As we welcome students back for the beginning of the school year, we are also excited to welcome the latest cohort of PhD students at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.
Starting a PhD is both a remarkable personal achievement and a meaningful step toward shaping the future of health care. These students are joining a community of scholars, innovators, and nurse leaders who are committed to advancing nursing science, improving patient outcomes, and shaping policy. We’re thrilled to have them with us and to follow their PhD journey.
Celumusa C. Ndlangamandla
Celumusa holds a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Nursing from the University of Eswatini (formerly University of Swaziland) and a Master of Science in Community and Public Health Nursing from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. His research focuses on adolescent health, mental health, and HIV/AIDS, with a particular emphasis on improving mental health care and HIV prevention among hard-to-reach adolescents and young people. He is mentored by Dr. Kamila Alexander.
Leslie Trejo
Leslie is an incoming T-32 Research Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing’s Center for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care. Her research interest includes the intersection of cardiovascular events and social determinants of health, the role of cardiovascular biomarkers, healthcare policy, and the safe application of artificial intelligence in predictive modeling. She aims to develop tangible, culturally sensitive interventions that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Her mentors are Dr. Cheryl Himmelfarb and Dr. Melissa Hladek.
Sofia Liu
Sofia’s research interests include applying mHealth interventions to monitor and promote healthy behaviors, using biomarker assessments to explore underlying neurobiological pathways, and studying how environmental factors affect sleep health and dementia risk in community-dwelling older adults. Her mentors are Dr. Junxin Li and Dr. Erin Spaulding.
Khadija Atchulo
Khadija is a PhD student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing’s Center for Equity in Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing, as well as the Center for Infectious Disease and Nursing Innovation. She holds a Master’s degree and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Ghana, Legon, and the University for Development Studies, respectively.
Her research centers on the reproductive health outcomes of pregnant women living with HIV, exploring the interplay of clinical, psychosocial, and health system factors that affect pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Through this work, she seeks to develop and evaluate targeted interventions aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and improving long-term health for mothers and infants alike. Her mentor is Dr. Nancy Reynolds.
