individuals with Master's or Doctoral degrees earned within the last 60 months are eligible to apply.
The Application Deadline is Nov 6th, 2026 at 3 PM EST. Learn More
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Call for Abstracts: 2027 SAVIR Annual Conference
Researchers, practitioners, students, trainees, and colleagues working across the field of violence and injury prevention are invited to submit their work for the 2027 SAVIR Annual Conference, April 5–7, 2027, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Submissions addressing all areas of violence and injury prevention are encouraged.
The submission deadline is
Oct 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
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The conference highlights the current state of science and research on firearm injury prevention across the lifespan.
Dec. 9-11, 2026, Baltimore, MD
| | Forging New Frontiers, the annual conference of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, fosters collaborative research, develops best practices, and addresses challenges in the field of pediatric injury prevention. | | | | |
